So, recently, I bought a baby name book to flip through (of course, my local bookstore actually didn’t have any Nameberry ones in stock, so I picked up the next best thing - The [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Name [name_m]Wizard[/name_m]), and each name in the book has commentary about the name. Since one of my favourites is [name_f]Maude[/name_f], I looked it up instantly, and, to my dismay/surprise, I found the comment.
“[name_f]Maude[/name_f] is a dignified classic with two strikes against it. First is it’s bluntness, which doesn’t sound particularly feminine to modern ears. Second is the 70’s [name_f]Bea[/name_f] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] sitcom with it’s stick in your head theme song. [name_f]Maude[/name_f] remains regal and distinctive, but it’s far from fashionable”
I realise it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m not sure what would be considered ‘fashionable’ in the old lady name trends. I assumed [name_f]Maude[/name_f] was right on in there with [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], (or, I thought it appeared that way), but now, this book has me second guessing it.
I think [name_f]Maude[/name_f] is beautiful and would totally use it if my surname weren’t a single syllable as well. Your entire list is wonderful and certainly wearable an chic. I say, don’t worry if the names you love are fashionable–you like them, they’re lovely, and they have great heritages that will serve their bearers well. FWIW, [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] is the name we’ll use whenever we have another girl, so I guess I’m biased to think that [name_f]Maude[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] work well together.
I’ve seen conflicting reports about [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] and it’s fashionable qualities, haha. I love [name_f]Adeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f] I’d love to use [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], but it’s sadly forever vetoed due to an ex-relative (long story).
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
could pass as fashionable. The rest, not so much.
I think these are fashionable:
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f] (but not [name_f]Harriet[/name_f])
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] (but I hate this one, it’s a food)
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] (this doesn’t feel old lady at all)
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] (I love this one)
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
[name_f]Millie[/name_f] (but not [name_f]Millicent[/name_f])
I find all the names on your list to be stylish. I would say [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], and [name_f]Ada[/name_f] are the most “mainstream fashionable” right now, but all the others are coming back into the style forefront or are already there.
Other ideas: [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], [name_f]Opal[/name_f], [name_u]Vivian[/name_u].
I would say they are; with the exceptions of [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] (which may still be too mothball-ish) and [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] (which is stuck in the 60’s yet). As for [name_f]Maude[/name_f], I think hipsters may be adding it quite soon : )
I think these are all lovely names; personally I’m not fond of [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f] or [name_f]Olive[/name_f] but they would serve a girl well. I don’t think [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Hattie[/name_f]/[name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] are quite at the point that they’d be called “fashionable” by most of the people I know. [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f] and even [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] and [name_f]Olive[/name_f] wouldn’t be unfashionable. Then again, my circles tend to be made up of very conservative namers. I personally love [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f], both the sound and the [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] connection She’s kind of a basket case but [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]'s a really entertaining character, haha.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] is one of those names most people hate. They think it’s old-fashioned and ugly. Personally, I think [name_f]Maude[/name_f] grows on you! It’s nowhere near as popular as [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], but it’s definitely “old lady chic”. Of the names you listed above, these are the ones I think are fashionable (i.e. they are moving up charts and baby girls are being christened these names):
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]- I find this one too old lady
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]- This could work with [name_f]Bella[/name_f] names being popular
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]- I can’t imagine this being fashionable
[name_f]Hattie[/name_f]/[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]- its top 100 in the UK so its fashionable
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]- I prefer just [name_f]Edie[/name_f] but I can see this gaining popularity
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]- I think this is gaining popularity its top 100 here but it reminds me of the food
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]- I think this is rather dated because of [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]- Yes its fashionable top 100
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]- [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] is a GP for me I think it could get more popular
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]- My sister is [name_f]Adele[/name_f] so I can see it gaining popularity
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]- I love this I see this as always quite unusual
[name_f]Millicent[/name_f] nn [name_f]Millie[/name_f]- I know a twelve year old [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] she goes 100% by [name_f]Millie[/name_f] I think [name_f]Millie[/name_f]'s more trendy then [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]
This is lovely, thank you! Haha, my sister (a 14 year old [name_f]Mikayla[/name_f]) isn’t pleased that the original version [name_f]Michaela[/name_f] is considered ‘antique’, and I have to say, I don’t think it’s very old fashioned either (along with a few others off the [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Name [name_m]Wizard[/name_m] list), but maybe 100 years ago, it was pronounced differently? Either way, these lists are full of names I like/love
I’d love to use [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], but it’s sadly forever vetoed due to an ex-relative (long story).
She’s kind of a basket case but [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]'s a really entertaining character, haha.