[name]Hi[/name],
I’d appreciate your opinions on these names;
[name]Orinthia[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name]
[name]Gwendolen[/name]
[name]Lysistrata[/name] ([name]Lyssie[/name])
[name]Lyra[/name]
[name]Portia[/name]
[name]Melusine[/name]
I’m considering [name]Orin[/name], maybe, in place of the flouncier [name]Orinthia[/name].
Also, any more names in this style? 
[name]Orinthia[/name]- I like [name]Orin[/name] a lot better. I don’t like the sound of [name]Orinthia[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name]- I like [name]Ariane[/name] a lot better.
[name]Gwendolen[/name]- I think [name]Gwen[/name] is cute, but I don’t like the full name
[name]Lysistrata[/name] ([name]Lyssie[/name])- [name]Just[/name] makes me think of withholding sex haha
[name]Lyra[/name]- This is pretty, much nicer than [name]Lyric[/name].
[name]Portia[/name]- This is nice, I think of the car or [name]Ellen[/name]'s gf
[name]Melusine[/name]- Not for me
I think my name taste is a lot more basic/simple than yours. I like [name]Lyra[/name] and [name]Portia[/name] the best.
Well thanks Taz for responding anyway!
I’m looking for an uncommon, elegant name with roots. These are from literature/fairy tales. [name]Gwendolen[/name], [name]Portia[/name], [name]Lyra[/name] and [name]Melusine[/name] are still on the table. [name]Ariadna[/name] is clunky to say, and [name]Orinthia[/name] is too frilly for me, now.
I love this type of name, though would probably hesitate to give one to a modern girl.
[name]Gwendolen[/name] is great and underused and [name]Gwen[/name] a natural as a contemporary nickname.
I knew a charming young girl named [name]Portia[/name] but the problem is the very different image of [name]Porsche[/name].
[name]How[/name] about [name]Melisande[/name]? A little lighter feeling than [name]Melusine[/name].
[name]How[/name] about taking the whole idea in a romantic (and more accessible) direction with:
Ambosia
[name]Celestia[/name]
[name]Valentina[/name]
[name]Roxana[/name]
[name]Rowena[/name]
Out of your list I like [name]Lyra[/name] and [name]Ariadne[/name].
Thank you so much [name]Pam[/name]! I like all of your suggestions, except for the -a endings…I didn’t mention it in the OP, but I am trying to find a girl name that doesn’t have the typical -a ending, because I think it stands out more.
[name]Celestine[/name], maybe?
I appreciate your reply!
[name]Orinthia[/name] - Nice but its up in the clouds.
[name]Ariadne[/name] - wicked, fun to say.
[name]Gwendolen[/name] - cant say anything bad about this name, its wonderful.
[name]Lysistrata[/name] - Sounds like an ointment you put on sores
[name]Lyra[/name] - No character, dull
[name]Portia[/name] - Nice but unfortunatly the car.
[name]Melusine[/name] -[name]Love[/name]. its really unexpected and a great distinct sound.
[name]Orinthia[/name] – Pretty, but I don’t like [name]Orin[/name]. It seems a little boyish to me
[name]Ariadne[/name] – [name]LOVE[/name]. This is a very pretty name
[name]Gwendolen[/name] – [name]LOVE[/name] and it’s so underused. I like [name]Guinevere[/name] better to get to [name]Gwen[/name] though.
[name]Lysistrata[/name] ([name]Lyssie[/name]) – i don’t like this at all. It has a fine sound, but it’s a little much
[name]Lyra[/name] – beautiful
[name]Portia[/name] – pretty and Shakespearean, but most people with this [name]Porsche[/name]
[name]Melusine[/name] – This name is intriguing! I like it
I like [name]Ariadne[/name] and [name]Gwendolen[/name] then most.
Others:
[name]Ianthe[/name] (ee-an-thee)
[name]Xanthe[/name] ([name]ZAN[/name]- thee)
[name]Persephone[/name]
[name]Andromeda[/name]
[name]Arwen[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name]
Amaranth
[name]Lorelei[/name]
[name]Evadne[/name]
[name]Guinevere[/name]
[name]Arielle[/name]
[name]Jocelyn[/name]
[name]Celestine[/name]
I like
[name]Gwendolen[/name]
[name]Lyra[/name]
[name]Portia[/name]
[name]Orinthia[/name] - I wouldnt use it, but its okay. What about Orianthe? Its less clunky to me, easier to say.
[name]Ariadne[/name] - [name]Love[/name].
[name]Gwendolen[/name] - I like it.
[name]Lysistrata[/name] ([name]Lyssie[/name]) - I have no clue how to say this.
[name]Lyra[/name] - [name]Love[/name].
[name]Portia[/name] - Dont like.
[name]Melusine[/name] - Dont like.
[name]Gwendolen[/name]!! [name]Love[/name] it, under used and so, so pretty!!!
I love [name]Gwendolen[/name], and this is definitely my favorite spelling too.
[name]Ariadne[/name] is really pretty too. Maybe another -ee sound ending name like [name]Signe[/name], [name]Thisbe[/name], or [name]Circe[/name]?
[name]Celestine[/name] reminded me of Celandine, such a pretty flower name. Other -ine ending names: [name]Sandrine[/name], [name]Delphine[/name], [name]Leontine[/name], [name]Augustine[/name], Mazarine, [name]Ondine[/name]…
[name]Love[/name] [name]Gwendolyn[/name]/[name]Gwendolen[/name] nn [name]Gwen[/name] and [name]Gwenny[/name]. Spunky, arsty, and adorable
I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Celestine[/name], [name]Augustine[/name] & [name]Ismene[/name]
I really like names that end in -ine, too! I think they are refined and elegant.
Does anyone think [name]Gwendolen[/name] is too stodgy for a young lady of 19? (er, myself)
I generally picture a [name]Gwendolen[/name] as a young lady personally. [name]Love[/name] the name!
Oh, well then!
Have you thought of [name]Evanthe[/name] or [name]Dianthe[/name]?
I like those a lot too.
[name]Orinthia[/name]- awesome! I think [name]Orin[/name] is a little masculine even with the “i”. Still a good nn though.
[name]Ariadne[/name]- love this one
[name]Gwendolen[/name]- also great
[name]Lysistrata[/name] ([name]Lyssie[/name])- too long [name]Lyssie[/name] should just be the name
[name]Lyra[/name]- KICKASS
[name]Portia[/name]- too preppy
[name]Melusine[/name]
My neighbor is named [name]Portia[/name], love that it is from [name]Shakespeare[/name]. My brother and I are fighting over [name]Lyra[/name] …we both want to use it on future babies. [name]Ariadne[/name] is lovely (I love Greek mythology) and I love [name]Gwendolyn[/name].