I’m redoing my girl’s list at the moment and would like some opinions on the following names:
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (I prefer “[name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-uh”)
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
Illyria (too obscure? sounds like a disease?)
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
Ismeria (see Illyria)
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (the [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling weirds me out)
I’m not pregnant, just playing with names. 
Thanks!
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] - I’m really starting to love it! I used to really dislike it–particularly compared to [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] and [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]–but there is a TV show I’ve really been getting into on Netflix that has a lovely [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Marie[/name_f], and I’m really starting to appreciate it. It probably helps that [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Claire[/name_f] is on my list and it feels similar.
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - I much prefer [name_m]CASH[/name_m]-ah to [name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-ah, just because I’m sort of tired of the nn/name [name_f]Cassie[/name_f], but it’s still pretty. I like it much more than [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u], and potentially more than [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f].
[name_f]Eve[/name_f] - I like it a lot. [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is on my list (which [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] a potential replacement), but I love the simplicity of [name_f]Eve[/name_f].
Illyria - well, as a massive fan of Twelfth [name_m]Night[/name_m], I would have no qualms with meeting a little Illyria! I adore that story, and I think Illyria is so lyrical. I wouldn’t find it too obscure OR too much like the sound of a disease.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - I think it’s because of [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and Ismeria being right next to each other, but several times now I’ve seen [name_f]Isis[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Iris[/name_f], and that sort of puts me off. I love [name_f]Iris[/name_f], but prefer it as a MN. I generally don’t see [name_f]Isis[/name_f] when I hear/see [name_f]Iris[/name_f], though, so I think it’s just the placement of Ismeria and [name_f]Iris[/name_f].
Ismeria - I would go with Illyria and/or [name_f]Iris[/name_f] over Ismeria–it’s intriguing, but a little too out-there for me without any frame of reference. I’m not really familiar with where the name came from.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - I like it okay, but vastly prefer [name_f]Maria[/name_f] and [name_f]Maia[/name_f].
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - love!
[name_f]Una[/name_f] - I think [name_f]Una[/name_f] vs. [name_f]Oona[/name_f] is pretty polarizing. I love [name_f]Oona[/name_f], but don’t care for [name_f]Una[/name_f] at all! I think the double "O"s are just so bubbly and fun.
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f], and [name_f]Eve[/name_f] are my favorites, but I like [name_f]Oona[/name_f]/[name_f]Una[/name_f] a lot, too!
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f]- I don’t know why but it sounds like it needs to be said with an accent lol
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]- cute and you could call her [name_f]Cassie[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]- super cute but I prefer [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] or [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] with [name_f]Eve[/name_f]/[name_f]Evie[/name_f] as a nickname
Illyria- hate to say it but it sounds like malaria to me
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]- li like it but I don’t love it
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]- I think it’s really cute, I know a girl named [name_f]Mara[/name_f] and she’s one of the nicest people I know
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]- not the biggest fan
[name_f]Una[/name_f]- I agree that [name_f]Una[/name_f] is better than [name_f]Oona[/name_f] but I still don’t love it
@[name_u]Ashley[/name_u] and [name_u]Madison[/name_u]: Thanks for the feedback!
I don’t think anyone really knows where Ismeria came from. There’s a post on British [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Names about it, which is where it originally caught my eye. http://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2013/06/ismeria.html
It’s been on my GP list for a while. I’m trying to decide if I think it’s truly usable or not.
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f]: I like this much more hyphenated, as [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Marie[/name_f]. It’s sweet and certainly quite usable, but neither name is particularly interesting to me (unless you’ve become a devout Catholic and are attempting to honor both St [name_f]Anne[/name_f] and the Virgin [name_f]Mary[/name_f], which is of course how the name got started). It’s distinctive in the modern naming landscape for sure, though.
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (I prefer “[name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-uh”): Me too. Clearly you have excellent taste, and this is the best of the lot. It has worn extremely well on my small [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]; she frequently receives quite genuine compliments on her name, which is unfamiliar to most but still approachable and euphonious. I like that it’s a nature name, a classical name, a saintly name and a feminine name without being an extreme example of any of those categories. 18 months in, I’m extremely satisfied with having selected [name_f]Cassia[/name_f].
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]: A neglected beauty. I like the poetic reference to evening time, as well as the smooth sounds. I would name a kid [name_f]Eve[/name_f].
Illyria (too obscure? sounds like a disease?): I pushed our former member ottilie into using this name for her quasi-fictional first daughter. It’s Shakespearean and geographical, but very unfamiliar. It sounds nothing like the name of any disease I know of (and hey, I know the names of thousands of diseases), but unfortunately its friend [name_f]Ilaria[/name_f] does. It is definitely obscure and meeting a sibset called [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] and Illyria might turn my head (versus, say, Illyria and [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m] or something), but those ultra-liquid sounds and the lacy, feminine structure are very on-trend, so I think it would work.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]: Can’t go wrong with this floral lovely.
Ismeria (see Illyria): Yes, too obscure. Ismerie, the [name_m]French[/name_m] version with a syllable chopped off, is slightly more realistic, but where Illyria squeaks by, I am afraid Ismeria does not.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]: “bitterness.” I just hear the word “mar,” as in “damage.”
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]: I just wrote on another post how much I love this name and think it’s quite under appreciated, perhaps because it enjoyed a spike of popularity about 15 years ago. I think it’s glamorous, elegant, and still very pretty. It’s on my list as a possible sister to [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], actually.
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (the [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling weirds me out): either a Spanish article or a double O, which weirds me out too.
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] - It’s not a bad name, it’s just a bit plain to me. I’d never expect it to be on the same list with Illyria/Ismeria!
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - Is there another way to pronounce this? Is it like [name_m]Cash[/name_m]-uh? Because if so I definitely agree with you on pronunciation, [name_u]Cass[/name_u]-ee-uh is lovely, way better than [name_m]Cash[/name_m]-uh. I think it’s sweet and feminine without being overly frilly.
[name_f]Eve[/name_f] - It’s nice. It doesn’t feel like a full FN to me though, either a NN or a MN.
Illyria - Very obscure, but I don’t think it sounds like a disease. I’d never heard of it before the [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] fiasco, but it’s very pretty.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - I really like this one, and I think it fits well with the names currently in your signature.
Ismeria - This one does kind of sound like a disease to me. Am I pronouncing it right with “Iz-MEER-ee-ah”? If so, that “meer” syllable is a little whiny to my ear, and I think spelling/pronunciation would be a nightmare, at least in the US.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - I think this one is short, sweet, and to the point. [name_f]Marla[/name_f] feels more complete to me but [name_f]Mara[/name_f] is nice as well.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - It’s sort of like a virtue name to me in that I’m always afraid a kid named [name_f]Grace[/name_f] will turn out clumsy, for example. I can just picture someone trying to calm down a toddler named [name_f]Serena[/name_f] mid-tantrum. Also I was a 90’s kid, so [name_u]Sailor[/name_u] [name_f]Moon[/name_f] is my main point of reference for the name, which is not a bad thing necessarily.
[name_f]Una[/name_f] - Both spellings weird me out, tbh… I’m just not a fan. [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_f]Djuna[/name_f] I like, but not [name_f]Una[/name_f] on its own, sorry.
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f]- this is such a beautiful name. I think all the [name_f]Anne[/name_f]/[name_f]Anna[/name_f] combos are always so elegant.
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (I prefer “[name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-uh”)- This is another gorgeous underused classic. I also prefer that pronunciation over all others.
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]- another pretty name. I usually prefer its longer varients, such as [name_f]Eva[/name_f] and [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f].
Illyria (too obscure? sounds like a disease?)- It does sound a little similar to Malaria. I also think it may be a little too obscure.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]- Another very pretty name.
Ismeria (see Illyria)- I also think this may be a bit too obscure, but may have more potential as the nn Meria sounds very similar to [name_f]Maria[/name_f] which people are familiar with.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - I love this if its pronounced [name_f]Mar[/name_f]- ah not [name_f]Mair[/name_f]- ah. All -ara names sounds so elegant but this is one of my favorites.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]- another gorgeous name and definitely my favorite on your list!
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (the [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling weirds me out)- I don’t hate this name, but I always find it weird that it means one. It makes it very difficult for me to see a child named [name_f]Una[/name_f] having siblings because of the meaning. I prefer the [name_f]Una[/name_f] spelling.
Thanks! This is very helpful. I’ve decided to cut Ismeria and [name_f]Mara[/name_f] and probably [name_f]Una[/name_f] too. [name_f]Una[/name_f] didn’t even register as a Spanish article until now, and I know a lot of people who speak Spanish.
So now I’m looking at:
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] (I’m iffy on it)
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
Illyria (middle name?)
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] (my sister’s name is [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]… would you think a [name_f]Serena[/name_f] was named after her?)
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] - NMS
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - unique & interesting
[name_f]Eve[/name_f] - beautifully classic
Illyria - lovely & mythical
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - okay
Ismeria - NMS
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - pretty & simple
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - lovely & melodic
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (the [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling weirds me out) - NMS
Cheers
[i]My favorites from your list are [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f]! These three are absolutely gorgeous.
Iam neutral for Illyria and [name_f]Mara[/name_f]. I really like Illyria but only as a middle name. [name_f]Mara[/name_f] is gorgeous but for some reason, I prefer it as a middle name also.
I dislike [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f], Ismeria, [name_f]Serena[/name_f] and [name_f]Una[/name_f]. Everytime I see [name_f]Serena[/name_f], I think of [name_u]Blake[/name_u] Lively. [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] okay but it feels dated to me. Ismeria looks weird to me and I dont like [name_f]Una[/name_f] at all.
[name_f]Edit[/name_f]: I just saw your new post. I agree that Illyria is best as a middle name and I wouldnt think that [name_f]Serena[/name_f] honors [name_f]Sarah[/name_f].[/i]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f] - love the name [name_f]Eve[/name_f]. It might be my #1 girl name. It’s definitely top 5. I love it’s simple beauty. The only thing I have against it is the ubiquity of [name_f]Evie[/name_f]'s and [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]'s
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] - I would love to meet a girl named [name_f]Cassia[/name_f]. So much prettier than [name_u]Cassidy[/name_u].
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - lovely name. I’m not sure why this isn’t higher on my list. I guess just because it wouldn’t sound well with my surname.
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] - okay, bit smooshy but a nice name
Illyria - it is a gorgeous name! Definitely unusual. More of a middle name for me.
Ismeria - same as Illyria (but maybe not as lovely)
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - okay. I like the “serene” aspect of it, but it’s a little blah
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - okay, a little dull
[name_f]Una[/name_f] - bit too much of an onomatopoeia for my taste. I prefer [name_f]Luna[/name_f] or [name_f]Junia[/name_f]
[name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] - I’m usually not a fan of hyphenated names, but I strongly prefer [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Marie[/name_f] over [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f]. Or, [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f], one as a first name, the other as a middle. Somehow, [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] looks wrong… like someone forgot to type the space.
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] (I prefer “[name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-uh”) - [name_u]Love[/name_u] it, I pronounce it [name_u]CASS[/name_u]-ee-uh too.
[name_f]Eve[/name_f] - I adore [name_f]Eve[/name_f], like… a hundred times more than [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. There are a lot of longer versions ([name_u]Evelyn[/name_u], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Evadne[/name_f], etc), but I really, really hope more people will use [name_f]Eve[/name_f] on its own. It’s such a neglected gem.
Illyria (too obscure? sounds like a disease?) - Not too obscure, but then I am a fan of unusual names. 8) Illyria is on my list for potential middles. I’d love to meet little Illyria.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] - lovely name.
Ismeria (see Illyria) - interesting but nms. If I meet a little Ismeria, I guess I’ll be surprised and then compliment the parents.
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - I’m not a fan, I prefer similar names like [name_f]Marie[/name_f]/[name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_f]Lara[/name_f], [name_f]Tara[/name_f], [name_f]Cara[/name_f], etc.
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - love it. The meaning, the look, everything about it.
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (the [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling weirds me out) - I like both [name_f]Una[/name_f] and [name_f]Oona[/name_f] spelling. Another name that I think needs to be used more.
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mara[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] [name_f]Helen[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f] [name_f]Serene[/name_f]
Thank you to everyone who responded! You’ve been super helpful and I think I’ve decided which names to keep and which to strike off the list.