Hey berries, I’m searching for a specific name for a novel and I need your help!
So, this name has to be:
- Feminine (not unisex)
- Of Gaelic origin, though preferably Scottish-Gaelic
- Unusual (not something you would see every day)
- Must have a nickname that would have been familiar and common for American teenagers in the 90s
- Preferably doesn’t end in the -ee sound
For example, I really adore [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elle[/name_f], and would actually look past the lack of Gaelic origins if it was the one, but [name_f]Elle[/name_f] just doesn’t seem to suit this character. It’s too sweet… not enough spunk. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Elle[/name_f] can be spunky?
I also liked [name_f]Rosamunde[/name_f] nn [name_f]Rose[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u], because I could use Germanic roots if I really needed to (I just prefer not to, but her father has a [name_m]German[/name_m] background). [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is, once again, too sweet, but [name_u]Romy[/name_u] seemed perfect. However, it wouldn’t have been common in the 90s (the nickname is supposed to make her blend in, not stand out more), and it doesn’t even have the right origins.
Female names of Gaelic origin I’ve already found are [name_f]Aife[/name_f], [name_u]Nairne[/name_u], [name_f]Catriona[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f] and [name_f]Floraigh[/name_f].
Thank you for any help!
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] is nice- couls [name_f]Effie[/name_f] be an alternative nn? Or [name_f]Beth[/name_f]?
Some others
[name_f]Flora[/name_f] ([name_u]Rory[/name_u])
[name_f]Catriona[/name_f] ([name_f]Cat[/name_f], [name_u]Kit[/name_u], [name_f]Cait[/name_f])
[name_f]Clodagh[/name_f] ([name_f]Clo[/name_f], [name_f]Coco[/name_f], [name_f]Chloe[/name_f])
[name_f]Aileen[/name_f] ([name_f]Lena[/name_f])
[name_f]Fenella[/name_f] ([name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Nell[/name_f])
[name_f]Aisling[/name_f] ([name_u]Ash[/name_u])
[name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] ([name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_u]Izzy[/name_u])
[name_f]Mairead[/name_f] ([name_u]Rae[/name_u], [name_f]Maddy[/name_f])
[name_f]Rhona[/name_f] ([name_f]Rosie[/name_f], [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u])
[name_f]Lilias[/name_f] ([name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Lil[/name_f], [name_u]Issy[/name_u])
Eilionoir ([name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_u]Lee[/name_u])
[name_f]Maureen[/name_f] ([name_f]Mimi[/name_f])
[name_f]Talulla[/name_f] ([name_u]Tally[/name_u], [name_f]Lulu[/name_f])
I knew a number of teen with Gaelic names, mostly Irish, in 90s
[name_f]Aideen[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dina[/name_f] or [name_f]Deena[/name_f]
[name_f]Deirdre[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dee[/name_f] or [name_f]Didi[/name_f]
[name_f]Belva[/name_f] nn [name_u]Bell[/name_u] or [name_u]Val[/name_u]
[name_f]Eimear[/name_f] nn [name_f]Miri[/name_f] or [name_f]Mira[/name_f]
[name_f]Ciara[/name_f] or [name_f]Kiera[/name_f] nn [name_u]Kerry[/name_u] or [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] or [name_f]Cari[/name_f]
[name_f]Tara[/name_f] nn [name_f]Teri[/name_f]
Ailsa nn Allie
@greyblue thank you so much! [name_f]Effie[/name_f] definitely adds some spunk, it gives me something to think about! [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Aisling[/name_f] and [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] are gorgeous, but I’ve already used them (or variants of them) for other characters. I really like the ideas of [name_f]Fenella[/name_f] “[name_f]Nell[/name_f]”, [name_f]Ishbel[/name_f] “[name_f]Belle[/name_f]”/"[name_u]Izzy[/name_u]" and [name_f]Mairead[/name_f] “[name_u]Rae[/name_u]”! And I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Lilias[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lily[/name_f]!
@erinbeth thank you for your suggestions! I especially like [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f] “[name_u]Allie[/name_u]” and [name_f]Ciara[/name_f] “[name_f]Carrie[/name_f]” 