Sorry it took me so long to get back to this! Life just got insanely crazy for a while there. So excited to come back to lists of lovely suggestions though! I think I’ll write a book to celebrate 
rhiatayler – I adore your description of [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]! And she’s my favorite Charmed sister, heehee. On the list she goes! [name_f]Merida[/name_f] has never appealed to me, despite the Brave character’s glorious red curls. I’ve always loved [name_f]Stella[/name_f] and variants on paper but they just sound so stiff when I say them. I’m warming up to [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], she’s on the list…it’s just hard to be content with her after her fabulous winter rose of a sister, [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] was vetoed. I think my favorite of your suggestions is [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]. I’d never considered it before, but I do love names with sun/moon/star/sky meanings, and the only [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] I’ve ever met was a sweet charming little creature. [name_u]Everly[/name_u] was my original long form for [name_f]Evie[/name_f], but Hubs flat refused. [name_m]Le[/name_m] sigh…
Ooh, V middles! You’re so kind. [name_f]Veda[/name_f] appeals to me for the spiritual connection, and [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], though I prefer [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]/Vivienna. Thank you!
ottilie – Oh you make me giggle picturing that scene between Ditaroo, Hubs, and our dear Ms. [name_f]Autumn[/name_f]! Annevieve and [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] are equally [name_m]French[/name_m] and equally nixed. Sigh.
Darling, you make me want to love [name_f]Helena[/name_f] SO BADLY but I just can’t. I have known several Helens in my life and some in my extended family, and they’re all singularly unpleasant people 
I can’t hear the name without vivid childhood sensory memories of my neighbor [name_f]Helen[/name_f]'s house which reeked of cigarettes and cat urine. It’s so unfortunate when a perfectly lovely name is ruined by bad associations!
The ones that Hubby will axe for sure: Alaida, [name_f]Belinda[/name_f] (family friend), [name_f]Giselle[/name_f] (first syllable sounds like an unfortunate slang word), [name_f]Iselin[/name_f], Ivalo, Laudine, [name_f]Tilda[/name_f]/Vilda, [name_f]Tyra[/name_f] ([name_m]Banks[/name_m]), [name_f]Thyra[/name_f] (thyroid). [name_f]Nerissa[/name_f] is off-limits because of a friend’s baby, [name_f]Petra[/name_f] is spoken for by my bestie, [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] is the Valkyrie on Lost Girl. That leaves the following:
Ainsel – so cute! fear the veto… and is it too similar to [name_f]Alice[/name_f]?
[name_f]Deirdre[/name_f] - sometimes I love her, sometimes I think she’s just awkward. And her myth is so tragic that some sources list her name as meaning sorrowful! I know some folks think sad = romantic, but I’m not usually one of them.
[name_u]Marion[/name_u]/[name_u]Marian[/name_u] - I do like the Southern vibe of [name_u]Marion[/name_u], it always makes me think of the Swamp [name_m]Fox[/name_m] and Spanish moss…a little nod to my roots. [name_u]Marian[/name_u] of course has the [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood link. I’ll have to have a think.
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u] – [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] really appeals to me. Pithy and salty and mysterious. I picture wreaths of fog along rocky coastline, and lonely buoys with bobbing lights and echoing bells. My fear (and this applies the [name_u]Marian[/name_u]/[name_u]Marion[/name_u] as well) is the nickname [name_f]Merry[/name_f]/[name_f]Mary[/name_f]. [name_f]Mary[/name_f], to me, is the chloroform of names, so snoozeworthy she knocks me out. And [name_f]Merry[/name_f], while a certain dashing little hobbit, is no different phonetically.
[name_f]Olwen[/name_f] – Husband likes [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], so he might warm up to [name_f]Olwen[/name_f]. I see winter woods of Narnian proportions and silent-winged snowy owls. Is she too similar to [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]?
[name_f]Selma[/name_f] – I don’t love this name, but neither do I hate it. I’m not familiar with it, and no imagery comes to mind. Which could mean one of two things: blank slate (yay!) or dud (aww…)
My inspiration well was running dry, so it’s wonderful to immerse myself in suggestions again. If anyone has more, bring them on! Once I get a decent list, I’ll probably post one of my imagery threads.
