Out of those, I think my top fave would have to be [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]. I think it sounds pretty and not-too-common without trying too hard. I also love the -bel spelling as opposed to -belle. (Also I’m a sucker for literary names, and this one reminds me of [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] [name_u]Lee[/name_u].) There were actually a lot of names on your list that I like, so here is a bit more explanation:
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]: I totally dig [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] as a goddess, but I think Nameberry has burned me out on this name. I feel like I see it everywhere on here. Plus, there’s a lot of people who are under the impression it’s pronounced Purse-phone, and not [name_m]Per[/name_m]-sef-on-ee. Naming your kid after the queen of the underworld is pretty cool, but being called Purse-phone isn’t. [name_f]Iphigeneia[/name_f]: This name is one I stumbled across recently. I like it, it’s fun to say, but I just don’t love it for some reason. I have no real complaints; if I met a kid with this name, I would certainly think it was unique. [name_f]Hera[/name_f]: I think this is a pretty name, it’s one of my top choices after [name_f]Annabel[/name_f]. The only thing I can see that might be wrong with it is that [name_f]Hera[/name_f] was super spiteful. People might bring that up all the mean things goddess [name_f]Hera[/name_f] did. (I also prefer it pronounced Heer-uh, even though I know that Hehr-uh is correct. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t ask me why.) Nocturne: This one feels a little bit like it’s trying too hard. I like the musical connotations, and I usually love names that mean night/darkness/etc. I could see it as a middle name, but as a first it just feels really heavy. [name_f]Virginia[/name_f]: Eh. Never really liked this name personally. [name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]: Fun to say, but it’s not something I’d take very seriously as a name. [name_f]Ligeia[/name_f]: This one just sounds really awkward to me. It doesn’t sound very wearable. [name_f]Elektra[/name_f]: My mind immediately goes to [name_u]Carmen[/name_u] [name_f]Electra[/name_f]. I feel like this could be a superhero name, and not a baby name. [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]: This is another one of my top faves from your list. It’s pretty and not overused. [name_f]Psyche[/name_f]: A guilty pleasure name for me. I feel like this name would be too associated with the word psyche, and not the goddess. [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]: This name is alright. It’s simple and pretty. Innocentia: Not a fan of this one. I don’t know why I dislike it so; it’s a combination of it sounding strange to me, and I don’t like how strong the [name_m]Innocent[/name_m] part of it is. Terpsichore: For some reason the Ter- beginning reminds me of turtles, or turpentine. Again, kind of a heavy name and really hard to grow into. Penthesilia: This name sounds like a medication or a disease to me. [name_f]Andromache[/name_f]: Kind of hard to grow into and not something I can imagine a child being named. [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]: This one’s cute. I don’t know if I could imagine a grown woman with this name, but I like that [name_f]Dora[/name_f] and [name_m]Pan[/name_m] are easy nicknames. [name_f]Kassandra[/name_f]: I’m used to the [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] spelling, but I like this name. Melinoe: Reminds me of melanoma.
@vestigesofsummer: thank you very much for your help. I have the same problem with [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think Proserpine is better? I lov the connection with the [name_m]Dante[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] Rosetti’s painting and the nicknames [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] and [name_f]Nina[/name_f] but I have got very negative answers with this one. What do you think?
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_f]Elektra[/name_f]
[name_f]Kassandra[/name_f]-I like the K with the traditional sounding name. It gives [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] energy and individuality.
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]- I loved this name for years until I found out the meaning but if that doesn’t bother you then this name is a wealth of nn possibilities and lots of quirky features. *
I think I picked these out particularly because they are mostly uncommon but familiar. It is a perfect balance. I feel that it might be hard for eg. an Innocentia not to despise her name in this day and age. It might be a little hard to live with (can you imagine trying to introduce yourself with the name [name_f]Psyche[/name_f]?). I would move these types of names to mn only.
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], [name_f]Roxane[/name_f] and [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] are perfectly okay names but I don’t feel they fit with your list (some are too dated and some too ‘ordinary’.
*and I know I can’t count. I couldn’t pick out a fifth favourite although there were others that I liked.
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - I think this sounds really cool in English and I assume that it sounds similar in Greek
Proserpine - I have no clue how to pronounce this but it looks so cool and quirky, yet soft and romantic at the same time!
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] - something a bit more ‘plain’ perhaps but effective
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] - stunning, took me a while to love but then I wondered why I didn’t since it combines everything I love in one name
[name_f]Kassandra[/name_f] - edgy yet feminine
Melinoe - I love these kinds of names and I wish there were more of them!
You and I have very different naming styles haha… but some feedback is better than none, right?
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] is my favorite. I know it’s not Russian but it sounds Russian to me and despite having no connection to the country or culture whatsoever, I seem to love most Russian names. I also tend prefer names that end in “a”, though that is not intentional on my part. Great name and I wish I could use it.
[name_f]Virginia[/name_f] is my second favorite. I think this is an unappreciated gem! The fact that it means virgin and has the word virgin in it doesn’t both me in the slightest. It’s a classic but you never hear it anymore. Plus, [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] the state is a wonderful place, with deep historical roots, southern charm, and a lot of beautiful, untouched land to explore and enjoy. Nickname [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] is awesome bonus points.
[name_f]Hera[/name_f]. This one is iffy for me. I like the sound better than most of your other options (there’s that ‘a’ again) but the connection with the goddess is a turn-off because imo [name_f]Hera[/name_f] was one of the least likable of the Greek pantheon! I don’t remember much but she always seemed to be bitter and jealous of [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]’ philandering and never really had a cool story? Similar in style and theme, I prefer the name [name_u]Hero[/name_u] x 100.
I don’t really like any of the other options, sorry. Good luck narrowing your list down!
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] - so, so sweet! [name_u]Unique[/name_u] with a charming sound.
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] - Familiar and unique
[name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] (more than [name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]) - Different, super sweet, nice rolling sound.
[name_f]Roxane[/name_f] - I love the nickname [name_f]Roxy[/name_f]. I’ve considered ‘[name_f]Roxana[/name_f]’ myself
[name_f]Hera[/name_f] - This is a strong female. I like it.
