I’ve really been enjoying [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]. I love that it’s uncommon but familiar and the sound is warm and robust (weird description, I know, but that’s what I get from it).
But I’ve always wanted my first daughter’s middle name to be after my mother, who goes by both [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] and [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]. I really like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] better than [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] or any of its variants but…[name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] is the full name of [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_m]Quimby[/name_m] from the book series by [name_f]Beverly[/name_f] [name_m]Cleary[/name_m].
Is this really a problem? Or am I just being neurotic? Lol.
Also any other girl names like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] that you find uncommon and interesting? And I don’t mean like [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] or [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] because, while beautiful, those are always mentioned on nameberry. I mean names like…well, like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] that are very rarely suggested but have a similar vibe.
Hmm, that’s a tough one! Knowing [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_m]Quimby[/name_m]'s middle name, I wouldn’t want to use [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] either, but I bet very few people know [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_m]Quimby[/name_m]'s middle name. If you love [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f], I vote that you use it anyway and if anyone ever presses you/your daughter on it, it’s easy to say that [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] is after her grandmother. Otherwise, [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] isn’t objectively a bad name, nor are [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Therese[/name_f] or [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] - it’s been nice seeing it get some attention around here!
I totally agree with your description of [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]. I like it for all the same reasons.
It wouldn’t be my first choice to name a child a full name of a literary character. But since [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] has meaning and family history, I really don’t think it’s too bad. The odds are she’ll only go through 3-5 years of running into that when her age group could be reading the books.
Some suggestions similar in feel to [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]…
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Davina[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Trudy[/name_f]
[name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
I also love [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]! Warm and robust is a great description for it. I always imagine a spirited, warm person with a big personality; [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] wouldn’t be my quiet, introspective, flower-child baby. I love [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] too, but they feel more like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]'s sisters than [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]'s equals (maybe because of Beezus and [name_m]Roald[/name_m] Dahl’s [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]?)
All of these give me the same, or close, feelings. Spunky, warm, heart-on-your-sleeve type ladies, clearly feminine but strong. They also feel a little bit grandma, but I like that.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]? The flow is great and [name_f]Tess[/name_f] is a nickname of [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]! Others that have similar feel:
I adore [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]. [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f] is actually in the same category as far as characterful names you don’t hear on Nameberry?
Names like it, to me, uncommon on nameberry:
[name_f]Katrina[/name_f] - A bit clunky, slightly dated, but totally endearing to me. One of the un-current forms of [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] that could still give you [name_f]Kat[/name_f]/[name_f]Katy[/name_f].
[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] - A bit heavier than [name_f]Ramona[/name_f], but in the same vein.
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] - Like [name_f]Katrina[/name_f], it’s not in vogue. But it has real mythological weight! [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] is catlike and graceful to me for reasons that probably relate to [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] Hepburn - but I far prefer the name to [name_f]Audrey[/name_f].
Isidra - Much like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] to me. But more obscure.
[name_f]Lucasta[/name_f] - [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] meaning, warm sound. A [name_f]Lu[/name_f]- name you rarely hear.
Ursaline - You see [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] (which I like too) occasionally, but never Ursaline. I find it cute. The little bear image is adorable.
[name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] - It’s a real name, I swear. A bit more to it than [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f]. Neither [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] nor [name_f]Thomasina[/name_f] get any love on Nameberry despite [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] being praised as a great name for a boy. (And frankly I prefer the girl versions)
Thanks so much, I really enjoyed your suggestions. Any other names you like, even if you think they’re in a different vein? You seem to have great taste. Also, on the subject of feminine variations of [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], I know a girl named Thomaia who goes by [name_m]Tommy[/name_m]. Super cute.
Oh, my problem is liking too MANY names! I’ll try not to put out a huge obnoxious list…
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] - These little flowers (violets, johnny-jump-ups, heartsease…) are so somber and sweet. And the name has weight to it, and [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]… and isn’t as popular as [name_f]Violet[/name_f]. I am really struggling to limit this list to just one V name though - I love [name_f]Viola[/name_f], [name_f]Veronica[/name_f], [name_f]Valeria[/name_f], [name_f]Valeriana[/name_f]…
[name_f]Zephirine[/name_f] - This feminization of [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u] is a bit too “exotic” to pair precisely with [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]IMO[/name_f], but it’s got similar spunk and a bit of magic to it. ‘[name_f]Zephirine[/name_f] Drouhin’ is also a variety of antique nearly thornless rose that’s a slightly over the top shade of pink but a really delicious scent.
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] - [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] is a lot like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] actually, though [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] is probably even closer. (I just don’t love the y). It’s not unknown like [name_f]Zephirine[/name_f] but it’s not common, and it’s got a certain forest-wildflower sound to it to me. Or I’m crazy. It is sometimes thought to relate to a Welsh moon goddess (the white circle/white ring reference being the moon) but it’s not as strident as [name_f]Luna[/name_f] or [name_f]Selene[/name_f].
[name_f]Verity[/name_f] - An uncommon virtue name. I really like it.
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f] - If you like [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] etc. you might like [name_f]Theodora[/name_f]. It has a lovely meaning, as does its mirror-name, [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f].
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] - goddess of wisdom. Hard to beat.
[name_f]Leocadia[/name_f] - I really like this but it’s a lot of name. I like [name_f]Livia[/name_f], [name_f]Liora[/name_f], and way too many L’s as well!
[name_f]Ione[/name_f] - Can’t use [name_f]Ione[/name_f] AND [name_f]Ramona[/name_f], but I love both. It means ‘violet’ which I love.
I don’t want to wear out my welcome. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I think of [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] is being sort of an old school new york name. Like the movies [name_u]West[/name_u] Side [name_u]Story[/name_u] and Grease pop into my head when I see the name [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]. A big tough sassy girl who likes to laugh and does not take sh** from anyone: [name_f]Ramona[/name_f].
Names the feel the same to me as [name_f]Ramona[/name_f]:
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_f]Anita[/name_f]
[name_f]Deborah[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhona[/name_f]
Davinia
[name_f]Doris[/name_f]
[name_f]Bertha[/name_f]
[name_f]Judith[/name_f]
[name_f]Margie[/name_f]
[name_u]Jean[/name_u]
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemarie[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]
[name_u]Angie[/name_u]
[name_f]Angela[/name_f]
[name_f]Bernadine[/name_f]
When I saw [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] I automatically thought of the literary character, but I had no idea her middle name is [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f]. I don’t think anybody remembers.
I actually prefer the name [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] to [name_f]Geraldine[/name_f], but as a middle name with [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] I think [name_f]Therese[/name_f] ([name_m]French[/name_m] pronounciation) would flow better.
I don’t really think the fact that [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_m]Quimby[/name_m] had the same middle name matters. Most people don’t read the books anymore.
I do like pp’s suggestion of [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]. I also like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Therese[/name_f].
I don’t really think its a problem, I didn’t know her middle name and I’m sure the only people who might are young girls at the age to read the books. Anyway, since it has family significance I would keep it on the list.
Good luck with whatever you decide.