If I had a daughter tomorrow, her name would be [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]. It’s romantic and feminine, yet still strong and makes an impact. While it is certainly not a name you hear everyday, people would only need to be told once how to say/spell it, if at all. Also, it means “love, affection” in Cornish, which, aside from the lovely meaning, is perfect for me as my mother’s entire family is from Cornwall.
But I could really do with an outside opinion on [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]. Is she too unusual outside Cornwall (keeping in mind I am a Britberry who currently lives in [name_f]England[/name_f])? Are there any negative connotations you think of when you hear it? Would she be mistaken for [name_f]Karen[/name_f]? Immediate reactions are also very much welcomed.
Another thing that would be helpful is any middle names that you think would go well with [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]. I would prefer if you took names from my current signature but it would be nice to get some fresh suggestions too.
Many thanks in advance.
Edit: what do you think of Kerenza Marie and Kerenza Rosamund? Also, what nicknames could be used for it (aside from Kerry)? Is it easily nicknamed? Sorry, I know there’s rather a lot here, but it would be more helpful than you can imagine. Thanks again
I love the name! Personally I prefer it spelled [name_f]Kerensa[/name_f], but [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is nice as well. I don’t think it’s too unusual, as it has a familiar sound and rhythm. The spelling and pronunciation is very straightforward. A few combos you may like, some in your signature and some not:
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Violette[/name_f] ([name_f]Violet[/name_f] is in your signature, but I think [name_f]Violette[/name_f] has a better rhythm)
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Joelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Geneva[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Manon[/name_f]
Oh my gosh, [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] is beautiful! [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] is lovely too. Thanks for the feedback!
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]'s a bit complicated for me. I have a huge soft spot for quite a few Cornish names; my second favourite girls name is [name_f]Demelza[/name_f] right now, and I’ve thought about Lowenna a lot too. And I really want to like [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f], but I have this weird association with it that kinda bugs me. It’s a personal thing though, and that aside I love the meaning, and I think it’s perfectly usable outside the UK. The pronunciation and especially this spelling is very straight forward. There was a girl in my school called [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f], and I thought she had a pretty cool and interesting name. [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] gets a big thumbs up from me.
I like these as middles:
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Lottie[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Annie[/name_f] / [name_f]Anne[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Fae[/name_f]/[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Eleni[/name_f]
I’m from [name_f]England[/name_f] too! I’d say [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is totally usable - despite its uniqueness and lovely Cornish heritage it shares a similar sound and vibe with other more familiar names such as [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], etc. I don’t think it would get mistaken for [name_f]Karen[/name_f] at all - especially with Poldark publicising the even less commonly heard [name_f]Demelza[/name_f].
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_u]Indigo[/name_u] - my favourite middle name from your signature for [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is [name_u]Indigo[/name_u] -
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_u]Indigo[/name_u] is very unexpected but it really, really works! It brings out [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]'s wild side [name_f]IMO[/name_f] [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] is lovely too.
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] would work with a lot of two-syllable ‘nickname’ names like [name_f]Polly[/name_f] and [name_f]Maisie[/name_f].
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Mia[/name_f] is pretty - I kinda didn’t think it would go but actually it kinda does. [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f] is really cool!!!
I too have a soft spot for most Cornish names - unfortunately, if I put them all on it would exceed my character limit I adore [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Faye[/name_f]! [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]/[name_f]Violette[/name_f] and [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Tess[/name_f] seems to have been suggested a lot - perhaps I’ll look into them a little more. Thanks, that’s really helpful.
Yes, Poldark seems to be reviving quite a few old Cornish names right now. I love [name_f]Demelza[/name_f] and always have done, even in the pre-Poldark days.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is and hopefully will always be my favourite girl’s name, my current name obsession is [name_u]Indigo[/name_u] so it’s lovely to hear the two go together. I hadn’t even thought of that combo before.
I had considered [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] previously so I’m glad it’s not just me who thought of it!
There are some great suggestions there - [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] particularly stood out for me but I like [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Maryam[/name_f] and [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] too - so thank you very much!
I like [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f]. It has a lovely meaning. I remember reading the name in a book as a child. It is unusual but I think it’s definitely usable, and I feel it sounds distinct enough from [name_f]Karen[/name_f] not to be confused with it.
I too recall reading a book with [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] in it!
I like [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] an awful lot - but I’m not sure it would be useable as an actual name for my daughter. My first name is [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and my middle name is [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and I think together [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] would be slighty too similar.
[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] and [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Fleur[/name_f] are beautiful too. Thanks a bunch, there’s a lot of great suggestions there.
Another who finds Kerenz@ and many other Cornish names very appealing. I am in Austr@lia and I am hestitant, but I don’t think there are many KerenzAs and people in general don’t know a lot about C0rnwall.
[name_m]Rick[/name_m] $tein (spelling?) Padstow and seafood is all- but I have mentioned names like Tr3gurtha, Tr3maine, etc in discussions and people often ask, “where is C0rnwall?.” That is supposed to be positive in that its not too well known - its Anglo so its fine. I often think its a delightful feminine version of [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] which many think is either boyish or overused or both.
I think I agree with the middles from PPs you have fed back.
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_f]Bethany[/name_f] [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f] [name_f]Chloe[/name_f] [name_u]Christie[/name_u] [name_u]Connie[/name_u] [name_f]Constance[/name_f] [name_f]Edie[/name_f] [name_f]Effie[/name_f] [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] [name_f]Essie[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f] [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_m]Issey[/name_m] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_u]Penny[/name_u] [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_u]Penny[/name_u] [name_f]Polly[/name_f]
from your signature are the only names I would not choose for a middle. I love your options.
I think [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is Beautiful and fresh sounding without being over the top! [name_u]Nick[/name_u] names could possibly be Renzie, [name_f]Kenza[/name_f]!
I know an Australian who, up until moving to [name_f]England[/name_f], had not heard of Cornwall! This shocked me until I remembered to keep it in proportion - after all, he was from the other side of the world I have also always thought there is something beautifully ethereal about Tregurtha.
[name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] has always been a slightly awkward name for me - there are aspects that I love and aspects I dislike. I love the -[name_u]Kenzie[/name_u] sound, but the -[name_m]Mac[/name_m] beginning always put me off (my thinking was that is was too “boyish”, and of course it became too overused a few years ago, so that made it a no-no for me. You are right - [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] takes the good parts of [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] and formats it into a beautiful name, which I hadn’t previously noted.
Thanks for the feedback on MNs - and also thanks for the compliment. The names on yours are simply exquisite - especially [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] [name_u]Auburn[/name_u] and [name_f]Romilly[/name_f] [name_f]Juliette[/name_f].
(Side note: I have visited Padstow 10+ times and so I know it inside out. It’s a beautiful part of the world and I have eaten at [name_m]Rick[/name_m] [name_m]Stein[/name_m]'s (yes, the spelling was correct :)) restaurants too.)
Oh wow, I hadn’t even thought of [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], which is just lovely. [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] is beautiful also. Thanks!
I’d say [name_f]Kerenza[/name_f] is totally usable - despite its uniqueness and lovely Cornish heritage it shares a similar sound and vibe with other more familiar names such as [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], etc. I don’t think it would get mistaken for [name_f]Karen[/name_f] at all - especially with Poldark publicising the even less commonly heard [name_f]Demelza[/name_f].