September Sister

Girl Names
1

We are expecting a babe in early [name]September[/name]. I received some really great suggestions on an earlier post. Now I have a more refined list.

A little background: We have two daughters, [name]Cora[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name] and Vesper [name]Irene[/name]. We didn’t plan on it, but nicknames have become integral to our family dynamic. C often goes by [name]Belle[/name] at home, short for [name]Corabelle[/name], and V goes by [name]Pip[/name] or [name]Pippa[/name]. She is just such a [name]Pip[/name]! Each of the girls names includes one [name]Saint[/name] ([name]Adelaide[/name], [name]Irene[/name]), at least one strong literary reference ([name]Cora[/name], Last of the Mohicans; [name]Vesper[/name], Casino [name]Royale[/name]; [name]Irene[/name], [name]Sherlock[/name] [name]Holmes[/name]) and one Greek/[name]Roman[/name] goddess reference ([name]Cora[/name], [name]Irene[/name]).

We are looking for a name that suits a little sister. We would like one name to reference a [name]Saint[/name], [name]Roman[/name] or Orthodox. We like the goddess theme we have going and would like to continue it if we can; Other Greek/[name]Roman[/name] mythological names and perhaps other mythology are game. If we can find a literary reference, too, well that would just be gravy. Nickname potential is helpful, but I know these things tend to evolve organically.

Whew!

We like vintage-y names and are drawn to those of English/[name]German[/name], Greek, Latin, Welsh and Scandinavian origin.

Here’s our short list:

[name]Tove[/name]/Tovia - prn [name]Tov[/name]/[name]Tovah[/name] or [name]Tovi[/name]-ya; Scandinavian origin includes a [name]Thor[/name] reference. We love the sound and meaning of this name.

[name]Ariadne[/name] - Cretin goddess of fertility, perfect for this surprise babe? NN potential like none other. Saint.

[name]Liv[/name]

[name]Neve[/name]

[name]Athena[/name]/[name]Thea[/name] - doesn’t get much more goddess than [name]Athena[/name]. St. Thea.

[name]Aurelia[/name]- Saint.

[name]Gwyneth[/name] - My favorite, Papa Owlett not so convinced. NN [name]Gwen[/name] or [name]Winnie[/name]. St Gwen.

Other names under consideration:
[name]Josephine[/name] nn [name]Joss[/name], or [name]Posey[/name] - Satints Josephine and Joseph
[name]Felicity[/name] nn [name]Flick[/name] - Saint
[name]Willa[/name] (Possibility of [name]Wilhelmina[/name], honors an important family member). More St Williams than you can shake a stick at.
[name]Sigrid[/name]
[name]Petra[/name] - Bl Petra, Saint Peter
[name]Pilar[/name] - Marian title

We also like Thisbe, Hero and Blythe for their literary connections. Maybe have mn potential?

Thoughts? Considerations? Other suggestions? Do any “match” particularly well?

And a big thank you to the Berries who helped me start this list.

2

Any thoughts? My list is kind of scattered. [name]Cora[/name] is a fairly flexible name, but I don’t want her to get left out with another “heavy” name like [name]Vesper[/name]. Many of my choices include “vee” – is that too much with [name]Vesper[/name]?

3

I think [name]Diana[/name] should be a real contender. She was a saint and a greek goddess. She is also the best friend of [name]Anne[/name] of [name]Green[/name] Gables.

4

Thanks ninanoo! [name]Diana[/name] and [name]Minerva[/name] should be prefect, on all accounts, but we just don’t like them enough for first names. :frowning: [name]Diana[/name] has definite mn potential though! Thanks!

5

[name]Gwyneth[/name], [name]Felicity[/name], and [name]Petra[/name] go so well with your other names! The only suggestions I have are [name]Minerva[/name] (nickname [name]Minnie[/name]?) and [name]Iris[/name]. I love all the middle name ideas you have, especially [name]Blythe[/name]!

6

I’m going to suggest a name on our short list, [name]Margaret[/name]… Patron [name]Saint[/name] of Expectant mothers and women in childbirth. [name]Margaret[/name] [name]Mead[/name] could be considered literary? It’s on our list for both of those reasons… plus the anthropology connection.

7

I love your daughters names! Some ideas:

[name]Hero[/name] (greek mythology and shakespeare reference)
[name]Hera[/name]
[name]Freya[/name] (i feel like i ought to suggest this since its my name!)
[name]Juno[/name] (sounds amazing with [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Vesper[/name] imo)
[name]Aurora[/name]
[name]Oriana[/name] (i love this for you!)
[name]Livia[/name]

I love [name]Josephine[/name], [name]Aurelia[/name], [name]Ariadne[/name], [name]Willa[/name], [name]Liv[/name] and [name]Athena[/name] from your list.

[name]How[/name] about:
[name]Hero[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Willa[/name] [name]Ariadne[/name]
[name]Liv[/name] [name]Oriana[/name]

8

Thanks freya! I like your combos. I was pushing for [name]Cora[/name] to be a [name]Freja[/name] – but it has been nixed time and time again by Papa Owlett. He also nixed [name]Juno[/name]. He’s such a party pooper! :stuck_out_tongue:

[name]Oriana[/name] isn’t one I’d heard before. I enjoy [name]Ori[/name]. Definitely goes on the consideration list!
[name]Hero[/name]'s up there on our mn list. We were bold enough to use [name]Vesper[/name] – but are we bold enough for [name]Hero[/name]? I’m not sure. Papa Owlett and I worked on a Much [name]Ado[/name] production while dating and we’ve been trying to find a way to work [name]Hero[/name] in for years now.

9

Saints (and some mythology/literary):

[name]Flora[/name]: Derived from Latin flos meaning “flower”. [name]Flora[/name] was the [name]Roman[/name] goddess of flowers and spring, the wife of [name]Zephyr[/name] the west wind. It has been used as a given name since the Renaissance. St. [name]Flora[/name] of Beaulieu also a [name]September[/name] [name]Saint[/name]

[name]Agatha[/name]: Latinized form of the Greek name Αγαθη ([name]Agathe[/name]), derived from Greek αγαθος (agathos) meaning “good”. [name]Saint[/name] [name]Agatha[/name] was a 3rd-century martyr from [name]Sicily[/name] who was tortured and killed after spurning the advances of a [name]Roman[/name] official. The saint was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout [name]Christian[/name] Europe (in various spellings). The mystery writer [name]Agatha[/name] [name]Christie[/name] (1890-1976) was a famous modern bearer of this name.

[name]Agnes[/name]: derived from Greek ‘αγνος (hagnos) meaning “chaste”. [name]Saint[/name] [name]Agnes[/name] was a virgin martyred during the persecutions of the [name]Roman[/name] emperor Diocletian. The name became associated with Latin agnus “lamb”, resulting in the saint’s frequent depiction with a lamb by her side. Due to her renown, the name became common in [name]Christian[/name] Europe, being especially popular in [name]England[/name] in the Middle Ages.

[name]Alexandra[/name]: In Greek mythology this was a Mycenaean epithet of the goddess [name]Hera[/name], and an alternate name of [name]Cassandra[/name]. [name]Saint[/name] [name]Alexandra[/name] of [name]Rome[/name] — [name]Christian[/name] saint, known from “Martyrdom of [name]Saint[/name] [name]George[/name]” as Emperor Diocletian’s wife. She is also sometimes called [name]Priscilla[/name] or [name]Prisca[/name].

[name]Cecilia[/name]: Latinate feminine form of the [name]Roman[/name] family name Caecilius, which was derived from Latin caecus “blind”. [name]Saint[/name] [name]Cecilia[/name] was a semi-legendary 2nd- or 3rd-century martyr who was sentenced to die because she refused to worship the [name]Roman[/name] gods. After attempts to suffocate her failed, she was beheaded. She was later regarded as the patron saint of music and musicians.

[name]Edith[/name]: derived from the elements ead “rich, blessed” and gyð “war”. It was popular among Anglo-[name]Saxon[/name] royalty, being borne for example by [name]Saint[/name] [name]Edith[/name], the daughter of [name]King[/name] [name]Edgar[/name] the Peaceful. [name]Saint[/name] [name]Edith[/name] (Patron of Youth)

[name]Genevieve[/name]: From Genovefa, a Gaulish name possibly meaning “tribe woman”. [name]Saint[/name] Geneviève, the patron saint of [name]Paris[/name], inspired the city to resist the Huns in the 5th century.

[name]Helen[/name]: In Greek mythology [name]Helen[/name] was the daughter of [name]Zeus[/name] and [name]Leda[/name], whose kidnapping by [name]Paris[/name] was the cause of the Trojan War. The name was also borne by the 4th-century [name]Saint[/name] [name]Helena[/name], mother of the [name]Roman[/name] emperor [name]Constantine[/name], who supposedly found the [name]True[/name] [name]Cross[/name] during a trip to Jerusalem.
The name was originally used among early Christians in honour of the saint, as opposed to the classical character.A famous bearer was [name]Helen[/name] [name]Keller[/name] (1880-1968), an American author and lecturer who was both blind and deaf.

[name]Regina[/name]: Late Latin name meaning “queen”. It was in use as a [name]Christian[/name] name from early times, and was borne by a 2nd-century saint. In [name]England[/name] it was used during the Middle Ages in honour of the Virgin [name]Mary[/name], and it was later revived in the 19th century. A city in [name]Canada[/name] bears this name, in honour of [name]Queen[/name] [name]Victoria[/name]. Patron [name]Saint[/name]: Shepherdesses

[name]Beatrix[/name]: [name]Beatrix[/name] was a 4th-century saint who was strangled to death during the persecutions of Diocletian. In [name]England[/name] it became rare after the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was the British author and illustrator [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Potter[/name] (1866-1943), the creator of [name]Peter[/name] Rabbit.

[name]Seraphina[/name]: Feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the biblical word seraphim which was Hebrew in origin and meant “fiery ones”. The seraphim were an order of angels, described by [name]Isaiah[/name] in the Bible as having six wings each. This was the name of a 13th-century Italian saint who made clothes for the poor.

With [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Vesper[/name], I think [name]Helen[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Agnes[/name] and [name]Edith[/name] fit the best :slight_smile:

10

You’ve made me love [name]Hero[/name] for you even more now! The fact that it has the mythology connection, a strong literary connection and also a personal connection- i would love to see you use it. I agree, it is a bold choice for the first place, but it would make a stunning middle name. Since [name]Hero[/name] ticks the mythology and literary boxes, how about a sweet, short, vintage saints name in the front that matches [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Vesper[/name] (i’ve just seen Lizzyq has made some amazing suggestions above, sorry for repeats!)

[name]Agnes[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*
[name]Aurelia[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Eulalia[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Helena[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Thea[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*
[name]Celeste[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*
[name]Matilda[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Martha[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*
[name]Lucy[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*
[name]Julia[/name] [name]Hero[/name]
[name]Willa[/name] [name]Hero[/name](from your list)*
[name]Felicity[/name] [name]Hero[/name] (from your list)*
[name]Josephine[/name] [name]Hero[/name](from your list)*
(i’ve starred my favourites)

I’m glad you like [name]Oriana[/name], it really is crazy gorgeous! I’ve been playing with combinations but haven’t quite got there yet! [name]Oriana[/name] [name]Hero[/name] is incredible but i don’t think you have a saint in there.

After i went to bed last night, i suddenly thought of [name]Phoebe[/name] (goddess and also saint), [name]Luna[/name], [name]Clio[/name], [name]Xanthe[/name] and [name]Daphne[/name]. I also got really excited about [name]Flora[/name], since its matches all your criterea, but then i realised it rhymes with [name]Cora[/name]! :frowning:

Keep us posted, i really love your daughter’s names so i’m very excited to see what you choose!

11

[name]Helena[/name] [name]Lyric[/name] [name]Alexandrine[/name]
[name]Xanthia[/name] [name]Juniper[/name] [name]Wilhelmina[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name] [name]Eliza[/name] [name]Abigail[/name]

12

I have very poor knowledge of saints, goddesses and literary figures so using everyone else’s knowledge and the lists they have come up with here are some favourite combos:

[name]Cora[/name] [name]Adelaide[/name] and [name]Vesper[/name] [name]Irene[/name]

[name]Ariadne[/name] [name]Flora[/name]
[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Thea[/name]
[name]Edith[/name] [name]Helena[/name]
[name]Pheobe[/name] [name]Diana[/name]

[name]Oriana[/name], [name]Thea[/name], [name]Hera[/name], [name]Tove[/name] and [name]Flora[/name] seem to similar to [name]Cora[/name] to use in the first spot.

I really like [name]Hera[/name] (middle) and Tovia for as well

13

Out of your names I like:

[name]Ariadne[/name] - I absolutely love [name]Ariadne[/name], so underused

[name]Athena[/name]/[name]Thea[/name] - I like both, I like [name]Thea[/name] more though

[name]Aurelia[/name]- So vintage and cute and classy.

[name]Josephine[/name]- So classy
[name]Felicity[/name] - [name]Just[/name] love it!
[name]Willa[/name]- [name]One[/name] of favorites at the moment. I love it.

[name]Thisbe[/name]- So cute and underused

And they sound well with your other names [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Vesper[/name] (which are awesome by the way).

I love that you have such a connection with the name [name]Hero[/name], but I think its a little bold for a first name, mn is probably better.

Good luck!

14

Thanks for your awesome list, lizzyq. Thank you for taking the time!

[name]Helen[/name], [name]Regina[/name] and [name]Beatrix[/name] are my favorites. I prefer [name]Elin[/name] to [name]Helen[/name], but [name]Bea[/name] and [name]Reggie[/name] are such cute nicknames!

15

[name]New[/name] ideas:
[name]Bettine[/name]/[name]Britta[/name] (anyone know much about these names?)
[name]Imogen[/name] (Papa Owlett’s grandmother [name]Jean[/name] just passed away)
[name]Marit[/name] (We have [name]Merritt[/name] on our boy’s list, but this is much more redolent of [name]Mary[/name], and once removed from word-name status)
[name]Ione[/name] (nn [name]Io[/name]? I like the sound and it meets our mythology criteria)

Boys names are killing me because there’s nothing I really like. Girls names are killing me because there’s nothing I want to cross off the list! Gah!

16

Lol! You sound just like me!

I’m not the best at saints or goddesses, but here are some combinations I like from your list.

[name]Willa[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Gwyneth[/name] [name]Ione[/name] (I love the nn [name]Winnie[/name])
[name]Sigrid[/name] [name]Blythe[/name]
[name]Ianthe[/name] [name]Hero[/name]*

*Sorry just chucking [name]Ianthe[/name] in there as another option.

Naturally I love [name]Imogen[/name], as its my name.

Other favourites from your list were [name]Thisbe[/name], [name]Tove[/name], [name]Liv[/name], [name]Neve[/name], [name]Thea[/name].

17

You know, I had considered [name]Willa[/name] being too close to [name]Cora[/name], but not [name]Tove[/name]. [name]Alas[/name], I think you may be right. The [name]Tov[/name]-a prn is my least favorite, behind [name]Tove[/name] (prn as spelled, the male version) and Tovia (which is a different name), but it is the most correct. And I love [name]Aurora[/name] - but it’s [name]WAY[/name] too close. Maybe as a middle?

18

Thanks imogeneve! You know, I read your user name too quickly and got Imogenevive - which is one killer name smush! lol But [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Eve[/name] is so lovely I’m a little jelly. And I’m glad I’m not the only one with too many girl favorites.

I like [name]Imogen[/name] a lot. My name ends in “gen” also, though. What nicknames have you used? Any?

I like [name]Ianthe[/name] and, to a lesser degree, [name]Xanthe[/name]. I think [name]Ianthe[/name] is out - Papa Owlett’s name is [name]Evan[/name] so to avoid confusion we avoid [name]Ian[/name] (and [name]Ewan[/name], and [name]Owen[/name], and [name]Eben[/name] … )