Okay, so we have two frontrunners which are very very different, and we can’t decide between them, which sort of makes us feel like maybe neither of them is the right one. So we’re open to suggestions as well.
I like
names that were in use in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. anything that’s sprung up from nowhere in the last 50 years or so is probably a no.
historical, mythological, magical, literary, animal and nature associations.
Current favourites are:
[name]Ella[/name]
pros: sort of honours family, as we’ve got an [name]Eleanor[/name], an [name]Elaine[/name], and an [name]Elizabeth[/name] we’d love to recognise, and I really like the name. My young niece also keeps telling me that her new cousin’s name is to be [name]Ella[/name], and who wants to argue with a three year old?
cons: ridiculously, stupidly popular where I am, feels a bit nicknamey, and I don’t like the longer names that tend to derive [name]Ella[/name] as a nickname, like [name]Isabella[/name] and [name]Gabriella[/name].
[name]Minerva[/name]
pros: I like this name and its associations, love [name]Minnie[/name] as a nickname, and [name]MIL[/name] is pushing for [name]Minnie[/name] to honour her family.
cons: Very unusual name that is a bit ‘out there’ and has sounds in it that bug a lot of people. Most people seem to hate it, honestly. [name]One[/name] friend suggested [name]Athena[/name] as an alternative, but I’m hopelessly in love with [name]Arthur[/name] for a potential future brother.
In a perfect world a name would exist where both [name]Minnie[/name] and [name]Ella[/name] would be nickname options, but I’m pretty sure this isn’t that world. Minella isn’t a name, I already checked
ugh, why is this so hard. I used to love thinking about what names I’d give my kids, and now that I’m actually having one, it’s suddenly not so fun
Hmm…this is a tough one. I’d say choose [name]Minerva[/name] simply because the popularity of [name]Ella[/name] is too much. But you’ve got to really love [name]Minerva[/name] because it’s an “out there” name.
[name]Don[/name]'t worry about popularity- truly! I have an [name]Ava[/name] (gasp!) and I’ve only met three other Avas in the past five years, if you love a name then that is what matters not the popularity. There is a lot of negativity on NB about popular names but they are often popular for a reason- beautiful sound,classic feel etc. I love [name]Ella[/name], think its beautiful, simple and elegant. However if you’re after suggestions how about
The first word that sprung to mind when you said that in an ideal world there would be something with both [name]Ella[/name] and [name]Minnie[/name] was “Gelsolmino” which is the Italian word for the jasmin flower/plant. Now I’m not suggesting this as a name BUT what about the beautiful, old, sophisticated, and pretty magical …
[name]Jessamine[/name] ?
It’s from the old French for [name]Jasmine[/name], and it very underused and gorgeous, I think.
The “l” sound is replaced with an “s”, sure, but the pleasing “EH-[name]AH[/name]” is still there at the front (like [name]Ella[/name]), finishing with the feminine “Mine” which gives you the nn [name]Minnie[/name]
[name]Minnie[/name] can be short for any M name, so you have lots of options. Also short for wilhemina and [name]Amelia[/name]. [name]Both[/name] classics for sure. [name]Minerva[/name] is nice, but stiff for a child imo.
I like [name]Minnie[/name] as a short form of [name]Wilhelmina[/name]! Having said that we call our little [name]Matilda[/name] [name]Mini[/name] sometimes… i think you can use it for any M name! I also like it as a nn for [name]Clementine[/name]. And [name]Ella[/name] could be short for [name]Eloise[/name] or [name]Penelope[/name] and that’s just off the top of my head! I definately wouldn’t use [name]Ella[/name] on its own… I do agree with you that its pretty but its overused and sounds nick namey!
I love the name [name]Ella[/name], but it is super popular here, too. There are a ton of Ellies and Ellas. With that said, I still like it better than [name]Minerva[/name]. That name just doesn’t have a nice sound to it. I think the suggestion to find another “M” name if you are really wed to [name]Minnie[/name] is a good idea.
Other M names is a good point, I keep forgetting how flexible [name]Minnie[/name] can be. (I’ve read that it’s sometimes a nickname for [name]Margaret[/name], which I like but DH vetoed.) So really what I want is a nice M name that contains ‘ella’ or at least a strong ‘el’ sound?
DH doesn’t like many other M names though. He says (reading over my shoulder, lol) that he likes [name]Madeline[/name] and [name]Matilda[/name], but that’s about it.
I think you may like [name]Minnie[/name] better than [name]Ella[/name] but are not sold on [name]Minerva[/name].
Maybe use [name]Ella[/name] as a middle. I like [name]Melinda[/name] nn [name]Minnie[/name]
Some names to get to [name]Minnie[/name]
[name]Amelie[/name] [name]Ella[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name] [name]Elle[/name]
[name]Melinda[/name] [name]Ella[/name]
[name]Minette[/name] [name]Ella[/name]
Oh wow, this reminds me of the sweet book [name]Ella[/name] Minnow Pea. What about [name]Ella[/name] [name]Minerva[/name] as a double name? That way it is a bit more uncommon than [name]Ella[/name] on its own but [name]Minerva[/name] still gets to shine.
Definitely [name]Minerva[/name] over [name]Ella[/name]! [name]Minnie[/name] as a NN is adorable and I think [name]Minerva[/name] is a name that a little girl could grow into gracefully. I agree with another poster that [name]Minerva[/name] and [name]Arthur[/name] are a cute sibset.
I would vote [name]Minerva[/name] nn [name]Minnie[/name]- I think its nice. And people hate stuff until they see it on a baby they love. Then they get over it! BUT- it seems like you don’t love it!
What about (these all have “min” in them somewhere")
[name]Elmina[/name]
[name]Filomina[/name]
[name]Romina[/name]
[name]Tasmin[/name]
[name]Wilhelmina[/name]
I really love both of those name! I love the nickname [name]Minnie[/name] for [name]Minerva[/name], but I think [name]Ella[/name] is adorable on it’s own. If you love both, why don’t you use one as a first and the other as a middle. Here are some other names I think you might like:
