We live in the US and [name]Jemima[/name] was a bit of a wild choice. Where to go from here? I am all over the map. I love clunk cool names, but also British names and old lady Southern names. My husband is hot for [name]Agnes[/name], but I wonder if I want something more “pretty” ([name]Lydia[/name], [name]Celia[/name], [name]Vivien[/name], [name]Miriam[/name]). I have always loved [name]Harriet[/name] (too close to [name]Henry[/name]) and [name]Zelda[/name] (too wild with [name]Jemima[/name]?). I’ve been kicking around a long list since [name]Cora[/name] was born: [name]Alice[/name], [name]Frances[/name], [name]Ida[/name], [name]Ada[/name], [name]Vera[/name], [name]Josephine[/name], [name]Eliza[/name] (family name), [name]Hazel[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Iris[/name]… Due in [name]March[/name] and I can’t bear to go to the hospital without a name chosen. Thanks for suggestions.
From your list, I love [name]Alice[/name], [name]Iris[/name], [name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Beatrix[/name] best with [name]Henry[/name], [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Jemima[/name]. Here are some other suggestions.
[name]Adeline[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name]
[name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Diana[/name]
[name]Sybil[/name]
[name]Ramona[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Philippa[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name]
[name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Augusta[/name]
[name]Virginia[/name]
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Mae[/name] / [name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Edith[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] / [name]Marguerite[/name]
[name]Lucinda[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Lucille[/name]
[name]Amabel[/name]
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Florence[/name]
[name]Rosamund[/name]
Esmé
[name]Selah[/name]
[name]Elsa[/name]
[name]Sincere[/name] congratulations on naming your baby [name]Jemima[/name], I absolutely love it and I agree in the U.S. from what I have heard on naming boards it was a brave choice, but good on you for going with your heart!
I think [name]India[/name] and [name]Jemima[/name] would be lovely. [name]India[/name] [name]Clementine[/name].
From your list the one that seems to fit best is not [name]Beatrix[/name] but [name]Beatrice[/name] which has a more gentle vibe like [name]Jemima[/name] whereas [name]Beatrix[/name] and spunky [name]Stella[/name] work better together imo.
I think these are pretty too
[name]Calista[/name]
[name]Lucinda[/name]
[name]Amelia[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Elise[/name] [name]Ariane[/name]
[name]Susannah[/name] Hope
rollo
I think [name]Beatrix[/name] and [name]Tabitha[/name] would be the best matches for your sibset. goodluck.
Thanks for all your great input! I’ve been chewing on [name]Millicent[/name]. The last name is a tough one with many choices that have to much of an “s” sound at the end. [name]Don[/name]'t think I could do [name]Tabitha[/name]; can’t get the witch out of my head, nor cats for that matter, though it is spunky. Might be convinced that [name]Beatrice[/name] is better with [name]Jemima[/name]. [name]Merci[/name], merci!
I really [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Agnes[/name], and I think it fits with the other three! (:
Cool… My husband won’t shake [name]Agnes[/name]. It does get wildly differing reactions. I like how your favorites are all very round and consistent!
[name]Hi[/name] if your DH is stuck on [name]Agnes[/name] maybe we could sway him by giving him a lot of [name]Agnes[/name] variants? Is there one on this list that you like?
[name]Anais[/name]
Anniesse
[name]Agnethe[/name] is [name]German[/name];
Annest and [name]Nesta[/name] are Welsh;
[name]Agnes[/name] has 75 variant forms:
[name]Agnella[/name],
Agnelle,
[name]Agnessa[/name],
[name]Agnethe[/name],
Agnetta, ,
Ainah,
[name]Anessa[/name],
[name]Anissa[/name],
[name]Annais[/name],
Anniesse,
[name]Annis[/name],
Annisa,
[name]Inessa[/name],
[name]Inez[/name],
[name]Nessa[/name],
[name]Nessi[/name],
[name]Nesta[/name]
[name]Nevsa[/name],
[name]Neysa[/name],
I think Annisa, [name]Anessa[/name],(nn [name]Annie[/name]) and [name]Agnella[/name] (nn [name]Nell[/name]) would appeal the most to me to go with your sibset.
Seeing as [name]Agnes[/name] means lamb I think [name]Grace[/name] would make a terrific mn.
Annisa/Annessa [name]Grace[/name],
[name]Agnella[/name] [name]Grace[/name]
rollo
I love [name]Agnes[/name]! I also think that [name]Tabitha[/name] and [name]Beatrice[/name] work well in your sibset!
Here are a few more ideas
[name]Davina[/name] works a treat and I especially like it next to [name]Henry[/name], [name]Davina[/name] [name]Laurel[/name], [name]Davina[/name] [name]Meredith[/name], [name]Davina[/name] [name]Holly[/name], [name]Davina[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
and
[name]Octavia[/name] so regal. [name]Octavia[/name] [name]London[/name]
[name]Abigail[/name] a Biblical favourite, [name]Abigail[/name] [name]Hope[/name]
[name]Esther[/name] under used and appreciated but ever so pretty, [name]Esther[/name] [name]Beatrice[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Jessamine[/name] I love her she is such a pretty girl. [name]Jessamine[/name] Louise/Luella/Lucy/Lucinda
[name]Sarina[/name] means peace, [name]Sarina[/name] [name]Grace[/name] - peace and grace gorgeous meaning
[name]Imogen[/name] is such a lively girl lots of get up and go, [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Agatha[/name
and I think that the combo of
Tabitha does work but would her nn be Bit? That is cute. Tabitha Beatrice
Beatrice Ottilie
Back to [name]Millicent[/name] first up I think [name]Milly[/name] is the cutest nn but I think [name]Millicent[/name] is a bit harsh BUT I think [name]Amelia[/name] nn [name]Milly[/name] would make a great fit.
[name]Jemima[/name], [name]Amelia[/name], [name]Cordelia[/name], [name]Henry[/name]
Not sure of the nn’s but here are mine
[name]Harry[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Jemma[/name] and [name]Milly[/name]
PS An after thought Do you think Amelia and Jemima are too close in sound and look?
Is there a nickname for [name]Imogen[/name]? I like it a lot.
What about [name]Ruby[/name]? It is my husband’s great grandmother. Is it too popular in the vein of [name]Henry[/name]?
[name]Beatrice[/name]/[name]Beatrix[/name] is feeling too trendy even though I love the author and I live on an island where [name]Beatrix[/name] Farrand designed all the posh gardens in the 19th century.
[name]Eliza[/name] is bizarrely popular in [name]Maine[/name] where I live.
So… [name]Henry[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Jemima[/name] and
[name]Agnes[/name] [name]Grace[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]/[name]Posey[/name]?
The baby was conceived in Tuscany, [name]Italy[/name] and my husband is a quarter Italian. I don’t like any overly souped up Italian names. Any simple suggestions? [name]Dorothea[/name]/[name]Thea[/name] is a family name…
I have an Italian friend named [name]Isabella[/name] who lives in [name]Italy[/name] and despite the popularity of the name here over there it is seldom heard so why not add it to your list?
[name]Immy[/name] for [name]Imogen[/name] or even [name]Mimi[/name] at a stretch.
I love any of these with [name]Henry[/name], [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Jemima[/name]:
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
Italian names that go well with the names of your other children:
[name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Elena[/name]
[name]Emilia[/name]
[name]Gemma[/name]
[name]Lidia[/name]/[name]Lydia[/name]
[name]Lucia[/name]/[name]Luciana[/name]
[name]Luisa[/name]/[name]Louisa[/name]
Magherita
[name]Rosanna[/name]
[name]Silvia[/name]
[name]Teresa[/name]/[name]Theresa[/name]
[name]Viviana[/name]
Hello… I think we share bizarrely similar tastes- my kids are [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Beatrix[/name], and the third daughter is [name]Cordelia[/name], who often goes by [name]Cora[/name]!
Also [name]Jemima[/name] was at the top of my list for all the girls- I didn’t use it in the end as [name]Beatrix[/name] just won out, and I think that a [name]Beatrix[/name] and a [name]Jemima[/name] is too ‘[name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Potter[/name]’ for me. I tested them out together on friends to see if people made the connection a lot- they almost all did immediately.
I love [name]Tabitha[/name] with your kids’ names, but if it isn’t for you, fair enough!
I personally like [name]Millicent[/name], but think probably she won’t; growing up at least.
[name]Beatrice[/name] I like, but think it is VERY matchy with [name]Jemima[/name]. They seem of exactly the same tone and style to me, which is less interesting than some of your other ideas imo.
Since our styles seem pretty convergent, here’s a few from my list which could suit you:
[name]Winola[/name] ([name]Nola[/name]/[name]Win[/name])
[name]Ottilie[/name]
[name]Estella[/name]
[name]Xanthe[/name]
[name]Cerelia[/name]
[name]Eirene[/name]
Europa
Isola
[name]Winifred[/name] ([name]Winnie[/name]/[name]Win[/name])
[name]Heloise[/name]
[name]Mathilde[/name]
[name]Polly[/name]
[name]Agnes[/name]
[name]Aida[/name]
[name]Astrid[/name]
[name]Astra[/name]
[name]Axelle[/name]
[name]Bryony[/name]
[name]Camellia[/name]
[name]Cleo[/name]/[name]Clio[/name]
Clotho
[name]Constance[/name] ([name]Connie[/name])
[name]Ginevra[/name] ([name]Ginny[/name])
[name]Elspeth[/name]
[name]Fern[/name]
[name]Finola[/name]
[name]Flora[/name]
[name]Margot[/name]
Francoise
[name]Gwendolyn[/name]
[name]Hermione[/name]
[name]Iola[/name]/[name]Iona[/name]
[name]Judith[/name]
[name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Juno[/name]
[name]Lyra[/name]
[name]Lucinda[/name]
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Nancy[/name]
[name]Helena[/name] ([name]Nell[/name]/[name]Leni[/name])
[name]Nona[/name]
[name]Olive[/name]
[name]Roberta[/name]
[name]Rosa[/name]
[name]Romy[/name]
Ruta
[name]Saskia[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Maribel[/name]
[name]Miriam[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]
[name]Uma[/name]
Tempe
[name]Virginia[/name]
[name]Wren[/name]
[name]Blythe[/name]
Phew, sorry for the length of the list. Got a bit carried away.
Ooh and here’s my two cents on your current list (in order of liked most—>liked least)
[name]Beatrix[/name]- Obviously I love this name so put it first. However, I’d leave it to the middle name, since you have a [name]Jemima[/name] already
[name]Ida[/name]- My first pick for the first name. [name]LOVE[/name] this with your other kids’ names, and as a name in general. Chronically underused, so beautiful. Vintage, graceful. It has a soft, delicate sound to me. [name]Just[/name] love it!
[name]Iris[/name]- Similar feel to [name]Ida[/name]. A little more popular, but that has its advantages too of course. Gorgeous choice
[name]Hazel[/name]- This one feels a little more perky and seasonal than the previous two. Less serious; which again has positives and negatives. I love the sound, love the fact that it reminds us of [name]Autumn[/name] leaves and nature. However, if I’m nitpicking I would say that it suits a child a little better than an adult
[name]Alice[/name]- I like [name]Alice[/name]. Nice sound, nice literary history (fun story for a child to identify with as a namesake) But, it is so so so popular in the UK. The only reason this name isn’t the top of the list for me, is how often I hear it! A good option though, and also sounds really great in the middle spot
[name]Eliza[/name]- Same as [name]Alice[/name]; I know SO many little Elizas. But regardless, it’s a nice name. Spunky, but for me it has slightly slightly less spunky charm than [name]Hazel[/name], and less grace than [name]Alice[/name] and [name]Ida[/name].
[name]Frances[/name]- [name]Frances[/name] is strong, sensible and for me (synesthesia speaking here) it is a ‘navy blue’ name. There’s something militant but smart about it. Pretty cool, but I think there are names on your list which a little girl would enjoy having more!
[name]Vera[/name]- Like [name]Vera[/name], but it does remind me slightly of ‘severe.’ I do REALLY like it as the middle name of a softer first name choice.
[name]Josephine[/name]- This to me is very clunky. I have never caught the [name]Josephine[/name] bug
[name]Ada[/name]- Probably would have been nice but that it is fiendishly trendy…
[name]Millicent[/name] [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name] [name]Rosa[/name]
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Maribel[/name]
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Juniper[/name]
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Winifred[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name] [name]Fern[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name] [name]Harriet[/name]
[name]Eliza[/name] [name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Ida[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name]
[name]Ida[/name] [name]Violet[/name]
[name]Ida[/name] [name]Hermione[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name] [name]Imogen[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name] [name]Isobel[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name] [name]Katia[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Ottilie[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Rosa[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]Saskia[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Do[/name] say if you particularly love/hate any of these suggestions; and keep us posted on how your list gets on!
Best wishes,
harrietsmummy
I like [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Ruby[/name] and I would keep [name]Ruby[/name] in the middle as it is getting very popular now, but it makes a charming combo with [name]Imogen[/name].
rollo
You all have been so helpful! I love the [name]Imogen[/name] idea and appreciate the candor about the popularity of [name]Ruby[/name]–middle name may be best. [name]Imogen[/name] might sound a little close to [name]Jemima[/name] when I practice calling them both, but I love the style.
[name]Harriet[/name]'smummy, I am so envious when I hear of a [name]Harriet[/name]. I played Scrabble once a week with a Holocaust survivor named [name]Harriet[/name] and have forever loved that name. Off the list with a [name]Henry[/name], of course. I almost used [name]Cordelia[/name] rather than [name]Cora[/name], but went with the pure family name. You have great taste! I really resonate with your reactions to the names–popularity, associations, etc; I think those had all occurred to me and it’s good to have it confirmed. I think you are right on about [name]Ida[/name] and [name]Hazel[/name] and maybe [name]Ida[/name] is even the better choice as this baby will be born around [name]March[/name] 20 (maybe the Ides?!). [name]Hazel[/name] does have a fall association and may be harsher than I want. Some people have a witch association with it too. Is [name]Jemima[/name]/[name]Ida[/name] too close in sound? We are not nicknaming [name]Jemima[/name] at the moment in response to everyone not wanting to say the name out loud.
On another bent, I love [name]Miriam[/name] and have had that on my list as well. I always think of the [name]Clara[/name] and [name]Miriam[/name] pairing in DH [name]Lawrence[/name]'s Sons and Lovers. Though do I want another old testament name and is it too tight lipped when it comes out? I love the fullness of [name]Cora[/name] and [name]Ida[/name], but I also love the warmth of [name]Jemima[/name] and [name]Miriam[/name].
Interesting that you have synesthesia. [name]Frances[/name] is definitely navy blue and I remember someone on this site a couple of years ago doing synesthesia with names (might have been you) and calling [name]Jemima[/name] pale peach. We chose her name on a whim after seeing her red hair and peachy skin. I thought that was perfect. What colors are [name]Henry[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Miriam[/name], [name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Ida[/name]?
Thanks for the great input!
c
PS–Doesn’t seem like people often note last names, but my husband’s is a bugaboo, which makes the naming all the harder. It’s [name]Lester[/name], which probably eliminates a lot that end in “s” ([name]Alice[/name], [name]Frances[/name]). [name]Eliza[/name] sounds good with it, but it is very popular here. [name]Ida[/name] and [name]Miriam[/name] would work. [name]Hazel[/name]? Not so sure. It is a toughy. I kind of like the alliteration of [name]Lydia[/name] (and syllables), but again, may be too fussy (it’s that darn [name]Jane[/name] [name]Austen[/name] character!).