My husband and I agreed on the name [name_f]Violet[/name_f] if our baby is a girl, but as much as I love the name, it just doesn’t feel right for us. I love [name_f]Violet[/name_f] when I hear it on another child, but I’m realizing it’s not really my style. I’m also hearing “violent” when I say it in a sentence. I’m putting a lot of pressure on this decision, but I think it’s important that our daughter has a strong name. I don’t want something frilly or princessy, and as much as I love cute nicknames on little girls, I want something that will age well on a woman.
My favorite names are [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. I also love [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f], and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] for spunk and simplicity. My husband has vetoed all of these.
Our son’s name is [name_m]Nathan[/name_m] ([name_m]Nate[/name_m]), and we’d like to avoid another “N” name, although I really like [name_f]Nora[/name_f].
We could use your help in finding the perfect name! Also, I know [name_f]Violet[/name_f] is quite popular on Nameberry, so if you’re one who loves the name I’d be curious to hear your thoughts.
I am not a fan of [name_f]Violet[/name_f] at all - I hear violent and think of the girl from [name_u]Willie[/name_u] Wonka’s Chocolate Factory…
That being said, how about these for spunky and sophisticated:
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] - you could use [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and this as a NN or just [name_f]Ella[/name_f] alone
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - close to [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] but maybe DH will like it better?
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Corinne[/name_f]
[name_f]Jillian[/name_f]
[name_f]Maura[/name_f]/[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]/[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
Thanks for your suggestions! Appreciate your take on [name_f]Violet[/name_f] too. I keep picturing the blue girl from [name_u]Willie[/name_u] Wonka, and have trouble erasing that image from my mind. I love [name_f]Ella[/name_f], as a nn for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. I also like [name_f]Maura[/name_f]/[name_f]Mara[/name_f].
When I read your post I thought of something with the nickname [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] could work well e.g
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Emeline[/name_f]
Ps I love [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] as well could your husband be persuaded?
I don’t hear violent at all…I just picture the flower.
A related name you might like better is [name_f]Viola[/name_f]. I feel like [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is spunky, sophisticated, and would go with [name_m]Nathan[/name_m].
Thanks for your comments! From your suggestions I like:
[name_f]Maura[/name_f]/[name_f]Mara[/name_f] - prefer the streamlined [name_f]Mara[/name_f] but worry people would say ‘mah-ra’; also don’t like the demon/devil associations
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Leah[/name_f]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] & [name_f]Julia[/name_f] - always loved both of these, but my [name_m]SIL[/name_m]'s name is [name_u]Julie[/name_u]. Would that be weird?
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
I love [name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Zora[/name_f], but don’t think husband would go for it.
I’ve also been liking [name_f]Maren[/name_f]/[name_f]Marin[/name_f], but I’m concerned about pronunciation issues. I say mare-in, but I’ve heard it mah-rin and muh-[name_f]Rin[/name_f] (emphasis on [name_f]Rin[/name_f]). [name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce this name and what are your thoughts on it, preferred spelling, etc.?
My DD is [name_f]Lauren[/name_f], and I think it works well for the spunky/sophisticated thing. DD #2 is probably going to be [name_f]Kate[/name_f], which also falls in that category, I think! Either of those would pair nicely with [name_m]Nathan[/name_m].
I love [name_f]Alice[/name_f] and [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] from your list!
As for [name_f]Maren[/name_f]/[name_f]Marin[/name_f], I would say “[name_f]Mare[/name_f]-in”. My grandma’s best friend was named [name_f]Maren[/name_f], so It’s a positive association for me, even if I wouldn’t necessarily choose it myself. If you were worried about pronunciation, I would lean toward spelling it [name_f]Marin[/name_f], but I honestly don’t know which way is the “correct” way, if that matters.
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] is definitely not too close to [name_u]Julie[/name_u]. [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Mara[/name_f] are all so lovely!
I believe the correct pronunciation for [name_f]Maura[/name_f] is m-ow-ra and the correct pronunciation of [name_f]Mara[/name_f] is mah-ra.
[name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce [name_f]Mara[/name_f]? Mey-ra?
[name_f]Maren[/name_f] would be pronounced mare-en by most Americans (and mah-ren by a miority).
[name_f]Marin[/name_f] County in [name_u]California[/name_u] I’ve heard proncounced muh-[name_f]Rin[/name_f]. I think that’s the correct pronunciation of that particular place.
Otherwise I think [name_f]Marin[/name_f] would be pronounced mare-in by most Americans (and muh-[name_f]Rin[/name_f] or mah-rin by a miority).
I have a [name_f]Violet[/name_f]…she is a very spunky, dramatic, curly-haired, green eyed girl
Pop culture reference I thought of was the tales of Lemony Snickett…and violets are my favourite flower.
But I completely understand liking a name but not feeling like it’s the name of your child!
Some other spunky names I like (sorry for any repeats)
[name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u]
Audrey was actually a top contender if my son had been a girl, but it has since been used by a friend. My husband doesn’t see a problem with it, but I don’t want to look like I’m stealing her daughter’s name. We have the same problem with Isla, Ivy, and Claire. I guess it’s not a big deal in the long run, so maybe I’ll bring some of these names back to the table.
I’ve also been liking Mabel a lot, but I’d really have to persuade DH to go for it. Ruby has been a long time favorite, and I’m starting to really like the “lou” names - Eloise, Louise, and Louisa.
Eve is a great alternative to Maeve, and I love nn Evie! Also like suggestions Pheobe, Gwen, and Sylvie (or Sylvia).
I adore [name_f]Violet[/name_f], but I love [name_f]Violetta[/name_f] (or even [name_f]Violette[/name_f]). The Italian and [name_m]French[/name_m] versions are pronounced with Vee- so there’s no violent association, imo.
Other than that, my first thought was [name_f]Audrey[/name_f].
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonora[/name_f] - vetoed too?
[name_f]Eliora[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilian[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Brigitta[/name_f]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Helen[/name_f]
