So I’m just wondering where my names fall. Ideally, i want names that fit into that “sweet spot” where they’re familiar, yet different. Normal, yet unique. I don’t care about my kids being the only one with their name in the school, but i also don’t want them to be one of 5 in their class.
The thing i worry about is that the named that i love, that sound so fresh and delightful to my ears, will sound either absolutely bizarre or completely pretentious to other people. I know that everyone has different styles, and inevitably people will think my names suck. I just don’t want the majority of people who hear my future kids’ names to wrinkle their noses in disgust.
My top two favorites are [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. Oh how i adore these names! [name_m]Just[/name_m] imagining a pair of sisters named these makes my heart sing. I love their meanings, especially with the middles I’ve picked out for each. And the flow and style of each seem to complement each other so well.
My other favorite names include [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. Also names i think i love (but occasionally change my mind on) include [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]India[/name_f], and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f].
All of these feel like names I’d settle for. I love them, but they feel more like safe alternatives to the ones i really love.
So…i guess my question, after all this rambling, is just: are [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] too “out-there”? In my mind they work perfectly, are on-trend without being trendy, are familiar without being overdone or tired. But in mentioning them to a few family/friends, i got wrinkled noses, and some comments about how unusual they are. But i got wrinkled noses in response to [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] as well, so it may just be a style preference.
What do you think? [name_m]How[/name_m] would the real world react to [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]? And what names go best with them if they have a sister?
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] seems to fit your desires perfectly…[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] is definitely more on the “out there” side of things. You’ll get some interesting pronunciations, for sure: ex-anth, zanth, ex-an-thee, zan-thee.
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] strikes me as a very normal, well-accepted name (and pretty!), but I don’t have the same reaction to [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. I’m much newer to Nameberry, so you may get more positive reactions from others.
Disclaimer - I’m automatically a little skeptical about any name that starts with an X as being a little over the top.
I think [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] would be fine in the real world. The only issues I can see is that one girl may well be serenaded with “Oh My Darling [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]” a few times in her life and the other girl may get her name mispronounced with an “x” rather than a “z”. Neither issue is a big deal. I also like [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. Unless you have a special tie with [name_f]India[/name_f], that name comes with too much baggage and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] isn’t a favourite of mine.
I love [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], it would be on my list if my partner hadn’t said ‘no way’ when I suggested it!
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] on the other hand I’m not a fan of… It has an entirely different feel to [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], which is classic and dainty, [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] feels like it’s out of a SiFi film to me!
I love all your other favorites they are all beautiful, I just feel [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] has an entirely different aura.
About [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]: its pronounced [name_m]ZAN[/name_m]-thee, which i think is why i like it, because usually the letter x makes me roll my eyes. I considered using a more phonetic spelling, like Zanthie, but I’m not overly fond of the letter z either, and i think it loses some of its essence without the original spelling. What really clinched this one for me was writing it down on paper. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] looks absolutely divine in cursive! I’m not sure why it feels so vintage to me, but it reminds me of the name [name_f]Francie[/name_f]/[name_f]Francine[/name_f], which feels very vintage
[name_u]Mischa[/name_u], thanks! Your post was a relief for me! I suspect my family will probably sing “Oh my darling” but that kind of works, since my mom used to sing that to us as kids so feels more like a sweet memory from my childhood than a slightly morbid folk song. I’m with you on [name_f]India[/name_f] having too much baggage to really use, but it remains one of my favorites still.
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] I fin gorgeous and I don’t think “Oh My Darling [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]” is really that bad.
I have to agree with others about the pronunciation issues with [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. I would have never pronounced it with a z in the beginning.
The names as a sib-set don’t really work that well in my ears. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] looks very greek while [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] looks very english. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] I find normal but unusual / uncommon, while [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] looks very exotic to me.
Honestly, I think both of them are a little too out-there. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] sounds like a senior citizen and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] reminds me of a science fiction or video game princess. I believe there’s a longstanding sci-Fi book series called Xanth by [name_m]Piers[/name_m] [name_m]Anthony[/name_m].
If you feel like you’re settling with the others, keep looking!
I like [name_f]Francine[/name_f], if you’re going for vintage. [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] is more glam to me, though. [name_f]Maxine[/name_f] and [name_f]Claudine[/name_f] aren’t bad, either. I do love [name_f]Claudia[/name_f].
If you’re dead set on [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], would you consider [name_f]Clemencia[/name_f]? I love that one, but many would say it’s out-there, too.
Okay I’m literally crushing on all your names excluding [name_f]Claudia[/name_f]!
Onto your sibling set in hand - [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] & [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] - it’s elegant, intriguing and classy. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is a sweet dainty name and feels very fruity. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] is just lovely. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] works really well with [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] because she also feels fruity, she’s a little bit more out there, but she works because she feels vibrant and sweet. I’ve literally grown up knowing a [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]. I went to primary school with her and then after primary school we did after school activities together. [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]'s younger sister’s are [name_u]Mischa[/name_u] & [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f] just for some extra info. So for me even though others dislike [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] viewing her too crazy, I think she’s awesome and works great with [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] are lovely!!
[name_f]Sister[/name_f] names for [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]…
From the other names mentioned [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] would work well with [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Clementine[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] would be perfect for the sibling set as she rounds up amazingly well. [name_f]Clementine[/name_f], [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] & [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] have a great flow.
Other suggestions:
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f], [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] & [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
