[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! I’m testing the waters for these names intended for a mid-20s adult. Though the names are largely feminine, my goal is to learn more neutral without being outright masculine. The first name should be respectable and relatively easy to pronounce/spell but I don’t mind quirkiness. Basically I’m chasing many perfect balances here [name_f][/name_f]- wearable yet somewhat unique, strong yet romantic, modern yet historic. I’d love a name that would fit just as well in an 1800s cemetery as it would in a D&D group. Meaning is very important as well; I view names as an invocation. I want the full name to signify strength, resilience, renewal, freedom, and/or protection.
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These are the combinations I’ve come up with so far:
I’m not set on the pairings for [name_f]Florence[/name_f] or Artemisia; the former needs more personality while the latter needs something more tame. I have a long list I’m toying with for [name_f]Florence[/name_f] but the double F is calling to me. [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] likely breaks my “easy-ish to pronounce” rule, but it feels intuitive to me. I simply can’t shake my love for this elaborate name as it is just dripping in historical references. I also really love the nickname “Arte” and somehow [name_f]Artemis[/name_f] feels less wearable for a zillennial. I would combine [name_f]Florence[/name_f] and [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] but it’s too on the nose in many ways!
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Thoughts? Which is your favorite? What can be improved?
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is so charming and lovely [name_f][/name_f][name_m]Prosper[/name_m] [name_f]Ciel[/name_f] has a hint of magic [name_f][/name_f][name_m]Bellamy[/name_m] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] is elegant and bold [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] has grandeur and strength [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Adrienne[/name_f] [name_m]Phoenix[/name_m] is okay [name_f][/name_f]- a bit bland compared to the others for me? [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] is zippy and cool, but classic and poetic too [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] [name_m]Rune[/name_m] is magical and intriguing [name_f][/name_f][name_m]Asa[/name_m] [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m] is so charming and poetic [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mavis[/name_f] [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] is zippy and sleek and cheerful!
I guess for me it depends on how serious you are about the historical/works in the 1800s criterion? [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] [name_f]Quinn[/name_f], [name_m]Asa[/name_m] [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m], [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] and [name_f]Adrienne[/name_f] [name_m]Phoenix[/name_m] I would struggle to imagine in a historical scenario. Then on your criterion of “wearable yet somewhat unique”, I think [name_m]Prosper[/name_m] [name_f]Ciel[/name_f], [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] [name_m]Rune[/name_m] and [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f] [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] “Moth” are very whimsical and very noticeably unique and out-there. They scream fantasy book / D&D character, which is fine if that’s what you’re going for, it just doesn’t necessarily seem to be!
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That leaves us with [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], and [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f]. I think [name_m]Misha[/name_m] is a bit of a stretch for [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], but it can work if there’s a reason for it (e.g. the character mentions that she didn’t like any of Bellamy’s nicknames like Bell(e), [name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_f]Bea[/name_f] [name_f]Amy[/name_f] or [name_m]Ames[/name_m], so she had to get really creative). [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] “Laurie” works really well, although this one is maybe not fantastical enough? Maybe if she went by a more whimsical nickname like [name_m]Audie[/name_m], [name_f]Lore[/name_f] or [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. So I think that leaves [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] as my favourite! I don’t see how you get [name_m]Fox[/name_m] as a nickname but I think [name_m]Laurie[/name_m] works. Something like [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Lore[/name_f], [name_m]Ren[/name_m], [name_f]Rena[/name_f] may be a bit more wow, but still, [name_m]Laurie[/name_m] is fine here since the middle name adds a special flair to the combo. [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] is[name_f][/name_f] a very out-there choice so I would expect the character’s heritage to match its origin! Other Florence-with-an-F-middle combo ideas: [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Fay[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Frieda[/name_f] / [name_f]Frida[/name_f]
I like [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] the best!
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If you want a “tamer” middle name for [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f], you could always consider [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- another one syllable middle name from your list that is much more common than [name_m]Rune[/name_m].
These are all absolutely stunning, and fit your description perfectly! I just adore Bellamy Charlotte “Misha” & Prosper Ciel “Percy”, and the Old Hollywood feel of Audrey Lorelei “Laurie” is just gorgeous. Artemisia Rune is absolute mystical perfection in every way, totally wearable & pronounceable, I think!
A few notes: I don’t love Moth for Thomasin Atlas… maybe Moss instead? or Tansy? Florence Ferelith is lovely, though I will suggest Floria Faith or Florentine Faye, maybe with the nicknames Fern, Leni, Floren, Ren, or Florrie. I’ll also suggest using Ariane, Oriana or Ariadne over Adrienne for your pairing with Phoenix – they just have a little more spark!
I appreciate your thorough analysis! It’s good to know which pairings tap into which concepts the most, and which miss the mark entirely.
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I should clarify that for my definition of balance, names that individually fit each side of the scale can be paired together. As a whole, I don’t mind if a pairing leans more antique or more fantastical. [name_f]My[/name_f] hard and fast rules are: gender neutral nickname, the overarching meaning, and the names shouldn’t feel stuck in any particular era. I would say [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] is the most current while [name_f]Adrienne[/name_f] [name_m]Phoenix[/name_m] feels more 2000s to me. For the 1800s cemetery inspiration, I’ve turned to Find A Grave.
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I don’t mind [name_m]Misha[/name_m] or [name_m]Fox[/name_m] being a stretch, but I definitely know what you mean! I love nicknames being a bit of a puzzle that teases apart the whole name because anything goes in nickname territory. I really love the nickname [name_m]Kit[/name_m] but not the names it’s traditionally derived from, so that was a bit of inspiration. [name_f]Lore[/name_f] and [name_m]Ren[/name_m] do fit the vibe as well!
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Heritage is equally Italian and Scottish so [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] is an homage to both. [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] is lovely!
Oh I didn’t consider [name_m]Moss[/name_m], I love that! So unexpected yet hiding smack dab in the middle of [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f]. I got “Moth” from a list of tenuously-connected insect-related names, with “Thom” in [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] being the reverse. That tickled my fancy as a bug lover and the middle name [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] really secures it for me. [name_m]Atlas[/name_m] being the guiding force, the figure of endurance, and the imposing moth completing its transformation. [name_m]Moss[/name_m] as a nickname holds some of that same meaning, what with the plant’s preference for north-facing growth and hardy nature.
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I love [name_f]Oriana[/name_f], though I already know someone with that name. Beside the poet, [name_f]Adrienne[/name_f] does fall flat in its lack of meaning whereas [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] is bursting with it!
Vienna Phoenix “Verve” is so fun! Spunky and meaningful nickname with a culturally significant first name - it’s definitely a contender.
I was considering Artemisia Jules so I’m glad you think it works. There’s a hairstylist, Jules Heron, whose name is to die for. As a given name it still reads masculine, but paired with something so flowery (no pun intended) as Artemisia, it really brings [the combo] down to earth and into the 21st century. Frances’ secondary meaning of “free man” also fits the bill and is always a classic middle name for some added personality.
I don’t know if I do Adair and Arden justice when spoken aloud but they do fulfill the desire for “Artie”. I also considered Ardis, which has a favorable meaning, but I think it would be heard as simply “artist”.