Collecting as many examples of these as I can find!
I’m specifically after those names that are unmistakable honour names, i.e. [name_f]Angelou[/name_f] and [name_f]Earhart[/name_f] rather than [name_f]Maya[/name_f], [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] or [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]. Lots of these are surnames purely because of the uniqueness factor, but I’d love to find some more first names too!
Great ideas! Especially loving Rossetti and Valadon. And [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] is close to my heart because I spent my year abroad in her hometown
I was going to list some favourites but there are too many
@leafsgirl44 you’re right that there are some amazing Old Hollywood surnames (and from the arts and sciences too). And yes, literary characters welcome too!
I don’t think I’ve seen these mentioned yet (my apologies if they have been!)
[name_f]Hedy[/name_f]
[name_f]Zora[/name_f]
[name_u]Alcott[/name_u]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
Jemison (nn [name_u]Jem[/name_u] )
Curie (I knew a girl called this, she wore it super well!)
[name_m]Morrison[/name_m] (might sound better on a boy, but I think it could be cool for a girl!)
Some stand outs from a book I have, “Bad Girls Throughout [name_m]History[/name_m]” (It’s really good and I would totally recommend if it’s available in your area.
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f] - This one’s pretty obvious
[name_f]Godiva[/name_f], though probably not because of the chocolate. Some research on WIkipedia says her real name was Godgifu or Godgyfu meaning “God’s gift.”
[name_u]Joan[/name_u] - This one is a little simpler, but it is very “[name_u]Joan[/name_u] of [name_m]Arc[/name_m]”
[name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] - [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] Gentileschi, an Italian Baroque painter
[name_f]Aphra[/name_f] - [name_f]Aphra[/name_f] Behn, a British playwright and author
[name_f]Belva[/name_f] - [name_f]Belva[/name_f] [name_m]Lockwood[/name_m] ([name_m]Lockwood[/name_m] could work as well!), the first female lawyer to argue in front of the Supreme [name_m]Court[/name_m]
[name_u]Oakley[/name_u] - [name_f]Annie[/name_f] [name_u]Oakley[/name_u]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] - O’[name_m]Keeffe[/name_m]
[name_f]Hedwig[/name_f] “[name_f]Hedy[/name_f]” [name_u]Lamarr[/name_u] - I quote, "The most beautiful woman in the world - who also invented Wi-Fi
[name_u]Billie[/name_u] or [name_f]Holiday[/name_f] - After [name_u]Billie[/name_u] [name_f]Holiday[/name_f]
[name_f]Iva[/name_f] - After [name_f]Iva[/name_f] Toguri D’Aquino
[name_f]Corita[/name_f] - [name_f]Sister[/name_f] [name_f]Corita[/name_f] [name_m]Kent[/name_m], “an American pop artist and politically active nun who taught art classes throughout her life.”
[name_f]Coretta[/name_f] - [name_f]Coretta[/name_f] [name_u]Scott[/name_u] [name_m]King[/name_m], MLK’s wife and an activist in her own right
RBG - Any of her names work if you’re in to surname type names
[name_f]Oprah[/name_f] - This would probably only work as a middle, but it would be pretty awesome
Some mentioned that I love:
[name_u]March[/name_u] (After the [name_u]March[/name_u] sisters)
[name_u]Alcott[/name_u] - [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_u]Schuyler[/name_u]
I would totally recommend learning about these historical figures, especially since many of them aren’t as well-known.