Oh I am thinking of the head witch from Macbeth. I was thinking why is [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] wanting to name her child after someone that lured someone to murder? Wrong person ooops!
Since you haven’t updated yet, I vote:
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Isis[/name_f]
Nimue
And everything else as middles.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] again, dear. I am sitting here absolutely full with anger for the reason: I typed a huge, helpful and exciting comment(;)), turned my head to the left and when I got back to my tablet, the comment was gone. I don’t know what I have pressed but I couldn’t get it back again so now I am cross (not at you, of course) and only have time to rank the names before I have to go. Maybe brief words.
[name_f]Boudicca[/name_f] - new one? Sounds interesting, but a bit clunky next to [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f](if I am pronouncing it right). Right now 7/10.
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f] - I have to admit, I got issues with -pee ending in general and -ee ending with sis being [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f]. That being said, I don’t tend to have stereotypes like “[name_f]Myrtle[/name_f] rhymes with turtle” or “[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] has “pen” in it” so I give 9/10.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] - she needs soft, long middle names. For a breathtaking Otter combo(and I know you will nail it) I give 10/10.
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f] - makes me think of Ostrovskiy, as I said. If don’t take my egoistic point of view(cats and awful history teacher), [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] is smart and cool so 9/10.
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] - I like little [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] for you, but [name_f]Circe[/name_f] beats it. But I really can imagine you having a [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], like brave knights, bright stars, and beautiful long braids. I may change my mind later, but for now 9,5/10.
[name_f]Isis[/name_f] - moon and sky! Great, but too short, don’t you think so? 7/10
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] - the most moving story. It will always be connected with something sad to me, but she is definitely 100% your style. 8/10 for a cool medieval girl.
Nimue - 6/10. Somehow nothing to say.
[name_f]Olympia[/name_f] - you know my full opinion about her. 9/10 and don’t forget special sis connection, [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] the Great and [name_u]Angie[/name_u]'s beauty 
Proserpina - ditto [name_f]Pia[/name_f]. 9/10 plus the stunning pic by [name_m]Dante[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] Rosetti.
[name_f]Vashti[/name_f] - more than lovely but I can’t see her with [name_f]Dita[/name_f]…What nickname are you planning to use? Or no nicknames? Let’s say 7/10 for now.
Wow, no names under 5/10 but you know how much I adore your lists. Still the [name_f]Circe[/name_f] camp with [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_f]Pia[/name_f] and Pina not far behind. Hugs going your way and I will try to find time for more soon.
I suck at this! I managed to cut it down to eleven, and then a few hours later there’s eighteen names on my list. Me oh my, what to do… I’m wondering if I should do a pro and con thing and see if that helps, what do we think? Should I reveal my secret weapon (imagery)? Should I log off?
Whirls; that’s okay, especially as I could have that kind of person on my list. Glorifying murderers, not good. Bad otter.
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]; please tell me about [name_f]Aravis[/name_f] and Cassilda, I see them there shining up at me from your signature and I’m intrigued. [name_f]Aravis[/name_f] is from [name_f]Narnia[/name_f]? Tell me more tell me more…
Twinklemama; Thank you!!! Lovely amazing commenting. And ranking, wohoo. You’re helpful as one of those little Cinderella birds. I am going to sell you on Nimue, just you wait and see…
Why hello Otterling old pal. I couldn’t resist popping by. [name_f]Morgana[/name_f] is heavenly with [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f]! I think of mahogany, or chestnut, lustrous dark wood… Old boats with beautiful lines and sails full of wind, prows carved with ferocious figureheads. [name_f]Morgana[/name_f] is begging for Belphoebe in the middle. [name_f]Morgana[/name_f] Belphoebe + third name. Maybe something starry/crisp/wintry there. Sisters:
Perfection:
[name_f]Zenobia[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] (pretty please?)
Bradamante
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]
[name_f]Hypatia[/name_f]
Too lovely to let go:
[name_f]Sibylla[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f]
Niniane & [name_f]Nefertiti[/name_f] could have been an amazing triplet-set with [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f]!!
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] & [name_f]Olympia[/name_f] - too heroically Greek next to Aphro-D? But marvelous.
Not as much:
Hecate is fab, but more of a middle, imo. [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] & [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] with their long crimped tresses, riding sidesaddle through the forest… Dripping beauty, but what more is there to these ultra romantic damsels?.. I miss Gwenllian too Dantea!!! Aradia sounds like “eradicate”, Bellicent like “bellicose”, [name_f]Calliope[/name_f]: “colonoscopy, cantaloupe, catastrophe, kaleidoscopic-psychiatry…” Ok I know it doesn’t really sound like any of these words but it’s definitely got some clunk in its trunk. [name_f]Delilah[/name_f] - I like the femme fatale aspect, but she’s so heavily Biblical to my ears. I prefer [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] if you’re going to go old Biblical. [name_f]Electra[/name_f] - I’m mixed on this. I love her lightening-flashiness, but she does come with some baggage. I think of the “[name_f]Electra[/name_f] complex”, then of that line of [name_m]Bob[/name_m] [name_u]Dylan[/name_u]’s: “The ghost of electricity howls in the bones of her face…” [name_f]Isis[/name_f] is icy, sort of one-note imo. Nausicaa - nausea, the brand [name_f]Nautica[/name_f]. Silmarien - I prefer Tinuviel of your LOTR names. Silmarien is slinky, almost too slinky, salamanderesque. And besides, it’s very close to [name_u]Marian[/name_u].
[name_f]Vashti[/name_f]… I like it in theory - a Hebrew name that sounds like a Hindu goddess. Good namesake… but not my favorite soundwise. “[name_f]Vashti[/name_f] dishes!”
[name_f]Zorya[/name_f] - [name_f]Love[/name_f] the imagery behind the name - the starry gatekeepers for the sun’s chariot- but somehow it feels heavy/masculine to me… maybe because of Zorba?
Some more [name_f]Amazonian[/name_f] names for you:
Penthesilea - There’s a beautiful book of [name_m]Heinrich[/name_m] von Kleist’s play, illustrated by [name_u]Maurice[/name_u] Sendak, about Penthesilea. Cool name.
Hippolyta - I think Midsummer [name_m]Night[/name_m]’s [name_u]Dream[/name_u]. Hippolyta also reminds me of the [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of the [name_m]Night[/name_m] aria for some reason.
Aella - Her name means “whirlwind.”
Melousa - I don’t know much about this Amazon, but a lovely name, no? A notch up from [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], and not far from [name_f]Melusine[/name_f].
Clymene - I just like the name. And there’s [name_m]Homer[/name_m]’s “ox-eyed Clymene.” [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t you love that?
Also: [name_m]Orlando[/name_m] - Have you considered this one for a girl, a la [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_m]Woolf[/name_m]? I think that would be sexy as hell.
Oh rats! I just saw your latest post. Only [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] survived of my favorites eh?
[name_f]Boudicca[/name_f] is bodacious. Nimue is misty and delicate, and I like that it sounds like an African name. [name_f]Vashti[/name_f] and Nimue would be an interesting pair of sisters - kind of pan-ethnic. I do think Niniane is more… complete. Proserpina - I see beautiful [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Morris[/name_m] eating that pomegranite. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like Proserpine? You have so many -a ending names, that it might be useful on your middles list. Again: [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f]? If I metta [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] I would getta thrill! My ears would fly back like an Irish setta in a Volkswagen [name_f]Jetta[/name_f] (or betta) if I met a [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f].
Oh, [name_f]Emma[/name_f], I have missed you so! That [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f] remark had me cracking up over here. Well, my list is now back to twenty names, thankyouverymuch! And it’s all because of you. (well, the last two which are [name_f]Hypatia[/name_f] and [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f].Not going to blame you for the other seven, they were someone else’s fault.) Gwenllian’s back because I was scared someone was going to start a petition, and because I love love love it. I am actually thinking of [name_m]Orlando[/name_m]… maybe in the middle. It’s one of my favourite books. You think my daughter could pull it off? I am starting to come around to Hippolyta. It’s got something. And Aella is one I definitely want to use in the middle, it’s so cool and beautiful and windy (duh…). And I do like Proserpine. I know I have many -a endings, but they’re almost unavoidable! Seriously. So many -a names… Clymene is gorgeous. I don’t know why I’ve never considered this one, I actually don’t think it’s ever been on my list. Which feels weird… I thought all the names had been on my list at some point ;). Thanks so much sweets!!! :D!
And I’m casting my vote with [name_m]Horatio[/name_m] on your boys’ list. Majestic, strong, deep. [name_m]Endymion[/name_m] ([name_f]Lu[/name_f].[name_m]Ra[/name_m].) is my favorite of favorites, then Reishi (I guess it’s a stretch to nickname [name_m]Horatio[/name_m] after the reishi mushroom? I love mushrooms.)
[name_m]Orpheus[/name_m], [name_u]Oberon[/name_u], and [name_m]Galileo[/name_m] are fabulous too. More playful I think because they’re “one-man names.” [name_m]Remus[/name_m]… I think of Uncle [name_m]Remus[/name_m] before [name_m]Romulus[/name_m] & [name_m]Remus[/name_m] - sketchy racial undertones.
Sorry to sneak in my opinion post thread-lock. 
^^ oh good. I’ve missed you too. Was starting to feel like Nameberry was displacing other important brain-space, and I’ve been busy, so I had to step away. [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to be of help. I totally think your daughter could pull off [name_m]Orlando[/name_m]. If little miss Roo can pull off [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f], the sky’s the limit!
Yay, thanks! Stepping away is probably good. Being a pregnant stay at home mum makes my life dull so… more nameberry for me. And your opinions on my boys is noted. Who’s Uncle [name_m]Remus[/name_m]? I think of Lupin and [name_m]Romulus[/name_m] only…
Hello, I am a liar. Excuse me, please. I said I would only rank and go but I am still here. If.Only.It.Was.Easy.Not.To.See.Otter.Comments. It’s not. (By the way, are we supposed to call you [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f] now if we are your helpful birds? That’s a cool name just so you know. Joking, yeah)
So my heart jumps to see Gwenllian is back! Yay yay yay! She may be “not the only one” with [name_f]Circe[/name_f] because you added her back. Then let’s add [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] and [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f] to have all Gwens, bingo! (As you see, I am in a huge joking mood. Gonna(maybe) change my username to CrazyV).
Not to jump around but be helpful: stop here. Twenty is enough for today, just settle with possible nicknames and stuff so far, then some might seem not so suitable or appealing. And imagination, of course. I am sure you know what image will suit your child and what not so much.
P.S. [name_m]Orlando[/name_m] is perfection for boys and girls. V. [name_m]Woolf[/name_m] is cool as well.
Uncle Remus? My fave books as a child (and now)! That rabbit and the turtle…Google! Google! Google!
P.S. By the way, don’t get scared but keep in mind I am a fan of children books as well as other odd stuff. I nearly went to sleep(and I had a crazy night) but I couldn’t go past Uncle Remus. Gonna punish myself for not remembering earlier. So bye for now, have fun(if I don’t log out immediately, I will never do it).
I will google! CrazyV should definitely be your username. But you can’t change it now… I’m taking your advise, making a list with nicknames and stuff. Doodling a lot, maybe the little drawings will help me out…
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
I love these 3!!! As long [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] goes by [name_f]Callie[/name_f].
Out of the updated list, these are my four picks:
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] (it’s brief, but a pleasing contrast)
[name_f]Olympia[/name_f] (since baby will be born during the [name_u]Winter[/name_u] Olympics, and it sounds so strong)
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] (if you want a pair of sexy women)
[name_f]Vashti[/name_f] (if you want a pair of sassy women)
Honorable mention goes to [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], which I get what you’re after with the meaning, but it didn’t make the top cut because it seems a little bit tragic of a namesake.
I think [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f] should definitely go because I feel like [name_f]Aphrodite[/name_f] and [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f] together are just “trying too hard” and wayyyyyy too theme-y.
Oh yay, people read my signature!
Yep, [name_f]Aravis[/name_f] is from my favorite Chronicle of [name_f]Narnia[/name_f], The Horse and His Boy (which I believe is #5 chronologically?) Unfortunately, it’s soooooo racist. Or religion-ist. There’s lots of not-so-subtle bashing of Islam and Middle Eastern culture, so I feel guilty for loving it. But I love it for the plot and the main characters. It’s always stuck out to me among the other Narnias; it doesn’t take place in [name_f]Narnia[/name_f], and I think the story is just stronger. [name_f]Aravis[/name_f] is the female lead–a princess/duchess thing from the fantasy Middle Eastern country whose talking horse helps her escape an arranged marriage. She’s such a BAMF, and she drives a lot of the plot instead of just passively being love interest-y, which I like. People have pointed out that the name sounds like “avarice,” so that and the racism association put it into GP territory for me, but it’s on my middle-only list because of the pretty and the feminism.
Cassilda I first heard in the bizarre 1890s short story collection The [name_m]King[/name_m] in Yellow, by [name_m]Robert[/name_m] W. Chambers. She isn’t actually a character in any of the stories, she’s a character in the titular play-within-the-short-stories, which in the book drives people insane if they read the second act. [name_f]Barely[/name_f] any of the play is in the book, so Cassilda doesn’t do much. The book is utterly crazy, Google it next time you’re bored. I’m not sure whether the name has a history separate from the book or if it’s a literary invention; I just really like it. It has the same vibe as Belphoebe and [name_f]Amoret[/name_f] to me: whimsical, elegant and romantic with pedantic undertones.
ETA: Did more research, and Casilda-with-one-S is a Catholic saint. Behindthename says it may come from the Latin “casa.”
In regards to your updated list, I’d include the following four names along with [name_f]Morgana[/name_f] (which I love, by the way!):
[name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Isis[/name_f]
[name_f]Olympia[/name_f]
That was really hard to narrow down! I like most of them.
Top five from your list:
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Isis[/name_f]
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f]
[name_f]Zorya[/name_f]
Top 5 of these:
[name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] (duh…awesome)
[name_f]Electra[/name_f] (Although the Orestaia is rather tragic…)
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] (I adore Arthurian [name_u]Legend[/name_u] and have long loved [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f])
[name_f]Zenobia[/name_f] (So strong, exotic, and lovely! Plus I am smitten with Z names)
Other suggestions:
Ishtar, maybe?
[name_f]Vegas[/name_f]; [name_f]Callie[/name_f] is one of the nicknames I’ve got lined up for [name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
Saracita; oooh, it’s the Olympics this winter! Haha, that’s quite funny. [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] is a bit tragic, but also brave. I find her a far more compelling namesake than let’s say [name_f]Juliet[/name_f].
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]; I love The Horse and His Boy, I just haven’t read it since I was a child. Cassilda is so beautiful, I can’t use it as we have friends with a baby [name_m]Cassian[/name_m], but learning more is always fun! Thanks for writing all that!
[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]; thanks, it’s hard for me too… my list is now back to almost thirty names, I’ve got serious commitment issues when it comes to names.
[name_f]Liz[/name_f]; thanks!
MissMoon; I love Z-names too… Ishtar is incredibly beautiful, but won’t two fertility Goddesses lock me into a fertility [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] theme? But it’s lovely. Thank you!
Right now my list has 25 names. Yup, I’m not good at this. [name_m]Will[/name_m] close and open a new clean uncomplicated one later. Thanks so much for all your help!