My grandma’s name is [name]Thelma[/name], and she has been a HUGE part of my life thus far. I would love to name a future child in her honor, but I’m not sure if I should just outright name her [name]Thelma[/name]. Ideas?
I’d have to say don’t do it. Some older names are ready to make comebacks, but I don’t think that’s one of them. You could always make [name]Thelma[/name] her middle name. I think if in doubt give the child a new first name, and honor someone else with the middle name.
I really like [name]Thelma[/name]!
I’m not so sure that [name]Thelma[/name]'s ready. I have a similar situation with my grandmothers name: [name]Lois[/name]. I’ve been considering [name]Eloise[/name], [name]Louisa[/name], etc. For alternatives to [name]Thelma[/name] how about:
[name]Thalia[/name]
[name]Thea[/name]
[name]Theadora[/name]
[name]Theresa[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name]
[name]Tonya[/name]
[name]Tess[/name]/[name]Tessa[/name]
[name]Thora[/name]
[name]Tallula[/name]
[name]Tilda[/name]
[name]Helena[/name] (has a very similar sound, depending on which pronunciation you prefer, I happen to like helen-a)
[name]Alma[/name]
[name]Selma[/name]
[name]Just[/name] thought of [name]Paloma[/name] as well!
You could use her maiden name. Or think of associations you have of her. Does she admire someone? You could also give her the honor of naming the child.
That is dangerous…I would be scared to let my grandmothers name my baby. I saw what they did to their own children.
I agree with the other posters. [name]Thelma[/name] isn’t ready to be used again as a first name. I think of [name]Thelma[/name] and [name]Louise[/name] when I hear the name. Figure out another way to honor her. I like the middle name option and I like the idea of using her maiden name. Does she have a middle name that you could use instead?
I had an aunt named [name]Thelma[/name]! I think it’s a lovely name. But my husband shot it down.
As I little kid, I didn’t like it, but I do think it’s actually quite beautiful now. It’s very soft and fluid without being too frilly and overly girly.
I have no idea how it is that names like [name]Matilda[/name], [name]Maude[/name], [name]Mabel[/name] and [name]Hazel[/name] and are ‘ready for a comeback’ but [name]Thelma[/name] isn’t? I grew up with all of those being stuffy old lady names, so I think they’re all game for names again.
I also have to admit that I personally don’t buy into the ‘choose a name that looks or sounds similar instead of your actual relative’s name’ thing myself, although I know it’s very popular here on nb.
I believe that if you want to name your child after a dear relative, then you name him or her that specific name - first or middle, but [name]Talia[/name] or [name]Thea[/name] has absolutely no connection to [name]Thelma[/name] to me, so what’s the point?
The exceptions would be derivative names - [name]Georgina[/name] after [name]George[/name] or [name]Georgeanne[/name], for example, or nickname names, like naming a child [name]Elena[/name] and calling her [name]Ellie[/name] after a grandmother that was named only [name]Ellie[/name].
However with [name]Thelma[/name], those two options don’t really work… There is [name]Telma[/name], however. It’s a bit more modern…
BUT, [name]Thelma[/name] would make a great mn, and I think that you could even use [name]Thelma[/name] as a first name and go by a nn if [name]Thelma[/name] on its own seems too ‘old’ (but I don’t think it is – I think it’s great on its own).
[name]How[/name] about Tellie or [name]Ellie[/name] for a nn?
In the end, if you and your partner love it, then use it.
There’s always gotta be someone to use a name first and break it back out for its ‘comeback.’ And honoring your grandma is a very special thing for you and your family, and I think it’s incredibly touching and sweet!
Most people don’t find the name [name]Thelma[/name] to be particularly attractive. I’m assuming it’s not your favorite either, since you seem to have reservations about using it. If I were you, I would use it in the middle; I think the middle name spot, in general, is a great place for honoring someone or using a name that is otherwise significant and the first name spot is all about the child’s own personal identity.
Nothing at all wrong with [name]Thelma[/name] in the middle, and there are plenty of first names that will work with it. I would definitely use [name]Thelma[/name], though, to fully honor your grandma - not a variant.
I second this!
kalebsmom: I do like [name]Thea[/name], but its not exactly fitting with the other names I like. hmm.
fay: Her maiden name is Sweet. And I’d be a little worried about who she’d say she admired. 
purpleprose78: Her middle name is [name]Lucille[/name].
Im not to keen on [name]Thelma[/name] (Thel-Ma) either but you could always do it the french way and to [name]Thelma[/name] (Tel-ma)
I was thinking about [name]Thea[/name] [name]Lucille[/name]. Any thoughts?
I adore the name [name]Thelma[/name]! I just love it! I wish it was more usable. I would love to meet a little [name]Thelma[/name] though!
I love [name]Thea[/name] [name]Lucille[/name]!
Ohh poo, I just asked my family and they say they hate [name]Thea[/name].
I guess [name]Thelma[/name] it is. Is the nn [name]Elle[/name] pushing it? It is th-[name]EL[/name]-ma after all…
I really like [name]Thelma[/name]! With “old lady” names being fashionable again, it’s possible for [name]Thelma[/name] to (eventually!) come back… [name]Will[/name] you be using the same combo, [name]Thelma[/name] [name]Lucille[/name] (I think it’s gorgeous!), or something else?
I don’t think that [name]Elle[/name] is too much of a stretch… There’s also [name]Tillie[/name], which is even more of a stretch than [name]Elle[/name]!
Middle names:
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Eve[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Florence[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Frances[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Gwendolen[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Hope[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Iris[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Ivy[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Lark[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Louise[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Lucienne[/name]*
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Lucy[/name]*
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Natalie[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Olive[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Quinn[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Rosaline[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Sophie[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Verity[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Violet[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Vivian[/name]/[name]Vivien[/name]/[name]Vivienne[/name]
[name]Thelma[/name] [name]Wren[/name]
The starred ones (*) honor…
Good luck!
I don’t really like [name]Thelma[/name]. It’s kind of a granny name. Sorry.
I love [name]Thelma[/name]! I think it’s perfectly fine to use as a first name [name]IMO[/name]. However, I agree that maybe you might want to use it as a middle name if you’re having second thoughts about it as a first.