-This is a picture of a women named: [name_f]Viola[/name_f] Hoffman (Mcnutt) Waller- She looks to be circ 1900’s based on her s-bend corset. I came across the beautiful photo and her name via Ancient faces on FB. I clicked on her bio but I guess it is incomplete and lost to time.
-However, her name doesn’t have to be. I typically am drawn to frilly lavish names, but I think [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is an under used gem. She is understated and elegant with a touch of prime and proper fustiness. I could hear her name being called out on the playground among the Violets’ and Lolas’. [name_f]My[/name_f] Great Aunt [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is 99 years old this year, and I haven’t heard the name be passed down at ALL nor have I come across any of my friends’ naming their daughters [name_f]Viola[/name_f] or really any older names. So I’m curious as to why? What are your thoughts on the name [name_f]Viola[/name_f] and why she isn’t among the top classic revivals?
Yes [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is due for a revival. With [name_f]Violet[/name_f]'s rise she’s just waiting in the wings. Though [name_f]Violet[/name_f] has the appeal of being quirkily antique like an old amethyst perfume bottle, [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is strong and sleek, and there’s the association with the hero/ine of Twelfth [name_m]Night[/name_m].
Any ideas why she doesn’t seem to appeal to parents the way [name_f]Edith[/name_f], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] and many others do?
I think the problem with [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is that a lot of people seem to say it differently, and some parents might be put off by the fact it’s also an instrument.
I think it’s a wonderful name, though
I don’t know why it isn’t more popular. However, I’m glad because it’s one of my favourites. I think its a fresher alternative to [name_f]Violet[/name_f]. I’d love to meet a little [name_f]Viola[/name_f].
I play the viola and there’s no way I could bring myself to use the pronunciation VY-oh-la or vy-OH-la. The word is vee-OH-la. I much prefer [name_f]Violet[/name_f] as a name.
I agree, the pronunciation makes it difficult to embrace. That’s why I didn’t look at it more carefully, personally. I see it and think “vy-OH-uh,” but I know not everyone does. It is lovely, though, and she’s near the top of my list of inspirational Shakespearean ladies worth honoring! (We ended up landing on [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] after I decided [name_f]Viola[/name_f] would be too confusing and hubby vetoed [name_f]Miranda[/name_f].)
I think its the instrument - having been a band nerd I think all instruments are off the table for names for me. It is a pretty name though and I love the literary reference. Vs are so in vogue right now. Reminds me of [name_f]Vienna[/name_f], but like [name_f]Viola[/name_f] an association (in this case the city) keeps it from getting to the top of my list.
I love the name
[name_f]Viola[/name_f]. One of my grandmothers best friends was a viola and she went by [name_f]Vi[/name_f] which is cute too. I think it’s very elegant but spunky at the same time.
I guess my personal issue is that [name_f]Viola[/name_f] has just as many pronunciation issue as [name_f]Violet[/name_f], Immogen and [name_f]Nina[/name_f] but they are chosen. So I guess from my perspective, gathered from what I’ve been told in the past- Is why pick and chose some names and then not others with the excuse that its pronunciation issue, when the name the parent ended up choosing fell into the same category… It just seems like an odd explanation. I feel it just comes down to a parent being more tolerant of one name than another despite the fact that it seems to have the same issue… but it still sad that some pretty names get over looked by pronunciation issues and what parents will or will not be tolerant of in regards to name choices…
I guess I’m more lenient and tolerable, perhaps more forgiving than most when it comes to names. I had a fairly self-explanatory maiden name that people repeatedly butchered, but I became accustom to it because it will happen, its inevitable.
I know people who will argue fearlessly that immogen is pronounced Im-A-[name_u]Jean[/name_u], and yet I see parents chose it even though there will be one day when the child will run into that person who will annoyingly say their name wrong. So I guess what I am saying, is that I hope one day, parents can find in their hearts to show some love to this name and one day be able to look past its pronunciation issue like the other names. It just sounds soo pretty.
One of you mentioned that it is an instrument, that doesn’t seem to bad For me. But I could see the hesitancy in it, but then again, I recently fell in love with the name scheherazade, which is a music composition as well as having literary cred. Although, I have shared my loved for for Vespertine, [name_f]Bathsheba[/name_f], and Raphaella on here. So I’m clearly very tolerant, but I wouldn’t name my child Flute, even though I played it in school.
Oh Oh Oh I forgot to say that the lady [name_f]Viola[/name_f] in the picture certainly makes the name feel, look, and sound stunning. She really exudes the very [name_f]Ora[/name_f] of the name [name_f]Viola[/name_f].
