What kind of image do the names [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] evoke for you beyond just being antique “old lady” names? If you met a woman in her 20’s with one of these names, what sense about her would you get?
In addition, what do you think would make good middle names for [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]?
I love [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]…it’s a lot of name but it’s pretty as well as strong, and it has nice options for nicknames…[name_u]Willie[/name_u], [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f]. I picture a [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] as a bright, graceful, cultured, self-assured young woman who stands out in a positive way…for some reason I picture her with dark, curly hair in an updo and wearing a long elegant duster coat like a liberated woman of the 1920’s.
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f], not so much. It’s so heavy and snuffy-sounding…it would make a great name for an English bulldog but I wouldn’t inflict it on a human girl, at least not as a first name. I picture a [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] as a 1950’s era unpopular girl…dumpy, big glasses, lank braided hair, falling-down socks.
Middle name ideas:
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
Wilhemina [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
Any of the above could also be good first names with [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] as the middle name…
Thanks for the reply, chestnutmare! I’m in love with your depiction of [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f].
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]
I picture her exactly like the main character of some of my favorite mysteries by [name_u]Jo[/name_u] Dereske: attractive, capable, quick-thinking, intelligent, witty, organized, independent, and admirable.
Her nickname is [name_f]Helma[/name_f], or [name_u]Billie[/name_u] as a little girl, but [name_f]Willa[/name_f] is more common these days.
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
Well, heck, I actually picture her the same, but called [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] or [name_u]Win[/name_u] or [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] or [name_f]Freya[/name_f] instead for a nickname.
Great choices!
Neither of them are among my favorite names, but I could definitely appreciate their usage by others.
They both have fairly strong pop-culture ties for me - [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is the egotistical diva on Ugly [name_f]Betty[/name_f] (not a great association), and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] is both the soul-eating witch in the movie Hocus Pocus (definitely bad) and the brilliant scientist on [name_u]Angel[/name_u], who goes by [name_m]Fred[/name_m] (better). I also know a [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] in her twenties, who goes by [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] - a quiet [name_f]Asian[/name_f]-American girl whom I went to school with.
If I was introduced to either a [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] or a [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], I would assume they were cultured, witty and sophisticated, but probably a bit strait-laced.
Potential middle names:
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] (great suggestion, @chestnutmare!)
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]
I think it’s best to balance out the somewhat heavy firsts with short, sprightly middles. 
Perhaps in addition to my original questions, do you all think that [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is too cumbersome without resorting to a nickname? I do [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], but I’m not so fond of any of the possible nicknames.
I think [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is fine without a nickname. I know Alexandras, Elizabeths, and Victorias who don’t use nicknames, and [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is 4 syllables too. The only reason [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] probably seems more unwieldy is because it’s so much more unusual. If it was my name I’d probably want to have a shorter nickname to use in informal/playful situations, but be [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] with teachers/coworkers/etc.
I love [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] both for their vintage spunk and clunk.
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] is my personal preference, though, simply because she’s less frilly.
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
I really like [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], but I can’t get behind [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] as much as I try.