Trying to find my perfect classic yet uncommon name

Girl Names
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there lovely Berries!

I’m after a girl’s name that is classic, feminine and uncommon – preferably not in the top 1000, but I’m willing to consider names outside the top 100! Ideally it would also have literary/artistic/historical connotations too :slight_smile:

Here is my list so far, I love these names, but just don’t feel like I’ve found THE ONE yet:

[name_f]Elsie[/name_f] (short for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]): [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] is my paternal Grandma’s name, and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is my mother’s middle name. I also like all the great [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] namesakes – [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_m]Bennet[/name_m], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] the 1st, etc. I am concerned about [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]’s growing popularity, and that any [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] would inevitably become [name_f]Liz[/name_f] – do you think it’s possible to make a nickname stick just by insisting on it?

[name_f]Henrietta[/name_f]: I’ve loved this name since I was a little girl, and it seems quite uncommon. I’m worried that it has negative connotation in the UK though. I also haven’t found a nickname that I like – I’m not a fan of [name_f]Hennie[/name_f], [name_f]Hettie[/name_f] or [name_f]Etta[/name_f], although I don’t mind [name_m]Henri[/name_m]!

[name_f]Viola[/name_f]: [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is one of my favorite Shakespearean heroines, and I love the character in ‘[name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] in [name_f]Love[/name_f]’ as well. My concern with [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is that the rising popularity of [name_f]Violet[/name_f] might make it seem like a bit of an ‘also-ran’ if that makes sense? Is that something you would be concerned with?

[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]: I’ve always thought that this name was beautiful – and it opens the door for all the great [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nicknames: [name_f]Meg[/name_f], [name_f]Molly[/name_f] and [name_f]Margot[/name_f]. I’m concerned that she would get called [name_f]Margie[/name_f] or [name_f]Rita[/name_f] though.

I also [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] the name [name_u]Arden[/name_u], but I think I prefer it for a boy – do you guys think it can still cope as a boys name – my feeling is that its uncommon enough that its unlikely he’d run into many female Ardens…

Other names that I really like but have put aside for the moment for various reasons (so you can get an idea of my style) include [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_f]Albertine[/name_f] (wdyt of this?), [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], [name_f]Rosamond[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f], [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], [name_f]Briony[/name_f], [name_f]Coralie[/name_f] and [name_f]Giselle[/name_f]. For a middle name I like [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_f]Lark[/name_f], [name_u]Dove[/name_u] (see a theme there haha!) and [name_f]Joy[/name_f].

I’d absolutely love some [name_u]Berry[/name_u] suggestions and thoughts!!

Many many thanks :slight_smile:

2

Is [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] pronouced el-see or eee-leece?

I really like [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]. I think you can use it to get to [name_f]Greta[/name_f] also. I’ll suggest [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f]. I find it classic and timeless. Since it’s so simple I think it gets passed over a lot which helps to keep it unusual.

3

I really like [name_f]Viola[/name_f] on your list, and I think it’s not too similar to [name_f]Violet[/name_f], so it should be okay. For classic but unique names, I also like [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsbeth[/name_f]/ [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] (especially together).

4

[name_f]Viola[/name_f] is my favourite from your list - mainly because Twelfth [name_m]Night[/name_m] is my absolute favourite play (plus I’m an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]… they were written to sound similar).

What negative connotations does [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] have in the UK? I think it’s a lovely alternative to popular [name_f]Harriet[/name_f].

I love [name_f]Albertine[/name_f] from you list! I was actually going to suggest [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]. What about…
[name_f]Tatiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Magdalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] (or [name_f]Zuzanna[/name_f]?)
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolene[/name_f]

5

I think [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] is beautiful, and I’d use [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] :slight_smile:

[name_f]Augusta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Honora[/name_f]
[name_f]Olympia[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]
[name_f]Amandine[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottoline[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]

6

I love [name_f]Viola[/name_f]. [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is lovely too but I prefer [name_f]Margarita[/name_f], though I assume it would sound like [name_f]Tequila[/name_f] or Henessy. [name_f]Albertine[/name_f] is beautiful and makes me think of [name_f]Vienna[/name_f]'s famous museum [name_f]Albertina[/name_f].
I second [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]'s suggestions of [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f], [name_f]Celia[/name_f], [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] and [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f].
A few other ideas
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]/[name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Jessamy[/name_f]/[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessica[/name_f]
[name_f]Sybil[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] (it depends on where you live, I believe it is huge in the UK but not the USA)
[name_f]Debora[/name_f]
[name_f]Quentina[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Octavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Carlotta[/name_f]
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]

7

What a fabulous list! All great choices with [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] being my favourite (and I’m British). Not sure what problem there could be with it.

8

My first thoughts for you were [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f], [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f], and [name_f]Sybilla[/name_f]. [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is my #1 favorite girls’ name of all time, though, for what it’s worth. It doesn’t feel terribly similar to [name_f]Violet[/name_f] to me, especially when it’s the vie-OH-lah pronunciation rather than vie-uh-lah.

ETA: Oh, and I forgot to mention, I have a [female] cousin Arden! I agree with you, though, it’s slightly better on a boy.

9

Nice list.
I adore [name_f]Albertine[/name_f]!! [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] is delicious (but if you dislike the nicks then it’s a no-go. I like [name_f]Hennie[/name_f], which makes me think of [name_f]Henny[/name_f] [name_u]Penny[/name_u] and [name_f]Sonja[/name_f] [name_f]Henie[/name_f] - cozy associations), [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] and [name_f]Viola[/name_f] are wonderfully feminine and strong. [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] has nice family roots for you, and they’re both lovely names.
[name_u]Arden[/name_u] is good too. I know one - a girl. Could definitely work for a boy - it’s a forest and so unisex. [name_u]Arden[/name_u] is also the name of the more authentic editions of the works of [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]… so it’s kind of an über Shakespearean name.
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] - [name_f]Molly[/name_f]! I’m partial to [name_f]Rita[/name_f] (Hayworth and [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] [name_f]Rita[/name_f] Meter Maid.) [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]! Fierce. These two are definitely less English than most of your names.

10

[name_f]Love[/name_f] your list. I’m British too and don’t see a problem with [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f].
I’m loving [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] at the moment. It was about #300 last year. It has lots of nicknames and is literary.