Hello folks! I’m kind of stuck, and the Writer’s Corner isn’t as active, so I thought I’d ask here!
I’m writing a novel set in 1880s [name_u]America[/name_u], and I’ll have a couple having two baby girls - one in 1880 and one in 1882.
I want their names to have a distinctly [name_u]Southern[/name_u] flavor to them while also working in the era. Ideas? Last name will be Farjon.
I think I want the first one to be nicknamed [name_f]Polly[/name_f], whether that means something simple like [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] Farjon or getting it from [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Paulina[/name_f], etc. The second I’m pretty open-minded about, but I want something spunky!
Marigold for [name_f]Mary[/name_f]? Idk sounds southern. Maybe [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]? I love [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] for the nn polly! [name_u]Louise[/name_u], claire, [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]?
Oh! [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] is the perfect name for the second daughter. [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] {BLANK} Farjon. Not sure about nicknames yet – might depend on the middle a bit.
I’m wavering between [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] and [name_u]Marion[/name_u] for “[name_f]Polly[/name_f],” and I don’t know. I also like just using [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], but I don’t know if that works well with [name_u]Vivian[/name_u].
If it helps, they’ll have a little brother named [name_m]Colin[/name_m] [name_u]Riley[/name_u] Farjon, though those are family names.
I love the idea of using Polly as a nickname, how cute. I think it would work best as a double middle with a full name. That feels very southern to me, since it’s common to have a formal name (e.g. Elizabeth Josephine), usually after a family member or established family name, with a very informal nickname (Betty Jo).
For this reason, I love the idea of naming one sister Mary Katherine and calling her Polly Kate. I think Pauline Grace or Marion Grace nn Polly Grace is great too! My choice would be Mary Katherine nn Polly Kate or Pauline Grace nn Polly Grace.
As for her sister, I think I’d stick with another classic name and spunky nickname or a nickname name that stands alone. Those were also popular around that time. Unless one sister is more serious or stern. In that case, I think something practical and simple, like Helen, would work well.
Vivian and Polly Grace have very different southern vibes imo. Vivian feels more classic, sophisticated southern, while Polly Grace feels a little more playful and less formal, like a sweet southern belle. That could play perfectly into your characters though if Vivian is more buttoned-up and Polly Grace is more free-spirited. Plus I think Pauline Grace and Vivian work really well together, whereas Marion and Vivian are a bit too similar for my taste.
Some other ideas:
Elizabeth “Bessie”
Margaret “Peggy”
Florence “Flo”
Louise “Lou”
I love the idea of [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f], but I feel like it’s a bit Catholic for my characters, so I’ll probably end up with [name_f]Pauline[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] nn [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].
For the younger sister, I have mixed feelings. I could do [name_u]Vivian[/name_u], even though it’s stylistically a bit different. The sisters have very different personalities, but [name_f]Polly[/name_f] is more the quiet/sweet one while [name_f]Sister[/name_f] 2 is a bit of a wild card. To me, [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] (nn [name_f]Vivi[/name_f], maybe?) is a bit spunky! But I don’t know.
I love [name_f]Polly[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] and [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f]! I think [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] could work really well, but only if it fits the character. I’m sure that as you get know your character, the name will come to you!