DH and I have been on the hunt for the perfect girl name since before DS ([name]Jackson[/name] [name]Fielding[/name] - fielding after my grandfather) was born 2 years ago. We just haven’t found that perfect name with all the qualities we are looking for yet. We want something elegant and sophisticated with the option of a cute nickname, something that honors family members and above all, something that sounds southern (“but not redneck” as DH puts it).
That got me thinking, nothing seems more reminiscent of the old southern names than Feminizations of men that were important in our lives. It’s a whole new direction for me, so I wanted to run them by you ladies and see what you thought before I tried them out on DH.
[name]Georgina[/name]/[name]Georgiana[/name] nn [name]Gigi[/name] or [name]Ginny[/name] (honoring my great grandfather [name]George[/name])
[name]Theodora[/name] nn [name]Teddy[/name] (for DH’s late grandfather [name]Augustus[/name] [name]Theodore[/name]…I don’t love the nn [name]Thea[/name] but I’m open to other suggestions)
[name]Augusta[/name] nn [name]Attie[/name] or maybe Atta (for the same grandfather [name]Augustus[/name])
Other options I’ve considered are using male names or last names in the first or middle spot:
[name]August[/name]
[name]Everett[/name]
So what do you think of my new venture into Feminizations? What would you pick for our little southern belle?
The epitome of the Southern name is [name]Mary[/name] + mother’s maiden name, or [name]Mary[/name] + a heavier name like you suggested. [name]Mary[/name] [name]Collins[/name], [name]Mary[/name] [name]Reynolds[/name], [name]Mary[/name] Montclair, etc, with a nickname off of the second name. [name]Mary[/name] [name]Everett[/name], called “[name]Evvie[/name],” would be ideal!
I think names like [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Magnolia[/name], [name]Nola[/name], etc are “screenwriter southern” and not the genuine article.
I quite like [name]Georgina[/name] [name]Everett[/name].
[name]Theodora[/name] and [name]Augusta[/name] get a little heavy, crystal-chandelier-ish imo. I think [name]Theodora[/name] could work with a more humble, down to earth mn like [name]Louise[/name]. I like [name]Augusta[/name] as a mn. But fn would have to be something short and clear- [name]Thea[/name] [name]Augusta[/name]? [name]Dorothy[/name] [name]Everett[/name]?
I agree with [name]Blade[/name], they don’t seem very Southern. [name]Georgia[/name] or [name]Dorothy[/name] would be more in the line you’re thinking. [name]Dorothy[/name] would be perfect, you could avoid [name]Thea[/name] as well by using [name]Dot[/name]/[name]Dottie[/name] or clunky, sweet [name]Dory[/name] ^^
I’m not sure you’re going to find something as elegant and sophisticated as you like while keeping it authentically Southern. I would consider what’s most important.
If Southern is not as important, the names you have are all wonderful, and I adore naming girls after men. [name]Oleanna[/name] is my favourite for a girl since it honours my dad.
[name]Augusta[/name] is the one I like most, [name]Augusta[/name] [name]Everett[/name] sounds fine! I also really like [name]Augustine[/name].
Thanks for the input so far ladies! We are so lucky in the south that “southern” naming style is so diverse. Using your great grandmother’s maiden name as a first name is as southern as a double name, which is as southern as feminizations. What all southern style has in common is the desire to honor a loved one and wanting to create a combination that is unique to you.
I’ve also considered [name]Ann[/name] [name]August[/name] for a double name.
I love your choice of [name]Augusta[/name] nn [name]Attie[/name]! It is so pretty! I also like [name]Georgiana[/name] nn [name]Ginny[/name]. Such a cute take on the name.
It’s very difficult for me to decide I like all three!
I love the thought of an [name]Augusta[/name] though, without a nn. That would be darling.
I guess I’d pick [name]Georgina[/name] next.
[name]Georgiana[/name] is gilding the lily.
I’d agree with [name]Blade[/name] in that those sound more Edwardian than Southern [example [name]Georgina[/name] sounds Edwardian whereas [name]Georgia[/name] sounds more Southern belle]. Double names and family names are more what I was used to growing up down South; sometimes using a very feminine classic first name paired with the more masculine mother’s maiden name.
If you want to stay away from the ‘redneck’ style of names, just avoid the trendy names and filler middle names. Also, many of the pop-culture names people associate with the South, ironically are more popular up [name]North[/name] here.
I actually really love them all. Although I don’t live in [name]America[/name], so I can’t really say whether or not I think they’re ‘southern enough’ or not.
[name]Georgiana[/name] nn [name]Ginny[/name] would probably be my choice, with middle name [name]August[/name]. I love the sound of them together, and I like the way the more masculine [name]August[/name] balances [name]Georgiana[/name]'s femininity. They also honour both your great grandfather and your DH’s grandfather. And I like the alliteration with your son’s name, yet they’re not too similar sounding at all.
I prefer [name]Attie[/name] to Atta as a nn for [name]Augusta[/name]. I’ve never been a fan of [name]Teddy[/name] on a girl. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’ve only ever known male Teddys/Teds, but I’m sure it would be cute on a little girl. [name]Dora[/name] is also an option?
When I think of southern belles, my brain goes in the direction of [name]Clementine[/name]-[name]Emmeline[/name]-[name]Evangeline[/name] type names. Maybe it’s because the region I’m most familiar with is [name]Louisiana[/name], because most of the ones I can think of are French. Have you thought about [name]Augustine[/name]? It’s a place name that sounds more southern to me than [name]Augusta[/name].
Also, any name from anything [name]Mark[/name] [name]Twain[/name] wrote.
