Many times, when we like names it’s more for just how they sound. There might be a tie to a loved one or maybe a favorite book. Maybe it’s a play off of your third grade teacher’s last name that totally changed your outlook on life. Maybe it makes you feel a certain way, or maybe you just really love the meaning. For whatever reason, let us know the why behind your favorite name (or names!). [name_m]Feel[/name_m] free to include middles!
<3
My favourite names are [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_m]Simon[/name_m] and [name_u]James[/name_u].
I think I’m quite drawn to the ‘eye’ sound: E-Lye-za and Sye-mon. I also really like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] etc. And I’m really drawn to the ‘ay’ sound: [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-ms. I also like [name_f]Adalaide[/name_f] ([name_u]Adel[/name_u]-ayd), [name_f]Acacia[/name_f] (Ay-cay-sha) etc.
So clearly I’m quite attracted to certain sounds. Some names I do like for their meanings (in general) and their significance to me. But my all time favourite names seem to be based almost entirely on sound.
I like [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] because it is a medieval name, and I love the Middle Ages. One of my favorite literary characters is [name_f]Margaery[/name_f] [name_m]Tyrell[/name_m] from asoiaf, but what really sealed the deal for me is the [name_u]Terry[/name_u] [name_m]Jones[/name_m] documentary called “Medieval Lives”. In his documentary series, he tells stories of not one, but TWO strong medieval women named [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f]. One of them, a 19 year old countess, theatrically stages her own kidnapping so that she can marry a handsome crusader rather than some old geezer that the king wanted to ship her off to. The other is 14th Century businesswoman [name_f]Margery[/name_f] Kemp, who is known for writing the first English autobiography.
My favorite girl name is [name_u]Harbor[/name_u]. I love the image of a person being a safe harbor-a place of rest and protection-for others, and ultimately pointing back to THE safe harbor, [name_m]Jesus[/name_m]. [name_u]Lyn[/name_u] is the perfect middle for us because it is both mine and my DH’s mothers middle names (however they spell them differently, one [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] and one [name_f]Lynne[/name_f], thus [name_u]Lyn[/name_u] as a middle ground).
Noa is another favorite. There is a female Noa in the Bible (Numbers 27). And she and her sisters were the first female landowners in the Bible. I love the picture of bold, biblical, femininity that comes with the name.
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] is another favorite one for me. I just really love how it sounds and I also love the meaning to reap or to gather. I also love [name_f]Elena[/name_f] for its sound and meaning: bright, shining light.
I have a few favorite girl names (boy names are hard for me lol)
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] - It reminds me of when my parents always watched the sitcom [name_m]Frasier[/name_m] ([name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Moon[/name_f]) so it reminds me of my childhood a lot. I also used to watch a lot of Scooby Doo too lol. It’s just a nice wholesome name to me.
[name_f]Belle[/name_f] - My favorite Disney princess since I was a kid. My real name begins with a ‘B’ so I like the idea of having a daughter with the same initial as me, I think it’s cute.
[name_f]Gia[/name_f] - After the supermodel [name_f]Gia[/name_f] Carangi. I admire her fire and talent.
I have more favorite names but they’re mostly my favorites because I like the sound of them.
My favorite girls name is [name_f]Colette[/name_f]. I honestly don’t know why or how it came to me. I can remember talking about my DH’s cousin, whose name is [name_f]Cosette[/name_f], and how pretty that is. Then I came across [name_f]Colette[/name_f] on here, probably, and just felt the L was smoother. I mentioned it to DH and he responded more positively than he ever had, so I think I kind of leapt on that too. I liked the meaning with [name_f]Nicolette[/name_f], I like [name_f]Coco[/name_f] or [name_f]Cece[/name_f] as a nick name. I still like [name_f]Cosette[/name_f], too. But [name_f]Colette[/name_f] is just so pretty. It’s been my top choice for years. I can’t find a middle I like with it, though.
I don’t have a favorite boy’s name. 
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f] has been my #1 for about 6 years.
I like how she’s familiar but not overused. I love the way she sounds. I love the imagery I get when I say it or see it. It’s the only name I haven’t got bored of.
I’ve always loved the name [name_f]Emily[/name_f], as well as the similar variations such as [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] etc.
I think it just fits so pretty as a little girl’s name or an older woman’s name. It’s classy and popular but that doesn’t seem to bother me. I also love the nicknames [name_f]Em[/name_f]and [name_f]Emi[/name_f].
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I’ve loved it since I was little and read/watched [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women. When I hear it on someone now it sounds so chic, grown up and intelligent. It has so much character. I also think it makes the perfect middle name.
I have two top girl names:
[name_f]Calista[/name_f] - works well for both a little girl and an adult woman. Easily accessible nickname ("[name_f]Callie[/name_f]"). It’s a bit more unique/uncommon, while still having familiar sounds. I can’t think of any woman who wouldn’t want a name meaning “most beautiful” either.
[name_f]Yara[/name_f] - I met a girl in college named this, and even though I liked it before having met her, our interaction just solidified it. She was very kind, upbeat, socially aware, etc. Great meaning as well (“butterfly”) and uncommon without being “weird”/too outlandish. If I ever have a daughter I would love to name her this.
I find girls names harder than boys, but these are my favorites:
”srún (pr. EES-roon) - it just sounds so magical and it reminds me of my childhood, of Iceland where I grew up. Of course, there are many Icelandic names on my list, but ”srún embodies the beauty of Iceland the most, the snow and cold winters, nature, the clean air, the space.
[name_u]Karol[/name_u]ína (pr. kah-roh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah) - [name_m]Karl[/name_m] is a family name, it’s also my dad’s name, and [name_u]Karol[/name_u]ína is such a lovely, elegant form.
My absolute favourite name is [name_f]Savannah[/name_f]! I also love [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] :).
My favourite name for about 6 years has been [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]. To me she’s strong, tough, and full of energy, and I love that sort of feeling in a name. I love the ‘all gifted’ meaning, the way she sounds, and her nn options (Panda, [name_f]Ora[/name_f]/[name_f]Aura[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f]). The link to the myth is more of a plus imo too. I love mythology (Greek myths in particular) and I think curiousity is a good trait (especially as I’m a scientist!). There’s a connection to one of my favourite shows that sparked my love for her in the first place. At this point I can just really imagine having a little [name_f]Pandora[/name_f].
Three faves are [name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Esther[/name_f] for its impossible prettiness (it shouldn’t be pretty), [name_f]Anna[/name_f] because it’s a soothing, dignified name to me (as is [name_f]Eve[/name_f], the palindromic flair?), and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for its literary and historical cred and nickname options. A longstanding fave is [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - since I was 5 or 6. [name_m]Just[/name_m] love what it makes you do with your mouth to say it!
My longest-standing boy name crush is [name_m]Julian[/name_m] but in the past decade or so: all eyes on [name_m]Bastien[/name_m]. I liked [name_m]Julian[/name_m] as a young girl as part of imagining a dark haired, blue eyed cheeky kid - someone [name_f]Enid[/name_f] Blyton-y. It’s probably too soft for me now in the context of the L reign, but I did meet a [name_f]Junie[/name_f] (boy) a few days ago, full name [name_m]Julian[/name_m] which I thought was a cool change from [name_u]Jules[/name_u].
Like [name_f]Claudia[/name_f], I just love saying [name_m]Bastien[/name_m], but it might have been planted by [name_m]Bastian[/name_m] in the Neverending [name_u]Story[/name_u]. Twins called [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] and [name_m]Bastien[/name_m], I’d pass out!
(Kinda sucks that none of these girls names were approved of for my daughter. I love her name and it suits her but probably could have pushed harder for one of these!)
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is my fave girls name because it’s so pretty to me and I adore the connections to both the northern lights (which I’ve always dreamed of seeing) and to my favourite disney princess. I just love saying it and I think [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is such a cute nn. A middle I’m absolutely set on is [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], because not only is it super sweet but it was my grandma’s name and she really helped raise me when I was younger so it means so so much.
Other faves include [name_f]Sienna[/name_f] and [name_f]Callisto[/name_f], but mostly because I just think they’re gorgeous
[name_u]Ember[/name_u], [name_u]Everly[/name_u], [name_f]Coralie[/name_f] and [name_f]Indie[/name_f] are my favorite girl names