What makes a name "frilly"?

Girl Names
1
  1. What attributes do you consider to determine if a name is “frilly”? Is it certain sounds, length, something else?
  2. Would you consider [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] to be a “frilly” name? If no, what word(s) would you use to describe it?

I hid my answer to #1 so you wont be biased before you answer.

Summary

For me, I think it’s mostly sounds and less about length. I tend to think of names as frilly when they have sounds like “ianna”, “ella”, and “ina”; whereas consonant heavy names do not seem as frilly even when they are longer. [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] seems frilly to me while [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] does not.

1 Like
2

  1. For me, a name is ‘frilly’ if it’s long, possibly regal, sort of lacey and pink in vibe and, I think for me, if there’s no go to obvious or nickname that’s sort of more ‘neutral’ or just less super feminine, if that makes sense.
    So I guess [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Mirabella[/name_f], [name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] and [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] are strike me as frilly, whereas [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_f]Ginevra[/name_f], and [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f] don’t.

  2. No, I wouldn’t consider [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] frilly. It’s more mystical, sharp, strong and striking.

2 Likes
3

OMG this is an interesting question! I would think of a frilly name as having the characteristics of being very feminine and princessy and usually having a cutesy, almost silly sound. Some letter combinations sound frilly to me, such as double “Ls”, usually either a long name ending “a” or two syllables ending in “y” or “ie”. Some names that immediately come to mind for frilly would be [name_f]Esmerelda[/name_f], [name_f]Pricilla[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Marcella[/name_f], [name_f]Flossie[/name_f], [name_u]Lacy[/name_u], [name_f]Lilly[/name_f] (only with two Ls though), [name_f]Celestia[/name_f], [name_f]Marybelle[/name_f], [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], Phronsie.
I would not consider [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] to be frilly at all. It is too serious and mature sounding, with there “vere” part especially.

1 Like
4

I consider names frilly when they’re ornate and fanciful, excessively intricate, but also sweet and flowery - often soft and melodious.

[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] isn’t frilly to me. It’s regal, noble, quite heavy.

1 Like
5

More than 3 syllables
Ending -a, -elle

I don’t think [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is frilly but it is hard to spell :joy: Maybe just a bit high maintenance hah

1 Like
6

[name_u]Strong[/name_u], mysterious, regal, intriguing for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. I’ve been making long lists of favorites my whole life and it’s always on the list.

Frilly- Not always but here are some criteria that tend to do it for me- A lot of -a ending and -ee sound ending names. [name_m]Long[/name_m] names tend to be frillier. Names historically given to princesses, queen, royalty. Names that are strongly connected to a specific region.

1 Like
7

Frilly-- if I can imagine the name on the “Toddlers and Tiaras” rollcall, it’s frilly. Sound wise, probably exorbitant use of vowels (Elianna, [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f], [name_f]Brielle[/name_f], Anastasia), or anything that can be declined into a “cutesy” nickname or is historically a delicate figure (Shirley (Temple), [name_f]Georgianna[/name_f] (“Georgie”), [name_f]Judy[/name_f] (Garland), [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] (“Izzy”), etc.

[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], while historical, is less frilly and more stout and demanding of reverence, IMO. [name_m]Even[/name_m] its often used nickname, [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] (or Guin?), is less cutesy and more stand alone.

1 Like
8

  1. ‘Extra’ endings eg. [name_f]Isabel[/name_f], [name_u]Vivien[/name_u] = not frilly, [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] = a bit frilly. Lots of Ls make a name feel frilly! Anything that sounds like a slightly made-up princess name like [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Evelina[/name_f], [name_f]Dulcibella[/name_f].

  2. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is not frilly, it’s long and regal rather than princessy which I think just means it has a certain weight and maturity rather than being light, lilting, pretty.

2 Likes
9

I think 3+ syllable names with lots of vowels and liquid sounds (L’s, R’s) often feel “frilly”- especially names ending in -ana/anna, -ina, -elle/ella, -ette/etta, etc. But vibe matters too; anything that sounds to me like it could be a [name_f]Disney[/name_f] princess’s name feels frilly, but that’s so subjective. Some examples: [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Antonina[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Evelina[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Liliana[/name_f], [name_f]Mirabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Viviana[/name_f]. [name_u]Strong[/name_u] (and especially “clunky”) consonants tend to tone down frilliness in my opinion. Examples of long-ish names that don’t feel frilly imo: [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f], [name_f]Roxanna[/name_f], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]. I’d put [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] in the latter category! I think it sounds very regal and elegant and even a little fancy, but not so much frilly.