What makes a strong female name?

Girl Names
1

I’ve been thinking for years about what makes a strong female name.

I dislike the trend of naming girls [name_u]James[/name_u] or [name_u]Michael[/name_u] or [name_m]Henry[/name_m] both aesthetically and because I think most names (not all) fit into male or female. I’m not talking about [name_u]Rory[/name_u] and [name_u]Riley[/name_u] and [name_u]Bryn[/name_u] or about male names that went female or vice versa. I’m talking about boys named [name_f]Sue[/name_f] and girls named [name_m]John[/name_m].

It has always seemed to me sexist to assume that if a name sounds feminine or ends in an -a, that it is not strong and fine, that a male name would be needed to achieve that goal.

However, I am beginning to get some grasp of how parents would want a name for their girls that is stronger than [name_f]Heidi[/name_f], [name_f]Bunny[/name_f], [name_f]Lolly[/name_f], [name_f]Cricket[/name_f], [name_f]Taffeta[/name_f], [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], etc., and how they might turn to male names which can sound more substantial. (Not that I dislike these names; I actually like most of them and would be fine with friends of those names, just wouldn’t give them to my own daughter).

So what I’m wondering is what female names you consider strong.

I can think of three categories off the top of my head.

  1. Names that many might consider ugly, but I like how they don’t aim to please the masses. Their almost ugliness, at least clunkiness, might be seen as showing a certain valor, the valor of the woman who doesn’t need or want a cute name. For example, [name_f]Martha[/name_f], [name_f]Bertha[/name_f], [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Hortense[/name_f], [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f], [name_f]Doris[/name_f], [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], [name_f]Marilla[/name_f], [name_f]Thelma[/name_f], [name_f]Beulah[/name_f].

  2. Multi-syllabic names ending often with -a that sound like indefatigable women, prairie schooner women, women who sail mightily through life, not letting others dictate to them. I realize many find these names cissy and overly feminine, but I don’t. [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], [name_f]Forsythia[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f], [name_f]Orinthia[/name_f], [name_f]Sonja[/name_f], [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], [name_f]Theodora[/name_f], [name_f]Demelza[/name_f], [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f], [name_f]Jocasta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucasta[/name_f], [name_f]Lucinda[/name_f], [name_f]Viridiana[/name_f].

  3. Names from strong and powerful women (athletes, actors, writers, painters, politicians, feminists). [name_f]Cady[/name_f], [name_f]Gloria[/name_f], [name_u]Germaine[/name_u] (feminists), [name_u]Hillary[/name_u], [name_f]Jill[/name_f], [name_f]Michelle[/name_f], [name_f]Angela[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Indira[/name_f] (politics), [name_f]Millay[/name_f] (writer), [name_u]Morisot[/name_u] (painter), [name_f]Venus[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f] (athletes), [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_f]Cate[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Tilda[/name_f] (actors), etc. Role model names, even if you have alternate role models from me.

Any thoughts? I’m not seeking arguments, just different theories.
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]

2

I think names that start with harder sounding consonants (K,V, P, Z) tend to be more commanding sounding. As well as names that end with a “O” or “En” sound.

3

I don’t really think there’s such a thing as “strong” names, for boys or for girls. It’s the person that wears the name that makes it seem strong, and all that is completely subjective (like when you hear [name_f]Venus[/name_f], do you think of the highly regarded tennis player or the oftentimes vain, vapid goddess of love?). Society at large might disagree, but both men and women are capable of being meek, cowardly, sensitive, etc., and giving them a “strong” name isn’t going to do anything to prevent that.

4

There might be something in the consonant thing. I think the 'en" ending sound of [name_f]Magdalen[/name_f] makes it sound stronger to me than [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] or [name_f]Magdala[/name_f] or [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f], for example.

There are so many vowel-beginning names that I have a fondness anyway for those that begin with consonants.

5

I see your point. Certainly being named any specific name is not going to automatically confer any trait.

While one might argue that no certain name is strong, I do believe that some are weak. [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] and [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], for example. While an actual [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] or [name_f]Mimi[/name_f] might be super athletes or thinkers, their names to me are vapid and fluffy.

What got me thinking about all of this was the abundance of strong, substantial male names, names with history and power. For example, [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] vs. [name_f]Mitzi[/name_f].

6

The way I organize them in my head, it’s more rough/masculine verses more soft/melodic/feminine, and like the sociological term, you can have masculine male names, masculine girl names, feminine boy names, and feminine girl names. (Only going in detail so people don’t think I mean masculine = male name, feminine = female name)

Masculine girl names usually have a harsher sound for me with more emphasis on consonants, especially at the end of the name. They usually aren’t over 2 syllables:
[name_f]Esther[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_f]Greer[/name_f], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_f]Margot[/name_f] (especially the pronunciation when the T isn’t silent), [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Bridget[/name_f], [name_f]Edith[/name_f], [name_f]Gerda[/name_f], [name_f]Helga[/name_f], [name_f]Leonore[/name_f]

Examples like [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], [name_f]Bridget[/name_f], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_f]Margot[/name_f], and [name_f]Helga[/name_f] also have strong sounds at the beginning (scar, hel, etc) that give a cold edge to the name. [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] feels androgynous to me because of the harsh beginning but feminine ending.

7

I agree with many users saying that names with hard consonants help in making a name sound stronger. For me that is more striking with the G (as in [name_f]Gaia[/name_f]), K, V, D, R and sometimes B sounds. I also tend to find longer names stronger, as in [name_f]Adriana[/name_f] vs. [name_f]Ariana[/name_f].

8

A strong female name to me is obviously female, has substance and a history of usage.

Often names with hard letters (k, t, g, o, r) also evoke a strong vibe, however, I find that if they’re too consonant-laden, I picture them as physically strong rather than a “strong” person.
Many clunky names, such as [name_f]Bertha[/name_f] or [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], fall into that categorie for me.

Some examples of what I view as strong sounding female names (and what I view as their audible strength):
[name_f]AUGUSTa[/name_f], [name_f]CORdelia[/name_f], [name_f]MaTILda[/name_f], marGO, [name_f]ROSalIND[/name_f], eDITH, la[name_f]VINia[/name_f], [name_f]RoSe[/name_f], alICe

I do think that a lot of long names sound strong as they have a good balance of consonants/vowels, yet I also think that if they have a very frilly vibe, they tend to sound less strong, e.g. [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] - in theory it’s strong (a[name_m]RAB[/name_m]-ella) yet [name_f]Bella[/name_f] has this princessy vibe which it transfers to [name_f]Arabella[/name_f].

(Of course that works the other way round, too, some names are a string of vowels yet their imagery makes them feel strong; I can’t think of any right now but they do exist, I’m sure)

I think 3) would be a very personal category; few of the names mentioned I view as strong, simply because I don’t automatically associate them with these people; I generally would agree, though, that personal associations can affect any names, wether they’re strong in theory or not (and I think that works for everyone, from historical person to TV character).

9

I think any name that isn’t embarrassing can be strong. I don’t think masculine names make for a strong girls name. Quite the opposite. It seems like parents don’t see strength in girls, so they promote masculine as the ideal.

I also agree that hyper sexualized or juvenile names aren’t remotely strong.

10

[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] or any of her variations are very strong to me. I don’t say that because of the meaning at all, it’s something about the way the letters are arranged, it’s one of my favourite classical names as well. Names like [name_f]Stella[/name_f] as well tend to sound stronger to me than the literal word. Perhaps because they are associate with older generations? I love names like [name_f]Emmy[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f], but I tend to shy away from the because they’re seen as less strong. Names like [name_f]Amara[/name_f] or [name_f]Evelina[/name_f] feel more hearty though.

Additionally, strong women like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m] or fictional characters really do help inspire me a lot. They help shape my image of the name. It’s not a dealer break, but it has an influenced.

11

This is what I would have said.

12

Interesting. I too like [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] and other such names. They seem strong to me because they sound like pioneer women and have a homespun energy about them. They also sound cheerful and vital, two of my favorite qualities in a name or person.

13

[QUOTE=opheliaflora;3599063]A strong female name to me is obviously female, has substance and a history of usage.

I like this definition. The word substance is crucial. There are so many strange names out there that I find myself liking names I wouldn’t normally like, just because they have a certain history and substance.

14

I think trying to pick out certain qualities that make names strong for either gender is hard. It is definitely subjective. What may seem strong to some people, can be interpreted completely different by someone else. So many factors like culture, age, and outside influences can come into play. I like names that are very romantic, long and feminine. I even gave my daughter one. It doesn’t mean just because it’s a girly name that I don’t think it is strong.

15

Actually I do kind of get that, but usually I hear people call them too childish, but [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] to me is very strong like the little girl in [name_m]Tuck[/name_m] Everlasting. [name_f]Zora[/name_f], [name_u]Joan[/name_u] and [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] are strong in my opinion, just merely on sound, let alone the famous women with the names. [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] to me sounds very strong, but sometimes too severe for my ears. Ultimately though, I guess it’s the woman who makes the name.

16

For me, ‘strength’ tends to boil down to three main factors:

  1. Sound:
    An overabundance of vowels, especially when dealing with short names such as [name_f]Ava[/name_f] and [name_f]Evie[/name_f], really damages the strength of a name, in my opinion at least. Whereas names that have less vowels, or names that have a greater emphasis on consonants like [name_f]Thora[/name_f], [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] and [name_f]Dido[/name_f] possess a harsher sound, and maintain a sturdier vibe, thus making them stronger choices, from a phonetic standpoint, at least.

Having said that, the length of a name can also help or harm. Longer names like [name_f]Priscilla[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] are quite vowel-heavy, but their lengths make them feel a little bit more grand. Plus, their length requires your concentration as a speaker – because you really have to work your mouth in order to properly pronounce them which sort of gives them more of an UMPH as you project them, while names along the lines of [name_f]Lulu[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] don’t actually require any lip movement, so they end up as a drip, rather than a projection.

  1. Meaning:
    Most people aren’t really aware of name meanings, and the few that are don’t tend care overly much about them. I cannot understand that mindset as some of my favourite girl names have meanings along the lines of “[name_m]Noble[/name_m] Maiden”, “Strength of the Spear”, “Gentle Strength” etc. A name that possesses the gist of said meanings can never be considered as weak, or anything less than strong, in my opinion.

  2. Appeal:
    Some of my favourite girl names are as follows: [name_f]Gertrude[/name_f], [name_f]Edna[/name_f], [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] etc. These names were common place several generations ago, when women were often not treated half as well as women are today. These sorts of frumpy names were worn by very strong and extremely dignified women. As such, regardless of how ‘ugly’ they might be to some people, in my eyes, they are the physical manifestation of strength at its finest.

And the same goes for the likes of [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], which bring to mind the image of ancient queens, or [name_f]Boudicca[/name_f] and [name_u]Joan[/name_u], which make you think of fighters. But sort of cartoonish or baby-sweet names like [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f], [name_f]Lulu[/name_f], [name_f]Bunny[/name_f] and [name_f]Lacey[/name_f] don’t quite measure up.

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In fairness, it is quite hard to narrow down and agree upon what makes a truly strong name. Because we all have different tastes, styles and ways of looking at things, which means that what you or I might consider to be weak is liable to be seen as ‘dainty’, ‘delicate’, ‘effeminate’, ‘soft’ or ‘sweet’ by someone else.

17

Finally, someone mentioned [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]! To me, it’s the strongest female name out there, mostly because there are a lot of strong Katherines in history and literature… and movies. Raise your hand if you weren’t in love with [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] long before Hidden Figures was over!

[name_f]Antonia[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_u]Marion[/name_u], [name_f]Althea[/name_f], [name_u]Rae[/name_u]… I think most of the names on my list are names I think are strong. Some commonalities between these are strong characters from books or films, but also the letter A features prominently in all of them. I’m struggling to think of a “strong” female name without an A in it–I even tried reading back through all the other names listed in this thread and realized that I didn’t agree with those others had mentioned if there was no A! So, I guess that’s a requirement for me.

18

The person behind it.

For my experience, girls with strong namesakes doesnt live up to their names. I met a [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f] a few years ago, and she wasnt the definition of strong…

As far as names, people have different opinions on what makes it strong. I do not agree with the ones saying that having a boy names on girls, makes the name strong.

19

I agree that traditionally male names do not strike me as strong female names…

My thoughts on strong female names:

  1. Stronger names (female or male) sound strong - due to use of harder consonants. For example, I don’t see [name_f]Martha[/name_f] as a strong female name because of the soft m and th sounds. I do think or [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] as a strong female name because the hard c and d sounds. (Similarly, [name_m]Wesley[/name_m] doesn’t strike me as a strong male name because of the soft w,s l sounds while [name_m]Gregory[/name_m] does sound like a strong male because of the hard gr and g sounds.)

  2. Strong female names aren’t cute (and I have trouble thinking of names ending in the -ee sound as strong) - [name_u]Piper[/name_u] seems stronger than [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]; [name_f]Rhonda[/name_f] seems stronger than [name_u]Rory[/name_u]; [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] seems stronger than [name_f]Bethany[/name_f]

20

I think embracing feminity IS strength. It’s the bearer of the name who has to own it. You could be [name_f]Emiliana[/name_f] or [name_u]Joan[/name_u] or [name_f]Helga[/name_f] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], but representation through attitude is what’s going to shape others associations with the name. That’s why people can have differing opinions on the exact same name but the harder, more annunciated letters are typically “strong” because something “flowing” is not associated with strength.

However, if you think of water, it’s also flowing… yet currents can be strong. Are you picturing a tsunami or a pond? It all comes down to perspective, association and opinion.