I’m having a hard time with this baby, in part because I am so afraid to give her a name she might think is weird or not like. My list of names ranges from [name_f]Jane[/name_f] to [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] so whatever I choose for this baby will set what her siblings will be named. I want her to have a name that is smart and strong and I will avoid nicknames unless otherwise stated. Here is my list of names ranging from most to least useable in my opinion. I like some more than others, but I want to see what you think of them first.
This probably won’t help, but honestly I think all of them are usable.
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] is definitely the most out there, but it’s far from unusable as a name. I don’t particularly like [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f] or [name_f]Isolde[/name_f]. But they’re definitely all very usable.
You could name her something completely wild and she’d love it or something completely normal and she’d hate it, and anything in between those two points! At this point pick something you like to say and hear. Maybe consider picking something you wouldn’t mind being named yourself, as that might make you feel more comfortable about her finding it usable.
They’re all wearable, though I get that they’re more or less mainstream. I should say, the mainstream ones are still very spunky! So it comes down to taste plus how unusual you think you’re likely to want to go with the others or how much you care about a narrow range in the sibset.
My faves in rough order:
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] (I like [name_f]Suki[/name_f] or Zannah as nn’s too. FWIW, my cousin is [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] and she wishes her parents had insisted on the full name sooner - she goes mostly by now - rather than [name_f]Susie[/name_f] or any nn for so long!)
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
Greta
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is too hip to me and seems to be just past its recent-times peak (versus [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]). [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] is great but too many Isabels where I am and I don’t love any nn’s which I think would happen. Same with [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I think a nn is almost inevitable during at least one stage and area of life and I don’t like the nn options. Unless you’re using honour names, a lot of these would be wonderful middles. Good luck!
Braver (but still very usable and easy to wear)
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] “[name_f]Ada[/name_f]”
[name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] “[name_f]Cassie[/name_f]” (but [name_f]Cassie[/name_f] makes it feel safe)
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] “Maybe [name_f]Susie[/name_f] as a baby/toddler”
Brave
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] “[name_f]Lily[/name_f]”
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] “[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] (could be [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] which makes it feel safer)
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] (could be [name_f]Emmy[/name_f], [name_u]Ari[/name_u] or [name_u]Issy[/name_u] which makes it feel safer)
I ordered them from most to least useable. Most of the changes I made were to lower some names that felt dated to me/I could only imagine on older adults, even though they are very familiar (like [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Susannah[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f]).
All of them seem perfectly usable to me, except for maybe [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] and [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I’m not saying they’re unusable, but they’re definitely very brave. That doesn’t make them bad names.
My favorites from your list are:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]- I’d avoid a nickname though, or go with [name_f]Addie[/name_f]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] - and [name_f]Susie[/name_f] is very cute
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] - but again without a nickname
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] is one of my faves. It’s classic, timeless and not popular or trendy
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] is pretty and more original than [name_f]Emily[/name_f] has more staying power than the trendy [name_u]Emery[/name_u] & [name_u]Emerson[/name_u]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] and [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] are nice too…unusual with out being unusual.
Too old-fashioned for my taste:
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] “[name_f]Ada[/name_f]”
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] “[name_f]Lily[/name_f]”
Downright unattractive:
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] - way out there
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] - this is an old man’s name
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] - just doesn’t roll right
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - I’ll never understand its popularity. I think of common words like table, cable, label, sable, enable, unable, fable. You could almost make a phrase: [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] was unable to set the table…she forgot to disable the cable attached to her sable.
If you’re worried, I think I would go for something traditional for the first name and more out there for the middle. Like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] for instance, that way you could have the best of both worlds and she could use either name as suits her personality.
I love your list so made some sibsets with it! I think my favorites are [name_f]Louise[/name_f] [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f].
I know you said no nns but sorry
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - Usable but slightly boring imo
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - love, cute but still wearable as an adult - [name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_u]Adi[/name_u], [name_u]Del[/name_u], [name_f]Di[/name_f]
[name_f]Louise[/name_f] - Nice, usable though I prefer [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] - [name_u]Lou[/name_u]
[name_f]Susannah[/name_f] - Its ok but feels very dated - [name_f]Su[/name_f], [name_f]Susi[/name_f], [name_f]Suki[/name_f], [name_f]Sana[/name_f]
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - See [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] - Nice, nms (Prefer [name_f]Francesca[/name_f]) - [name_u]Fran[/name_u], [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - [name_f]Lovely[/name_f], see [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - [name_f]Bea[/name_f], [name_f]Trish[/name_f], [name_f]Trixie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - Nice, although pronunciation issues - [name_f]Em[/name_f], [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_u]Lee[/name_u], [name_f]Lina[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - Really nice, love the way it rolls off your tongue - [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Lena[/name_f], [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] - Eh, nms and I will always think of [name_m]Hansel[/name_m] & [name_f]Gretel[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] - I honestly just think Trojan war - [name_f]Cassie[/name_f], [name_f]Sandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] - its ok, Prefer [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] - [name_f]Ro[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] - Really pretty - [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] - immediately thinks [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] & [name_m]Roman[/name_m] Mythology - [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] - Pretty, usable but uncommon - [name_u]Issy[/name_u], [name_f]Di[/name_f]
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] - Still usable and quite nice tbh - Arti,
All of these are wearable, with the exception of [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. While I personally like it, I think it might still be too “out there.” That being said, it is a nice legitimate name and there would be nothing wrong with choosing it.
Aside from that, I really like most of your names. I would pronounce [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] like [name_f]Emma[/name_f]-[name_u]Lyn[/name_u], and I wouldn’t personally use [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] or [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], but again, there is nothing wrong with any of these. My favorites from your list are [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], and [name_f]Helena[/name_f]!
I think they’re all usable, though would class Lilith, Minerva, Isolde and Artemis as the bravest out of your list.
I’m seconding this opinion by @adelina_sophia, however, my favorites from your list actually happen to be [name_u]Artemis[/name_u] and [name_f]Isolde[/name_f].
I absolutely love [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f], and [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] “[name_f]Lily[/name_f]”. All of them are perfectly usable to me. I think the one from your list that would make me say “wow!” instinctively would be [name_u]Artemis[/name_u]. I would love to meet someone with that name!
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] is my fav. I also like [name_f]Louise[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] & [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]. I don’t care for the rest.
