See the results of this poll: Which one?
Respondents: 38 (This poll is closed)
- Wilhelmina Beatrix : 22 (58%)
- Beatrix Melissande: 16 (42%)
I prefer [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]. 
I think they both go well with [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f]. I personally prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] over [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], so I voted for [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f].
Though i prefer [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] to [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Honey[/name_f] [name_f]Bea[/name_f] is just adorable.
I far prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] over [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and I think [name_f]Melissande[/name_f] is a beautiful middle name! There are a lot of popular names around here that I can appreciate, even if they aren’t my style, but [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] is just not one of them for some reason. I think I just have a strong aversion to a name with “hell” so emphasized in the middle. I know it’s technically not the accented syllable, but it’s still quite emphasized because of how you say the name. It’s somehow different than [name_f]Helene[/name_f] or [name_f]Helena[/name_f], I think, because the H sound almost disappears with those and different syllables are stressed far more. Anyway, whichever name you choose will be great, I’m sure, but my vote goes to [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]. =]
The only way I have ever heard [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] pronounced in real life is [name_f]Willa[/name_f]-mina, with a slight h sound as a whisper like Willha, but no L sound. I know that goes against what all the pronunciation guides seem to say, but it’s the only way I have heard it on a real person, and it’s also how they pronounce it in the show Ugly [name_f]Betty[/name_f], and the only way I’ve heard it for [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] Models as well.
I’m always a bit confused by the [name_m]Wil[/name_m]-Hel-Mi-Na pronunciation where the four syllables seem almost equally accented. It seems so forced to me. [name_m]Even[/name_m] in [name_m]German[/name_m] the name [name_m]Wilhelm[/name_m] sounds a lot more like [name_m]William[/name_m] than Vil-Helm. The 2nd syllable is always way shorter, quieter, and sounds almost truncated. To me, that’s the same with [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f].
If the 4 syllable long version is truly how people would intuitively pronounce it, I would definitely be using my alternate pronunciation regardless and guiding others to as well.
The alternate pronunciation is far better than how I was thinking it was pronounced. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard it in person, or if I have I didn’t realize that [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and “[name_f]Willa[/name_f]-mina” were the same name. lol So I’ve always pronounced it [name_m]Wil[/name_m]-hel-mi-na. [name_f]Willa[/name_f]-mina sounds much prettier. I do think that if people have not heard the name said aloud, like me, [name_f]Willa[/name_f]-mina is not necessarily going to be the instinctive pronunciation. However, you will be the one introducing your daughter to people and by the time your daughter is old enough to introduce herself, she’ll know how to pronounce it as well. The only issue she might have is in school and that should only last the first couple days of new teachers. If you love it, go for it.
Despite the change in pronunciation, though, I still think I prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], so that’s going to keep my vote. ^^
I prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] over [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], but [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] seems the better match with [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f]. [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] just doesn’t have the weight of [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f] and [name_m]Horatio[/name_m].
[name_m]Just[/name_m] so you know: [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] are two Dutch royal names.
Our last Queens’ name was [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] and her grandmother - who was also queen, and who has a famous candy named after her - was called [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f].
Put them together and you’re bound to look like a big Oranje van Nassau-fan to anyone Dutch or into royalty.
I love [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] though, so I did vote for [name_f]Winnie[/name_f].
Totally agree!
Though I personally prefer [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] to [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], I voted for [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] as a first name because I think you need something with length and a little gravitas to stand next to [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f]. [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] make an adorable set as well.
I agree with @southern.maple and @lonestar. I don’t think [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is toooo disproportionate to [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f], however, and it shares some of its eccentric, happy energy, at least more than [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] does. Both [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] and [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] have connections to children’s literature ([name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]) and contain the letter X. Plus, I really like [name_f]Melissande[/name_f] and “[name_f]Honey[/name_f] [name_f]Bea[/name_f]!” But it’s an extremely close call - I adore [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] “[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]” as well.
P.S. It doesn’t work with sister [name_f]Chrysanthemum[/name_f]/[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] but I thought I’d add, there’s a Greek name I came across: Melissanthi or Melissanthe, from melissa “honeybee” + anthos “flower.” I hope Greek berries will correct me if this is wrong but apparently [name_f]Melisende[/name_f], [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of Jerusalem is known as Melissanthi in Greek. There’s also a cave on the island of Kefalonia, Melissani Cave, supposedly named for a nymph Melissanthi.
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is so fun and magical
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_f]Melisande[/name_f] repeats the x/s sound a little too much for me; plus I think the overall cadence of [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is just lovely.
I do like [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] as a combo, but [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] as a first wins over 100%. [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is one of my favourites and I think she goes really well with [name_m]Horatio[/name_m] especially.