Wondrous Wanda?

What do we think?

[name_f]Wanda[/name_f] has never been my taste…However, I love the name [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], although I cannot use it as it’s my cousin’s name. I don’t mind [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], which may be the only W-like name I like besides my favorite, [name_u]Wren[/name_u].

Objectively speaking, [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] is completely usable. It is easy to spell and pronounce.

[name_f]Wanda[/name_f]; to me it connotation conjures up a number of random words: wand, wonder, and wander. And because of the character in The [name_u]Magic[/name_u] Schoolbus, I always see short, straight, brown hair and tan skin with eyes that hint of Oriental heritage. Although, thinking about it now, I could also see frizzy waves of orange or auburn hair, blue eyes, and freckled skin.

[name_f]Wanda[/name_f]'s not my favorite either. To me, its connotation conjures up a number of random words: wand, wonder, and wander. Plus, being a [name_u]Magic[/name_u] School Bus fan during childhood, an image of Miss Frizzle’s student [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] is closely associated with this name. Short, straight, brown hair, tan skin, and eyes that hint at an oriental heritage. However, at the same time, I can easily imagine frizzy waves of orange or auburn hair, blue eyes, and freckles.

My first thought is the film " A [name_m]Fish[/name_m] Called [name_f]Wanda[/name_f]". I think it’s in the same boat as [name_f]Thelma[/name_f] and [name_f]Norma[/name_f]. It’s not ready to be taken off the shelf and dusted off.

My first thought was the book/movie [i]The Host[i]. The word “wonder” brings magical, free-spirited images to mind. Unfortunately, those images don’t translate into [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] for me.

[name_f]Wanda[/name_f] reminds me of too many awkward tv connections. [name_m]Fish[/name_m], [name_u]Magic[/name_u] School Bus and [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] Sykes, perhaps not the best things to picture when hearing a name…

“The [name_u]Magic[/name_u] Schoolbus” … “A [name_m]Fish[/name_m] Called [name_f]Wanda[/name_f]”. Things aren’t looking so good for [name_f]Wanda[/name_f].

Unless, of course, [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] Sykes and “The Host” succeed in bringing something new and fresh to her image ;).

I don’t really care for [name_f]Wanda[/name_f], but I grew up with the nagging and obnoxious [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] from “The [name_f]Fairy[/name_f] Oddparents”. I agree with @[name_u]Mischa[/name_u]- it’s still a bit too musty to be considered fresh right now.

My mother-in-law’s name is [name_f]Wanda[/name_f] [name_u]Lou[/name_u]. Thankfully, hubby has agreed on [name_f]Louise[/name_f] as an honor name. I just can’t get on board with [name_f]Wanda[/name_f].