Your Honor Names (International Women’s Day)

ashthedreamer · March 8, 2026, 5:44am

[name_f]Happy[/name_f] International Women’s [name_f]Day[/name_f], berries!

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This past week I’ve been thinking a lot about my favorite women in my life and the names I’d use to honor them, especially with today in mind. [name_f][/name_f] I would love to hear the names you’d use to honor your favorite women, too! [name_f][/name_f] They can be their actual names or names that just remind them of you in general.

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Here’s mine:

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[name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] (the smoosh of the names of two church aunties who are more like real aunties to me now)
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] (for my grandmother)
[name_f]Katharine[/name_f] (besides my grandma, most of my family matriarchs have a form of this name!)
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f] (reminds me of one of my favorite authors, [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Austen[/name_m], but it’s also my best friend’s middle, and the name of the first woman believer in [name_f]Europe[/name_f], which I’ve always loved)
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] (my bus driver from when I was a kid, but she was more like a third grandma for me)
[name_f]Tali[/name_f] (for my sister)

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I didn’t want to make my list too long, but I would also add [name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Sabina[/name_f], [name_f]Romy[/name_f], [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], and [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] for my sponsored girls in [name_m]South[/name_m] [name_f]America[/name_f] if I were doing a longer list—their lives are so hard and they are so strong—they inspire me every single day!

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What names would you put on your list?

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Thanks berries!

Greyblue · March 8, 2026, 8:35am

[name_f]Love[/name_f] this – yours are all lovely – so many special names

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[name_f]Birdie[/name_f], [name_f]Bee[/name_f], [name_f]Juniper[/name_f], [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f], [name_f]Meri[/name_f] (for my [name_f]Ma[/name_f] – two of her favorite things; [name_f][/name_f] a nod to her name; a name she wanted to give me; a cheerful, ocean related name )

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[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] (for two friends – similar letters to their names and a hopeful meaning)

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[name_f]Clara[/name_f] (as a nod to my aunt and to my great grandmother [name_f][/name_f]- a variant of their first/middle name)

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[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f] (for my nan)

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[name_f]Bronte[/name_f] (for the [name_f]Bronte[/name_f] sisters, of course)

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[name_f]Anya[/name_f] (a nod to several friends – similar letters to both, and a nod to a show we watched together)

EdgeOfTheMeadow · March 8, 2026, 10:20am

For my Grandma whose name was [name_f]Jean[/name_f]:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]June[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- her birth month and similatity to [name_f]Jean[/name_f].
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Georgette[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- for an author she loved, [name_f]Georgette[/name_f] Heyer.
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Gene[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- homophone for [name_f]Jean[/name_f] of course, and I was so happy when we did DNA tests and discovered that the DNA she passed to me is higher than average between grandparent and grandchild. (The range is 17-34% and I think our matching DNA was 32.5%).

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For [name_f]Josie[/name_f], my sister who passed away ~
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Jolie[/name_f], [name_f]Joni[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_m]Josian[/name_m], [name_f]Joliet[/name_f].

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[name_f]Marianne[/name_f] is my favourite fem name, and working backwards, I love that it could reference [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Anning[/name_f]. Although, I learned about this great woman long after I fell in love with [name_f]Marianne[/name_f] (PN like marry-an).

tallemaja · March 8, 2026, 10:25am

[name_m]The[/name_m] only woman in my life I’d like to honour is my grandma, [name_f]Marya[/name_f], which is good because there are so many nice [name_f]Marian[/name_f] names! [name_f]My[/name_f] favourite is [name_f]Marin[/name_f] (b) but I like [name_f]Marianna[/name_f] and [name_f]Mariam[/name_f] a lot too – or even [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f]? But I kind of consider all of the Serbian names on my list to be a very subtle honour to her, since she travelled to the country several times and tells me stories about it often! [name_f]My[/name_f] favourites of those are [name_m]Aleksandar[/name_m], [name_f]Marin[/name_f] again, [name_m]Risto[/name_m] (doubles as an honour name for a male family member!), [name_m]Ilija[/name_m], [name_f]Ilinka[/name_f] and [name_f]Iva[/name_f]!

katinka · March 8, 2026, 11:10am

[name_f]My[/name_f] eldest son’s middle name, [name_m]Valentine[/name_m], is for my grandma who died during my pregnancy with him. [name_f]She[/name_f] was V@lerie 1rene.

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I was actually thinking the other day how [name_f]Winona[/name_f] or [name_f]Wenona[/name_f] would make a great honour name for our children’s grandmas (W3ndy and Fi0na). [name_f]Or[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] for their middle names [name_f][/name_f]— I’m currently really liking this one!

persephonescrown · March 8, 2026, 11:43am

What a lovely idea!

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[name_f]Ida[/name_f] was my grandmother’s middle name. It’s especially special because the whole family loves [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m] and [name_m]Sullivan[/name_m] operettas, of which one is [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Ida[/name_f][name_f][/name_f]. I love [name_f]Ida[/name_f] but I’ve often thought that using any female character name from G&S is an honour for her [name_f][/name_f]- perhaps [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Tessa[/name_f], or even [name_f]Iolanthe[/name_f]! [name_f]Or[/name_f] [name_f]Leonora[/name_f], the name of the original leading soprano (which also references my maiden name). I could make the G&S reference with boys’ names [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Gilbert[/name_m], [name_m]Frederic[/name_m], [name_m]Robin[/name_m], [name_m]Cyril[/name_m]! [name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother also enjoyed reading [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m], though (I have her very battered copy of [name_m]The[/name_m] Hobbit) so any name from his work is also a little secret honour.

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For my mother, I’d use any name that means/contains/references bee or bear [name_f][/name_f]- I like [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Ursa[/name_f], [name_f]Melissa[/name_f], [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. [name_f]Or[/name_f] I might use a name connected to the place we used to ride together [name_f][/name_f]- the name of the farm or one of the horses, like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_m]Barney[/name_m], or [name_m]Archie[/name_m].

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[name_f]My[/name_f] favourite female authors are [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Austen[/name_m], for whom I would use [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] as an honour, and [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_m]Woolf[/name_m], for whom I’d use [name_f]Lark[/name_f] (‘what a lark! what a plunge!’ is a famous line from Mrs Dalloway[name_f][/name_f].

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[name_m]The[/name_m] moon is very important to me because it’s a motif that links various favourite female characters, so any moon goddess name works [name_f][/name_f]- also recently found out my great-grandmother-in-law was a [name_f]Selina[/name_f] so that’s become a real contender! I used to be obsessed with [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_m]Artemis[/name_m] as a combo

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[name_f]My[/name_f] two bridesmaids both have ‘rose’ somewhere in their names so I like [name_f]Rosalba[/name_f] as a sweet nod to that.

seawillow · March 8, 2026, 11:43am

[name_f]So[/name_f] many of my girl names are honors, though rarely for family members because I try to only choose names I actually like, rather than simply for meaning. [name_m]Just[/name_m] a personal preference!

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[name_f]Anne[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] of my beloved [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f].[name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] is the name of my mother and grandmother.
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] an honor for [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] Ball, L.M. [name_m]Montgomery[/name_m], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_m]Burns[/name_m], and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_m]Pevensie[/name_m].
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] an honor for [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_f]Lovelace[/name_f] and [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] Comstock.
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] a diminutive honor for a cherished family member.
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] for [name_f]Virginia[/name_f] [name_m]Woolf[/name_m], one of the most influential literary figures of my career and my life in general.
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Galilee[/name_f]:[name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], for the Biblical figure and [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_m]Bader[/name_m] Ginsburg. [name_f]Galilee[/name_f] is in honor of the women of [name_f]Galilee[/name_f], who were some of the most steadfast and overlooked disciples.

justagirlwholovesnam · March 8, 2026, 12:38pm

[name_f]Leanne[/name_f] (for my mom)

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[name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] (for my great-great-grandmother)

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her name was [name_f]Esther[/name_f], since [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] was the real name of [name_m]Queen[/name_m] [name_f]Esther[/name_f] I think it could be a cool way to honor her

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[name_f]Lotus[/name_f] (for my sister)

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[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] (for my best friend)

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[name_f]Sue[/name_f] (for my Aunt)

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[name_f]Libby[/name_f] (for my cousin)

planetnames · March 8, 2026, 3:59pm

For my grandmother: [name_f]Marina[/name_f] (the meaning connects to the region she grew up in and also her favourite holiday destination, plus it sounds like a longer version of her middle name)

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For my great-grandmother: [name_f]Ida[/name_f]

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For my mum: [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f] (one of her favourite flowers)

ricepud · March 8, 2026, 4:21pm

[name_f]My[/name_f] special women names would be…

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[name_f]Anne[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Barbie[/name_f]
[name_f]Stevie[/name_f]
[name_f]Tori[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Chihiro[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Briony[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Hayley[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]
[name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Pippi[/name_f]
[name_f]Annie[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]

ediebee · March 8, 2026, 4:41pm

Coraline - my mum is Caroline, and I think this name which simply switches two of the vowels, is a perfect way to honour her
Lowenna - for my grandma
Hannelore - for my other grandma
Lieselore - this would be a way to honour both grandma Hannelore and her mother, Lieselotte
Katel - for grandma Lowenna’s mother
Sarah - for my best friend

There are other honour names on my list, but these are the top ones.

My own name is an honour name, I’m Edie for my dad’s grandma, Edith, who was one of the first women to be awarded a DPhil (PhD) degree from the University of Oxford.

rosefairiie · March 8, 2026, 7:13pm

Here are my names for International Women’s [name_f]Day[/name_f]:

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[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] (for my friend and my grandmother)
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f] (for my friend and multiple celebs)
[name_f]Irene[/name_f], [name_f]Irena[/name_f] (for my friend and [name_f]Irene[/name_f] from [name_f]Red[/name_f] Velvet)
[name_f]Violeta[/name_f] (for both my grandmothers + it’s a song by the girl group IZ*ONE)

Demiboy0415 · March 8, 2026, 7:37pm

Sunny/Sonny [name_f][/name_f]- my mom’s favorite flower
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Ross[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- for my great grandma [name_f]Rosey[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Elias[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- for my great grandma [name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]Clare/Claire
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Jaymie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Artemis[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- for my grandma
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Oliver[/name_m] “Oli”

EpitomeofGrace · March 8, 2026, 8:17pm

[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]My[/name_f] daughter’s actual name, honors my great-grandmother, the mother of the grandmother I was closest to growing up.

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[name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Mariel[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Honors my mother as they are in order: her favorite flower, one of her favorite book characters/authors as well as a diminutive of her actual name, and the name she almost gave me.

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[name_f]Kerenza[/name_f], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], [name_m]Jory[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- All names from Cornwall in honor of my grandmother who’s parents immigrated from Cornwall.

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[name_f]Marilla[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- Both the name of a strong woman from one of my favorite books (Anne of [name_m]Green[/name_m] Gables) and a nod to my mother-in-law and her mother, both named [name_f]Martha[/name_f] and both amazing women. Names that start with “Mar” and “M” are really common in their family.

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[name_m]Julian[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]- for [name_m]St[/name_m]. [name_m]Julian[/name_m] of Norwich, who wrote the oldest known book by a woman author in the [name_f]English[/name_f] language, a book of hope in a time of despair

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[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite Shakespearian character, independent, loyal to those she loves, and not afraid to laugh or admit she was wrong.

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Rhiannon/Nora/Orion [name_f][/name_f]- Each name honors a different close friend.

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[name_m]Other[/name_m] female ancestors: [name_f]Iona[/name_f], [name_f]Delcie[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Almira[/name_f], [name_m]Experience[/name_m], [name_f]Frances[/name_f]

ashthedreamer · March 9, 2026, 3:48am

Thanks for sharing, berries! [name_f][/name_f] Nameberry won’t let me tag you all in one post, but I loved reading all your stories of the most meaningful women to you. [name_f][/name_f] What a blessing it is to live in a world where we have the gift of community! [name_f][/name_f] I am so grateful for you all. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] @Greyblue[name_f][/name_f] @katinka[name_f][/name_f] @seawillow[name_f][/name_f] @EdgeOfTheMeadow[name_f][/name_f] @tallemaja[name_f][/name_f] @persephonescrown[name_f][/name_f] @justagirlwholovesnam[name_f][/name_f] @planetnames[name_f][/name_f] @ricepud[name_f][/name_f] @ediebee

ashthedreamer · March 9, 2026, 3:49am

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@Demiboy0415[name_f][/name_f] @EpitomeofGrace[name_f][/name_f] @rosefairiie