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HelpRip my girls' names to shreds
Well, maybe be a little nicer than that ;) I am a little protective over these names, and I've posted about them all before (some more than others!), but I'm having some doubts about numbers 7-10.
1. Romilly
2. Josephine
3. Viola
4. Wilhelmina
5. Ianthe
6. Margot
7. Guinevere
8. Frances
9. Edith
10. Cecily
And a little bonus question, can you think of any boys' names that might work as brothers to any of these girls? I'm still struggling!
Much obliged!
Ottilie
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467
1. Romilly
2. Josephine
3. Viola
4. Wilhelmina
5. Ianthe
6. Margot
7. Guinevere
8. Frances
9. Edith
10. Cecily
And a little bonus question, can you think of any boys' names that might work as brothers to any of these girls? I'm still struggling!
Much obliged!
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/116467
This message was edited 7/23/2015, 12:18 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
1. Romilly sounds too boyish. And it looks hard to pronounce.
2. This was my great-grandmother's name. She changed it from Johannah.
3. Seems okay.
4. Too heavyset for a girl, unless you plan on using a nickname.
5. Ee-an-thay? EYE-an-thay? Can't tell how to pronounce it.
6. Okay. Refreshing from Margaret.
7. Why not Gwen or Gwendolyn?
8. Frances is plain.
9. Edith is okay.
10. Cecily is okay.
Boy Names:
Arthur, Jacob, Edmund, Willem, Daniel, Howard, Thaddeus, Marvin, Dennis, Lewis, and George.
2. This was my great-grandmother's name. She changed it from Johannah.
3. Seems okay.
4. Too heavyset for a girl, unless you plan on using a nickname.
5. Ee-an-thay? EYE-an-thay? Can't tell how to pronounce it.
6. Okay. Refreshing from Margaret.
7. Why not Gwen or Gwendolyn?
8. Frances is plain.
9. Edith is okay.
10. Cecily is okay.
Boy Names:
Arthur, Jacob, Edmund, Willem, Daniel, Howard, Thaddeus, Marvin, Dennis, Lewis, and George.
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1. Romilly - reminds me of Brittany stylewise.
2. Josephine - I like Josie, but otherwise this is just Joseph with a feminine ending and is not any nicer than Joseph itself.
3. Viola - musical instrument and the word violate make this seem silly to me, very difficult to imagine it as fashionable again, like Gaylord.
4. Wilhelmina - I sort of like it but prefer more phonetic Willamina or Willemina. The helmin part makes me think of helminths (parasitic worms)
5. Ianthe - ambiguous pronunciation ruins it for me. eye- or ee-? -thee or -thuh or -thay or -ta or -tay? Grief. I tend to say ee-ANN-thee. It's a nice name but the prn just confounds it too much for me
6. Margot - like
7. Guinevere - like. I like Gwenevere a little more, actually. But this name is cool. It's medievalish but not witchy or too self-conscious, IMO
8. Frances - eh. I feel like it is just old. Not retro, just aged and papery.
9. Edith - a favorite of mine. I think it should be popular in place of Adele and all the addle names.
10. Cecily - it's nice. Two S sounds nms. Cicely seems to have more life though, IMO.
Boys: Well, Joseph and William ... Peter, Harold, Roger, Oliver, Stephan, Ramsey, Gerard, Bernard, George, Alfred, Wilfred, Duncan, Orlando, Otto, Graham, Malcolm, Laurence, Conrad
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1. Romilly -- Nice. I like how it sounds so classic and modern at the same time (if that makes sense, haha). Wouldn't use it personally, but would be happy to meet someone with the name. LOVE the nn Romy for it.
2. Josephine -- Pretty. I love it even more with the nn Posy.
3. Viola -- I like the sound, but as a Spanish speaker it's a big no for me.
4. Wilhelmina -- Ok, but a bit over-the-top. The only association I have is to the Wilhelmina in Ugly Betty and she doesn't improve my image :)
5. Ianthe -- Interesting and different. I think I like Xanthe more, though.
6. Margot -- I personally don't like it.. It has an unattractive sound, but I know I'm in the minority with this opinion.
7. Guinevere -- Nice.
8. Frances -- Pretty!
9. Edith -- Same as with Margot, sorry. I do like the nn Edie, though.
10. Cecily -- Prefer Cecilia or Cecilie.
2. Josephine -- Pretty. I love it even more with the nn Posy.
3. Viola -- I like the sound, but as a Spanish speaker it's a big no for me.
4. Wilhelmina -- Ok, but a bit over-the-top. The only association I have is to the Wilhelmina in Ugly Betty and she doesn't improve my image :)
5. Ianthe -- Interesting and different. I think I like Xanthe more, though.
6. Margot -- I personally don't like it.. It has an unattractive sound, but I know I'm in the minority with this opinion.
7. Guinevere -- Nice.
8. Frances -- Pretty!
9. Edith -- Same as with Margot, sorry. I do like the nn Edie, though.
10. Cecily -- Prefer Cecilia or Cecilie.
This message was edited 7/24/2015, 12:44 PM
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None of your girl names really knocks my socks off, BUT I like most of them.
Here are my "favorites" (starting with the best and so on):
* Cecily - lovely, but prefer it as a middle name
* Josephine - I like it. Too long for me as a first name, but a lovely, classy middle name for sure!
* Viola - one of those "sweet tooth" names, but much better than Violet
* Romilly - even though it is very close to being too sweet, and it's getting very popular... okay as a middle name
* Wilhelmina - a little long and not a fan of those feminized boy names, but a decent middle name, I guess
* Frances - Okay, but nothing special... a decent middle name
* Ianthe - I like the looks, but the pronunciation is confusing. Maybe not even a good middle name because of that...
* Margot - old/ dated... naw
* Guinevere - doesn't look very feminine and I don't like both sound and spelling
* Edith - same as Margot: reminds me of an old woman
And here are my sibset suggestions:
Cecily & Nicholas
Cecily & Felix
Cecily & Marius
Cecily & Valentine
Josephine & Alban
Josephine & Augustus
Josephine & Aurelius
Josephine & Cornelius
Josephine & Emmanuel
Josephine & Laurent
Here are my "favorites" (starting with the best and so on):
* Cecily - lovely, but prefer it as a middle name
* Josephine - I like it. Too long for me as a first name, but a lovely, classy middle name for sure!
* Viola - one of those "sweet tooth" names, but much better than Violet
* Romilly - even though it is very close to being too sweet, and it's getting very popular... okay as a middle name
* Wilhelmina - a little long and not a fan of those feminized boy names, but a decent middle name, I guess
* Frances - Okay, but nothing special... a decent middle name
* Ianthe - I like the looks, but the pronunciation is confusing. Maybe not even a good middle name because of that...
* Margot - old/ dated... naw
* Guinevere - doesn't look very feminine and I don't like both sound and spelling
* Edith - same as Margot: reminds me of an old woman
And here are my sibset suggestions:
Cecily & Nicholas
Cecily & Felix
Cecily & Marius
Cecily & Valentine
Josephine & Alban
Josephine & Augustus
Josephine & Aurelius
Josephine & Cornelius
Josephine & Emmanuel
Josephine & Laurent
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Ahhhh, thank you so much for all the suggestions! I'm going to have to really read through them and contemplate.
I have to ask, though, where did you get the idea that Romilly is getting popular? It doesn't appear on a single popularity chart! http://www.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=romilly
I have to ask, though, where did you get the idea that Romilly is getting popular? It doesn't appear on a single popularity chart! http://www.behindthename.com/top/search.php?terms=romilly
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I've read it so many times in user postings on here. Even if it isn't in those popularity charts, I feel like it will soon.
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I think you've maybe been reading too many of my posts ;) I think it's only myself and one other user who really love it, haha. But I do keep an eye on the popularity, it was only used 47 times in the UK according to the latest available data.
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Well, if "I" have the feeling that a name is too popular, this is one reason against it. But there are also exceptions for me... it really depends.
I'm just not a fan of made-up sounding names. They need to have a history in my opinion. But that's my personal opinion.
I'm just not a fan of made-up sounding names. They need to have a history in my opinion. But that's my personal opinion.
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Hey, it's alright, I'm just discussing it with you!
Romilly has history, it's a place name, a surname, and has been used occasionally as a given name over the centuries.
Romilly has history, it's a place name, a surname, and has been used occasionally as a given name over the centuries.
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Oh everything is fine, haha. I didn't mean to appear mad or anything! I'm just trying to make my point. ;-)
It's great to see how you defend Romilly. That's definitely how it should be. We can only give opinions, but every single one of us needs to decide for themselves when the day comes. How weird would it be if we'd all be of the same opinion?!
It's great to see how you defend Romilly. That's definitely how it should be. We can only give opinions, but every single one of us needs to decide for themselves when the day comes. How weird would it be if we'd all be of the same opinion?!
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Some are much more rippable than others.
1. Romilly - more male than female to me; perhaps someone with not enough talent who hangs around soon-to-be-famous artists? Success by association? Unusable.
2. Josephine - is OK but I far prefer Joseph for a boy so I'd never think of using it. Nicknames can be tricky. Jo is I suppose fine, Josie is better, Jody is unthinkable.
3. Viola - the one I knew was a cheerful, naughty-but-nice, leggy schoolgirl who was learning drumming. Not very Shakespearian! Much nicer than Violet, but then there's the pronunciation issue: VEE or VIE.
4. Wilhelmina - dated and dusty where I live, and a mouthful and a half anywhere.
5. Ianthe - interesting. Understated but still hogs the limelight. I'd like to meet a small one.
6. Margot - both snobbish and colourless. Nope.
7. Guinevere - Come back, Jennifer - all is forgiven!
8. Frances - very nice, especially on a fictional badger. For humans, I prefer Francis for a boy, but I still like Frances.
9. Edith - I like short e sounds at the beginnings of names, like Elinor, Eloise, Elizabeth, Elspeth (not Ellen, admittedly); but that lo-o-ong e is just so whiney. And where I live it's permanently linked to a cartoon grandmother (madam&eve.com might get it).
10. Cecily - now you're talking! If I had a daughter tomorrow, DH would have to find some very good reasons for not using Cecily.
1. Romilly - more male than female to me; perhaps someone with not enough talent who hangs around soon-to-be-famous artists? Success by association? Unusable.
2. Josephine - is OK but I far prefer Joseph for a boy so I'd never think of using it. Nicknames can be tricky. Jo is I suppose fine, Josie is better, Jody is unthinkable.
3. Viola - the one I knew was a cheerful, naughty-but-nice, leggy schoolgirl who was learning drumming. Not very Shakespearian! Much nicer than Violet, but then there's the pronunciation issue: VEE or VIE.
4. Wilhelmina - dated and dusty where I live, and a mouthful and a half anywhere.
5. Ianthe - interesting. Understated but still hogs the limelight. I'd like to meet a small one.
6. Margot - both snobbish and colourless. Nope.
7. Guinevere - Come back, Jennifer - all is forgiven!
8. Frances - very nice, especially on a fictional badger. For humans, I prefer Francis for a boy, but I still like Frances.
9. Edith - I like short e sounds at the beginnings of names, like Elinor, Eloise, Elizabeth, Elspeth (not Ellen, admittedly); but that lo-o-ong e is just so whiney. And where I live it's permanently linked to a cartoon grandmother (madam&eve.com might get it).
10. Cecily - now you're talking! If I had a daughter tomorrow, DH would have to find some very good reasons for not using Cecily.
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I don't have many bad things to say about these names!
1. Romilly - not my usual style of name but I have nothing against it and see its appeal.
2. Josephine - very, very nice!
3. Viola - beautiful! One of my favourites.
4. Wilhelmina - normally I would find a name like this too flouncy and old-fashioned, but I actually think Wilhelmina is gorgeous.
5. Ianthe - not my favourite -anthe name, but short and sweet with a nice sound
6. Margot - one of my favourites. It's just wonderful.
7. Guinevere - so pretty! I like Genevieve better, but Guinevere just sounds so beautiful. In real life I would find it a bit princessy, and the connection to the legends of King Arthur a bit too strong (it's not at all a bad connection, but it's a very uncommon, stand-out name)
8. Frances - somehow I like Francis for a boy, but Frances for a girl I can't bring myself to like.
9. Edith - a great name, especially with Edie as a nickname.
10. Cecily - I switch between whether I like Cecily or Cecilia better. They are both so nice!
A few boys' names to go with them:
Rupert
Victor
William
Eric
Emil / Emile
Lysander
Claude
Ambrose
Dashiell
Bruno
Oliver
Francis
Roman
Albert
Colm
Clement
Astor
Quentin
Sinclair
Cillian / Killian
Miles
Louis
Julius
Julian
1. Romilly - not my usual style of name but I have nothing against it and see its appeal.
2. Josephine - very, very nice!
3. Viola - beautiful! One of my favourites.
4. Wilhelmina - normally I would find a name like this too flouncy and old-fashioned, but I actually think Wilhelmina is gorgeous.
5. Ianthe - not my favourite -anthe name, but short and sweet with a nice sound
6. Margot - one of my favourites. It's just wonderful.
7. Guinevere - so pretty! I like Genevieve better, but Guinevere just sounds so beautiful. In real life I would find it a bit princessy, and the connection to the legends of King Arthur a bit too strong (it's not at all a bad connection, but it's a very uncommon, stand-out name)
8. Frances - somehow I like Francis for a boy, but Frances for a girl I can't bring myself to like.
9. Edith - a great name, especially with Edie as a nickname.
10. Cecily - I switch between whether I like Cecily or Cecilia better. They are both so nice!
A few boys' names to go with them:
Rupert
Victor
William
Eric
Emil / Emile
Lysander
Claude
Ambrose
Dashiell
Bruno
Oliver
Francis
Roman
Albert
Colm
Clement
Astor
Quentin
Sinclair
Cillian / Killian
Miles
Louis
Julius
Julian
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Thank you! I'd very likely nickname Guinevere "Gwen", so perhaps that might make it a little more usable?
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1. Romilly - It's nice. Pretty and frilly but not overly so. I also like Romy a lot.
2. Josephine - Love it.
3. Viola - Not a fan.
4. Wilhelmina - I like it, but it seems like kind of a big, heavy name for a girl born today. You could always call her Mina or something, though, and that makes it seem more usable.
5. Ianthe - Sorry but I just cannot make myself like this name. It's so, so ugly to me.
6. Margot - I like Margo, but the t at the end feels unnecessary and pretentious.
7. Guinevere - Beautiful and mystical and magical.
8. Frances - I've started to really love this lately. Sensible but fun and spunky at the same time.
9. Edith - Really nice, it's so understated and soft.
10. Cecily - Like a lacy doily, but not in a bad way.
2. Josephine - Love it.
3. Viola - Not a fan.
4. Wilhelmina - I like it, but it seems like kind of a big, heavy name for a girl born today. You could always call her Mina or something, though, and that makes it seem more usable.
5. Ianthe - Sorry but I just cannot make myself like this name. It's so, so ugly to me.
6. Margot - I like Margo, but the t at the end feels unnecessary and pretentious.
7. Guinevere - Beautiful and mystical and magical.
8. Frances - I've started to really love this lately. Sensible but fun and spunky at the same time.
9. Edith - Really nice, it's so understated and soft.
10. Cecily - Like a lacy doily, but not in a bad way.
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1
1. Romilly - I don't like it, but seeing as it's number 1, it's unlikely to chage so I won't go there!
2. Josephine - I like this, especially with the nn Josie. I also really like Josiane or Josie Anne / Ann, but that may just be my -anne phase
3. Viola - it feels unfinished to me, but I prefer it to Violet
4. Wilhelmina - If I burdened a child with this, I would simply call them Billie all the time, which is losing it's charm for me so... yuck.
5. Ianthe - lovely :)
6. Margot - also lovely :)
7. Guinevere - so severe, I can't imagine anyone under the age of 50. Very stern
8. Frances - So boring. I have never liked this name.
9. Edith - yeuch. Don't like it. I know many people do, I am just not one of them.
10. Cecily - I would prefer Celia or Cicely, but I'll take Cecily as it's here.
Now for brothers...
Albert
Basil
Byron
Charles
Edmond
Ernest
Frederick
Gilbert
Gregory
Isadore
Nathanael
Nicholas
Octavian
Patrick
Percival
Robert
Theodore
Timothy
Vincent
William
2. Josephine - I like this, especially with the nn Josie. I also really like Josiane or Josie Anne / Ann, but that may just be my -anne phase
3. Viola - it feels unfinished to me, but I prefer it to Violet
4. Wilhelmina - If I burdened a child with this, I would simply call them Billie all the time, which is losing it's charm for me so... yuck.
5. Ianthe - lovely :)
6. Margot - also lovely :)
7. Guinevere - so severe, I can't imagine anyone under the age of 50. Very stern
8. Frances - So boring. I have never liked this name.
9. Edith - yeuch. Don't like it. I know many people do, I am just not one of them.
10. Cecily - I would prefer Celia or Cicely, but I'll take Cecily as it's here.
Now for brothers...
Albert
Basil
Byron
Charles
Edmond
Ernest
Frederick
Gilbert
Gregory
Isadore
Nathanael
Nicholas
Octavian
Patrick
Percival
Robert
Theodore
Timothy
Vincent
William
1
1
1. Romilly - seems a bit twee, I'd prefer Rosemary or Rosamund nn Romy.
2. Josephine - like it
3. Viola - like it pronounced VY-oh-la
4. Wilhelmina - like it
5. Ianthe - it's ok
6. Margot - like it
7. Guinevere - the 'vere' part makes it seem a bit severe
8. Frances - like it
9. Edith - like it
10. Cecily - it has kind of a hissing sound to it
Boys names...
Sebastian
Dominic
Arlo
Benedict
Cassius
Jago
Arthur
Ferdinand
Rupert
Miles
Clement
Wilfred
Barnabas
Jasper
Marius
Bertram
Cecil
Gregory
Cornelius
Gilbert
Stirling
Everett
Lex
Sidney
Giles
Ernest
Horatio
Douglas
Roland
Clarence
Kirrin
Ralph
2. Josephine - like it
3. Viola - like it pronounced VY-oh-la
4. Wilhelmina - like it
5. Ianthe - it's ok
6. Margot - like it
7. Guinevere - the 'vere' part makes it seem a bit severe
8. Frances - like it
9. Edith - like it
10. Cecily - it has kind of a hissing sound to it
Boys names...
Sebastian
Dominic
Arlo
Benedict
Cassius
Jago
Arthur
Ferdinand
Rupert
Miles
Clement
Wilfred
Barnabas
Jasper
Marius
Bertram
Cecil
Gregory
Cornelius
Gilbert
Stirling
Everett
Lex
Sidney
Giles
Ernest
Horatio
Douglas
Roland
Clarence
Kirrin
Ralph
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Thank you so much!
1
1. Romilly- I don't like the "milly" part.
2. Josephine- Dislike the Joseph part.
3. Viola- Very much dislike the sound.
4. Wilhelmina- Indifferent.
5. Ianthe- Like for the most part.
6. Margot- Indifferent, one of my best friends is named Margo so I guess I like it.
7. Guinevere- Love but would probably be difficult to use; thanks to the King Arthur tales.
8. Frances- Hate; no reason other than I just do.
9. Edith- it's started growing on me. It was my grandmother's name but I did recently see a baby named Edith and it was actually refreshing.
10. Cecily- Love to the ends of my soul.
2. Josephine- Dislike the Joseph part.
3. Viola- Very much dislike the sound.
4. Wilhelmina- Indifferent.
5. Ianthe- Like for the most part.
6. Margot- Indifferent, one of my best friends is named Margo so I guess I like it.
7. Guinevere- Love but would probably be difficult to use; thanks to the King Arthur tales.
8. Frances- Hate; no reason other than I just do.
9. Edith- it's started growing on me. It was my grandmother's name but I did recently see a baby named Edith and it was actually refreshing.
10. Cecily- Love to the ends of my soul.
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I think Guinevere might be more usable thanks to Arthurian Romance, but I very much see your point.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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