names for girls inspired by female achievers, both in real life and in fiction

[justbeenforapromenade]

A poster on another thread complained that Daphne was rather an underachiever in Greek mythology as she was pursued by Apollo, turned in to a laurel tree, job done.

Which females have done such great deeds that they would merit a dd becoming their namesakes - and you actually like the name too? Have you named or would you name dd after a politician, writer, your grandma?

Is it important to be named after a doer?

[FaintlyMacabre]

I wouldn't name a child after anyone. But it is a bonus if a lovely name has extra significance. DS would have been Rosalind if a girl- we didn't pick it on purpose for Rosalind Franklin but I did like that aspect of it IYSWIM.

[LittleMissNosey]

Rosa (Luxemburg and Parkes)

Rosa is one of my favouite girls name

[southeastastra]

daphne was also pretty cool in scooby doo

[tummytickler]

my 8 year old dd is Iris, partly for Murdoch and partly for my grandmother, mostly because we loved it.
I love that she has such an amazing namesake, hopefully she will too.

[Meglet]

Rosa after Rosa Parks is lovely. Not sure how I didn't use it for dd actually, I always meant to use it.

[pasturesnew]

I've always admired George Eliot, real name Mary Ann Evans. Also the Bronte sisters, Anne, Emily and Charlotte and Dorothy Wordsworth, William's sister.

I like Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, also Elizabeth I was an impressive queen of course.

Beatrice is the guide to heaven in Dante's Paradiso and a good lively character in Much Ado About Nothing, and Beatrice Webb the social reformer, also Beatrice Potter was a strong independent woman.

Katharine in the Taming of the Shrew is quite good, isn't she? Also Portia in The Merchant of Venice.

I like both Jane Austen and the character Jane Eyre.

Grace Darling was a lighthouse keeper who saved lots of people in a storm, she is a heroine of mine.

Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire was quite ahead of her time.

You've also got the suffragettes e.g. the Pankhurst sisters, Christabel and Emmeline.

[bronzebeard]

I think if you like a name and it has a extra significance then thats important but I wouldnt use it for the sole reason of naming

Though the other way there are names I wouldnt use because of a person- Myra for example which is sad as its a fairly pretty name

[pasturesnew]

Agree that Iris Murdoch was impressive.

Also admire:

Nancy Astor

Marie Curie

[GirlsAreLOud]

Amelia Earhart, for me.

I loved the name, and I liked the fact that the only famous one I can think of was such a strong character.

[LadyoftheBathtub]

I like Stevie after Stevie Smith (and Wonder! ) - DP not sp keen though.

[Hollyoaks]

pasturesnew Grace Darling was a really brave woman and a distant relative of mine. Nice to see her on here.

[pasturesnew]

Respect Hollyoaks.

[GirlsAreLOud]

I LOVED the garden gang books!

[BitOfFun]

Enid

[thumbwitch]

Florence for Florence Nightingale would be one of mine.

[cktwo]

Emmeline Pankhurst?

[Geminny]

Margaret

[pasturesnew]

or Mary for Mary Seacole

[MarthaFarquhar]

Cordelia from King Lear is a great female character

I also like Rosalind, after Rosalind Franklin.

And Emmeline too.

[MarthaFarquhar]

My own DD has DH's grandmother's name as her middle name - she was a rather formidable lady.

[dogonpoints]

I don't think it's at all important to be named after a do-er.

But I would consider Lisa after Lisa Simpson

[Hormonesnomore]

Ellen is a lovely name.

Ellen MacArthur is a real achiever.

[dogonpoints]

A lot of achievers are a bit odd.

[thumbwitch]

Rosalind Franklin - I still can't believe she didn't get the recognition she deserved.

How about Theresa, for MOther Theresa? Don't see that name about much these days...