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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Feminine, unusual, ethereal girl's names- any ideas?

89 replies

sleepyhead3 · 15/08/2010 10:12

I would like some ideas for girl's names that are not too commonly used, feminine but not feminissima if that makes sense!

Am looking for something light and slightly exotic sounding.

I have a few ideas so far:

Adela
Jessamine
Marguerite
Juniper
Vivienne
Marina
Camilla

Any opinions or other ideas??

OP posts:
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DELHI · 16/11/2010 16:52

Elvira ( like the ghost wife in Blythe Spirit)

anoknockingmyhousedown · 16/11/2010 16:29

Zavora (or Xavora if you prefer).

Adela and Marguerite I like from your list.

Suncottage · 16/11/2010 16:22

Lucia/Lucinda

Penelope

Araminta

Phamie

Shauna

thumbwitch · 16/11/2010 15:55

Ariel
Ophelia
Giselle
Elissa
Arianna
Cléone
Aeolia
Alethea (al-uh-THEE-ah)
Cecily

Suncottage · 16/11/2010 15:54

Tanith - it means 'Moon Goodess'

Meonia - it means 'The One' pronounced May-on-ire (end bit rhymes with wire)

MaryMungo · 16/11/2010 15:48

Circe
Niobe
Eileithyia
Tisiphone
Bianna
Arethusa
Eirene
Psyche

SecondhandRose · 16/11/2010 14:48

Ophelia was what I was going to say and has already been said.

LadyintheRadiator · 06/11/2010 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 06/11/2010 08:49

also blonde is the last colour a child of ours will be - any shade of brown from mousey to almost black, redheads in both our families but no blondes...does that matter?

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 06/11/2010 08:49

I love the name Xanthe, top of my list at the mo. Slight worry is DS is Ethan, does that make too many th's?!

chipmonkey · 06/11/2010 00:53

Elva
Rosalind
Emmeline

missmoocher · 06/11/2010 00:07

Hi, I am really pleased that people have said "Xanthe" . I first heard this name some 13 years ago, I was taking my son to school, this little blonde curly haired girl ran past, she was angel-like, and stunning, Whilst helping my son(Dax :17yrs now), in the cloakroom, I noticed her Name: XANTHE.

Fell in love with it instantly!!!

And my Xanthe age 5yrs, she ironicly has the same blonde curly hair and big blue eyes.

XANTHE; (Greek) Pron: Zanthee ;

Means : Yellow, Fair hair.

My other kids names are:

DAX: (German or Yorkshire) ??????

MISSY: (American)

BarmyArmy · 18/08/2010 15:30

Persephone - one of my best friends at school/uni has that name.

GuntherMcKilocodie · 18/08/2010 12:32

Augusta
Allegra

Really remind me of arts and crafts/ Virginia Woolf etc-ethereal yet achingly cool

Original poster
sleepyhead3 · 17/08/2010 23:02

bellepink- your post made me laugh! Maybe Juniper is a bit daft!

I can see what you are saying about Vivienne actually. Perhaps it is the spelling (enne) that makes it look so feminine but actually it is a strong sounding name.

Thank you so much to everyone for their fantastic suggestions!!

OP posts:
Atlasive · 17/08/2010 21:50

Celeste
Marianne
Estelle
Serena
Georgiana
Viola
Anneliese
Miriam
Sylvia
Rowena
Anastasia
Cara
Larissa
Penelope
Clementine
Amanda
Alexandria
Leonie

redshoes · 17/08/2010 21:21

Seraphina
Ophelia
Delphine

Bellepink · 17/08/2010 21:07

I absolutely LOVE Jessamine from your list.

It's really unusual but so pretty. Jess or Jessie is stronger yet still feminine if she prefers when growing up. It's also a good alternative to Jasmine which is lovely but becoming more popular these days, or Jessica, which is also very nice but probably over-done at the moment.

So Jessamine would be at the top of list, then Camilla, (I also love Cam as a nn). Adela, then Vivienne next but although stylish and pretty I wouldn't say Vivienne is that light and Viv is not as feminine as Jess, Cam or Delle as a nn. I would say no to Marguerite, Marinan and Definitely No to Juniper!

violethill · 17/08/2010 20:48

Aeriel

mathanxiety · 17/08/2010 20:12

Chantal
Pearl
Calista

mathanxiety · 17/08/2010 20:00

Laurel
Daphne
Hazel
Elsa
Astrid
Aurelia
Sylvia or Sylvie
Cynthia
Aphra
Giselle
Eilidh
Marsaili
Aveline
Avery
Helena
Leonora
Athena
Charis

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 17/08/2010 19:36

Alithea
Persephone
Hero
Antigone
Beatrice
Kerenza
Demelza

Original poster
sleepyhead3 · 17/08/2010 13:19

dorothea- I'm not sure I hope a DD would be ethereal herself- I just like feminine, slightly delicate names.

Some of the suggestions eg Seraphina are much too girly and airy fairy for me though!

OP posts:
ElephantsAndMiasmas · 17/08/2010 01:58

Selena is nice.
Honeysuckle
Artemis
Linnet
Lark

zenoushka · 17/08/2010 01:42

I really like Jessamine, Vivienne and Adela.

Another suggestions: Ariana.