Theodora or Wilhelmina?

56 replies

Linguaphile · 08/09/2015 12:49

We are now getting a little desperate in our search for a name for DD3. DD1&2 are Philippa Winter and Vivienne Gray, so would like another strong classic that feels familiar but not ubiquitous. Middle names weren't intentionally 'word' names or a theme, just names to honour different people (Gray is MIL's maiden name and DH's middle, for instance). Our previous front runners (Felicity, Georgina and Juliet), while perfectly nice, are feeling just a bit stale and boring; I'd really like to be excited about DD's name as she's our last chance to name a child!

I've recently been mulling over Theodora (nn Thea or Teddy) and Wilhelmina (nn Willa) and feeling quite excited about them. Just need to know if I'm pushing the boat out a bit too far and/or going in the wrong direction! Are they far too stodgy to bestow upon a helpless infant?

Also, any suggestions for middles? I'm quite liking Blythe at the moment, but more ideas would be most appreciated.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

Linguaphile · 08/09/2015 13:32

Right, so it seems consensus is definitely leaning toward Theodora! I do really love the nn options for it as well. Excellent, making progress.

OP posts:

SunshineAndShadows · 08/09/2015 13:25

Wilhelmina is a very clunky (and to my ear quite ugly) name. I'd use Willow or just Willa if you like those shortenings. It's very old-fashioned Germanic sounding and I don't really like the 'hel' emphasis

Theodora is lovely

Original poster

Linguaphile · 08/09/2015 13:09

We're in a section of London where I don't anticipate they'd have any trouble blending in, so that's not much of a worry; I just want to have something that work well with the other girls! They get called Pippa and Vivi a lot of the time, so I thought Thea or Teddy might go well. Dora feels a bit too 'explorer' to me.

OP posts:

Original poster

Linguaphile · 08/09/2015 13:06

Blythe was just one I liked the meaning of (happy/carefree), but it's a bit of a whim fancy I came across this morning! I didn't know about the town up north; good to know.

OP posts:

HeteronormativeHaybales · 08/09/2015 13:04

Yy to the Kaiser association of Wilhelmina. Or the character in Malory Towers who hated her name so much she was only called Bill. I don't think Willa is a particularly natural derivation from it, either.

Theodora is lovely, and she can be Thea or Dora.

Where do you get Blythe from? There are so many lovely girls' names.

Robertaquimby · 08/09/2015 13:00

Theodora and Wilhelmina are much more out there than your other daughters' names. To me they would be very North London but they may be fine where you live. Thea or Dora or any of the other choices you mentionare nice and go with your other daughters' names.

Wilelmina makes me think of Kaiser Wilhelm.

Blythe is a not very attractive town in the North East but that probably doesn't matter for a middle name.

Unflip

1 2 3