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Baby names

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

Original poster

Middle name - strong woman

45 replies

Misslemon01 · 07/12/2017 13:12

We’ve pretty much settled on the first name for our baby girl - it’s a traditional Victorian name, begins with E.

Now we’re looking for a middle name, after a strong woman in literature or history. So far we’ve considered:

  • Simone (de Beauvoir)
  • Marie (Curie)
  • Sylvia (Plath)
  • Helen (of Troy) - though not very strong!

Any other thoughts? Also open to Shakespeare characters, but not the rubbish ones who are accessories to men!

OP posts:
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Whythesnoring · 07/12/2017 17:59

I like your theme ! :)
Rosa (parks)
Emmeline (pankhurst)
Frida (kahlo)

With strong women in mind.. I've always loved the name Bernadette because it means Brave as a Bear :)

eddiemairswife · 07/12/2017 17:14

Amazon? They were strong women.

Original poster
Misslemon01 · 07/12/2017 17:07

@NinonDeLenclos may I ask who Colette is in history? It’s a really pretty name.

OP posts:
ChocolateCrunch · 07/12/2017 15:27

Amelia (Earhart)
Indira (Gandhi)
Joan (of Arc)
Helen (Keller)
Catherine (the Great)
Jane (Austen)
Rosa (Parks)
Anne (Frank)

NinonDeLenclos · 07/12/2017 14:49

Artemis is one of my fav names. I would have called my DD that if it wasn't too much of a mouthful with our French surname.

Original poster
Misslemon01 · 07/12/2017 14:46

Thank you everyone!

@BabloHoney @victoire1208 I also really like Florence and Artemis as you suggested. I wasn’t sure about Florence as it would be an F after an E first name, but maybe that’s ok?? Re Artemis, I wasn’t sure if that was a bit wanky, but she’s an excellent Greek goddess.

OP posts:
TheCraicDealer · 07/12/2017 14:40

Aphra (Benn)- one of the first English women to earn a living by her writing and she was a spy. Cool AF.

victoire1208 · 07/12/2017 14:29

Just noticed first name trad Victorian so I would go with something from classical mythology.

victoire1208 · 07/12/2017 14:27

Portia
Athena /Athenais (with a funny french I with 2 dots on)
Artemis
Medea
Freya

MikeUniformMike · 07/12/2017 14:19

Boudicca

Lifewithliv18 · 07/12/2017 14:18

Maya (Angelou)
Rosa (parks)
Rey (Star Wars)- kick ass female lead

NinonDeLenclos · 07/12/2017 14:07

Mythological? Artemis, Demeter, Hera/o, Morgan, Guinivere, Epona

George (Sand & Eliot), Colette, Katherine (Mansfield), Virginia, Willa (Cather)

Agustarella · 07/12/2017 13:44

Forgot to add that I prefer the spelling Silvia. Rhea Silvia was of course the mum of Romulus and Remus, if you're prepared to think of legendary characters as well as historical ones. Sylvia/Silvia is beautiful and I love the Pankhurst connection. Not relevant to you, but the last and loveliest form tutor I had in sixth form was a Sylvia. We clubbed together and got her a silver necklace with her name on it as a leaving gift. She was an older lady then (1995) so perhaps that generation's names are ripe for revival!

PS Even after the mickey taking that resulted from Tanaquil, I'm glad I didn't go with Isis. I nearly did. Imagine going through customs with that on your kid's passport. Shock

BabloHoney · 07/12/2017 13:41

Harper (Lee)
Meg, Jo, Beth or Amy (from Little Women)
Emmeline (Pankhurst)
Florence (Nightingale)

Also would love to add Lisa (Simpson) - the longest-running feminist character tv has had, she is the voice of reason and a such good soul :)

Agustarella · 07/12/2017 13:36

I had similar thoughts to you when naming DD1, and went with Tanaquil as a middle name. (A certain amount of mickey taking from my parents ensued, since they gave us middle names like Jane and Andrew.)

I agree with Athena. How about Artemisia? Or Livia?

BlueChampagne · 07/12/2017 13:31

Freya
Athena
Marianne (George Eliot)
Sylvia could also be Pankhurst

northernruth · 07/12/2017 13:22

Joan (of Arc).

semideponent · 07/12/2017 13:21

Lilith
Eve
Judith
Margaret (of Anjou)
Matilda (Queen of England...I think...fought with Steven if I remember rightly)
Catherine (of Aragon)
Portia (Merchant of Venice)
Julian (of Norwich, a woman who knew her own mind)

Zampa · 07/12/2017 13:19

How about Mary (Anning), after the 19th century paleontologist? She was from a poor background, with no scientific training but changed how we see the past.

TheCatsPaws · 07/12/2017 13:15

I always liked Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.

Sally (Ride)
Margaret (Hamilton)
Sophie (Scholl)

Were a few that came to mind.

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