Boudicca

@MadCatLady71 Eowyn isn’t an old English name, it was actually made up by Tolkien. But I agree it’s a brilliant and beautiful name and she’s such a badass in LOTR. The only one I know of is an author.

[quote TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]@YoniAndGuy

Unfortunately I find that 'Hero' is now irreparably linked to the purple, plastic tub of sweets that get rummaged through at Christmas. [/quote]
Hmm yes! Not an association for me as they are 'Heroes' - but see your point

Aethelflaed was a strong leader. Just saying.

Victoria
Greta
Saskia
Yvette
Etta

@YoniAndGuy

Unfortunately I find that 'Hero' is now irreparably linked to the purple, plastic tub of sweets that get rummaged through at Christmas.

There is a councillor in my area with the most fabulous name, Saxon, I love it, her surname is Spence. Saxon Spence I always imagine her at planning committee meetings brandishing a massive sword above her head.

I've always liked the Welsh for Boudicca which is Buddug but it will be mispronounced as Bud-dug unfortunately.

I would look at strong women of history for inspiration:

Eleanor (of Aquitaine)
Matilda (the Empress Matilda)
Elizabeth (the first, Fry)
Ada (Lovelace)
Anne (Frank)
Sophie (Scholl)
Rosa (Parks)
Emmeline (Pankhurst)
Marie (Curie)
Rosalind (Franklin)
Mary (Wollstonecraft, Seacole)
Lucy (Stoner)

Rosalind would be my choice.

I'd use Hero.

@user12636853357

I love your idea of remembering all the strong women who have been forgotten by time.
💓

I quite like Hecate, how about Persephone or Demeter in the same kind of vibe.. I also like Athena or Hera/Juno or Artemis/Diana if you want a Greek/Roman mythological name.

But Boudicca would actually be quite a cruel thing to do - could you use it as a middle name if you really love it?

What if the baby is really quite and shy. Imagine being an introvert with an outlandish name that lends itself to teasing.

Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom and learning. There's a lovely vlogger called Athena Mellor and the name suits her so well. Welsh legend names are beautiful too - Rhiannon is gorgeous. Cariad is Welsh for beloved. Or if you're a fan of Cornish names, how about Demelza? I went to school with a Demelza.

In a similar style, Minerva was a top choice of mine but my husband said no.

I love Hecate.

We’ve just registered our baby. My DP’s first choice of name was Boudicca, and I admit I did love it too. The Boadicea pronunciation is apparently a result of a mistranslation, although a prettier sound, I think. What a woman! As tempted as I was to use the name for our daughter, I reluctantly decided it could turn out to be a burden for her later in life. While I’d love to be named Boudicca, I can imagine plenty of people would hate it. But if I met a baby Boudicca, I’d be overjoyed!

If I were looking for a strong name with a good story behind it for a little girl, I’d go with Eowyn (A-Oh-Win). It is a pretty old English name, and Tolkien it belongs to the beautiful and brave Lady of Rohan who rides (in disguise) into the Battle of Pelennor Fields and slays the Witch-King of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl - something no man could do. I know of one little Eowyn out in Australia and I thought it was a super choice.

Do you mean strong as in the sound? Or 'strong' women who shared the name?

Just because most women were deliberately excluded from the recording of history, especially the further back you go with older names... So I'd be inclined to take the view that there will have been strong and noteworthy women who shared the names even if we have been denied the chance to know about them. Any older, strong sounding name that you liked would connect to them.

But I am a bit awkward like that.

Boudicca - the whole story with her daughters isn't exactly one I'd want associated with my daughter. Also, any name with 'dic' in it isn't one I'd use with my kids.

Hecate is a mythological figure rather than a 'strong woman' to me. Deity names tend to be a mixed bag to me.

No idea about Jekka.

I have a soft spot for Salome with Queen Salome Alexandra and her essentially mythical status within some communities (among other women who've had that name) though I'm aware she's more associated with Josephus naming the girl who in the Bible asked for John the Baptist's head that and the many things written about that character with that name since. The latter doesn't really put me off, but I'd use it as a middle name for my daughter's sake.

Honestly, I think with most names you can look up and find role models to fit (or to damn) them. I look into finding a broad range of role models and stories with a name (I enjoy giving my kids books with characters who share their name on their birthday, more awkward for some than others) than trying to find a name with one very strong association. I'd use Alexandra with the many possible choices of admirable woman over Boudicca where there were probably many with that name, but we all think of one.

There was a little Boudicca in the nursery near me - I worked out of their space over the holidays and her name was on a few drawings. I wouldn't, personally.

Hero? I'm not brave enough to use it see what I did there but it's a lovely girls' name.

No to Boudicca, Jekka and Hecate. They’re all way too much.
Pp suggestions of Emmeline,
Ruth and Sylvia are good.
What about Millicent (as in Fawcett), Elizabeth (as in queens/Garrett Anderson), Victoria, Eleanor (of Aquitaine), Margaret (as in Thatcher/Bondfield)?