Choosing a "classic" girl's name

Catherineetc · 2023-09-11T10:27:59+00:00

Trying to think up a name for DD4 (yes I know). I'll doxx myself if I give you all three older sisters' names, but (if it helps) they are each well-recognised and "established" names in the UK but with Hebrew/Biblical, Persian or Greek roots. We choose names based on sounding nice, and having good meanings / associations. For DD4, we want to contine the theme. It's important that the name is easily recognisable and the pronunciation is pretty clear, but not so popular that there will be 3 other girls in her class with the same name. I like quite classic names, like Catherine, Elizabeth, Francesca, Rebecca, Antonia (these are already in use in the family). As you can see, we like names that have harder consonants in them (a lot of girls' names at the moment are quite soft, and use lots of A, L, R, N etc sounds). Any suggestions? By DD4 we are a bit out of ideas...!

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Ladyofthelake53 · 14/09/2023 07:50

If id had a daughter id have called Verity or Sylvie

Vitamindquestion · 14/09/2023 07:39

Catherineetc · 11/09/2023 15:01

Thanks everyone for the ideas! It's amazing how spot on your recommendations are, so many gorgeous names that really resonate.

@WetBandits I love the sound and meaning of Miranda (and DH agrees! Hurrah, onto the list!) My only reservation is that I associate it quite strongly with SATC (though I realise her generation won't) and it just feels maybe a bit, somehow, dowdy? But it's lovely, and classic, and feels like it could go from classroom to boardroom. I also love "Mira" or "Mimi" as an early years nickname.

@Mumofgirls2017 and @cherryassam and @UsefulSmartPrettyHappy - thank you for your suggestions! I really like Lydia and Beatrice, Angelica, Esther and Miram, and Eleanor, Victoria and Tabitha. Sadly DH has vetoed all of these names already in our process (so unfair).

@Bookish88 Astrid is lovely! But it feels (this will sound weird/ a bit irrational I realise) like a blonde/fair-haired name, maybe because it's Scandi. (DD is likely to be dark haired and olive skinned.)

@Redlarge Isn't it?! I'd name her Francesca if it wasn't a very close family member's name.

@DuchessOfSausage Haha, you are actually not that far off with your three guesses! Of your picks I love the name Diana most of all, but I do associate it quite strongly with the Princess of Wales.

@Theoldwoman - oops! I meant DD #4. Sorry for messing up the naming conventions. It would be a bad start if DD#4 remains nameless until 4 years old!

I read a book where the main character was called Miranda, and Mira for short. I thought that was beautiful!

ChocolateCinderToffee · 14/09/2023 07:36

Jocelyn, Cecily, Matilda

JLM1981 · 13/09/2023 10:11

Could have written your post myself. DD4 for me is Sadie.

FairyPolka · 11/09/2023 22:27

I’ve always loved the name Keziah.

HeyYouWithTheSadFace · 11/09/2023 22:19

Zara 🩷

Enko · 11/09/2023 20:53

Rowena
Seraphina
Dorotka
Jennifer
Kimberley
Veronica

Perhaps not all exactly classic But imo good solid names

ab03 · 11/09/2023 20:53

I think I like similar names and have an Elizabeth myself, but my thoughts were:
Esther
Verity
Miriam
Theresa (Tess)
Harriet
Marianne
Magdalena

Happyowl89 · 11/09/2023 20:24

Georgia

Nativeone · 11/09/2023 20:05

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Mint77 · 11/09/2023 19:48

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DuchessOfSausage · 11/09/2023 16:56

You could always go for a non-classic with a similar sort of vibe.
Polly or Nancy are strong traditional names, even if they don't fit into the Catherine, Elizabeth,... type names

You could use something like Philippa, Agatha or Constance

Luciferspickles · 11/09/2023 16:46

Anne
Alice
Catherine
Victoria
Lucy
Sarah
Mary
Verity

ShellySarah · 11/09/2023 16:43

Alexandra is a hard , strong sounding name as well as being beautiful

mathanxiety · 11/09/2023 16:37

Greta
Drusilla
Agatha
Thekla
Bridget
Edith
Ursula
Zita
Judith
Abigail
Charis
Alexandra
Margaret
Claudia
Artemis
Bernadette
Dymphna
Elspeth
Juliet
Winifred
Jessica
Penelope
Ruth
Dinah
Frida
Keziah
Susannah
Deborah
Colette

LovelyBoy2023 · 11/09/2023 16:28

Constance
Harriet
Agatha
Jemima
Sylvia/Sylvie

DuchessOfSausage · 11/09/2023 15:28

@Catherineetc , I wouldn't let that put you off Diana. When I was a girl, Grace was hardly used, and had a strong connection with Princess Grace. Princess Di died in 1996, nearly 40 yrs before your daughter, so the association will not be particularly remembered. I also know a few Dianas with different spellings from other countries, so I wouldn't immediately think Princess Di.

I quite like Miranda and didn't think SATC or 'Such fun'.
Some other shakespearean names are underused. Perdita, Cressida, Cordelia, Portia, Margaret, Rosalind,

Flora is nice but MN seems to associate it with some butter/margarine substitute product clutches pearls
Victoria is a classic
Abigail
Jessica
Sarah
Susannah
Anne
Jane

The current names seem to be vowelly and and use lots of A, L, R, N etc sounds and V. A lot seem to have an 'EE', 'EYE' or Ay sound in them.

XelaM · 11/09/2023 15:19

Victoria is also a classic name

XelaM · 11/09/2023 15:18

My own daughter is called Elizabeth and there are no Elizabeths in her year (and never were in the three schools she has been to). She doesn't like to be called Elizabeth though and much prefers one of the well-known nicknames.

XelaM · 11/09/2023 15:17

Helen

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 11/09/2023 15:10

Christina. Louisa. Georgina. Victoria. Natalia. Isabelle. Miriam. Florence. Cynthia. Virginia. Bridget. Juliette. Harriet. Helena. Jennifer. Alexandra. Abigail. Samantha. Hannah. Sarah. Martha. Rachel. Elizabeth. Cassandra.
Rebecca. Madeleine. Rosanna. Anastasia.

Obviously without knowing the names of your 3 other girls there's a good chance I could be repeating some

WetBandits · 11/09/2023 15:10

Catherineetc · 11/09/2023 15:01

Thanks everyone for the ideas! It's amazing how spot on your recommendations are, so many gorgeous names that really resonate.

@WetBandits I love the sound and meaning of Miranda (and DH agrees! Hurrah, onto the list!) My only reservation is that I associate it quite strongly with SATC (though I realise her generation won't) and it just feels maybe a bit, somehow, dowdy? But it's lovely, and classic, and feels like it could go from classroom to boardroom. I also love "Mira" or "Mimi" as an early years nickname.

@Mumofgirls2017 and @cherryassam and @UsefulSmartPrettyHappy - thank you for your suggestions! I really like Lydia and Beatrice, Angelica, Esther and Miram, and Eleanor, Victoria and Tabitha. Sadly DH has vetoed all of these names already in our process (so unfair).

@Bookish88 Astrid is lovely! But it feels (this will sound weird/ a bit irrational I realise) like a blonde/fair-haired name, maybe because it's Scandi. (DD is likely to be dark haired and olive skinned.)

@Redlarge Isn't it?! I'd name her Francesca if it wasn't a very close family member's name.

@DuchessOfSausage Haha, you are actually not that far off with your three guesses! Of your picks I love the name Diana most of all, but I do associate it quite strongly with the Princess of Wales.

@Theoldwoman - oops! I meant DD #4. Sorry for messing up the naming conventions. It would be a bad start if DD#4 remains nameless until 4 years old!

Happy to help 😎

I also really like Meredith, which would probably also fit the bill! Or Adelaide (which I love but DP has vetoed 😒)

Original poster

Catherineetc · 11/09/2023 15:01

Thanks everyone for the ideas! It's amazing how spot on your recommendations are, so many gorgeous names that really resonate.

@WetBandits I love the sound and meaning of Miranda (and DH agrees! Hurrah, onto the list!) My only reservation is that I associate it quite strongly with SATC (though I realise her generation won't) and it just feels maybe a bit, somehow, dowdy? But it's lovely, and classic, and feels like it could go from classroom to boardroom. I also love "Mira" or "Mimi" as an early years nickname.

@Mumofgirls2017 and @cherryassam and @UsefulSmartPrettyHappy - thank you for your suggestions! I really like Lydia and Beatrice, Angelica, Esther and Miram, and Eleanor, Victoria and Tabitha. Sadly DH has vetoed all of these names already in our process (so unfair).

@Bookish88 Astrid is lovely! But it feels (this will sound weird/ a bit irrational I realise) like a blonde/fair-haired name, maybe because it's Scandi. (DD is likely to be dark haired and olive skinned.)

@Redlarge Isn't it?! I'd name her Francesca if it wasn't a very close family member's name.

@DuchessOfSausage Haha, you are actually not that far off with your three guesses! Of your picks I love the name Diana most of all, but I do associate it quite strongly with the Princess of Wales.

@Theoldwoman - oops! I meant DD #4. Sorry for messing up the naming conventions. It would be a bad start if DD#4 remains nameless until 4 years old!

OP posts:

Theoldwoman · 11/09/2023 14:36

I was so confused, I read Dd4 as your daughter who is 4.

DuchessOfSausage · 11/09/2023 14:25

"Hebrew/Biblical, Persian or Greek roots"
Martha, Zara and Phoebe?

Esther, Ruth, Hannah, Rachel, Mary, Madeleine, Talita
Yasmin
Diana, Cleo, Penelope, Margaret