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Baby names

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Shakespeare - favourite names

31 replies

suzettenoisette · 18/11/2024 22:00

We have Rosalind on our list, so I'm curious. Which Shakespeare character do you like best? As in which one has the best personality? Do you like the name, too?

Which names do you like, but dislike the characters? Would you pick a name just because you like it, even if you disliked the character?

Would you use Ophelia if you liked it? Even though she has a tragic fate? Or Regan? Just curious. The only one on our list is Rosalind, who is one of the good characters, in my opinion.

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MasterPretender · 25/11/2024 21:53

My absolute favourite for a little girl would be Hero. I cannot articulate why I like it so much.

I was too much of a coward to name either of my daughters that though. I wish I was braver.

waltzingparrot · 25/11/2024 21:20

My faves are
Cordelia and Portia

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 25/11/2024 21:16

I have a Miranda. My cat was Cordelia.

Frankincense88 · 25/11/2024 21:14

My favourite Shakespearean character is Beatrice in Much Ado. We opted for something similar for our daughter.

Love Hero as a name but the character is too much of a wet blanket so wouldn't use it (although my daughter was almost Hera as a compromise) 😂

I like the name Ophelia but the character's fate ruins it for me as an English teacher.

Always loved Lysander but I don't like any shortened version of it so wouldn't use for that reason!

AmICrazyToEvenBother · 21/11/2024 19:03

Goneril - joking.

Viola, Miranda, Cressida, Juliet, Imogen, Olivia...so many.

Many sound nice buy have horrific or sad associations: Lavinia, Ophelia, Cordelia, Regan.

trainboundfornowhere · 21/11/2024 18:54

I liked Hermia as a girl but wouldn’t use it now. I like Helena, Juliet, Miranda, Rosalind and Viola.

I like the character of Portia but I don’t like the name.

Firsttimebabymummy · 19/11/2024 09:53

Always loved the name Lysander and Cordelia.

Also like Ferdinand, Juliet, Rosalind, Viola and Miranda.

Met a little Ferdi recently

sel2223 · 19/11/2024 06:04

Juliet, Rosalind, Beatrice, Helena

Grimgrump · 19/11/2024 01:09

Male Names:

  1. Orlando
  2. Benedick (would change to Benedict)
  3. Prospero
  4. Ferdinand
  5. Sebastian
  6. Valentine
  7. Theseus
  8. Lysander

Female Names:

  1. Viola
  2. Rosalind
  3. Portia
  4. Beatrice
  5. Miranda
  6. Helena
  7. Imogen
  8. Celia
  9. Eugenia
FloralGums · 19/11/2024 01:08

Not Marina. It makes me think of the IUD.

fadingday · 19/11/2024 00:24

Olivia.

I do like Juliet and Beatrice too. Rosalind is pretty but I really hate Roz.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 19/11/2024 00:22

Titania and Oberon.
Helena.

ClicketyClickPlusOne · 19/11/2024 00:00

I wouldn’t be going for Goneril or Volumnia.

Cressida is good.

WaitingForMojo · 18/11/2024 23:53

Rosaline

theotherfossilsister · 18/11/2024 23:44

I love Miranda. Hero is gorgeous but sure dp would veto

WinterFoxes · 18/11/2024 23:41

Rosalind, Viola, Beatrice, Miranda and Cordelia are all great. Portia is a brilliant character but I'm less keen on the name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 18/11/2024 23:33

No if the name sounds lovely, the tragic fate of a character doesn’t bother me - I choose to focus on the feminist interpretation of Ophelia and the romance of Juliet, as both are such lovely names imo.

As for the “stronger” characters - I like the names Rosalind, Katharina and Beatrice anyway so their characterisation is just a bonus.

And although the characters arent quite as exciting, I like the names Julia, Helena, Perdita, Marina, Celia, Octavia, Miranda, Viola and Nerissa too as I enjoy an elegant sounding name anyway!

LeticiaMorales · 18/11/2024 22:29

cocovi · 18/11/2024 22:28

I've got a Cordelia!

That's a great name.

cocovi · 18/11/2024 22:28

I've got a Cordelia!

OliviaRodrighost · 18/11/2024 22:28

Bianca

LeticiaMorales · 18/11/2024 22:27

Tarletonper · 18/11/2024 22:26

Portia

Sounds too much like the car, though.

Tarletonper · 18/11/2024 22:26

Portia

LeticiaMorales · 18/11/2024 22:26

Nerissa
Desdemona
Jessica
Perdita

bellabelly · 18/11/2024 22:25

Beatrice is lovely, I think AND I really like her character - witty and feisty!

TheBirdintheCave · 18/11/2024 22:24

I like Cordelia, Viola, Miranda and Hero.

My daughter was very nearly called Hero!