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Baby names

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

Original poster

names for girls inspired by female achievers, both in real life and in fiction

33 replies

justbeenforapromenade · 20/09/2009 17:51

A poster on another thread complained that Daphne was rather an underachiever in Greek mythology as she was pursued by Apollo, turned in to a laurel tree, job done.

Which females have done such great deeds that they would merit a dd becoming their namesakes - and you actually like the name too? Have you named or would you name dd after a politician, writer, your grandma?

Is it important to be named after a doer?

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CornishKK · 21/09/2009 09:13

Names on my list generally came from authors - Daphne (Du Maurier) was on there, plus Dorothy (Parker/Sayers) and Nancy (Mitford).

As it was I had a boy and called him a name I just liked.

bellissima · 21/09/2009 09:04

Not sure I could go for Portia, having seen a Fish Called Wanda.

skihorse · 21/09/2009 08:51

Buffy!

JumeirahJane · 21/09/2009 08:07

I was named after Jane Austen and never quite understood why

Amelia or Emmeline, however...

FaintlyMacabre · 21/09/2009 07:59

Actually, I'm glad I'm not named after a high achiever- would make me feel even more inadequate.

choosyfloosy · 20/09/2009 20:53

i don't think it's important to be named after a doer, but it's nice nonetheless to feel your name has some meaning to your parents I think. My dad always told me that I was named after this singer and actor, though I actually don't think it was true, knowing my mum - i liked the idea though. His favourite singer was probably Ottilie Patterson which would have been cool as a namesake.

Firepile · 20/09/2009 20:45

Aphra (Behn)
Germaine (Greer)
Andrea (Dworkin)
Barbara (Castle not Woodhouse)
Jennie (Lee)
Polly (Toynbee)
Shirley (Williams)

Firepile · 20/09/2009 20:38

Don't forget Sylvia Pankhurst...

thumbwitch · 20/09/2009 20:24

Rosalind Franklin - I still can't believe she didn't get the recognition she deserved.

How about Theresa, for MOther Theresa? Don't see that name about much these days...

dogonpoints · 20/09/2009 20:05

A lot of achievers are a bit odd.

Hormonesnomore · 20/09/2009 19:54

Ellen is a lovely name.

Ellen MacArthur is a real achiever.

dogonpoints · 20/09/2009 19:51

I don't think it's at all important to be named after a do-er.

But I would consider Lisa after Lisa Simpson

MarthaFarquhar · 20/09/2009 19:44

My own DD has DH's grandmother's name as her middle name - she was a rather formidable lady.

MarthaFarquhar · 20/09/2009 19:43

Cordelia from King Lear is a great female character

I also like Rosalind, after Rosalind Franklin.

And Emmeline too.

pasturesnew · 20/09/2009 19:39

or Mary for Mary Seacole

Geminny · 20/09/2009 19:35

Margaret

cktwo · 20/09/2009 19:31

Emmeline Pankhurst?

thumbwitch · 20/09/2009 19:30

Florence for Florence Nightingale would be one of mine.

BitOfFun · 20/09/2009 19:27

Enid

GirlsAreLOud · 20/09/2009 19:20

I LOVED the garden gang books!

ToAnswerYourQuestion · 20/09/2009 19:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pasturesnew · 20/09/2009 19:02

Respect Hollyoaks.

Hollyoaks · 20/09/2009 18:38

pasturesnew Grace Darling was a really brave woman and a distant relative of mine. Nice to see her on here.

LadyoftheBathtub · 20/09/2009 18:34

I like Stevie after Stevie Smith (and Wonder! ) - DP not sp keen though.

GirlsAreLOud · 20/09/2009 18:33

Amelia Earhart, for me.

I loved the name, and I liked the fact that the only famous one I can think of was such a strong character.

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