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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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pasturesnew · 20/09/2009 18:30

Agree that Iris Murdoch was impressive.

Also admire:

Nancy Astor

Marie Curie

bronzebeard · 20/09/2009 18:30

I think if you like a name and it has a extra significance then thats important but I wouldnt use it for the sole reason of naming

Though the other way there are names I wouldnt use because of a person- Myra for example which is sad as its a fairly pretty name

pasturesnew · 20/09/2009 18:28

I've always admired George Eliot, real name Mary Ann Evans. Also the Bronte sisters, Anne, Emily and Charlotte and Dorothy Wordsworth, William's sister.

I like Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, also Elizabeth I was an impressive queen of course.

Beatrice is the guide to heaven in Dante's Paradiso and a good lively character in Much Ado About Nothing, and Beatrice Webb the social reformer, also Beatrice Potter was a strong independent woman.

Katharine in the Taming of the Shrew is quite good, isn't she? Also Portia in The Merchant of Venice.

I like both Jane Austen and the character Jane Eyre.

Grace Darling was a lighthouse keeper who saved lots of people in a storm, she is a heroine of mine.

Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire was quite ahead of her time.

You've also got the suffragettes e.g. the Pankhurst sisters, Christabel and Emmeline.

Meglet · 20/09/2009 18:26

Rosa after Rosa Parks is lovely. Not sure how I didn't use it for dd actually, I always meant to use it.

tummytickler · 20/09/2009 18:23

my 8 year old dd is Iris, partly for Murdoch and partly for my grandmother, mostly because we loved it.
I love that she has such an amazing namesake, hopefully she will too.

southeastastra · 20/09/2009 18:11

daphne was also pretty cool in scooby doo

LittleMissNosey · 20/09/2009 17:58

Rosa (Luxemburg and Parkes)

Rosa is one of my favouite girls name

FaintlyMacabre · 20/09/2009 17:55

I wouldn't name a child after anyone. But it is a bonus if a lovely name has extra significance. DS would have been Rosalind if a girl- we didn't pick it on purpose for Rosalind Franklin but I did like that aspect of it IYSWIM.