American looking for UK Answers

[EmilyRoo]

Hi,

I'm changing my name (from Emily-perfectly good name but there are 4 other on my floor) and I am looking for UK input on some names I am considering, and would also like suggestions for other names in a similar vein. I'm looking for a longer, elegant and unusual name. I plan on relocating to England in a few years and would like to know how these names are perceived there, if possible.

Cordelia
Rowena
Clementine (my favorite right now)
Penelope

Any more suggestions would be lovely!

-Emily

I love them all, especially Cordelia, Clementine and Penelope! All elegant, classic names!

You're changing your name? Why?

with Clementine you might have to get used to the "Oh My Darlin'" song. Don't know how well-known that is in the US.

Actually, we should all take note of this when naming our own children - very popular names can indeed be a pain when you've got to share it with 4 or 5 others, not only in school but in working life too. Good luck with your name change and your move to the UK!

Out of those names my favourite is Emily!

Are you really changing your name? Because you work with 4 other women called Emily?

Like in 'Eternal Sunshine...'

emmeline !

How old are you? The names you list I would put down as fairly middle class/posh (MC in the UK sense which is completely different from American middle class). In other words, those would be quite unusual. 20 yrs of living here & I've known 2x Penny's, no one else with OP's names in England.

I would think of these as much more common contemporary adult woman English names than those you list:

Sarah, Jackie (Jacqueline), Gill (Gillian), Kirsten, Jennifer, Christine (but not Christina), Karen, Catherine (Kate), Helen, Melanie, Julie, Paula, Nicola (Nic, Nicky), Gabrielle, Georgina, Angela, Isabel, Shelia, Siobhan, Annabel, Beatrice, Wendy, Amanda (Mandy), Olivia... oh, and did I mention: Sarah?

Firstly, 4 other Emily's on your floor where? If you're moving away from them, I wouldn't both changing your name. That said, if you want to of course go ahead.

In my experience, I know 3 Rowenas, and it really suits them, but the only nickname we could really give was "Ro".

Clementine/Clem, I've met loads and always want to sing that song Sockspence mentioned.

Cordelia makes me think of King Lear. Not that that's a bad thing. :) I don't know any Cordelia's, it kind of sounds very old-fashioned to me.

And Penelope, I think Clearwater from Harry Potter. Either that or Wacky Races.

I agree, Emily is my favourite from those! It's lovely.
They all sound very posh, i think Rowena's the nicest

Cordelia sound so regal!! Lady Cordelia beautiful :)

I like all of those, though Penelope least and for most people it would have become Penny except for very formal occasions.

They are all fairly 'posh' (middle to upper middle class, that's professional parents and might but might not have been to private school, along with about 10% of the population, if you grew up here). They're not outrageously upmarket or pretentious though and, given your criteria, I'd say really good choices.

Ragged's suggestions are more everyday and some very common in the 35-45 cohort (except Gabrielle and Beatrice I'd say). I can't see the point of swapping Emily for something more common.

I've met a couple of Rowenas but it is unusual. I think it's a dignified grown-up woman's name. Rowan is popular for babies of both sex now.

Cordelia makes me think of King Lear and the character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer - who was a bit annoying but alerted me to it being a really nice name.

Clementine is a bit more 'out there', does conjour the 'Eternal Sunshine' character for those who've seen that film (small minority) and trigger the 'Oh my darling' song - much more widely known. DP had it on his list for our child and kept singing, without knowing the words. I had to point out that the song is about a dead wife 'you are lost and gone forever, oh my darling Clementine' but is an American reference, about gold miners in 1849. There was Clementine Churchill though and I think the French Clemence and male Clement are lovely. How do you feel about Clemmy?

I'd choose Rowena if feeling sensible and Cordelia if more frivolous.

You could consider:
Miranda
Vivienne
Claudia
Imogen

op where are you?

If you're for real, Lottie's written what I'd have said only better than me.
If this is a weird and wonderful wind-up, may I suggest Hyacinth?

I agree with Madasahatter, if you're looking for a longer, unusual , more sophisticated name then Emmeline is just lovely. Emmeline Pankhurst was a suffragette here & helped win women the vote. The name has great heritage too. The fact Emily is its short form means it'd be perfect for you

I?ve never really understood how people make that name change switch in their brain. How long does it take to associate yourself with a new name? On here people sometimes suggest middle names can be used in later life if the first name is too embarrassing etc. but I just can?t imagine reaching adulthood saying ?I?m no longer called Honey-Bee, from now on I?m Jane?. Do you not become your name, no matter how crazy/try hard/dull/common it is?

Are you actually on the run from evil forces?

Evangeline
Marietta
Genevieve
Virginia (maybe too American for you?)
Francesca

If you're moving away from the 4 other emilys in a few yrs could you not just stick with it?

But changing your name is no more than using a different nickname, squoosh. I went through primary school using one nickname (quite childish), then used a different version at Secondary and now at work I use my full name. When old friends use my old nickname, I still feel addressed. In other words, I think changing names is no big deal.

oh right ..I though she was doing it officially

I can see how soomeone might be called Elizabeth, Lizzie and Beth by various people in their life but switching from Emily to Cordelia? I can just imagine my Mum's reaction of bewilderment and befuddlement if I phoned up and told her I was switching my name from Squoosh to Delphine.

She'd be and then 'away with your nonsense'

If she changed it to Emmeline though, surely people would just carry on calling her Emily? Don't get me wrong, I love Emmeline but its a bit one step forward, two back surely?

I'd say Penelope or Cordelia. I'm hopelessly old fashioned so I'd call Penelope Nell or Nellie as a nn, and Della or Cordie for Cordelia. Of the two, Penelope is less pretentious.

Really not a fan of Clementine - I know a lot, and the only ones it suits are the French ones, and while I love Rowan, I hate Rowena! It alsways seems 'powsh' but missing the mark - a little 'Hyacinth Bucket' (if you're moving to the UK, look it up)

Imogen and Vivienne are both lovely suggestions too.

Felicity, Julienne, Juliet/te, Evangeline, Lilith, Adelaide, Astrid.

Emmeline is Lucia's real name in the Mapp and Lucia books by EF Benson. Still in print OP, have a read before you take that one on!
Still faintly suspicious this is a windup btw.

Cordelia - it's rather posh. People may make assumptions about you.

Rowena - nice name
Clementine (my favorite right now) - it'll be shortened to Clemmie
Penelope - love this name. It'll be shortened to Penny.

squoosh - I know three people who chose to use their middle name. It was al cases where the first name were very unusual, a bit out there, and didnt fit personality. They tended to change at either going to secondary school, or going to uni. It was a case of introducing themselves with a new name. They never changed by deed poll or anything,