Enid

[Parmenides]

I have suddenly decided that I love this name above all others and frankly don't care what DP thinks on the matter.

The only weensy hitch is I'm not sure about the assonance that exists when it's used with my surname: Enid Stephens.

Thoughts?

You can tell me your thoughts on Enid too, if you like. Though I shan't listen to you unless you are wholly positive about it, obviously.

Marian infinitely superior to Marianne.

Esme?

In my family has an Enid but she has always been Enn- need rather than EE - nid. Ee-nid is too hard for me.

If you have an Agnes would you go for a Martha? I shall also throw in Dorothy nn Doris seeing as you seem to like old names

I like it. Enid is also Mildred's lovely eccentric friend in the Worst Witch books.

Esme is too...too something. It ain't no Enid.

I don't just like old names! The previous forerunner was Ramona. I remained loyal for a good six months but now my head has been turned by Enid's charms.

You could pronounce it Welsh - which I am pretty sure is En -id (first bit rhyming with hen) rather than Eenid.

That gets rid of the assonance for you. Also channels the story of Geraint and Enid in the Mabinogion. Welsh literary vibe rather than Enid Blyton vibe which would sell it to me.

Martha has that 'ah' ending, you see.

Though so does Ramona, which just goes to show that I can spout authoritatively about theories of naming which I've just made up all I like; it doesn't mean I have the faintest idea what I'm talking about.

Oooo tell us what your boy choices would have been....I'm intrigued

I think Enid was the studious and very serious one in SVH....not such a bad thing :)
I

No to ENN-id. Sounds wickerey and margeriney.

Ralph for a boy. Maybe.

Maud then?

Ramona is amazing.
I like Margot too.

Enid sounds clunky.

How about Maude?

I like Maude. But is it better than Enid? NO IT IS NOT.

I do still like Ramona, and I thought it went well with Agnes. But it's not Enid, which is officially the best name in the history of names.

Clunky? CLUNKY?

Enid is only cool if the person is cool, IMO. Otherwise it's a thickset bookkeeper with a permanently runny nose who sucks mints noisily. Maude on the other hand is just beautiful regardless.

Merle! Does anybody know any? Has it outpaced Isabel and Lily while I've been avoiding children not paying attention? I'd have called either of mine Merle, given the chance, and one's a boy!

Petit

She is totally cool. Trust me on this one.

Mavis? See Hotel Transylvania for a very cool vampire one.

Daphne?

God, I love Merle.

Speaking of which, what about Pearl?

Our girls list (seeing as we only have boys)

Etta
Leonore
Margot
Thora
Mabel
Greta

Any help?

I was just thinking the disadvantage to Merle is that these Victorian maids' names are now so popular and it sounds like Pearl.

Merle. No. It looks stupid written down.

Daphne is great but hate the nickname Daff beyond any kind of reason.

I used to like Pearl but now it makes me think of the song which makes me a bit squirmy about it.

Mavis I dislike and it goes badly with Stephens.

Love it. Beautiful and individual. If I heard the name in real life I would love it and feel slightly jealous.