Strong, feminine girls' names with nickname

[sanilee]

Hi, all. We are looking to get pregnant soon and have settled on our potential boys' names. We are finding the girls' names a bit trickier. I love classic names that sound strong and feminine. DH agrees but would also like a cute nickname to go with them, which is fine by me. I tend to be drawn to three syllable names, names with historical and/or literary connections, and names with "L" or "R" in them, though those aren't requirements.

Boys: Lionel (nn Leo) FamilyMiddleName
Theodore (nn Teddy) FamilyMiddle Name

Middle name will be family name (Lee or Holly) though I don't care too much about first and middle name coordinating. Last name is a bird, fish, or something that could throw off even Holmes. Begins with "H".

We wanted the nickname of Rosie and would also call her Rosie Lee (in the States so has nothing to do with tea here) but don't love any of the "Rose" names and Rose by itself is just too abrupt. We like Rosalind nn Rosie, especially because of the Shakespeare connection but I am not sold- I am not sure if the "lind" is a little harsh. I also really like Delphine but DH is not convinced and I am not quite either.

Other names we liked but will likely not use:

Seraphina (nn Fina)- negative associations for DH
Lavender- not sold, no nickname
Chloe- I like the "lo" sound but feels a bit trendy
Grace- seems a bit blah
Clara- see Grace, no nickname
Arabella/Annabel- too many Bellas in the US right now
Rose
Araminta (nn Minty)- DH LOVES and I love the historical connection (Harriet Tubman) but I don't know if I could actually give a child this name, seems like it would be a bit much; also a bit harsh sounding. I know this is a "posh" name but that is irrelevant in the States
Jemima- love but would never use due to racial undertones here
Josephine (nn Posy)- love the nn and "Little Women" connection, don't love the full name
Juliet- don't love the "t" ending, perhaps is too strongly associated with the character
Felicity (nn Fi) - DH doesn't like

Thanks!

Williamjacksmum, adding Penelope, thanks!

I also love Lorelei and forgot to add it to original list. Not sure about "Lori Lee" though as a nickname.

Beatrice/ Beatrix (Bea, Bee, Trixie)
Adelaide (Addie, Ada)
Matilda (Mattie, Tillie, Tilda)
Camilla/ Millicent (Millie)
Cecelia (Cece, Celia)
Penelope (Penny, Nell)
Guinevere (Gwin, Gwen, Vera)
Ursula/Ursulina (Lulu)
Antonia (Toni, Annie)
Magdalena (Maggie, Lena, Lenny)

Marguerite nn daisy?

Rosita
Primrose

Stephanie nn Stevie

Charlotte nn Lottie

Adding Camilla.

I like Marguerite and love the nn Daisy, but wondered if it (and possibly Delphine) would seem too French for us too pull. Similiary, Rosa seems like it might be Spanish here. We'd almost definitely have a blond haired, blue eyed child. Hmm, I think I won't worry about that and add Marguerite to the list. The more I say it aloud the more I like it.

I also considered Violet and Verity

Love Primrose, but it seems pretentious and too tied currently to "Hunger Games". Love Charlotte and love Lottie as well, but Charlotte is very common here. Don't like Rosita and really don't like Stephanie- seems 90s trendy and not classic.

Adore Violet but a dime a dozen right now, unfortunately.

Felicity = Flick
Angharad = Harri
Clarissa == Rissa
Marianne / Maryann = Mari or Maise

I personally love Meredith, nn Merry or Edie. What about Persephone nn Sephy?

I really like Sephy and love the sound of Persephone but the whole "Rape of Persephone" myth is too off-putting.

Again, love Felicity but DH really doesn't. How do you pronounce Angharad?

Clarissa is too "explains it all" and seems again 90s and even a bit prissy to me (I am sure the TV show/90s connection is based on where I live), Maryann is okay, and Meredith doesn't seem feminine enough to me, though I have always loved the idea of Merry as a nickname. I think the "ith" ending is what makes it a bit too masculine to me, same with Ruth. Silly, I know, but there it is.

Romola (Romy for short)

An-HAR-adh. (D as it is pronounced in French)

The HAR bit would become 'hair' in the US. The R is a Welsh, 'rolled' R and this would be lost in translation too. I considered Angharad for DD1 but decided against it.

I do think Delphine is a bit French depends on your family if it works.

Is Virginia too American ?

Angharad -- pronounced ANG harrod

Angharad has a lovely meaning, though, shame about the accent here and mispronunciation.

Still love Marguerite from a previous suggestion with nickname Daisy but can't quite shake that we are too apple pie looks wise for it to work.

And no, I actually love Virginia!

The fact that it is Maya Angelou's first name is swaying me. Goodness, I just am not sure! DH likes it.

FWIW Rose may be too abrupt for a little one but is a pretty but practical grown up name. It would undoubtedly be Rosie anyway in childhood.

Do you like Ginny as a nickname?

Constance nn Connie?

Tunnocks, I know, I have gone back and forth about that. I love how strong and feminine it is, but just feel like it is too abrupt regardless of age, especially with likely a one-syllable middle name. And what eventually her last name is one-syllable, as well? Though that might be overthinking it.

Ginny is fine but I knew a Virginia nicknamed Gigi as a child and then used her full name as a teenager. I prefer Gigi to Ginny and love Virginia enough that I wouldn't mind the inevitable switch.

Constance reads as a bit dour to me and not feminine.

Joe short for Josephine or posy nn for Josephine. Or Frankie short for Francine/Francesca (sp?)

Estelle, but doesn't have a nickname really. Stella at stretch.