Girls’ names you don’t hear every day

[WhiteHairReally]

I’m doing some research about the history of a girls’ school. I’m currently in the 1920s.

Do any of the following have any current appeal?

Florabel
Rhua
Lillias
Petrusa
Mima

And, a particular trend

Andrewina
Walteria
Davidina

And my particular favourite

Colina

Colina
Reminds me of Nigella Lawson and her sister, Thomasina. Not a fan of that type of name.

Florabel is quite sweet, if a little twee. Quite American Gothic to my ear.

I’m waiting for Gertrude to make a come back. If Mabel/Ada/Maud can, so can Gertie.

Thanks for posting this, op. It's interesting to read. I would assume Mima was short for Jemima.

Thomasina is my most favourite name! It's what I wanted to call my daughter. I know an adult Thomasina she goes by Tammy, she's very cool.

I know a young Gertie. I like Lilias. Mima is sweet as a short form of Jemima. I could see Florabel taking off.

Can’t stand the male names ‘girlified’ but these days it seems the standard would be just to give the male name hence female James’ and Teddy’s

Florabel is adorable.

Andrewina seems like cruel and unusual punishment

I worked with a Jamesina a few years ago :)

Also a Jessamine which is not a name I've heard of before or since.

My name Freda, we are quite rare.

Colina and a whole lot of other names with an -ina on the end are quite common in northern Scotland.

Very interesting, OP

As I'm sure you know, it was quite usual in parts of Scotland in the past to give female versions of father's names to girl babies.
I have ancestors/elderly relatives Davidina (often, that was shortened to be Davina, which is still current today) and Mima (as another PP said, short for Jemima).
Also, quite a few very elderly Scottish women have the name "Ina" which on closer inspection turns out to be Donaldina/Dolina, Hughina etc - though I must admit that Andrewina is a new one to me!

Sorry, cross-posted, Boireannachladir

And I meant to add I've met more than one Lilias.

My great great aunt was christened Jamesina. There is a mention of Scottish -ina names in "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox".

I suppose you can use any boys name and put an a or an ina on the end to make it in to a girls name.
My sister was going to be Thomasina however my uncle and auntie had a baby boy a few months prior and named him Thomas.
Oh and my nan was a Freda short for Winifred.
I love Florabel.

Benedicta.
Henrietta.
Vincentina.
Donalda.
Benjamina.

You’ve sussed me. These women are Scottish.

How about this morning’s ‘find’

Meta - although this Meta’s given name was Elizabeth. I can’t make that link.

Back to the hockey reports.

was going to say v common maybe 100 to 70 years ago to have names like these in Scotland.

Mima nice but it's short for Jemima

We took our walk in the old cemetery today to look at old names. Found a Dorothina, Donaldina, Williamilia, Williamina and a Bethia

If these are girls from the 20s, I suppose many were daughters to soldiers who never returned to see them born after the war. Is that why there are many given an adapted male name, after their father?

Ooh interesting theory @orphlids

And very interesting OP, thanks for sharing!

Keyari, it’s a really cool name, Naomi is also another cool one

Maybe consider those names

Definitely a Scottish tradition.

My mum was at school with 2 Hughina-s

Colina.... Coli... which means bum hole where I'm from

Colina and Florabel are wonderful!

I know of a Meta but she was Danish

And I love Thomasina- I frequently suggest it as a name on here 😨