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

I’ve been collecting a ‘new’ crop of names. We’re into the 1930s now, although a number of these names, as in the OP belonged to Former Pupils, so, a previous generation or so.

Maymie
Vere
Vida
Veira
Say -this is not an auto correct.
Phemie ( shortening of Euphemia I’d guess)
Ulla
Renee, as a shortening/nn for Catherine

Another ‘boy’s name feminised

Hubertine

And a rather charming boy’s name from the Births Announcements

Kester.

Love Rhua, dd was very nearly called that. Maybe is also great!

Hubertine is truly awful 🤣

I worked with an Angusina, and it was never shortened!

Also only ever known one Alkelda and Kirstina.

I am in my 40s and I was at school with several Dolina/Murdina/Malina. Plenty Effies around too - Euphemia. It's still pretty common here. I know a Kenina in her 20s. Nowadays girls tend to have these as middle names thank goodness. Older women that I know locally are:

Neilanna
Roderickina
Archibaldina
Donalda
Normana

Hard shift to live with that name!

Maimie or Mamie is not unknown in the local high school. I think that's becoming more popular nowadays.

Say must be very confusing?!
I don't think we can be surprised at Colina when we have a famous Nigella!

Personally, none are my cup of tea but myDD has a very obscure name which im sure not all will like either.

Colina is my favourite though

Interesting chat. Thank you.

AlecOrAlonzo that’s an extraordinary trawl of heavy duty names there.

BouncingBelle - my granny had Alkelda as her middle name, after the patron saint of the church where she was baptised. She loathed it with a venom. My cousin has it as her middle name too.

Next trawl will be next week. I know, anticipation mounts....

Some of them are pretty, like Lilias. Andrewina, however, is not!

Sorry I think they are all dreadful.
I've always felt sorry for Nigella Lawson. Such an ugly name. Makes me think her parents wanted a boy.

I've known two Thomasinas and both changed their name!

Following because I find this sort of stuff really interesting!

Same here Bananas.

I’m supposed to be doing something else today, but I’m offering

Ranolina and Robina ( autocorrect is sent berserk by some of these)

I worked i a nursing home where a 100 year old thomasina got called tossie

New trawl, all names given to girls.

Bettine
Morley
Rina
Gavine
Merricks
Mina
Wilmay
Shina
Shena
Andrina
Andrena
Fairlie
Grizel
Braunda
Rannee
Elda
Lallie
Jessamy

Some of these must be shortenings of grim ‘male names feminised’

Some potential cat names here, I would suggest.

Grizel would make a fabulous cat!

Grizel is quite a name!

Always thought Clarabel was nice

My grandmothers name was Mima, short for Jemima and I adore it

Agnes Agatha

Also OP you said about a meta, given name Elizabeth. My other grandmother was Martha but known as Meta. Super interesting how they got these sorts of names out of the given names.

Florabel is a great name.

There’s a Disney film with Thomasina in it, although Thomasina is a cat. On further investigation, just discovered the film is set in Scotland!

Surely Davidina should be Davina or Davinia? In the 20s girls would have been named for the then Duchess of York - Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. (Because my Scottish Gran was)