Name for an adult

[Lucasboo]

For personal reasons I’ve decided to go for it and change my name as an adult. This will not cause any family issues so I’m free to do what I like. I’m also at an age where nobody questions changes of surname so that’s going too. I am however finding it hard to pick a final one. I did change my first name when I was 18 then found out lots of people pronounced it wrongly and it sounded dreadful.

Im looking for something that goes with the surname James. Top of my list so far are

Xanthe (had lots of positives for this one)

Ianthe (I like the pronunciation eye-anthe but know it should be ee-anthe and have found people look at it and read it as Ian!)

Fleur - name my mum had really liked but family pressure against at the time

Elodie - I love this but don’t know if too fluffy and young for a 45 year old but old name in France

Sian - Welsh connections

Any other age appropriate suggestions before I commit?

I think Eloide James is lovely. Personally I don’t like Xanthe or Ianthe and you will also have to explain how it’s pronounced. Fleur and Sian are also nice.

I like the idea of Fleur if your mum liked it. It’s almost as though it should be your name but she got talked out of it.

I like Elodie but because it's one of those names that has only become popular in the UK in last 15 years or so I do tend to associate it with children

I much prefer Xanthe to Ianthe

Sian and Fleur are both nice enough

How about:
Rowena James
Camilla James
Hazel James
Lucia James

Elodie is lovely and goes well with the surname. I think the first few will be constantly mispronounced tbh. Sian is ok but not my cup of tea.

Xanthe - the surname is pretty plain (in a good way) so a more out there first name fits

Xanthe James works really well, followed by Elodie James.

Carys James
Olivia James
Catrin James
Zoe James
Lara James
Anna James
Greta James
Marissa James
Susannah James
Natalia James

Fleur sounds too much like urgh for my liking. If you have nieces or nephews, Aunty Ianthe is a bit of a mouthful.

Romona James
Miren James
Clara James
Saskia James

Xanthe - Some will say Ex-anthy or Exanth
Ianthe - too similar to Ian
Fleur - nice
Elodie - nice in a french accent but meh in UK accents
Sian - fine

I'd probably go with Fleur but Siân is my favourite

Thanks everyone food for thought.

My other option was Sylvie I have French connections and it would fit my age in France but have always thought I might get Sylvia here which makes me think of blue rinses and wrinkly stockings

I’d so change my name to Tallulah!

Tallulah James has a nice ring to it.

Or… Anais… Anais James.
Or Anoushka James
Still, Tallulah would be the name for me.

Sylvie and Elodie both sound great with your surname. Lovely names.

I'm not much help because I like them all, with Fleur as a favourite.

How about Eleanor?

I rent live Eleanor but it’s a family name already :)

Definitely be tempted to that one if I was younger🤣

@Lucasboo

Thanks everyone food for thought.

My other option was Sylvie I have French connections and it would fit my age in France but have always thought I might get Sylvia here which makes me think of blue rinses and wrinkly stockings

I love Sylvie. But I also love Elodie and Fleur- you're not gonna go too far wrong with any of them. Don't worry yourself about a name being "too young".

Imogen James
Esme James
Genevieve James

Eloise James is beautiful

Sorry Eloide!

Bloody autocorrect

Personally, not keen on Xanthe, Fleur and Ianthe.

Like Elodie.

Alternatives,
Blanche
Brooke
Paige
Carys
Ffion

All of the french sounding names you have are pretty. Adding Romilly to the list.

@BornBlonde

Eloise James is beautiful

I know that was a typo but Eloise sounds lovely too.

Élodie is common enough among your generation in France, it won’t seem like a young name.

Really, this is your moment, your identity, pick the one that you like. Project yourself into the future - who is that new you? Sian, xanthe, something else?

Personally I like Fleur and it sounds as though you feel a connection with it through your mother.

How about Princess Consuela Banana Hammock James?

That’s it! That’s the one 😳🤣