names for girls inspired by female achievers, both in real life and in fiction

[justbeenforapromenade]

A poster on another thread complained that Daphne was rather an underachiever in Greek mythology as she was pursued by Apollo, turned in to a laurel tree, job done.

Which females have done such great deeds that they would merit a dd becoming their namesakes - and you actually like the name too? Have you named or would you name dd after a politician, writer, your grandma?

Is it important to be named after a doer?

Don't forget Sylvia Pankhurst...

Aphra (Behn)
Germaine (Greer)
Andrea (Dworkin)
Barbara (Castle not Woodhouse)
Jennie (Lee)
Polly (Toynbee)
Shirley (Williams)

i don't think it's important to be named after a doer, but it's nice nonetheless to feel your name has some meaning to your parents I think. My dad always told me that I was named after this singer and actor, though I actually don't think it was true, knowing my mum - i liked the idea though. His favourite singer was probably Ottilie Patterson which would have been cool as a namesake.

Actually, I'm glad I'm not named after a high achiever- would make me feel even more inadequate.

I was named after Jane Austen and never quite understood why

Amelia or Emmeline, however...

Buffy!

Not sure I could go for Portia, having seen a Fish Called Wanda.

Names on my list generally came from authors - Daphne (Du Maurier) was on there, plus Dorothy (Parker/Sayers) and Nancy (Mitford).

As it was I had a boy and called him a name I just liked.