Matilda/Mathilda

Am re-thinking Matilda And Mathilda lately. I generally prefer Mathilda, looks less “Waltzing Matilda” to me but I am warming up to the spelling. 

I’ve had Mathilda Lucy Elanor for a good few months now and I’m still quite taken with her. Lucy for Mom & me, Elanor for da Man. Yeah, if it was good enough for Sam’s girl, it’s good enough for one of mine. 😀  So I’m not looking for anything new there, but Matilda? Yeah, I’ll play with her for a bit, see if anything jumps out at me, maybe you’d like to give me your two cents on these few?:

 

Matilda Violet Kathleen
Matilda Elspeth Violet
Matilda Esme Violet
Matilda Katharine Violet
Matilda Rosemary Violet
Matilda Saskia Violet
Matilda Violet Llanfaire
Matilda Flora Violet
Matilda Lucy Violet
Matilda Violet Winifred
Matilda Cerys Violet
Matilda Lily Violet
Matilda Sibyl Violet

Like I said, I’m just playing around. There’s a couple there that interest me but I’ll leave that ’til later and see what everyone else thinks first. I’m more interested in your opinions thatn mine, anyway! 

 

 So, anything there grab ya? Let me know!   And, as always, thanks a million for stopping by!  😀

Raphael & Beatrix again

I’ve been thinking of Raphael up front after trying him out in the middle for a while. Still haven’t decided if I should use the standard Raphael spelling or go with the familial Rafael. I like both, it’s a tough choice. Standard spelling, less likely to be misspelled or family spelling, correct them occasionally and link the family. *shrug* Will have to think some more on that.

I’ve got a few I’m rather fond of at the moment:
Raphael August Anselm – August for Mom, Anselm’s the family Patron Saint.
Raphael August Grey  – Grey just because I like him.
Raphael August Hugh – I prefer Hugo but he doesn’t flow here, so zippy Hugh replaces.
Raphael August Albion – Albion because I like his meaning and his sound.

Anyone think I’m on the right track with Raphael? Have a preference between Raphael &  Rafael?

Moving on to Beatrix. I’m still  completely smitten by Trixie (yeah, watched Speed Racer, again the other day), also because of Trixie Belden. Beatrix just makes me swoon! But still can’t find the “perfect” combo for her, for me. I’ve had Beatrix Poppy Elinor for several months as the standard bearer, but I’ve not been super pleased with her, she’s lovely but a bit too sprightly for my liking. And Beatrix Jemima Alice is on the list now, but I’ve decided I much prefer Jemima up front.  So I went digging again and have come up with these few that make me smile:

Beatrix Ottilie Pearl – Ottilie because I love it, Pearl feels perfect here!
Beatrix Lucy Violet – Lucy, you all know, Violet too, I think. Very family, this pair.
Beatrix Saffron Adele – Saffron for another cousin, Adele because she’s just beautiful here. (Only drawback? he sometimes says AY-dell, like in “Natural Born Killers”, great movie, horrible pronunciation!)

 I waffle hourly as to which one of these I like best! Anyone have any thoughts? Is there anything there that leaps out at you as “that’s pretty great!” ? Let me know, I’d absolutely love you for it!  😀  As always, Thanks for stopping by!

Araminta & Zuleika

I’ve got both on the table again, Zuleika for him, Araminta for me. I really do like Araminta and would likely call her Minna or Mina as a nickname. As I’ve already said,  Josephine is “My Little Pony” mad and as such, could never use Minty!  *This* is Minty:

Araminta Lucy Violet I have and Araminta Alice Green, I had. Both are still floating around my head, and am trying to decide between.

For Zuleika, I’ve got Zuleika Esme Violet on the list now, as a wildcard but am thinking Zuleika Frances right now. Am looking for a second middle and have come up with these, so far:
Zuleika Frances June
Zuleika Frances Primrose
Zuleika Frances Adeline
Zuleika Frances Viola
Zuleika Frances Isobel
Zuleika Frances Leonora
Zuleika Frances Scarlett
Zuleika Frances Adele
Zuleika Frances Blythe
Zuleika Frances Mathilde

And that’s the best I can do, for now anyway. I’m still thinking. I should, he humors me. 🙂

Is there anything there that jumps out at you or just strikes your fancy?  I’m thinking June, Primrose (just because it’s family), Adele (f I can get him to stop saying it as AY-dell, like they do in “Natural Born Killers”) and Blythe are my best rhythm- goers.  Help? Please? Maybe I need to rethink Frances as a middle.  Hmmm.

Oscar

Yep, I’m thinking about Oscar again.  I’ve been thinking how awesome he is and like him despite his popularity. At least, I do right now. His popularity is what killed him for me before. The most comfortable spot for me, rank wise in the low 200’s to mid 500’s. More or less popular usually makes me pause.  Oscar’s actually in the top 200 but fell a teensy bit between 2006 and 2007 : 118 to 121. If he had climbed into the top 100, he’d be off my lists but as is, the fall allows me to still toy with Oscar.  

Oscar Valentin George was my combo of choice.  I had also liked  Oscar Gabriel Edward & Oscar Taliesin John.  But Oscar Valentin George is the one I keep coming back to.

 

 I think he sounds pretty awesome with the boys and is pretty snazzy looking with Josie as well. My brother would just love a nephew he could call “Ozzy”, too. Me, I’m more prone to simply Oz, which delights my Aussie bud Jason to no end.  So Oscar’s looking like a winner for a few reasons. I don’t love him like I do Rufus or even Cosmo but think he makes a more mainstream option.  He feels a bit too mainstream to me, whose used to old people names on her kids (remember, Leo & Simon are going on 23!) but I do like him enough to consider him.  Now, The other half doesn’t mind Oscar but prefers Rufus, Cosmo & Remy (which is one I utterly love). Arthur is my ‘normal” dude on the list, among the oddballs, and I like him a bit more than Oscar. So, should I bother putting Oscar on the official list or no? What do you think?  Oscar or Arthur?  Or both?

 

Any thoughts at all would be appreciated! All he says in response to Oscar is “yeah, he’s okay”, which is about as “yeah, whatever” as he’s ever given. I need some input on Oscar! Help!  😀

 

Arthur

George

George is like my favorite middle name, ever. I like George paired with just about anything! Because I like him so much, I’ve tried to put him in first place but I’m having no success just yet. Like Maud, I think George is going to take a bit more work. I think my Pop would approve of George.

Some of my more random thoughts lately, anything strike you as keepable?

George Augustin
George Willoughby
George Cosmo (I have this flipped, as Cosmo Raphael George)
George Aloysius
George Hugo
George Valentin
George Laszlo
George Neville
George Rupert
George Casimir
George Alasdair (is also Alasdair Barnaby George)
George Luther
George Porfirio
George Lucius
George Louis (lou-ee, please)

Well, those are my first thoughts anyway. Should I keep any? or should I just leave George at he end of my combos as I’ve been doing? What do you think, folks?

Lucy

I’ve been loving Lucy (pardon the pun) most of my life. My Mother wanted to name me Lucy but was shot down by Pop. So she called me Lucy as an affectionate nickname. Is it any wonder I turned into the name-freak I did? Let’s see, Laura, Lola, Lucy, Lily.. those are the names I was called as a kid. Confusing to say the least, and that’s not counting all the names I insisted they call me!  If the name starts with an L, I’m rather likely to answer to it thanks to my family!  😀

I’ve been putting Lucy in the middle because she almost vanishes when I put her next to Josephine, in full. While she’s sweet, I think for me, she’s better there although I am toying with the idea of her in front.

Lucy Raphaela is my favorite two name pairing of Lucy to date, although Lucy Primrose appeals too.

 

I’ve had her in the middle loads of times, but wonder if I flipped some of them around… maybe they’d appeal to me more? Here’s a handful or so of Lucy-in-the-middles/flipped arounds:

Euphemia Lucy Jane/Lucy Euphemia Jane
Edith Lucy Valentina/Lucy Edith Valentina
Mathilda Lucy Imogen/Lucy Mathilda Imogen
Mathilda Lucy Elspeth/Lucy Mathilda Elspeth
Ottoline Lucy Maud/Lucy Ottoline Maud
Winifred Lucy Adele/Lucy Winifred Adele

 

and now some Lucy up front, playing around:

Lucy Clementine Pearl
Lucy Raphaela Elinor
Lucy Mina Raphaela
Lucy Elspeth Primrose 
Lucy Romilly Primrose
Lucy Ottoline Viola
Lucy Violet Adeline
Lucy Kathleen Grey

 

 

 

While  I can close my eyes and see my Mother’s glee over this one,   I don’t know, maybe Lucy up front isn’t for me. What do you all think? 

Susanna

Susanna’s new to my lists, sort of. I’ve toyed with her before. She’d honor me; Susanne is my second middle for my mom’s best friend.  I really dislike Susanna with the ‘H’ on the end, that ‘H’ clunks it up too much for me. But Susanna, just beautiful.  I like the potential for Sukie/Sookie and have been wondering if Daisy as a possible nickname isn’t too far-fetched. After all black-eyed susans are a type of daisy, right? So yeah, another way to get Daisy. I love Daisy. My Grandma would be thrilled!  Of course, now the house would be K, L, L, S, J & S, which rather annoys me but not so much that I still want to consider Susanna.

 

I have a few combos that make me happy in various ways:

 

Susannah Edith Plum
Susanna Iris Pearl
Susanna Ivy Jane
Susanna Jane Petronel
Susanna Margery Jane
Susanna Caroline Violet
Susanna Elspeth June
Susanna Romilly Violet
Susanna Poppy Adele
Susanna Ottilie Pearl
Susanna Lucy Pearl
Susanna Violet June
Susanna Viola Marilyn
Susanna Zoya Ruby/Alice/Jane/Frances/Maud
Susanna Sylvie June

 

 

 There are a few that really stand out to me, but I want to see if any stand out to anyone else. Would you all be so kind as to flip though these and tell me what you like or really hate? I’d really appreciate it!  I’ll state my favorites later.

 

As always, thanks for stopping by and also for commenting!

Penelope Redux

I’m still enamored with Penelope and trying on a few different thoughts on her. Here’s are the lovely ladies, all:

 

Penelope Violet Jane – simple, sweet and leaves the focus on Penelope. Violet for Auntie, Jane for Mom. But I’m not sure, in the end, if this simple will pass him, who loves pomp, circumstance and blustery stuff. 🙂 

Penelope Marilyn Jane – Marilyn’s another Aunt, still a love but one of my very favorites since she gave me my favorite cousins & ones closest to my age. She was the only one to really comfort me after my Mom died and I’ve been looking for a way to honor her. I think Marilyn’s got a nice modern sound but feels very retro, and I like that her sound goes well with Penelope and is still lightened up with Mom’s Jane. Her initials would mimic those of my cousin Pam, too (one of Marilyn’s daughters), which is a nice tie in with the family.

Penelope Saskia Violet– I’ve mentioned this one before in passing but I’ve found her growing on me. Saskia’s his mom’s middle name and Violet’s that lovely, long gone Aunt who treated me as if I were hers. I like this one a whole lot but wonder how weird it may come across to anyone else. This one would definitely pass his judgment, Saskia’s odd enough for him and family enough for me.

Penelope Saskia Jane –  Again with his Mom’s middle, but this time paired with Mom’s middle, Jane.

Penelope Zoya Jane– Zoya’s Russian Zoe, and while I like Zoe, find Zoya more in line with the family group. I think she’ simply gorgeous! And honors my ancestry while giving him his Z!  Jane is, as always, for Mom.

Anything up there grab anyone, in particular? I do like them all but for different reasons. And I don’t think I could narrow them down much beyond these, they all mean something to me. As usual, he’s the “Whatever you want” for a girl, which is rather liberating in general but feels weird considering the push/shove we do over boys. He wasn’t this laid back last time! 😀

So, anyone have a favorite up there? Which one? 🙂

Cleo

Yes, still loving Cleo. She’s simply velvet on my tongue and sings a sweet contralto coming out of my mouth.
I’ve had Cleo Portia Rupinder as a combo for a few weeks, and while I’m completely enamoured with her, it seems no one else is. So I thought I’d give Cleo a few more shots, see if anything else pops out at anyone. Here are my attempts last night:

Cleo India Apolline
Cleo Frances Matilde
Cleo Laetitia Valentine
Cleo Poppy Mehitabel
Cleo Iris Pandora
Cleo Penelope Iris
Cleo Saffron Isobel
Cleo Esme Genevra
Cleo Junia Eglantine

Yeah, they’re all oddballs. There’s a few up there I like quite a bit but don’t think anything comes close to Cleo Portia Rupinder. Of course, she’s not likely to be used, with Clementine India Maud still in place on the lists. But I keep adding her too because she seems so entrancing, another short, sweet dear. What  do you think, folks? Anything there worth saving?

Edith, Again!

I’ve been loving Edith/Edie for a good while now and have come up with a good dozen or so combos over that time that appeal to me in one fashion or another. Edith feels starchy and sweet to me, even artsy. The word that comes to mind first when I think Edith? bohemian. Yeah. And I love that. Edith could easily rank #2 if I find the combo that sings to me. All of these do, some in one style or the other but they all sing. Help me decide which one sings best? I’d really appreciate it! Here are the lot of them:

Edith Alice Bertille – the standard bearer. Elegant, luscious and sweet. She’s Barbershop.

Edith Esme Violetta – She’s Opera, without a doubt, Lush and heady.

Edith Rosalie Pearl – She’s a ditty. Sweet and happy.

Edith Malu Violet – She’s a Jungle rhythm. Heavy and full, very, very light on her feet. This one dances too.

Edith Ruby Elinor – She’s a Waltz. Feels very 18th century, to me.

Edith Viola Petronel – She’s musica mundana; universally harmonious. I love the creative vibe I get from her.

Edith Isobel Loveday –  Is Bluesy.  Just feels so blue and gorgeous.

Edith Ruby Pomeline –  Is a whole Orchestra! She’s full & rich. Just beautiful.

Edith Mary Bluebell – is a country tune. Sweet, a little sad but has a rollicking rhythm.

Edith Zenobia Violet –  She’s a Tango.  A little spicy and  sultry. 😉

Edith Romilly Lenore –  She’s a classical piece. She feels very faerie tale-ish to me. Light-hearted but has a dark streak. So lush!

 

 Alright, there’s the different music types I get from each combo,  am I crazy or do you feel it too? At least a little bit?  Maybe?  Any up there that leap out at you as absolutely perfect? I’d love to know! 

 

 as always, Thanks!

Bruno Redux

Reinspired by Verity’s cousin,   Bruno has resurfaced on my lists. I had discussed him more in depth earlier: Bruno Revisited.

And confessed my favorite combo was Bruno Henry Valentin. Well, I still like it but am rethinking the combo. I have a dozen  or more combos that I’m polling today. But here are the ones  that appeal to us most:

 

Bruno Edward Rafael
Bruno Xavier John
Bruno August Edward
Bruno Arthur George
Bruno Neville John
Bruno Francis John
Bruno Magnus Rafael
Bruno Rohan James
Bruno Arthur Jude

Anything there stand out more than Bruno Henry Valentin?  

 

I really like his warm, fuzzy feel. And do think he fits in the family. Not only is he a related family surname ( My Stepmom), but he gives off a “big” vibe. My boys are 6’2″ and 6’1 respectively and probably weigh between 175 and 200.  (probably: I haven’t weighed them myself since they were 12 and haven’t accompanied them to the doctors since they were 19).  So yes, Bruno fits. He’d even fit when little, Bruno feels solid, doesn’t he? All my kids are solid. The sort that knock you down at 2 if you’re not braced when they run at you for a hug. Josie knocked me over twice before I remembered that little gem!  The boys used to do it all the time, and that was a bit worse, because they’d hit me together for a hug.  Double whammy! 😀 

I know there’s folks out there who just don’t like Bruno but I like that, actually. Means a lot of people won’t be using him! I just checked his rankings, and found Bruno’s charted between 900 & 700 since 2000. Before that, he bounced on & off the charts between 1968 and 1999, but mostly off. Prior to 1968, the only year he wasn’t on was 1883! So I’m more than comfortable with Bruno.  

So, anything there that strikes you right or jumps out at you? We each have a favorite or two up there but wonder which one others might like?  As always, Thanks!  😀

An odd little thought, not name related

I was wondering if you folks were happy with the icons I use to identify each post or if you’d mind if I tried the different options out in turn. Let me know if you’d mind the change or not and I’ll proceed from there!