Help!
02 Feb 2009 19 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Girls, Lists, Musings, names Tags: Alasdair, Arthur, August, Barnaby, Beatrix, Cassius, Cecily, Clarence, Clementine, Cosmo, Francis, Jemima, Lucretia, Maud, Ottilie, Pomeline, Remy, Rufus, Winifred, Zelda
I want to narrow my top 10 to a top 5, at least for now. I’m going to either/or them and pick one? Thanks!
Ottilie or Jemima?
Winifred or Clementine?
Maud or Zelda?
Beatrix or Cecily?
Lucretia or Pomeline?
Cassius or Clarence?
Remy or Cosmo?
Rufus or Barnaby?
Alasdair or August?
Arthur or Francis?
I couldn’t choose if my life depended on it. One minute it’s one way, the next it’s the other. I love them all and just cannot decide which 5 are best! Can you help? I’d really appreciate it!
As always, Thanks! 
C names
14 Dec 2008 6 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Cassius, Cecily, Clarence, Clementine, Cosmo, Girls, names Tags: C names, Casimir, Cassius, Cecily, Clarence, Clementine, Cosmo
And my seeming fascination thereof. 
I do appear to be stuck on the letter C this time around. I mean I have 4 C boy names and 2 girls on my working list, at the moment. Cosmo, Cassius, Clarence & Casimir, Cecily & Clementine.
There are more that I like:
Camilla/Camellia/Camille
Carmelite
Carolie
Caroline
Cassia
Calla
Calliope
Calypso
Carmel/Carmela/Carmella
Carys/Cerys
Catherine
Catarina
Catrin
Cecily/Cicely/Cecile/Cecilia
Celandine Celeste/Celestine
Charlotte
Clara/Claire/Clare
Clarice
Clarimonde
Clarissa
Cléophée
Clemence
Clementine
Clio/Cleo
Constance
Cora/Coral/Coralie/Coretta
Cordelia
Cornelia
Cosima
Cressida
Cymbeline (yes, I know it’s a boy in Shakespeare’s play, it still sound feminine to me)
Cyprilla
Cyriana (I just like the sound of this one)
Calvin
Carmine
Casimir/Casmir
Caspar
Cassiel/Cassian/Cassius
Cecil
Cedric
Celestin
Cesar
Charles/Charlot
Chaucer
Christophe/Christopher
Clancy
Clarence
Claud/Claude
Clement
Coe
Colin
Conal
Conan
Constantin/Constantine
Cormac
Corwin
Cosmo/Cosimo
Crispin
Cyrus
Cyprian (yes, I just like the crisp sound, I doubt I’d ever consider it for anything more than the next goldfish)
And there’s the collected favorites list (that’s about 5 years old now).
my C combos:
Cosmo Valentin George
Cassius Barnaby Rex
Clarence Arthur Finlay
Casimir Amadeus John (he’s the ‘why not?” here) 
Cecily Pandora Jane
Clementine Lily Elinor
So, what C names do you like? Do I strike you as seemingly obsessed with the letter C or is it just that it looks so appealing written down? What is it about the letter C? What do you think?
Clarence, expanded
03 Dec 2008 4 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Clarence, Lists, names Tags: Arthur, Clarence, Dashiell, Edward, Finlay, Henry, Rafael, Reuel, Rohan
I like warm & fuzzy things. Clarence is one of them. Yes, he’s warm, fuzzy, friendly, happy, strong and handsome. I’ve liked him for a good while now, a year and a half, maybe a bit more. I think he’s pretty awesome, actually. I only have one small problem, I’m still looking for his perfect combo. Here’s what I’ve gone through already:
Clarence Henry Rafael
Clarence Henry Xavier
Clarence Dashiell Henry
Clarence Henry Valentin
Clarence Gavriel George
Clarence Gabriel Arthur
Clarence Alastair George
Clarence Rohan George
Clarence Edward Fionn
Clarence Henry Gavriil
Clarence Gavriil Finn
Clarence Gavriel George
Clarence Henry Rafael
Clarence Arthur Gabriel
Clarence Henry Neville
Clarence Edward Rafael
Clarence Edward Jude
Clarence Edward Bruce
Clarence Edward Reuel
Clarence Henry Reuel
My goodness, that’s a lot of Clarences! And worse, there’s more:
Clarence Fintan Hugh
Clarence John Reuel
Clarence Hugo James
Clarence Edward Jude
Clarence Arthur Jude
Clarence Arthur Finlay
Clarence William Alasdair
Clarence Julien Edward
I’ve tentatively settled with Clarence Henry Rafael but am also liking Clarence Henry Reuel (The best way to honor Tolkien!), Clarence Rohan George, Clarence Edward Fionn & Clarence Dashiell Henry (or maybe Clarence Henry Dashiell?). Clarence Fintan Hugh’s pretty awesome and I really dig Clarence Arthur Finlay. Worse yet, he doesn’t have a preference, he just likes Clarence, and says he honestly doesn’t care what he’s paired with. Clarence is his #1 choice, Cosmo’s mine. We’ve come to an agreement on Cosmo (Cosmo Henry Gavriil) but nothing even close with Clarence. I really do like him but am having such trouble!
Something still feels missing, though. Clarence almost sparkles with Henry Reuel & Edward Fionn but almost isn’t good enough. Clarence Arthur Finlay is probably the sparkliest one for me. What do you think?
The Wildcards
26 Nov 2008 7 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Girls, Musings, names Tags: Araminta, Blaise, Bruno, Clancy, Clarence, Esmeralda, Malcolm, Pandora, Perry, Romilly, Wilhelmina
I’ve got names I adore but find a bit hard to use in one manner or another. I try anyway. Figured I’d toss them out for the heck of it today. Here, for your perusal:
The Guys:
Clarence/Clancy- I adore him and he’s actually in the top 10 despite my problem with him. He’s strong, handsome & angelic. I love his gentle feel. My problem? His combo. I’ve tenatively got Clarence Henry Rafael, which is lovely and while I can live with it, it doesn’t make Clarence shine. I want him to sparkle. Any suggestions?
Malcolm – He’s a long time love. I mean, Leo was nearly Malcolm, long time. I love his combo too Malcolm Barnaby Edward/Malcolm Edward Barnaby (haven’t decided which way I like it best yet). My problem? I need someone to tell me Malcolm MacK isn’t as clowny sounding as I think it is. He even sounds awesome with the sibset. *sigh* Talk me into him!
Bruno- He’s a family surname of sorts (my Stepmom’s maiden name) and I really like his combo: Bruno Henry Valentin. I like him lots and think he sounds pretty great with the sibset. My probelm with him? The other half’s not too sure about him and others think he’s a dog. It shouldn’t bother me (doesn’t with Cosmo), but for some reason, that does.
Blaise- I love his brainy, artistic feel and think he goes most superbly with the sibset but I don’t even have him paired, everyone instinctively spells him Blaze, Ugh.
Perry - I adore his easy, breezy style and his lighthearted feel. I first think Perry White or Perry Mason but even Perry the platypus doesn’t bother me. I don’t have him paired either, the other half think it’s going to the girls. Anyone have an argument for Perry on a boy?
The Gals:
Romilly - Yes, she’s placename-y (doesn’t bother me, I have cousins in one of the Romillys), and Romy honors a Rosemary indirectly (that works in my huge family). Milly/Millie, she’s just sweet. I love her two combos: Romilly Alice Kathleen (honors more, Kathleen’s my sister, Alice was to have been my name) & Romilly Elinor Blythe (Blythe I just like here, very much). My problem? She’s quite odd with the sibset. *sigh*
Pandora- I so would love to use this as a first name, to heck with it to meshing with the sibs. It honors, and I love both her sound and her meaning ‘all gifts’. But “the box” teasing may be too much in middle school as a first so I have her in the middle: Cecily Pandora Jane. Tell me it’s alright, please.
Araminta- Another one I’ve loved for a good while. I love her frill, her feel and her femininity. She’s lovely but not weak. And Min/Minna & Mina as possible nicknames enchant me to no end. I love her combo: Araminta Alice Green. If anyone knows their “Freedom Train” (not the 1976 one, either) history, they’ll know where Green came from here. I need Min/Mina somewhere and this works best for me. And Green is so calm and clean, too. Not like the blues or pinks.
Esmeralda- The name of my G. Grandma’s oldest sister. Utterly lovely and breaks down to the tiny & divine Esme. My problem? She’s quite a bit clashy with the surname: Esmeralda MacK? I don’t think so.
Wilhelmina – I’ve loved her for at least 5 years. And I love her potential obvious nicknames: Willa & Mina. My problem? She’s impossible to pair. Anyone have any ideas?
Xanthe- Love, love, love Xanthe’s breezy sound and snazzy looks. Her meaning’s wicked cool too. I even adore her combo: Xanthe Rosalind Elinor. Problem? Josephine & Xanthe? Mmm, I don’t think so. Talk me into it, if you do.
And there they are. Lovely, one & all and for the most part usable but not always for me.
My Favorite Old Folks
23 Nov 2008 8 Comments
in Musings Tags: Arthur, Clarence, Josephine, Lilian, Lillian, Medieval Girls, old people, Philip, Roland
I like old people, always have. I had more fun hanging out with my Grandmother and her sisters, their husbands and their friends as a kid, even.
Never said I wasn’t odd!
Some of them are back now: Lillian/Lilian & Caroline (never left), John and Josephine’s on her way. While the rest of them are becoming rather obscure or in danger of vanishing completely: Arthur, Roland, Warren, Harvey, Clarence, Philip/Phillip and Leslie on a boy. Frances, May, Sylvia, Florence, Margery.
Helen, Margaret & Edward are the only three falling but not in danger of vanishing just yet.
All of those names are family names for me (if you hadn’t guessed)
I’ve been thinking about them, the old folks I used to know (they’re all long gone now). I wonder of any of their names will come back? I think most of them are neat. Arthur & Roland and knightly and dashing, Philip/Phillip feels princely (maybe I’ve watched too much “Sleeping Beauty? Hmm)? 
Warren feels artsy and creative to me, Harvey feels almost happy, Clarence is warm and softly handsome and I so wish Leslie had stayed boy. I mean Lesley is the girly version, why did they take Leslie? Poor GrandPop!
May is sweetly charming, Frances is zippy and sweet, and Florence fits in with the place name girls. I’m surprised actually, that Sylvia hasn’t popped up yet. She’s simple yet three syllables, has a ‘v’ and a ‘y’ and seemingly fits in with the Audrey/Ava/Vivian crowd.
I’ve also been wondering how medieval Margery might come across by herself or maybe as an alternate nickname for Margaret? I’ve always been a sucker for ancient names and medieval names fit that nicely. Margery, Edith, Cecily, Beatrix, Amabel, Clarice (I’ve loved Clarice since I was a tot!), Euphemia, Florence, Helen, Lettice/Leticia, Matilda & Maud are some very favorites. I could have a dozen girls and happily name them the previous names.
What do you think of old people’s names? What are your thoughts on medieval names and their possible use today?
And the Boys
22 Nov 2008 Leave a Comment
in baby names, Boys, Cosmo, Lists, names Tags: Alasdair, August, Cassius, Clarence, Cosmo, Ignatius, Lucius, Oscar, Rafael, Remus
I can’t leave the boys out! Here’s the top ten:
Cosmo – Coz
Cassius – Cash, Cass
Remus – Remy, Rex (due to initials in combo)
August – Augie, Gus
Lucius – Lou, Luc
Clarence – Clancy, Clare, Ren
Alasdair – Alec, AB (due to initials)
Oscar – Oz, Ozzy
Rafael – Rafe
Ignatius – Iggy, Nate, Nat
If you’re interested in them in full combos or you’d like to see the whole list, look here.
Some Manly Oddballs
18 Nov 2008 6 Comments
in Boys, names Tags: Aloysius, Apollo, Bede, Clarence, Ignatius, Imre, Peregrin, Peregrine, Porfirio, Solomon, Tiberius, Tielo, Tilden, Tillo, Valentin
Just in case you thought all my weirdos were female, surprise! Submitted for your perusal, the men:
Peregrin/e- Yes, I am a shameless LOTR fan. The man was a linguistic genius and I bow to his superior skill. Pippin is easily my favorite of the Hobbits and hence the inclusion of Peregrine (I also like Peregrin) on my rolls.
Porfirio- Despite his playboy image (Porfirio Rubirosa), I’ve love the flowing, happy sound of Porfirio since I was two. He’s so fun to say and anything that makes me smile is worth hanging onto.
Ignatius – Yes, I like Iggy, he sounds zippy and wildly creative to my ears. He’s a family name for me, the first of the maternal line to hit America. I’d love to honor the guy who made it possible for this at least partially Russian chick to have a Scottish surname!
Clarence- Yeah, he’s a much too optimistic Angel in my least favorite Christmas flick but there’s still something mightily appealing about Clarence. He feels simple, attractive and creative to me. I can’t make him leave my boys list.
Valentin- One of the Maternal Great Uncles, I adore Valentin because not only was he family, he reminds me of my Dad, born on Valentine’s day and cursed with a trendy name that he intensely disliked. Valentin makes me think of Pop without being him. And yes, I think Val is mightily sexy on a grown guy. But Tino’s a cool possibility too.
Tiberius- Yes, Trekgeek extreme here (Don’t even start me on the remake movie due late next spring!). If he didn’t say “already done” to James Tiberius; it’s one bit of fan geekdom I could happily live with forever. *sigh*
Solomon – One of the few overtly Biblical names I adore. I love his sound, his image and his strength. I think Solly would be really adorable on a toddler, pretty cool on a teen/twenty something and not too shabby on a 70 year old either! That’s an awesome run for a nickname.
Aloysius- Yes, he’s a bit stiff and stuffy but say him aloud, he’s so swooshy and fun to say. No, I don’t have a problem with Al potentially but I love saying this in full most often so he’s mainly middle material for me.
Apollo - My favorite of the Greco/Roman Gods. Light, the sun, music, poetry, you name it, he’s been ascribed to rule over it through time. How Renaissance-y of Apollo! Never fear, he’s also slated for middle use only. Willem Apollo, in particular is a favorite combo.
Tilden/Tillo/Tielo - All three are on my lists, strictly for the Till part. Tilley is the family surname for the other half and I keep looking for ways to use that sound somewhere. Tillo charms me the most.
Bede – Fascinating because of (The) Venerable Bede. Get yourself a copy of “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” and enjoy the reading. It’s simply a wonderful piece of writing, significant for it’s history more than it’s religion. A real Renaissance sort of guy, long before the Renaissance!
Imre- Fun to say (eem-ree). A variation of Emeric/Emmerick that appeals greatly to me because of his pronunciation. Middle material for me, there’s no familial link.
So there you have my Manly Oddballs! See, I’m not feminine biased, entirely!
Top Boys List
09 Nov 2008 Leave a Comment
in Boys, Cosmo, Musings, names Tags: Alasdair, August, Casimir, Cassius, Clarence, Cosmo, Ignatius, Lucius, Maxim, Rafael, Remus, Sidney
I figure I should really post the top boys, since I did the girls a few days ago. Top Girls It’s only fair to give the bucks a turn!
So, without further ado,
Cosmo Henry Graham ♥
Cassius Barnaby Rex
Remus Edward Xavier
August Edward Valentine
Lucius Edward Porfirio
Clarence Henry Rafael
Alasdair Barnaby George
Rafael Edward Porfirio
Runnerups:
Ignatius Henry August
Sidney Edward Porfirio
Casimir Amadeus John
Maxim Edgar Rafael
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