Rethinking My Top Girls
30 Dec 2009 3 Comments
in baby names, Girls Tags: Beatrix, Cecily, Clementine, Edith, Imogen, Jemima, Maud, Ottilie, Winifred, Zelda
My top girls have been ordered & reordered for months and I’m thinking of reordering them yet again. Here’s what I’ve got (& why):
Clementine – I just love her sprightly sound and the fact that she feels perfectly matched with Josephine. Her combo: Clementine India Jane is divine!
Winifred – Honors and I love Winnie. I have to admit the potential for Freda/Frida thrills me too. Her combo: Winifred Elinor Plum is sheer perfection.
Cecily – Again, honors, feels pretty but I’m worried about a possible rise in popularity also. I love her combo: Cecily Pandora Jane but I’m toying with a newer combo love: Cecily Oona Violet.
Maud – My favorite favorite. She honors the same relative Josie’s middle does and I adore that link between possible sisters. I love the delicate sound & the simple simpatico of four letters. Absolute perfection. She’s remaining on top, her combo makes me swoon: Maud India Scarlett.
Beatrix – I love Trixie! And her combo is sweet & her middles honor: Beatrix Violet Jane. Simply perfect.
Zelda – Don’t care about the video game, Zelda’s been my favorite name forever! And her combo makes me feel like singing: Zelda Violet Blythe.
Ottilie – Has been my # 1 or 2 for years. still deciding on combos, Ottilie Alice Ghislaine is lovely but Ottilie Frances Valentine, Ottilie Frances Godeleve & Ottilie Frances Loveday thrill me a bit more (while honoring too).
Jemima – The name on my list that’s been there near as long as Zelda! I love her nn potential: Jemma/Jem & Mimi. Her combo is perfect for us too: Jemima Lucy Maud.
Imogen – I love the quiet, regal feel of Imogen. And Immy’s cute, even if it’s not my fave nickname possibilty. I’ve got a couple of combos I love equally: Imogen Violet Mathilde, Imogen Ottilie Frances & Imogen Violet Ophélie.
Edith – Love Edie’s funky, starchy feel and her combo is divine: Edith Ottilie Violet.
Look for the Wildcards (read: runners up) in the next day or so!
Zelda
25 Apr 2009 9 Comments
in baby names, Girls, Lists, Musings, names Tags: Zelda
I’ve got Zelda Lucy Violet as the standard for a while but I was rethinking that a bit. I mean, I like it and it’s sooo pretty but can I do better, right? So I went digging again:
Zelda Mary Irene
Zelda Cleo June
Zelda Romilly Anouk
Zelda Iris Elinor
Zelda Margery Jane
Zelda Violet Blythe
Zelda Violet Pearl
Zelda Lilith Violet
Zelda Esmee Violet
There’s a least 3 that appeal up there, besides ZLV but that’s me. What I want to know is what do you think? Is there anything there stand better than Zelda Lucy Violet? I’d love to know. Any “think” at all is welcome!
And, as always, Thanks for stopping by! 
My “style”?
19 Apr 2009 10 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Girls, Lists, Musings, names, Weirdness Tags: Alasdair, Arthur, Barnaby, Beatrix, Bruno, Caspar, Cecilia, Cecily, Clarnece, Clementine, Cleo, Cosmo, Edith, Edward, Euphemia, Francis, Harvey, Ignatius, Imogen, Jemima, Lilias, Linus, Lucretia, Mathilda, Maud, Oscar, Ottilie, Philippa, Rafael, Remy, Rufus, style, Sylvie, Winifred, Xanthe, Zelda
I am apparently all over the map, style wise. I really looked at my top lists the other day and was struck by the fact that I seem to have at least 2 separate styles. Weird and funky. here, I’ve grouped them in similar piles:
Group 1
Maud India Scarlett
Ottilie Alice Ghislaine
Zelda Lucy Violet
Edith Zenobia Violet
Lilias Mehetabel June
Sylvie Mimosa Jane
Xanthe Iris Dorothea
Cleo Portia Rupinder
Cecily Pandora Jane
Group 2
Clementine India Jane
Jemima Lucy Maud
Lucretia Ruby Iris
Winifred Elinor Plum
Matilda Frances Ruby
Imogen Violet Jane
Beatrix Violet Jane
Euphemia Elinor Glory
Philippa Saskia Violet
Cecilia Violet Petronel
and those are just the girls! I can do that to the boys too, to a lesser extent. See:
Group1
Rufus Wilder John
Remy Edward Xavier
Cosmo Henry George
Bruno Edward Rafael
Barnaby Edward Rex
Ignatius Edward George
Clarence Arthur Finlay
Caspar James Porfirio
Alasdair Barnaby George
Group 2
Arthur Henry Llewellyn
Oscar Valentin George
Linus Willem Bleys
Harvey Edward Augustin
Francis Henry Porfirio
Edward Balthazar George
Rafael August Anselm
So, do you agree, I’m mildly crazy? or do you see these in different groups? Which group appeals more to you? Which ones? Anything really jump out at you up there? Let me know!
And, as always, thanks for stopping by!
Alright, now what?
05 Feb 2009 6 Comments
in baby names, Girls, Musings, names Tags: Clementine, Lucretia, Maud, Ottilie, Pomeline, Tallulah, Winifred, Zelda
Tallulah Poppy Frances is clearly the winner for me, but now where do I add her? What should I take away to add her?
Help me out, in decending order, the girls:
Maud India Scarlett – Maudie
Ottilie Alice Mehitabel – Tillie
Clementine India Maud – Cleo
Winifred Elinor Plum – Winnie
Lucretia Ruby Iris – Lucy
Zelda Coralie Blithe – Zella
Pomeline Frances Elinor – Millie
Where does Tallulah – Lulu, fit in? I’m clearly not gong to write off any of the top 3, but Winifred to Pomeline, which one should I knock off to add Tallulah? Or should I not bother at all? I’m curious as to what you’d do in my shoes. Tell me!
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!
Maud, Mina, Edith, Clio, Zelda & Ottilie
23 Jan 2009 6 Comments
in baby names, Girls, Lists, Musings, names Tags: Clio, Edith, Maud, Mina, Ottilie, Zelda
I’m having fits. 
Crazy, frothing fits. Toying with others that seem to fit more with Maud, who just may replace Cecily as my #1. Probably won’t because Cecily honors a bit more but still, the urge is very much there.
So I got to thinking, what else was like Maud?
Digging through my lists, I came up with Mina, Edith, Clio/Cleo, Zelda & Ottilie. They all have the same vintage, more or less and all have that slightly musty, funky vibe I so adore. Zelda’s combos are up in the air again: Zelda Ivy Blithe, Zelda Iris Grey or Zelda Coralie Blithe (I’m rather partial to Coralie). Today’s Poll #1
And Mina’s got a tossup: Mina Lucy Raphaela, Mina Lucy Tamerlaine, Mina Alice Clementine & Mina Alice Rosamonde. With the Mina Alice Bluebell & Mina Lucy Bluebell tossed in for good measure. Today’s Poll #2.
The others are:
Ottilie Alice Mehitabel (loving this right now)
Maud India Scarlett (My beloved)
Edith Esme Violetta – The middles honor big time)
Clio Laetitia Plum/Cleo Portia Isolde/Clio Laetitia Eleanora (I adore Cleo Portia &
Clio Laetitia, the second middles just appeal broadly).
Go vote in the Poll if you’re so inclined.
Ottilie comes close to rivaling Maud’s combo for me, but only close. Nohing else really does, although I like them all rather well. I could happily have 6 daughters named Maud, Mina, Edith, Clio/Cleo, Zelda & Ottilie. But I digress. Is there anything here that is better than Maud India Scarlett to anyone? Please let me know if there’s one in your eyes. I’d love for someone to try to talk me out of Maud India Scarlett!
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Weirdness
21 Jan 2009 6 Comments
in baby names, Girls, Lists, Musings, names Tags: Cleo, Clio, Edith, Genevra, Lucy, Mina, Zelda
Or maybe just free thinking today. Cat mentioned that my Maud India Scarlett is different from everything else on my list (which may be why I’m thinking of bumping her to first place, I love her to pieces) so I started really looking at my lists and went digging. I adore Maud, always have. I remember my first baby doll, I was 3 and she was supposed to be Goldilocks in a blue nightgown and a crade. I promptly reanamed her Maud. My mother asked me why Maud? I don’t remember saying anything but Mom used to say I said “because it’s the most bea-u-ti-ful name in the world!” Which does sound like something I would have said as a kid. I accentuated words oddly when I was little. Enough of that!
I found several names that repeat on my lists that feel like Maud to me: Zelda, Edith, Esme, Mina, Clio/Cleo, Lucy, Genevra. So I went digging some more to make combos with those that felt more like Maud India Scarlett and this is what I came up with:
Edith Esme Violetta
Zelda Ivy Blithe/Zelda Eleanor Odetta
Mina Imogen Odette/Mina
Clio Laetitia Plum/Clio Laetitia Isobel
Lucy Gwendolyn Isadora
Edith Genevieve Blithe
Genevra Ruby Mehitabel
Cleo Portia Isolde
and
Mina Alice Rosamonde
I’m particularly fond of the Minas, the Clio/Cleos and the Ediths. Zelda intrigues me here too. I know they don’t”go” with Josephine overmuch, but remember, she does go by Fifi at least half the week, so I think they do fit somewhat. What do you think? Any better? Maud India Scarlett is definitely moving up my ranks, why not one of these? Or have I gone loopy?
The Battling Girls!
17 Jan 2009 9 Comments
in baby names, Barnaby, Beatrix, Boys, Cecily, Clementine, Cosmo, Girls, Jemima, Musings, names, Rufus, Winifred, Zelda Tags: Barnaby, Beatrix, Cecily, Clementine, Cosmo, Jemima, Rufus, Winifred, Zelda
I am going crazy over girls names. With boys, I’m much pickier and it’s easier to figure out what I really like vs. what I simply enjoy. With boys, it’s practically a three way tie between Cosmo, Rufus & Barnaby and that’s about it. Everything else on the list pales by comparison. So it’ll be easy to decide on a boys name if we have one.
But a girl? I’m going crazy, literally.
There’s the “normals”: Cecily, Beatrix & Clementine and the oddballs: Jemima, Zelda & Winifred. I love all six of them and couldn’t decide which one I’d actually use if you paid me to decide. I could have sextuplets and happily use them all. Sadly, it’s probably just one and I have to choose. I love all their combos, really. Clementine’s probably been on the list longest of the normals, She went on the list back in ’95. Zelda’s been on the list of oddballs since ’73, since that’s when I first started keeping lists. She was on the mental list in ’69! I wanted to name my sister Zelda but Mom was having none of it. Cecily & Winifred are the newest; Winifred 5 years on, Cecily, two on. Beatrix & Jemima have probably been on the list for about 8 years now.
When I was deciding on Josephine’s name, I brought my notebooks of names in my bag and after she was born, I dug through the lists I had at the time, assembled what appealed in several instances and tried them out on her little self when she was in the room (I only sent her back to the nursery once, that first night, so I could sleep. Otherwise she was in my room no-stop so I had plenty of time to try them all out. I finally found something that not only made me sing, but seemed to suit her. I can’t explain how that huge name seemed to suit the little baby she was then, it just did.
How did you decide on your children(s) names? What were the deciding factors for you, How did you narrow it down? How do I do so? Goddess knows, I’d happily name a girl all of these, ridiculous as it sounds but I know I can’t. So, how do I go about choosing? Any hints? Pointers? Words of advice? Anything? 
Help!
Thanks!
Rethinking a few things
09 Jan 2009 8 Comments
in baby names, Girls, Musings, names Tags: Eulalie, Grey, Zelda
Zelda & Eulalie mainly. Trying out a few new thoughts, even though I’m feeling singularly uninspired today. Here, tell me what you think of these:
Zelda Elinor Grey
Zelda Iris Grey
Zelda Saskia Jane
Anyone have any other ideas for Zelda?
And Eulalie. I am really liking her sound these days and though I like Eulalie Frances Madelief, I’m looking for something with a but more oomph (and a little less weird for the second middle), So keeping Eulalie Frances, here’s the few my brain has come up with:
Eulalie Frances Esmée
Eulalie Frances Pearl (not sure how I feel about Pearl, exactly but it works here)
Eulalie Frances Violet /Eulalie Violet Frances/ odd thought: Eulalie Alice Grey?
Eulalie Frances Vianne
Eulalie Ivy Frances/Eulalie Frances Ivy
And one that just catches my fancy despite it being as odd as Madelief: Eulalie Frances Petronella.
and no, I don’t know what the fascination is with Grey these days.
So, is there anyone out there who can help me, maybe kick me out of this funk I’ve been in all day? I’d appreciate it, very much.
Zelda Redux!
01 Jan 2009 7 Comments
in baby names, Boys, Florence, Girls, Lists, names Tags: Eulalie, Felix, Florence, Francis, Harvey, Henrietta, Imogen, Roland, Romilly, Rufus, Zelda
I’ve been playing around with Zelda again. I wasn’t quite happy with Zelda Rosalie Violet, there’s something a bit too relentlessly cheerful about her for me. So I went digging again and came up with these:
Zelda Violet Elinor
Zelda Violet Esmée
Zelda Violet Pearl
Zelda Lucy Violet
Zelda Violet Imogen
Zelda Cerys Violet
Zelda Esme Frances
So far, Zelda Violet Esmée, Zelda Lucy Violet & Zelda Esme Frances are all tied in the poll I’ve got going and honestly I couldn’t decide which one right now if I had to!
So I need to ask again, which would you pick, if you had to use one of these?
I’ll be running off for the wildcard spot too, since I have 5 girls:
Henrietta Ruby Lilias
Florence Lila Ghislaine
Romilly Alice Kathleen
Imogen Violet Jane (although he keeps shooting her down, I keep trying!)|
Eulalie Frances Madelief
and 5 boys:
Harvey Edward Augustin
Roland Edward Grey
Felix Edward Alasdair
Rufus John Porfirio
Francis Henry Porfirio
That I can’t decide between. I have room for 1 of each from each list on the big list. Wanna help me decide there too?
Thanks!
Zelda Again!
19 Nov 2008 4 Comments
in baby names, Girls, names Tags: Caroline, Frances, Frilly Girls, Lily, Rosalie, Rosemary, Violet, Zelda
After much arguing back & forth, Zelda is on the official list with approval. Now, he thinks she needs “something light and frilly” in the middle and I think she needs a little grounding. I went through our lists (the whole extensive mess!) ad have it down to these three. I tried to balance light & frilly with something a bit more down to earth in the middle. Zelda strikes me as a touch heavy but not too much so.
I have a poll going at Behind the Name with these three in it as well, feel free to go vote, if you wish!
Zelda Rosalie Violet
Zelda Frances Rosemary
Zelda Lily Caroline
I think I like Zelda Rosalie Violet & Zelda Lily Caroline best, but I’m also charmed by Zelda Frances Rosemary in fits. Which do you like best? And if you don’t mind, why? I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts!
Addendum: I just saw someone asking about Zelda at fairly trendy babynames.com, some of the things I thought of to go with Zelda but ultimately discarded are in that thread; Carys, Caroline, etc. I am quite thrilled with Zelda Rosalie Violet and was very happy indeed to not see Rosalie or Violet in that thread. Not that I expect either name to remain quiet, Violet’s already on the way up and with ‘Twilight’ the huge hit it appears to be, Rosalie’s going to start climbing as well.
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