Seeking honest opinions!

[tintri]

Hello All!

New here and am enjoying all the friendly, thoughtful ideas on this forum. I'm going through somewhat of a name crisis and wanted some honest advice. My husband and I are desperately TTC and enjoy talking baby names occasionally. As for boy names, we have a very short, non-negotiable list. But for girls, I've been around the world and back again. For a very long time, I was a big fan of nature-inspired, botanical names such as Ivy, Iris, Violet, Willow, Meadow, etc. However, I've slowly begun to realize these names and others like them are beginning to trend, (MUCH TO MY ENORMOUS FRUSTRATION!) Having an extremely popular name myself, I refuse to pass on that curse to my offspring. So lately, I've been considering vastly different options. I'm not sure how to classify them, as I'm no expert. I guess most seem pretty old-fashioned, vintage?

Anyway, please look over these names that I've become fond of and give me some honest impressions. I'm very curious to see what others think!

Thanks in advance for your time and advice!

Annemarie
Theodora
Rosemary
Eliza
Penelope
Josephine
Miriam
Thomasina
Susannah
Francine
Florence
Wilhelmina
Cynthia
Constance
Eleanora

[saraallison]

I think our naming taste is somewhat similar! I love most of these. Here are more specific thoughts:

Annemarie: Love. Only one problem--I am a teacher, and on the playground, I swear it sounds like the kids are shouting for "Emery" to the little girl I know named Annemarie. I cannot use this name now bc I do NOT like Emery. I have moved to Annamaria bc of this problem.
Theodora: this is pretty but I would never use it myself. Also the Dora nn puts me off, as in Dora the Explorer.
Rosemary: LOVE. May use it if I ever have another girl. My sweet, fun aunt's name too.
Eliza: LOVE. For me, I would use it as a nn for Elizabeth bc I love the full name too. Makes me think of Eliza Doolittle.
Penelope: like this, but not enough to consider using it. Don't care for nn Penny either.
Josephine: like this, but can't use bc of a children's poem I know that I associate the name with.
Miriam: not a fav of mine. I just don't find it beautiful or charming. It feels plain to me.
Thomasina: hmm, I like it but would never use it. Too unusual for me.
Susannah: LOVE. This is also a contender for the next daughter, if there ever is one! I like Susanna spelling now, but I go back and forth.
Francine: don't like, but I love Frances and like Francesca.
Florence: love the city, don't like the name at all. I think of Mrs Brady...
Wilhelmina: don't like, but I absolutely love Willa
Cynthia: don't like, but I like the similar sounding Sylvia
Constance: kind of pretty, but don't like Connie as a nn
Eleanora: beautiful tho I prefer just Eleanor or Nora

[sadlola]

Annemarie - pretty, but boring. I like Anne better on its own.
Theodora - I like this one, I think it's interesting.
Rosemary - love this name. I think these are two names, that on their own, leave something to be desired, but I love them combined.
Eliza - cute, spunky name
Penelope - ditto
Josephine - love this name as well. Love nn Josie, Jody
Miriam - It's okay, a little boring and I don't think it's that feminine or pretty sounding.
Thomasina - not a fan of this, I prefer Tamsin (but both are just okay).
Susannah - pretty name. Don't love it, but don't dislike it either.
Francine - it's okay. Franny is a cute nn (though I'd rather use Franny for Francesca). I like Maxine better too.
Florence - it's okay, not that pretty or feminine sounding though.
Wilhelmina - ditto
Cynthia - I like this name. It's a pretty, strong sounding name.
Constance - I like the nn Connie for this.
Eleanora - I prefer Eleanor and Nora. The a is too much.

Top 5 are: Rosemary, Eliza, Penelope, Josephine, and Cynthia.

[geauxtee]

Annemarie -- Ok.
Theodora -- Love!! Love the nn's Dora and Thea
Rosemary -- Like a lot.
Eliza -- Like
Penelope -- Very cute, do not like the nn Penny
Josephine -- LOVE!
Miriam -- Just ok.
Thomasina -- Too out there
Susannah -- Ok
Francine -- Not a fan. Hate the nn Fanny
Florence -- Love, reminds me of Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine...I would be worried that the nn Flo may be ripe for teasing
Wilhelmina -- like. Love the nn Mina.
Cynthia -- This name seems very 80s to me.
Constance -- Cute. Do not like the nn Connie.
Eleanora -- Love!

[r_j]

I live most of your names. Francine and Florence border on maybe a little too old-fashioned for me personally. I think they need a few more years under the radar before they are ready for revival. Wow, that was a lot of R's.

Susannah, Theodora, Josephine, and Miriam are my favorites. (Although I slightly prefer Teodora to Theodora. It rings softer to me).

Interesting to see Thomasina on someone's list. Not many of these feminized male names get much love. I like Davida and have yet to met anyone who agrees. Same kind of concept! I see that nameberry explains that parents are just using male names for girls now, instead of adding a feminine ending. I like Thomasina though the more I say the name.

Do you like Rosalind? It's my favorite "rose" name.

[everwaiteing]

Here are my thoughts and impressions:

Annemarie - Okay, but I'm not a big fan
Theodora - Love it! It's distinctive, classy, and formal sounding. I am not big on nns, but it could be shortened in a number of cute ways if desired.
Rosemary - I like Rose and Mary better separately than together.
Eliza - Pretty!
Penelope - Okay, but I'm not a big fan
Josephine - Wonderful, classy, name.
Miriam - I have never warmed up to this name, but it's not bad.
Thomasina - Adorable!
Susannah - My favorite on your list. I am in LOVE with the name Susannah! It's like a burst of sunshine to my eyes and songbirds to my ears.
Francine - It's okay.
Florence - Not my style
Wilhelmina - I really like it!!
Cynthia - It's a beautiful name!
Constance - Not my style
Eleanora - Not a big fan

[bcl23]

Annemarie, Theodora, Rosemary, Josephine, Miriam, Thomasina, Francine, Wilhelmina, Cynthia & Constance are NMS

I love Eliza, Penelope, Susannah, Florence, & Eleanora!

Some suggestions:
Primrose
Rosalie
Coralie
Eleanor
Henrietta
Elianna
Leah
Lydia
Emmeline

[gblondie]

amarinta, beatrix, rosemary, hannah,

[gblondie]

or araminta

[annettevernon]

Theodora is my favorite, my fathers name is Theodore and i would love to give this to my future daughter plus the nick name Thea is timeless and adorable. Penelope is cute, it is my sisters name, but it is quite popular right now, not quite in the top 100 but it is starting to trend. I also like Constance with the nick name Connie, very classic. Francine is also very cute and unique. I would love this on a little girl.

I also compliment you for taking the unique name route. My name is less common and I love it, I am young and most people that have my name are older so I dont meet many people with my name and I love it that way. Your daughter will be very lucky.