Violet v. Viola

[stripedsocks]

I associate "VEE" with the classical musical instrument and the hard EYE pronunciation with the flower. Viola is the botanical family violets, pansies, johnny-jump-ups, and hearts-ease are in.

I really love Viola. Violet is nice too, but Violas are such darling flowers (and my birth-flower!)

I like the idea of swapping a B name for a V name for Hebrew names - as I would like to eventually name after both a Baila/Bilha and a Bina. (Baila was Bella in English, which I could live with but my husband thinks Bella is too popular... Bina was a Bertha and I just CAN'T...). There are a couple B names I like, but I will have to keep this V idea on the backburner, so thank you.

[steponme]

I think Katz is such a common and well-known last name that peoples' minds don't automatically jump from Katz to cats (even though, yes, I know Katz is German for cats).

Okay, you just blew my mind. Ridiculous, I know, but I never knew that Katze is german for cat. Wow. The last name Katz (actually I think it's the oldest last name or something like that) is Hebrew, not German. It just sounds German--but apparently all you need is an "e" at the end to make it so. Katz is combination of two words: Kohen and Tzedek, meaning "righteous priest". Like the last name Cohen, in Judaism it means that you are descended from Aaron from the bible.

[steponme]

I like the idea of swapping a B name for a V name for Hebrew names - as I would like to eventually name after both a Baila/Bilha and a Bina. (Baila was Bella in English, which I could live with but my husband thinks Bella is too popular... Bina was a Bertha and I just CAN'T...). There are a couple B names I like, but I will have to keep this V idea on the backburner, so thank you.

You're welcome! May I ask the B-names you are considering? We tried so, so hard and couldn't find one anywhere. And thank you for the Viola support. I like that it's more unique and, I agree, it has a little extra beauty in that "a".

P.S. Is it weird that I feel pretty cool now that my little panicked question just hit page 5? Because I do...

[bellababy]

I would go with Viola. It sounds better with your last name and isn't as trendy as Violet. I pronounce it V-eye-ola. What about Viola Sofie Katz?

[stripedsocks]

You're welcome! May I ask the B-names you are considering? We tried so, so hard and couldn't find one anywhere. And thank you for the Viola support. I like that it's more unique and, I agree, it has a little extra beauty in that "a".

Okay here goes but it's a strange little list:

Bryony - I really like this as I am fond of botanicals (Bryony is a vine) and it is established but uncommon. But our last name is three syllables and ends in -y, so its a bit not right for us. Another flower name I like is Betony which has the same problem. Technically these two aren't really on my list I just haven't quite brought myself to cut them.

Beatrice & Beatrix - I like it, but DH is unconvinced. For awhile he was okay with Beatrix and I was coming around on that but just as I got used to that, he went off it. Has a pretty meaning. Well-known but not top hundred so I am okay with its popularity such as it is.

Branwen - Works well with our last name, has a nice nature-related meaning. It's doing well on my list. I like girl's names that end in -n like Imogen and Vivien. I don't particularly like Bronwen or Bronwyn though and I'm afraid people will think Branwen is Bronwyn.

Briar - Somewhat fairytale for me thanks to Sleeping Beauty, but a bit spunky with the thorny, tough image too. Husband's favourite.

Brigida - probably the prettiest of the Bridget family. But I'm not sure of it, and Brigida is pretty random for our backgrounds. Bridget itself is rather appealingly simple and it DOES sound very good with our surname but rather somber and maybe a bit middle-aged. Violet is a lot softer.

Blythe - I love the meaning and the clear simple sound. And our LN is 3 syllables so it pairs well. I also like it as a middle name. My husband is unconvinced. I will probably be able to fit it in as a MN though and I would keep it on the list just for that.

You've probably thought of all of these though.

[steponme]

@stripedsocks, What fun, creative names! Beatrice was on my list (for years--I LOVE it), but DH laughed out loud for ten minutes after I suggested it to him. I think it fits into the Bertha category of names for him--old and hideous. I don't really get it because I think it's a gorgeous name. I also adore Beatrix! But an -x ending flows very badly into a K-last name, so that was out. DH is also very against any sort of Irish, Welsh or Celtic name because we are both 100% Eastern European and it makes him feel like a poser. Neither of us wanted a name that ended in a -y or -ie sound because we both have names that do that and we both think it's more cutesy than we'd prefer for ourselves. So for our particular style, that leaves Briar and Blythe, which are both awesome names. I particularly like Blythe, but I'd use either as a middle. Mainly because I kept waiting for that special name that gave me the right feeling (Violet and Viola and Sofia all do that for me), I accumulated a long list of names I loved for the middle spot. But I eventually chose two from my very short (5 or 6 name) list of first names for both spots, go figure. Though Sofia took some husband-convincing--I won't lie.

For you, taking into consideration your last name sound and assuming your husband is at least a little maleable, my favorites for you are Beatrix, Brigida, Blythe and Briar (in that order). I do think that people will think Branwen is Bronwyn--I did at first glance. Brigida is just so cool and unique--I've never heard it before. And I'm a huge sucker for names that end in "a", if you can't tell. I think you have a great list here! But V names a ton of fun too. Something about the V itself, makes the name feel different and spunky, I think. Good luck!!