Thursday, September 25, 2008

Nicknames From Novels

Just three nicknames, from novels written and set in Victorian England, which I thought were quite lovely, WDYT?

Nicodemus "Noddy" - from Our Mutual Friend

Dorothea "Dodo" - from Middlemarch
Celia "Kitty" - from Middlemarch
Theresa "Tess" - from Tess of D'Urbevilles

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My Thoughts:

I'm liking Nicodemus more and more, it's rather a guilty pleasure of mine like Solomon and other old Biblical names. Though the nn Nicky is cute it's also rather popular and too connected with Nicholas.

I think Dorothea is just lovely and Dodo is a cute childish nickname, not sure I like it or not.

Celia was prn. seel-ee-uh in the film adaptation instead of seel-yuh. My pastor's wife had family who prn. her name see-lah their from the southern USA so their accents most likely have something to do with it. Kitty just says Katherine to me but it is cute, I recently met an older lady named Kittie and the name suits her perfectly.

I've been liking Tess recently since seeing Tess of D'Urbevilles and her full name was Theresa. I've never been very fond of Theresa / Teresa but Tess and Tessa are rather cute.

So what do you think? Any you like?

Saturday, September 13, 2008

My Top 100 Favorite Girls Combos

Reworking my extended favorite girls combos. There are a few in my top 20 that I changed a bit and decided on which Lydia Sadie combo and which Juliana combo.
Without further ado here they are:
  1. Amy Joyce Irene
  2. Eleanor Mary Frances "Lena"
  3. Sally Stone Elizabeth
  4. Lena Beatrice Viola
  5. Lydia Sadie Hope
  6. Catherine Davia
  7. Jocelyn Pearl "Jocie"
  8. Emma Beatrix Claire
  9. Juliana Chloe
  10. Phoebe Evangeline
  11. Mary Adelaide
  12. Leah Crystal
  13. Beatrice Elena
  14. Marjorie Florence "Marjie"
  15. Clara Rosemary
  16. Leanna June
  17. Margaret Fiona "Maggie"
  18. Felicity Evelyn "Lissy"
  19. Lillias Arabella
  20. Jane Isabella
  21. Grace Abigail
  22. Evangeline Mercy "Evie"
  23. Julia Mary
  24. Cora Imogen
  25. Lily Charlotte
  26. Juliet Hermione
  27. Stella Iris
  28. Alea Ruby
  29. Annora May
  30. Cassandra Isolde "Cassie"
  31. Molly Susannah
  32. Margot Eloise
  33. Gretchen Helena
  34. Annika Dagmar
  35. Edith Amelia "Edie"
  36. Nora Clementine
  37. Esme Seraphina
  38. Marguerite Solange "Margie"
  39. Philippa Antonia "Pippa"
  40. Ireleigh Paige
  41. Aurelia Sonet
  42. Eimear Kathleen
  43. Matilda Hazel "Matty/Tilly"
  44. Georgiana Eve "Georgie"
  45. Millicent Sophie "Millie"
  46. Liesel Wilhelmina
  47. Tabitha Esther "Tibby"
  48. Eithne Maeve
  49. Ceana Rose (prn. Kenna)
  50. Adeline Cecilia
  51. Brigid Sorcha "Biddy"
  52. Amity Karis
  53. Sophia Elinor
  54. Maisie Emmeline
  55. Verity Ann
  56. Charity Ruth
  57. Lalage Emilia "Lalla"
  58. Isabella Sage "Bella"
  59. Elinora Mabel
  60. Priscilla Opal "Cilla"
  61. Kirsten Lee "Kirstie"
  62. Michael Naomi / Michal Naomi
  63. Miriam Dorcas "Miri"
  64. Eliana Ophelia

Yep, only 64, but I haven't formed any more yet. It's not too important to me to reach 100. It's nice to be able to express my favorite names this far.

Top 100 Favorite Boys Combos

My top 100 favorite boys combos, I've been reworking my extended favorites list and here's what I've come up with:
  1. Ciaran Douglas
  2. Eamon Laurence
  3. Nathaniel Henry Welcome
  4. Simon Matteson
  5. John Kenneth Crepaux "Jack"
  6. Colin Stone
  7. Aidan Silas Pearce
  8. Jack Michael
  9. Henry Buffington-Geer
  10. Owen Jasper
  11. William Ezra
  12. Sebastian Luke
  13. Gideon Micaiah
  14. Caspian Miles
  15. Titus Andrew
  16. Ezekiel Peleg "Zeke"
  17. Crispin Lee
  18. Josiah Abel
  19. Nathan Shippee
  20. Cianan David
  21. Finbar Liam
  22. Matthias Oliver
  23. Callum Dermot
  24. Micah Joel
  25. Ian Archibald
  26. Tristan Evander
  27. Milo Spencer
  28. Soren Dominic
  29. Cassius Alexander
  30. Tobias Griffin
  31. Asa Benjamin
  32. Skander Willem
  33. Dylan Lucas
  34. Willoughby James "Will"
  35. Roman Frederick
  36. Lucian Maxwell
  37. Maximilian Lucius "Max"
  38. Roderick Theodore "Roddy"
  39. Julian Darcy
  40. Sinjon Tertius
  41. Bartholomew Amos "Ollie"
  42. Jonah Gabriel
  43. Ronan Bryce
  44. Elias Jephthah
  45. Amadeus Leopold
  46. Elijah Keegan "Eli"
  47. Noah Wyatt
  48. Oisin Declan
  49. Angus Niall
  50. Gilbert Tavish "Gibby/Gilly"
  51. Andrew Jonathan
  52. Jonas Finley
  53. Ellis Vaughan
  54. Hamish Charles
  55. Malachi Jeriah
  56. Ewan Trace
  57. Jolyon Edmund "Jo/Jolly"
  58. Jeremiah Seth
  59. Ebenezer Jacob "Eben"
  60. Archibald Roger "Archie"
  61. Zachariah Jude
  62. Brody Rhys
Yes, there's only 62 but it's as far as I've got so far.

What do you think? Any you like?

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Alethea

Alethea is an English name derived from Greek αληθεια (aletheia) meaning "truth". This name was coined in the 17th century and may be related to Althea.

I didn't find very many refrences when I looked up famous Aletheas but here are a few ladies by that name that you might have heard about or might find interesting:

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In Greek mythology, Alethea (or Altheia) was the daughter of Zeus and Arete, the personification of truth and the nurse of the infant Apollo.

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Alethea Howard, Countess of Arundel (1585-1654) was the wife of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel (1585-1646) who was an ardent art collector (having over 700 paintings in his collection) and prominent English courtier during the reigns of James I and Charles I. She was born Lady Alethea (or Alatheia) Talbot the youngest daughter of Gilbert Talbot, 7th Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife Mary Cavendish; and the sister of two other countesses: Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent. She married in September 1606 and gave birth to four children: James Howard, Baron Maltravers (1607-1624), Henry Frederick Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel (1608-1652), William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford (1614-1680), and Lady Mary Anne Howard (c. 1615-1658).
Along with her sister Elizabeth, and their cousin Arbella Stuart, she performed in a masque celebrating the investiture of Henry Stuart as Prince of Wales in 1610.
Alethea's husband bought many pieces from her art collection using her money and left the collection of over 600 paintings and 200 sculptures to her on his death. Like her sister, Elizabeth, Alethea was interested in the use of herbs and other foodstuffs for medical purposes. Her recipes were published under the title Natura Exenterata. Little else is known about this fascinating lady.

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Alethea McGrath
is an Australian actress who played the role of Jocasta Nu in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. She is also known for her roles on television, playing Dot Farrar in Prisoner and two parts in Neighbours: Mary Crombie from 1989 to 1990 and Lilly Madigan in 1998.
Alethea McGrath is an Australian actress who played the role of Jocasta Nu in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

I never used to like the name Alethea until I met a girl who did not pronounce her name like uh-LEE-thee-uh but like uh-LAY-thee-uh. Then I thought the name was just beautiful and fitted the girl's sweet and bubbly nature.

I added Alethea to my favorites list where it currently resides outside of my top 20 favorite combos as Alethea Spring, just a bit of beauty and whimsy and one of my guilty pleasures! :)

Know anyone named Alethea? What do you think of the name? Will this name ever catch on - why or why not?

Thursday, September 4, 2008

"I" Love Names!

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"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!"

I've been hearing a several names starting with the letter I recently. I'm in general not too wild about I names as I gravitate more towards A, E and the constanants (especially C, S, L and J).
But as I hear these names used, weather on people I've met, on TV, or online, I've been thinking of all the names I do like that begin with I. Here's just a sampling:

Boys:

  • Ira - I've heard this name on two different men recently and rather like it. We don't see it used much anymore and I think it could gain as much popularity as Isaac or Isaiah have.
  • Ike - I met an quirky, off the wall teen boy by this name at camp this summer. His bright eyes and lively personality were totally different than the image I've always had of Ike being a stodgy old farmer or old time politician. I don't think Ike was his real name (probably something like Richard), but it actually suited him and the short spunk of the name came across to me. I now like it as a nickname for Isaac / Isaak and hope to see more of it.
  • Irving - a friend's husband is named Clarence Irving, isn't that awful but so totally old-fashioned and charming at the same time? For some reason that even his wife doesn't know, he's always been called Mike. Mikey when he was young and the name just stuck so he's Mike now which really suits him much better! I'm not a big fan of this name but it certainly had a strong sound.
  • Ian - I've always loved this name and was very pleased to hear it being used more in my social circle, once as a middle name, once as a first name. My friends who I worked with this summer named their first son Ian William last year and he had just turned a year old when I saw them in June. Their last name is Walker and the mother told me that she had seriously considered naming her son Luke Skye! I think it actually would have been cute never mind the Star Wars connection. I really like Ian William and I think they might possibly have chosen a W for his middle name because his paternal grandfather's first name begins with W. Little Ian changed the image of the name a bit for me, from bold handsome Scotsman with unruly dark hair, to a blond haired boy with big ears, bright blue eyes, a big smile and a personality all his own. :)
Girls:
  • Ivy - I've seen Ivy a couple times this summer. My mom's friends have a little granddaughter named Ivy Dawn who I saw recently, she just turned four. I also admire her cousin's names Peter Ian and Joy Abigail, they're so...normal! :) Ivy is sweet but I always think poisin ivy and an exotic dancer when I hear this name so I tend to prefer Evie to Ivy.
  • Isabelle - I know it is popular but it is pretty. A friend just named her 8th child Chloe Isabelle. She had mentioned to me that she liked Isabella because it came from Jane Austen's novels. But when she mentioned the name to her 10-year-old daughter she said "Not Isabella mommy. In books Isabella is always the bad lady!" But she must have liked the name enough to have used Isabelle anyway. I think it's pretty and as a middle name it's nice. By the by I'm liking Chloe more and more now, scary!
  • India - I heard this name on a Jepordy contestant. In general I dislike this name and Indiana because they are place names. India to me would seem to belong to a forein woman with dark hair, bright eyes and a sense of adventure or to a trendy designer so on this lady the name had an odd appearance as she was 40ish with plain brown hair and nothing very interesting about her, kind of a quiet sort. Funny what people name their kids even if it's unpopular, not at all befitting their lifestyle or especially doesn't suit their child at all!
  • Ireleigh - a little girl at church has this name. She's so cute at four with her blond hair and wide blue eyes and ever charming smile and speech inpediment. Her mother said a friend named Leigh had said it was her favorite that she didn't get to use only she spelled it Ireley. So the mother changed the spelling to Ireleigh to honor her friend who suggested it. I think it's cute though it is made up, it sounds pettier than it looks.

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    "So?...what?...no ice cream then?"

So, some of my favorite I names, most of which I probably won't ever use:

Boys:
Iain
Ioan
Israel
Ignatius
Ichabod (crazy, I know)
Ishmael
Innis

Girls:
Irene (which I might use)
Isolde
Irina
Imogen "Immy"
Imelda "Immy"
Iris
Isabella
Isobel
Iliana
Isla
Ireland (yes, a place name but it's the place I like)

What are your favorite name that begin with the letter I? Have you met or do you know someone with and of these names? How do they like their names? What other I names have you heard recently?

Monday, September 1, 2008

Lydia Sadie

This summer I met a couple little girls named Sadie and one had a sister named Lydia. These are two names I really love, they both have such sweet sounds and that lovely old-fashioned charm (I'm beginning to think I should rename my blog Old-Fashioned Charm!... that gives me "furiously to think" like Hercule Poirot, perhaps a new blog is in order...anyway) .
Not too long ago I was playing a name game on the Behind the Name boards and used the combo Lydia Sadie. I really loved the sound and the combo stuck in my head.

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"Oh Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia? Lydia The Tattooed Lady. She has eyes that folks adore so, and a torso even more so. Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclo-pidia. Oh Lydia The Queen of Tattoo. On her back is The Battle of Waterloo. Beside it, The Wreck of the Hesperus too. And proudly above, waves the red, white, and blue. You can learn a lot from Lydia!

La-la-la...la-la-la. La-la-la...la-la-la."


Jocelyn Sadie is currently on my top 10 because my mom loves Jocelyn and it sort of honors her mom Joyce and Sadie is a nickname/short form of Sarah like my other grandma Sally's name. But I've really wanted to but Sadie as a first name but I keep using it as a middle name!

I like the sound of Lydia Sadie much better than Jocelyn Sadie, the sound and flow just seems to work better. And if I use Sadie as a middle name for Lydia I can use Pearl for Jocelyn maybe. But I also like the sound of Lydia Sadie Pearl and my top four favorite combos all have 3 names except for Lydia Pearl so I really want it to have three names too.

So here are some of my thoughts on middle names for Lydia:
  • Lydia Sadie Pearl
  • Lydia Sadie Michael / Michal
  • Lydia Sadie Claire (which would mean I'd have to change my Emma Claire combo, maybe to Emma Beatrix)
  • Lydia Sadie Karis (honors my friend)
  • Lydia Sadie Abigail
  • Lydia Sadie Grace
  • Lydia Sadie Opal
  • Lydia Sadie Rose (too plain I think)
  • Lydia Sadie Kirsten (honors my sis but too long)
  • Lydia Sadie May / Mae (I'm liking May recently, it's actually very pretty, not sure I'd really use it though)
  • Lydia Sadie Hope (means I'd have to change Juliana Hope which I am hoping to do in future)
  • Lydia Sadie Ruth
  • Lydia Sadie Ann (e) (I'm really liking the Ann spelling lately, it's on my family tree too)


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"It's Anne with an E!"

Obviously Lydia Sadie is already quite long in sound so I'm trying to pair it with a one or two syllable name.

I'm really hoping Sadie won't become too popular because I like it a lot and now I'm liking it more than Sally! (sorry mom-mom!)

One of the Sadies I met was actually Mercedes but she was called Sadie or maybe they spell it Cede?

I'm also liking Chloe's charm as well but that's too popular so I've got to get that out of my mind! But maybe as a middle name like Juliana Chloe.

So I'm still not sure what Lydia Sadie combo, but I am leaning more towards Lydia Sadie Pearl, Lydia Sadie Hope, or Lydia Sadie Ann.

Any thought, opinions, comments or suggestions are welcome. I know probably no one actually reads my blog yet but if you do I'd love to hear your opinion!