Baby girl names?
July 24, 2021 4:31 PM Subscribe
Can anyone suggest strong baby girl names that aren’t classic European names?
We like (and could culturally claim):
Nature names (River)
Idealistic names (Justice)
Cantonese names that flow easily in English
Black diaspora / famous Black people names
Thanks!
We like (and could culturally claim):
Nature names (River)
Idealistic names (Justice)
Cantonese names that flow easily in English
Black diaspora / famous Black people names
Thanks!
Zora
posted by shadygrove at 5:09 PM on July 24, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by shadygrove at 5:09 PM on July 24, 2021 [4 favorites]
Naomi. Hebrew in origin, but easily pronounceable in many languages.
posted by SPrintF at 6:05 PM on July 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 6:05 PM on July 24, 2021 [5 favorites]
Some tree and plant names maybe?
Acacia
Indigo
Linden
posted by gudrun at 7:02 PM on July 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
Acacia
Indigo
Linden
posted by gudrun at 7:02 PM on July 24, 2021 [2 favorites]
Some of my child’s classmates: Ruby (like Ruby Bridges), Maya (as in Angelou), Harriet (as in Tubman), Willow, Olive, Lark, and Meadow.
posted by Maarika at 7:33 PM on July 24, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by Maarika at 7:33 PM on July 24, 2021 [7 favorites]
Samira
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:26 PM on July 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Juniper Toast at 8:26 PM on July 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Mahalia
Mavis
Aretha
Toni
Ida
Etta
Coretta
Shirley
Moxie
Clarity
Sage
Harmony
Juniper
Amber
Star
Sunny
Lian
Jia
Lai
Lan
Song
posted by vunder at 10:26 PM on July 24, 2021
Mavis
Aretha
Toni
Ida
Etta
Coretta
Shirley
Moxie
Clarity
Sage
Harmony
Juniper
Amber
Star
Sunny
Lian
Jia
Lai
Lan
Song
posted by vunder at 10:26 PM on July 24, 2021
Double and triple check this, since I'm illiterate, but...
爱大
Is pronounced Ai Da, or close enough, which is pretty close to Ada (Lovelace, the first computer programmer).
Meaning something like big love?
The English 'Ada' is derived from a Germanic root for royalty, and also used for a similar sound in the bible, though.
Friend was a HK immigrant to Canada who's legal name is Ada, with romanized Chinese first-name as middle-name, and a surname.
"Ada Ai Da Surname"
I couldn't tell you how her name is spelled in trad Chinese, but it's said as a more sensible "Surname Ai Da."
Another consideration, afaict, Cantonese regions are kinda-sorta? sticking with trad while Mandarin speakers (and internet languagesets etc.) prefer simplified? So consider which way you want to spell it in Chinese if not both.
Her name was never a problem for her, other than that some government IDs look a little funny.
I originally knew her from a setting where she went by Ada, and hearing some of her friends use Ai Da was kind of neat. Never did feel comfortable calling her Ai Da though for whatever reason.
posted by porpoise at 12:37 AM on July 25, 2021
爱大
Is pronounced Ai Da, or close enough, which is pretty close to Ada (Lovelace, the first computer programmer).
Meaning something like big love?
The English 'Ada' is derived from a Germanic root for royalty, and also used for a similar sound in the bible, though.
Friend was a HK immigrant to Canada who's legal name is Ada, with romanized Chinese first-name as middle-name, and a surname.
"Ada Ai Da Surname"
I couldn't tell you how her name is spelled in trad Chinese, but it's said as a more sensible "Surname Ai Da."
Another consideration, afaict, Cantonese regions are kinda-sorta? sticking with trad while Mandarin speakers (and internet languagesets etc.) prefer simplified? So consider which way you want to spell it in Chinese if not both.
Her name was never a problem for her, other than that some government IDs look a little funny.
I originally knew her from a setting where she went by Ada, and hearing some of her friends use Ai Da was kind of neat. Never did feel comfortable calling her Ai Da though for whatever reason.
posted by porpoise at 12:37 AM on July 25, 2021
If we'd had M/F twins in 1975, "Defiance" was tagged for the girl [I was going through a Romany Rye phase]. In the event, we had a singleton boy, so Defiance is still available.
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:38 AM on July 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:38 AM on July 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
美 "Mei" (can be spelled myriad different ways tho) means "beautiful" I believe, easy to anglicise as "May"
posted by greenish at 11:51 AM on July 25, 2021
posted by greenish at 11:51 AM on July 25, 2021
We named our daughter Gloria which has some of the properties you describe. It is a lovely strong name.
posted by hz37 at 11:55 AM on July 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by hz37 at 11:55 AM on July 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
Matigan
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:58 PM on July 25, 2021
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:58 PM on July 25, 2021
Named my daughter ‘Skylar’ 29 years ago. We call her Sky. She definitely fits her name; we lovingly call her a “granola”.
posted by 2CatsInTheYard at 1:07 AM on July 26, 2021
posted by 2CatsInTheYard at 1:07 AM on July 26, 2021
I've always wanted to name a daughter Kayla Rae. It was shot down by my then husband both times (point was moot as we only had boys).
Another name for a girl that I love: Cydnei. (Pronounced Sidney). My lifelong friend had wished that she had named her daughter that, and as an adult her daughter has considered changing her name to it.
Best of luck in choosing a name! (Have a backup/second favorite, in case the name doesn't fit the child when you get to meet her).
posted by annieb at 4:33 PM on July 26, 2021
Another name for a girl that I love: Cydnei. (Pronounced Sidney). My lifelong friend had wished that she had named her daughter that, and as an adult her daughter has considered changing her name to it.
Best of luck in choosing a name! (Have a backup/second favorite, in case the name doesn't fit the child when you get to meet her).
posted by annieb at 4:33 PM on July 26, 2021
« Older What children's TV show am I remembering? | Help me use the letter 'n' as many times as... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:43 PM on July 24, 2021 [1 favorite]