Steph is expecting her second child — gender unknown — a sibling for Matilda Florence.
Steph writes: "A boy will be Frederick Charles after two beloved great-grandfathers, but I am stuck for girls. My other options from last time don't seem to stand up to the strength of 'Matilda'... Martha, Jemima, Lily, Isla, Francesca, April all appealed but not as much. I keep coming back to Jemima as it has the same number of syllables as Matilda, but I don't think it's 'the one'.
I made various suggestions to my husband last time which were vetoed: a few Cornish names as we both have Cornish heritage, and I love Ottilie but he said it was too 'out there' for where we live in Yorkshire! I have a good friend called Kerensa and have always adored her name but am hesitant to name a child after her (maybe an alternate spelling?)
Our surname [begins with N] so I have ruled out anything ending with an 'n'. We would ideally like something from British literature or places we have been or lived (Italy, Germany, ). We both share a Cornish heritage, and my husband is a quarter Italian. We both like full names that can be shortened rather than a diminutive as a given name. Nothing in the top 10 preferably, although that’s not a sticking point. We are both sure that we don’t want a name too rare that it would need constant spelling-out or explanation.
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Matilda has so much going for it. It's a strong name borne by medieval warrior queens (who really lived up to its mighty in battle meaning) but also has the gentility of Georgian princesses (such as Princess Sophia Matilda) and the antique charm of Victorian characters created by Dickens and the Brontes. Add to that the multitude of nickname options and I can totally see why it is a tough act to follow.
I appreciate why you want to avoid names ending in 'n' because of your surname, but I think it all comes down to flow. For example, I think Vivian Norman sounds great, while Juno Norman or Eleanor Norman sounds clunky. So, with your surname in mind, I have added some 'n' ending names, but only ones I think flow well with your surname.
Amelie – The French form of popular Amelia with a twist, derived from the Germanic word amal meaning "work". Like Matilda, Amelia has been borne by British royalty, and Amelie was used by Amélie of Orléans, Queen of Portugal.
Beatrice – Like Matilda, Beatrice has an awful lot going for it. It has a great meaning, has been borne by queens and princesses since the Middle Ages and has a wealth of nickname options. Beatrice is also a dual English-Italian choice, having been popularly used in Italy for centuries. Dante immortalised his fair Beatrice in many of his works, and Shakespeare used Beatrice for his strong-willed heroine in Much Ado About Nothing.
Clara – Found as much historically and currently in Germany as it does in Britain, Clara is a Roman (and therefore Italian heritage) name meaning "clear, bright, famous". It was borne by the protagonist in Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker and (like Matilda) was also used by Austen, Dickens and Charlotte Bronte.
Delilah – The Biblical Bad Girl that I, and many scholars, argue is actually a great feminist icon. It has been established as a name in Britain since the 17th century and was well used in Yorkshire in the 19th century.
Edith – In terms of matching Matilda for a strong meaning, heritage and amazing, pioneering namesakes, Edith is your girl. Edie makes for a delightful nickname.
Eliza – A genteel Georgian and Victorian name with a feisty edge. Eliza is a spunky short-form of queenly Elizabeth (great for a Jubilee year baby!). Eliza is the intelligent and courageous protagonist in Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin and Eliza Doolittle is the delightfully plucky heroine of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and musical My Fair Lady.
Elodie – A chic French name with German roots. “To Elodie” (1904) is a poem by Irish poet John Todhunter.
Eloise – Like Matilda, Eloise is a Germanic name of famous medieval legend. It has a lovely melodic sound yet a strong backbone.
Harriet – Harriet is a great pairing with Matilda. It has strong Germanic meaning, a Georgian and Victorian literary heritage, and a great wealth of nicknames.
Imogen – A Shakespearean heroine who is based on the legendary first "Queen of Britain". It is a strong yet sweet name with plenty of nickname options.
Isabel/la– Isabel and Isabella may seem sweet and demure, but like Matilda they were borne by fierce medieval queens. Queen Isabella, wife of Edward I, was known as the She-Wolf of France when she took power from her ineffectual and unpopular husband and Queen Isabella (properly Isabel) of Castille ruled Castille in her own right alongside her husband Ferdinand and were considered the most powerful monarchs of their age. Isabel was extremely popular in the Middle Ages, even more so than the cognate Elizabeth, and ranked just below Matilda in the 14th century.
Lydia – A lovely Latin name with a literary vibe and a timeless quality.
Orla – A beautiful Irish name with the lovely meaning of "golden princess". Oro is also the Italian word for gold.
Penelope – Pretty and strong, Penelope is a wonderful character in Greek mythology who is loyal and never bends from her principle, even under extreme pressure.
Sienna – Siena is a beautiful Italian city which has strong matriarchal ties. Sienna is often how it was spelt in Britain and Germany thanks to St Catherine of Siena (spelt Sienna in German and English) and this is the spelling which is most common in Britain today.
Tabitha – Similar to Jemima, Tabitha is another sweet Biblical choice turned Victorian darling.
Tamara – The River Tamar is key part of Cornish topography. Tamara itself comes from the Biblical girls' name Tamar "date palm" and was borne by a medieval queen of Georgia.
Victoria – The name of a goddess of victory and a reigning queen (as well as a whole host of other royals). Victoria -- like Matilda -- is ladylike but strong.
I hope this has been useful for you. All the best in searching for the perfect name.
