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Help[Opinions] Shakespearean Girl Names
This is only some. You don’t have to comment on all of them. What do you think of them, the etymology, or even the character itself?
Miranda
Jessica
Olivia
Celia
Cordelia
Juliet
Imogen
Rosaline
Bianca
Claribel
Cressida
Desdemona
Gertrude
Portia
Ophelia
Titania
Viola
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"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." - William Shakespeare
Miranda
Jessica
Olivia
Celia
Cordelia
Juliet
Imogen
Rosaline
Bianca
Claribel
Cressida
Desdemona
Gertrude
Portia
Ophelia
Titania
Viola
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Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Miranda: I like it.
Jessica: I also like it.
Olivia: Pretty, but also very overused nowadays.
Celia: Sounds like a nickname for Cecelia, in which case I like it. Not so much as a given name.
Cordelia: Absolutely love it. It's actually my favorite name right now.
Juliet: It's nice, but I prefer Julia.
Imogen: Usually I like older names, but this one just kind of sounds like a pharmaceutical to me.
Rosaline: Sounds like a weird combination of Rosa and Caroline to me.
Bianca: Also one of my favorites.
Claribel: Too associated with cows to be used nowadays, unfortunately.
Cressida: I had never heard this name before.
Desdemona: The "demon" stands out a bit too much to me.
Gertrude: Awesome meaning, but hopelessly old-fashioned. I like it though.
Portia: Reminds me a bit too much of "Porsche".
Ophelia: I really like it, but I don't think I could use it for a child due to the potential for some pretty horrible nicknames. Would definitely use for a character, though.
Titania: Nice name, not one you hear too often.
Viola: Good alternative to Violet, in my opinion.
Jessica: I also like it.
Olivia: Pretty, but also very overused nowadays.
Celia: Sounds like a nickname for Cecelia, in which case I like it. Not so much as a given name.
Cordelia: Absolutely love it. It's actually my favorite name right now.
Juliet: It's nice, but I prefer Julia.
Imogen: Usually I like older names, but this one just kind of sounds like a pharmaceutical to me.
Rosaline: Sounds like a weird combination of Rosa and Caroline to me.
Bianca: Also one of my favorites.
Claribel: Too associated with cows to be used nowadays, unfortunately.
Cressida: I had never heard this name before.
Desdemona: The "demon" stands out a bit too much to me.
Gertrude: Awesome meaning, but hopelessly old-fashioned. I like it though.
Portia: Reminds me a bit too much of "Porsche".
Ophelia: I really like it, but I don't think I could use it for a child due to the potential for some pretty horrible nicknames. Would definitely use for a character, though.
Titania: Nice name, not one you hear too often.
Viola: Good alternative to Violet, in my opinion.
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Miranda - lovely, but only as a mn
Jessica - good; not as good as Jennifer
Olivia - beautiful but overused right now
Celia - one of the best; I'd use it happily
Cordelia - like Cornelia with sinusitis
Juliet - beautiful, best of the Juli- names; mn only
Imogen - cheerful and elegant; I'd use it happily
Rosaline - limp and floppy. Rosalind has more energy.
Bianca - not a favourite at all; better than Blanche, but only just
Claribel - yuck
Cressida - pity it's a car
Desdemona - similar to Desmond, which I dislike; that Moana/Moaner ending says it all
Gertrude - a family name, but not even that could make me like it (the family member was always known as Dolly!)
Portia - better than Porsche, but still too fast-car, and I don't like the sound
Ophelia - unattractive name, not the greatest character Bill ever wrote about - no
Titania - comical as a name for a tiny fairy; too close to the Titanic; unsuitable IRL
Viola - better than Violet, but not good enough for me to use. Maybe it's the musical instrument that makes it seem unsuitable, like naming someone Piano or Guitar
Jessica - good; not as good as Jennifer
Olivia - beautiful but overused right now
Celia - one of the best; I'd use it happily
Cordelia - like Cornelia with sinusitis
Juliet - beautiful, best of the Juli- names; mn only
Imogen - cheerful and elegant; I'd use it happily
Rosaline - limp and floppy. Rosalind has more energy.
Bianca - not a favourite at all; better than Blanche, but only just
Claribel - yuck
Cressida - pity it's a car
Desdemona - similar to Desmond, which I dislike; that Moana/Moaner ending says it all
Gertrude - a family name, but not even that could make me like it (the family member was always known as Dolly!)
Portia - better than Porsche, but still too fast-car, and I don't like the sound
Ophelia - unattractive name, not the greatest character Bill ever wrote about - no
Titania - comical as a name for a tiny fairy; too close to the Titanic; unsuitable IRL
Viola - better than Violet, but not good enough for me to use. Maybe it's the musical instrument that makes it seem unsuitable, like naming someone Piano or Guitar
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Hamlet is the Shakespeare play I'm most familiar with, yet I was surprised Gertrude was a Shakespeare name! Huh. I was also surprised by Claribel, even though I've seen The Tempest.
It's been a long time since I read any of them.
Anyway, I like Gertrude and Claribel.
I pity the character Ophelia and used to not be able to see past that, but in recent years, it's acquired more of an indie rock vibe.
Bianca's got a pleasantly buoyant sound.
I think Portia is cool IRL. I'm less sure about Titania, but it'd be interesting to meet one.
I've always wanted to use Desdemona for a pet. Maybe one day...
Olivia and Jessica deserve their popularity but do seem a bit tired.
I'm ambivalent about Cressida, Miranda, Cordelia, Viola. I guess they're stately names, but most of the time they don't stand out to me.
Imogen seems nice enough but very British.
Juliet is pretty, but I'd rather use Julie, Julia, or Juliana.
Rosaline is ok, but Rosalind seems like it has more backbone.
I dislike Celia. It's just too close to celiac and cilia.
It's been a long time since I read any of them.
Anyway, I like Gertrude and Claribel.
I pity the character Ophelia and used to not be able to see past that, but in recent years, it's acquired more of an indie rock vibe.
Bianca's got a pleasantly buoyant sound.
I think Portia is cool IRL. I'm less sure about Titania, but it'd be interesting to meet one.
I've always wanted to use Desdemona for a pet. Maybe one day...
Olivia and Jessica deserve their popularity but do seem a bit tired.
I'm ambivalent about Cressida, Miranda, Cordelia, Viola. I guess they're stately names, but most of the time they don't stand out to me.
Imogen seems nice enough but very British.
Juliet is pretty, but I'd rather use Julie, Julia, or Juliana.
Rosaline is ok, but Rosalind seems like it has more backbone.
I dislike Celia. It's just too close to celiac and cilia.
This message was edited 11/20/2021, 9:23 PM
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Miranda: This name sounds weirdly sour and sweet to me. I can appreciate the etymology, but I could never use it.
Jessica: In all honestly I have never liked this name to begin with. It’s not bad or anything, if anything it’s quite pretty, but I just can’t appreciate it. It sounds weirdly... basic. I can’t find the flair.
Olivia: Olivia is very beautiful name. But it is also a very overused name. The 4 syllables make the name sound very exotic and unusual. It kind of has a sexy allure to it as well. Olivia is foxy. I know a few girls named Olivia and they’re all great people. There’s also a wonderful One Direction song called “Olivia”. The meaning I don’t really care for though. If I were an Olivia, I would take pride in my name, but I would seriously hate the popularity.
Celia: I really like Celia. I’ve only heard of it recently though. It’s just so heavenly and cool like Celine and Celeste. So beautiful. I don’t see it as an old lady name at all. Really pretty and beautiful. I kinda prefer it to Cecilia if anything.
Cordelia: This is another name I was never a big of. I prefer Ophelia. The character Cordelia is less depressing, but Ophelia just sounds better.
Juliet: I like this and Juliette. Not much to say. The story doesn’t really bother me. I love Romeo as well.
Imogen: Oh Imogen. Why isn’t this used in America more? Imogen is so unfrilly and girly, yet so princess-y and cool. It’s a nice and determined name. One of my favorite I names if you ask me.
Jessica: In all honestly I have never liked this name to begin with. It’s not bad or anything, if anything it’s quite pretty, but I just can’t appreciate it. It sounds weirdly... basic. I can’t find the flair.
Olivia: Olivia is very beautiful name. But it is also a very overused name. The 4 syllables make the name sound very exotic and unusual. It kind of has a sexy allure to it as well. Olivia is foxy. I know a few girls named Olivia and they’re all great people. There’s also a wonderful One Direction song called “Olivia”. The meaning I don’t really care for though. If I were an Olivia, I would take pride in my name, but I would seriously hate the popularity.
Celia: I really like Celia. I’ve only heard of it recently though. It’s just so heavenly and cool like Celine and Celeste. So beautiful. I don’t see it as an old lady name at all. Really pretty and beautiful. I kinda prefer it to Cecilia if anything.
Cordelia: This is another name I was never a big of. I prefer Ophelia. The character Cordelia is less depressing, but Ophelia just sounds better.
Juliet: I like this and Juliette. Not much to say. The story doesn’t really bother me. I love Romeo as well.
Imogen: Oh Imogen. Why isn’t this used in America more? Imogen is so unfrilly and girly, yet so princess-y and cool. It’s a nice and determined name. One of my favorite I names if you ask me.
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I like Miranda, Jessica, Olivia, Juliet, Imogen, Bianca and Portia
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Love: Cordelia & Rosaline
Like: Viola, Juliet
Dislike: Gertrude
Like: Viola, Juliet
Dislike: Gertrude
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Accidental Duplicat, Please Delete
This message was edited 11/20/2021, 6:14 PM
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It's been about 10 years since I was made to read all the Shakespeare plays in school so I'm rusty in remembering characterization for about 70% of them so this is mostly on names alone for the most part.
Titania is the "strongest" imo, of course, though Cordelia is almost natoriously strong. (In name)
Ophelia is Cordelia's softer and more gentile cousin. Slightly awkward in presentation & nicknames but my preference between the two.
I dislike Portia because of my dislike of car names on women (or men) it just seems tacky.
Gertrude is still too elderly to be usable yet. I don't mind Trudy legally though.
Jessica and Olivia are too overused still for me to like them again yet. But I do sometimes like Olivia as a middle name presently.
Celia always reminds me of a southern US woman. But in a good way not like a negative connotation or anything. Not necessarily a "southern belle" kind of vibe but more like a prairie girl vibe. I prefer it to Cecelia generally.
Claribel is too much a cow name here.
I don't hate Viola but I don't love it, the frompy sister to Violet.
Imogen always makes me think either very old woman or Bratty little girl circa "The Best Christmas pageant ever" cute story, but rotten kid.
Miranda I quite like. It's one of my back up ideas of conservative names if all else fails for favor with a partner. It'd probably break my top 50 of all time if I attempted it even if it is a little bit 80s 90s dated right now.
My favorites overall are Rosaline, Ophelia, Cressida, Juliet, Cordelia, Desdemona & Bianca
Titania is the "strongest" imo, of course, though Cordelia is almost natoriously strong. (In name)
Ophelia is Cordelia's softer and more gentile cousin. Slightly awkward in presentation & nicknames but my preference between the two.
I dislike Portia because of my dislike of car names on women (or men) it just seems tacky.
Gertrude is still too elderly to be usable yet. I don't mind Trudy legally though.
Jessica and Olivia are too overused still for me to like them again yet. But I do sometimes like Olivia as a middle name presently.
Celia always reminds me of a southern US woman. But in a good way not like a negative connotation or anything. Not necessarily a "southern belle" kind of vibe but more like a prairie girl vibe. I prefer it to Cecelia generally.
Claribel is too much a cow name here.
I don't hate Viola but I don't love it, the frompy sister to Violet.
Imogen always makes me think either very old woman or Bratty little girl circa "The Best Christmas pageant ever" cute story, but rotten kid.
Miranda I quite like. It's one of my back up ideas of conservative names if all else fails for favor with a partner. It'd probably break my top 50 of all time if I attempted it even if it is a little bit 80s 90s dated right now.
My favorites overall are Rosaline, Ophelia, Cressida, Juliet, Cordelia, Desdemona & Bianca
This message was edited 11/20/2021, 6:33 PM
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