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Ginevra?
I have this book of famous paintings, and I can't stop thinking about it after seeing Da Vinci's "Portrait of Ginevra di Benci". I think it's very pretty, and I like the nns Ginny and Nev.
Thoughts? Opinions?
I like it more than the similar Minerva, but I like that too. Suprising what a difference a letter makes.

This message was edited 3/26/2007, 2:54 PM

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I love the name - makes me think of Ginny Weasley, but that's not a bad thing.
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Oh, yes. Ginevra is gorgeous, as is the painting / portrait. That's where I first became acquainted with the name and it stuck with me. Soft "g" sounds are very attractive to my ears, but the whole thing is so melodious and elegant.I next came across the name as F. Scott FitzGerald's first love. I don't know if she was Southern like his wife Zelda but that's how I picture her. Which would be the more attractive, an Italian, DaVinci Ginevra or a Southern (U.S.) Ginevra? Hard to say. My only fear is the pronunciation here in the U.S. I live in mortal dread of "ji-NEEV-ra." I'm seeing a doctor about it now. Minerva is attractive to me, but in a different way. It's more of a kooky-artsy-excuse-for-the-nn-Minnie. The juxtaposition of such an intellectual name like Minerva and the ultra-cutesy nn Minnie is irresistable to me. Plus, there aren't many ways to successfully incorporate the syllable "nerv" into a name, you must admit. You have to give it points for originality there. On balance I prefer Ginevra. But I voted for Minerva on your poll because I was afraid many would not vote for her. I hate to see a wall-flower without a partner.
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I honestly have no idea how this name is pron & I didn't find it in BtN. My instinctive thought would be something like zhe-NEH-vra (don't know how to write out that sound that is a combo of SH and J and Z and whatever), but is it an EE sound in the middle? Am I completely off? Thanks in advance for any clarification you can give.

This message was edited 3/26/2007, 5:14 PM

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Gi-NEV-ra. It sounds like you're going to say gin, like the alcohol, but the N becomes part of the stressed NEV, followed by a simple -ra.
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Pretty. Thanks for the help!
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Lmao! Well, I'm glad Minnie's not alone.I do that too. When I go through a poll, I usually vote for the name with little or no votes, kind of a sympathy vote.

This message was edited 3/26/2007, 3:17 PM

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Me too!Unless I just really, really hate the name.
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Agreed.Like Paris, Mikayla, Ernestine, Rhoda, Diamond, Nevaeh, etc.
They just don't deserve to leave the gutter.
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ConfessionIf there was one person who voted for Ernestine on a poll, it was me. Whenever I see a feminized name like Ernestine, I assume she was named after her father Ernest. Hemingway's love child, perhaps? Anyway, the sentimentalist in me takes over and I would vote for Ernestine. Besides, Che Guevara's dd is (was?) Ernestina. Isn't it pretty in Spanish?

This message was edited 3/26/2007, 4:40 PM

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Ernestina is better, but theres something about Ernest and it's variants that I just don't like.
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