Re: Fenella
in reply to a message by Lavinia
Fenella has much more in common with Prunella than the other -ellas you mentioned. They're both odd, obscure and particularly English; one contains the name of an unpopular vegetable, and the other the name of an unpopular fruit. I really like both of them, but I can't see them appealing to the general public, even though Fen and Pru are both appealing nns. It just seems that -nella isn't liked much. No idea why, as it's by far my favourite of those types of endings.
Replies
Oh my, I must have been bitten by the love bug because I all of a sudden ADORE Prunella. I know it wasn't your intention but thanks for introducing me to my new crush :)
Yay, Prunella crush buddies!
Good comparison
I knew there was something not ella-appealing about Fenella, but couldn't explain it as well as you have. :)
I knew there was something not ella-appealing about Fenella, but couldn't explain it as well as you have. :)
Thanks! I think the eccentric Englishness of it is definitely a negative seller. The popular -ellas all have a bit of Euro-charm; they're more Latinate.