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Dalloway (f)
Hi All,I've been thinking for a while about Dalloway as a girl's name. I like that it's different but not so different that people wouldn't know how to pronounce it. Please let me know what you think - can it work for a girl? any ideas for nicknames? I thought 'Daley' might be a possible nickname?Thanks
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I like the sound of it but it sounds more of a surname or a boy's name, sorry.
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Thanks all, definitely some comments to consider :)
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I'm sorry, but I don't like it at all. To me, it's very masculine, and I don't think I even like it for a boy. But that's just my opinion.
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"Miscellaneous surname as a first name" isn't my style, and I don't think this one has an especially pleasing sound. To boot I'm not much of a fan of Virginia Woolf, at all.It's not for me.
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It's interesting. I don't dislike it, although it's a bit much. 1) It's very uncommon/virtually unheard of as a first name. 2) It's got three syllables so it's a bit of a mouthful. 3) Many people will perceive it as being masculine. Because of all that, it doesn't just slip off the tongue. It's going to be one of those names that people have to get used to hearing and saying. If you use it you're going to get a lot of: "What's her name? Dalloway? Oh, that's interesting…" especially from older people. There are going to be a ton of people who never learn it and never get it right. That shouldn't necessarily discourage you from using it, but it's something to consider. Hmm…Dalloway. I kind of like it.
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Since I love Calloway on a boy, Dalloway seems much more masculine than feminine to me. It's not awful on a girl, but I certainly wouldn't advocate for it. I'm pronouncing Dalloway DAL-oh-way, DAL rhymes with pal. I'm pronouncing Daley DAY-lee. So no, I don't think that works. Dallo would make a fine nickname though.
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Sure, it can work, but I would never use it. Not a big Virginia Woolf fan.Daley is cute.

This message was edited 6/8/2014, 9:35 AM

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It reminds me too much of Calloway, a name that I really like for a boy.Dalloway seems really unfeminine, and while I don't think names for girls should be frilly, I don't think they should be like Dalloway, which doesn't even sound like a name. I would pronounce it DAL-oh-way, and therefore wouldn't easily get the nickname Daley from it since I pronounce that DAY-lee.Shortly, I don't think it could work for a girl, with or without the nickname Daley. I barely think it could work for a boy.
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If you shorten Dalloway to Daley, doesn't that mean there are pronunciation issues pretty well built in? Granted, not everyone would want a daughter who was known as Dally, but then surely the answer is to break free from the shackles of lnfns and, if you love the novel, name her Clarissa.
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