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HelpSusan and Frederica
So my wonderful sister sent me a message yesterday. A movie is coming out soon called "Love and Friendship" based on a Jane Austen unfinished novel, "Love and Freindship (sic)". A Jane Austen story that I don't know the ending to? Will it end happily? One is all aquiver. :0)
Better yet, the main character's name is Susan and her daughter is Frederica. Growing up with legions of Susans I didn't think that I would ever like the name. But now it's surprisingly fresh, at least to me. Frederica (nn Freda "FREE-duh") is a family name and I've always loved it. My relations pronounce it "freh-DREE-kuh." I'll be interested to see how it's pronounced by the cast in the movie.
So. What do you think of Susan? Too plain, or pleasingly simple, or another reaction? And what about Frederica? How would you pronounce it, three or four syllables? Do you like it? Could it catch on as a name? Middle name ideas are most welcome. Thanks!
Better yet, the main character's name is Susan and her daughter is Frederica. Growing up with legions of Susans I didn't think that I would ever like the name. But now it's surprisingly fresh, at least to me. Frederica (nn Freda "FREE-duh") is a family name and I've always loved it. My relations pronounce it "freh-DREE-kuh." I'll be interested to see how it's pronounced by the cast in the movie.
So. What do you think of Susan? Too plain, or pleasingly simple, or another reaction? And what about Frederica? How would you pronounce it, three or four syllables? Do you like it? Could it catch on as a name? Middle name ideas are most welcome. Thanks!
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Replies
I like Susan. It's very sweet. It's a little homely for me though, it has no spark or spunk to it. I prefer Susannah by a long shot, which is very bright and yellow to me.
Frederica is heavy and not really my thing although props to anyone gutsy enough to use it these days. I pronounce it with 4 syllables.
Frederica is heavy and not really my thing although props to anyone gutsy enough to use it these days. I pronounce it with 4 syllables.
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Susan's homely side is actually one of the things that's attracting me right now. But yes, I agree. Susannah is much prettier. Poor Frederica. She has to sit by and watch other femininzed names like Josephine and Wilhelmina get used. Poor thing. :0P
Thanks for all the feedback. It's much appreciated. :0)
Thanks for all the feedback. It's much appreciated. :0)
This message was edited 5/6/2016, 12:53 PM
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"Terribly dated" is catnip for me. (bearnip?) Thanks for the feedback. It's much appreciated!
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I like Susan. It's sort of simple, but not really.
I also like Suzanne, and I kinda like Suzan (gp).
I don't like Susanna(h) ... it's frizzy and windy, but seems to be the preferred thing now.
Frederica is awkward, and I can't get around that by simply saying Freh-DREE-ka when that second E is right there ... I have to spell it Fredrika. Then it's awesome. I also like Federica.
Suzan Fredrika
I also like Suzanne, and I kinda like Suzan (gp).
I don't like Susanna(h) ... it's frizzy and windy, but seems to be the preferred thing now.
Frederica is awkward, and I can't get around that by simply saying Freh-DREE-ka when that second E is right there ... I have to spell it Fredrika. Then it's awesome. I also like Federica.
Suzan Fredrika
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I like both, I prefer Susannah personally but I also like Susan. It's simple and pretty. I'm not fond of Sue, but Susie is cute.
Frederica is beautiful.
Frederica Violet
Frederica Mae
Frederica Leanne
Frederica Alice
Frederica Opal
Frederica Delphine
Frederica Annabel
Susan Victoria
Susan Grace
Susan Annabel
Susan Madeleine
Susan Genevieve
Susan Theodora
Susan Claire
Susan Roberta
Susan Daphne
Frederica is beautiful.
Frederica Violet
Frederica Mae
Frederica Leanne
Frederica Alice
Frederica Opal
Frederica Delphine
Frederica Annabel
Susan Victoria
Susan Grace
Susan Annabel
Susan Madeleine
Susan Genevieve
Susan Theodora
Susan Claire
Susan Roberta
Susan Daphne
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Susie is darling. I agree. So glad you like them both. Frederica is getting a better reception than I expected. :0)
Especially loving:
Frederica Violet -- I picture a Frederica picking violets so this one is right on the money
Frederica Alice -- Aw, my grandmother Alice and her sister Freda
Frederica Opal -- Opal is a new name crush for me. It's so adorably awkward and sits shyly next to Frederica, her kindred spirit
Susan Roberta -- Roberta is another name that doesn't get enough love. They look so sweet together
Thanks!
Especially loving:
Frederica Violet -- I picture a Frederica picking violets so this one is right on the money
Frederica Alice -- Aw, my grandmother Alice and her sister Freda
Frederica Opal -- Opal is a new name crush for me. It's so adorably awkward and sits shyly next to Frederica, her kindred spirit
Susan Roberta -- Roberta is another name that doesn't get enough love. They look so sweet together
Thanks!
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I like Susan, it's my mum's middle name and I think it makes a good one. I do prefer Susanna though.
Frederica is ok. I'd like to see it used. I pronounce it with four syllables.
Susan Amelia
Susan Isabel
Susan Ramona
Susan Matilda
Susan Rebekah
Susan Margaret
Susan Beatrice
Aphra Susan
Victoria Susan
Genevieve Susan
Frederica Sophie
Frederica Charlotte
Frederica Helen
Frederica Daisy
Frederica Violet
Frederica Mary
Alice Frederica
Anna Frederica
Frederica is ok. I'd like to see it used. I pronounce it with four syllables.
Susan Amelia
Susan Isabel
Susan Ramona
Susan Matilda
Susan Rebekah
Susan Margaret
Susan Beatrice
Aphra Susan
Victoria Susan
Genevieve Susan
Frederica Sophie
Frederica Charlotte
Frederica Helen
Frederica Daisy
Frederica Violet
Frederica Mary
Alice Frederica
Anna Frederica
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I prefer Susanna / Susannah too. But I surprised myself when I got the message from my sister how *much* I liked Susan. It probably didn't hurt that it's the name of a Jane Austen character. If anyone else had spelled their daughter / character's name as Elinor I would have been horrified. But it's Jane, so, of course!
Especially loving:
Susan Ramona -- how darling is that?
Susan Matilda -- so musical
Susan Margaret -- down to earth
Frederica Sophie -- fits for a princess
Frederica Charlotte
Frederica Mary -- bouncy
Alice Federica -- TWO family names for me in one combo. My grandmother and her sister. Aw . . . .
Thanks much! :0)
Especially loving:
Susan Ramona -- how darling is that?
Susan Matilda -- so musical
Susan Margaret -- down to earth
Frederica Sophie -- fits for a princess
Frederica Charlotte
Frederica Mary -- bouncy
Alice Federica -- TWO family names for me in one combo. My grandmother and her sister. Aw . . . .
Thanks much! :0)
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Susan is okay, it has a pleasant sound but at this stage, on a little girl it seems almost like a placeholder name, like Mary or Janie. I think Suzanne is much prettier. Sue is a cute nn.
Frederica I don't like at all. It's heavy and hard and just ugly. There's a town here in Delaware with that name, though I think it's spelled a bit differently. It's pronounced something like Fredder-icka, with the second syllable very unemphasized.
Frederica I don't like at all. It's heavy and hard and just ugly. There's a town here in Delaware with that name, though I think it's spelled a bit differently. It's pronounced something like Fredder-icka, with the second syllable very unemphasized.
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(updated)
Heavy and hard and ugly is just my style. So that explains alot, huh? Thanks for the feedback. :0)
Heavy and hard and ugly is just my style. So that explains alot, huh? Thanks for the feedback. :0)
This message was edited 5/6/2016, 12:32 PM
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(Dashing off. Back a little bit later with actual response. Sorry)
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I don't like Susan, but I like Frederica. I would pronounce it Fred-uh-REEK-uh.
Susan Elise
Frederica Joann (provided I go with my own pronunciation above)
Frederica Louise (provided I go with your pronunciation)
I've only seen 1 Jane Austen movie and that's pride and prejudice, I loved Keira Knightley in it.
Susan Elise
Frederica Joann (provided I go with my own pronunciation above)
Frederica Louise (provided I go with your pronunciation)
I've only seen 1 Jane Austen movie and that's pride and prejudice, I loved Keira Knightley in it.
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Susan is a tad dated to me although I'm in love with Susanna. Still, it would be nice to meet a young Susan these days. Re: Frederica, I'm just learning to appreciate Frederick so I'm not quite there yet with Frederica although I suppose it does have good nn potential. I pronounce all four syllables, btw.
Good to have you back!
Good to have you back!
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Thanks. It's good to have a little more time on my hands again. I miss hanging out here. (I've been making polls the whole time though. Less danger of losing track of time.)
"Fresh" is very subjective. I should have clarified that I meant fresh for anyone to use it on a child again. I love Susanna / Susannah more as well. I guess I was struck by how *much* I liked Susan -- which is a new reaction for me.
I'm not under any delusion that Frederica is likely to go over well with most people. So hopefully Frederick will find a home in your heart. And then one day Frederica will slip in unannounced and take over. She's like that. :0)
"Fresh" is very subjective. I should have clarified that I meant fresh for anyone to use it on a child again. I love Susanna / Susannah more as well. I guess I was struck by how *much* I liked Susan -- which is a new reaction for me.
I'm not under any delusion that Frederica is likely to go over well with most people. So hopefully Frederick will find a home in your heart. And then one day Frederica will slip in unannounced and take over. She's like that. :0)
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I like Susan - it's plain, yes, but in a good, strong and dignified way, with a nice firm ending and a pleasant sing-song rhythm. And it's got a sound you don't hear much in small children's names atm, so in that way it is refreshing. I'd never use it though because I don't like Sue and Susie. (and also my sister is Susanna and HATES Susan and would kill me.)
Frederica is lovely. It makes me think of freesias, for some reason. It's also got much nicer short forms than Susan. I've never met one and would instinctively pronounce it with four syllables, but three is good too. I can't see it ever becoming popular, but it would be great to see the film inspire a few.
Susan Melisande
Susan Virginia
Susan Amoret
Susan Helena
Susan Lilias
Susan Imelda
Susan Hebe
Susan Kezia
Susan Marguerite
Susan Roxelana
Susan Madeleine (mad LEN, not those silly English prons that rhyme with paddling)
Frederica Jane (& Frederica Georgette!)
Frederica Inez
Frederica Silvia
Frederica Maud
Frederica is lovely. It makes me think of freesias, for some reason. It's also got much nicer short forms than Susan. I've never met one and would instinctively pronounce it with four syllables, but three is good too. I can't see it ever becoming popular, but it would be great to see the film inspire a few.
Susan Melisande
Susan Virginia
Susan Amoret
Susan Helena
Susan Lilias
Susan Imelda
Susan Hebe
Susan Kezia
Susan Marguerite
Susan Roxelana
Susan Madeleine (mad LEN, not those silly English prons that rhyme with paddling)
Frederica Jane (& Frederica Georgette!)
Frederica Inez
Frederica Silvia
Frederica Maud
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Freesias. What a nice association with Frederica. :0)
Lovely combos. The stand-out for me would be:
Susan Virginia -- very colonial American
Susan Imelda -- because everything is better with Imelda
Susan Hebe -- Gutsy! Almost a Salem witchy vibe, a plus in my book
Susan Keziah -- You're bringing out Susan ' s Puritan angles. Love that.
Frederica Georgette -- I'm not a HP reader, but Fred and George have always belonged together to me too.
Frederica Inez -- You so get Frederica ' s flair.
Frederica Silvia -- natural allies
Frederica Alix -- continental princess
Thanks!
Lovely combos. The stand-out for me would be:
Susan Virginia -- very colonial American
Susan Imelda -- because everything is better with Imelda
Susan Hebe -- Gutsy! Almost a Salem witchy vibe, a plus in my book
Susan Keziah -- You're bringing out Susan ' s Puritan angles. Love that.
Frederica Georgette -- I'm not a HP reader, but Fred and George have always belonged together to me too.
Frederica Inez -- You so get Frederica ' s flair.
Frederica Silvia -- natural allies
Frederica Alix -- continental princess
Thanks!
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I somewhat like Susan, though I will always prefer Susannah. However, I take the view that a popular name doesn't become "fresh" the minute it leaves the top one hundred, because there are still countless people walking around who bear the name, albeit not as many children. But one will still hear it a lot. A name becomes fresh only when all of the people who were given the name at the height of its popularity are dead.
Example:
Heather: The name of my 42-year-old niece: Not fresh.
Hazel: The name of my dead grandmother who would be 110 years old if she were alive: Fresh.
Lots and lots of women named Susan still walking around. Not fresh.
I find Frederica very harsh. I pronounce it Fred-reek-a, three syllables.
Example:
Heather: The name of my 42-year-old niece: Not fresh.
Hazel: The name of my dead grandmother who would be 110 years old if she were alive: Fresh.
Lots and lots of women named Susan still walking around. Not fresh.
I find Frederica very harsh. I pronounce it Fred-reek-a, three syllables.
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Fair enough.
I expected most to pronounce Frederica with four syllables. Since I prefer three it's heartening to hear there's at least one other person that says it that way. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. :0)
I expected most to pronounce Frederica with four syllables. Since I prefer three it's heartening to hear there's at least one other person that says it that way. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. :0)
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