Evelyn
It has finally happened. I never really liked this name but today I was looking at the US girls top ten trying to figure out which one I would choose if I had to and I thought Evelyn was really pretty. Maybe it's because, for a change, it doesn't end in -a (Mia, Olivia, Isabella, Sophia, Amelia etc.) but I also got a green forest image that I didn't have before.
Maybe it's also because I fell in love with the Irish Éibhleann (AYV-linn) but that is not so usable outside of Ireland.
So what are your thoughts on Evelyn? and on Éibhleann?
And while we're at it, how would you pronounce Aveline and do you prefer it? I like the look of it but all the possible pronunciations keep me from loving it.
If you had to choose a name from the top 10, which one and why? I also have a poll on this (and some other countries' top 10 lists): https://www.behindthename.com/polls/339659
Maybe it's also because I fell in love with the Irish Éibhleann (AYV-linn) but that is not so usable outside of Ireland.
So what are your thoughts on Evelyn? and on Éibhleann?
And while we're at it, how would you pronounce Aveline and do you prefer it? I like the look of it but all the possible pronunciations keep me from loving it.
If you had to choose a name from the top 10, which one and why? I also have a poll on this (and some other countries' top 10 lists): https://www.behindthename.com/polls/339659
This message was edited 3/12/2021, 5:35 PM
Replies
I play that game with myself as well, and Evelyn is usually the winner for me too. I do genuinely find "Evie" cute....plus, I loved the character of Evelyn from The Mummy, so it has that going for it. 1930s intrepid lady adventurer is totally my style. Olivia would be my second choice I think - I've still never met one, and it's a pretty name. For boys, I'd go with Oliver, because I seriously adore Ollie on a boy; I'd probably do to the kid what was done to me, and exclusively call him by his nickname, never his full name. Elijah "Eli" would be my second choice, I loved that name twenty-five years ago and there's still a spark there.
Using my own country's top 10 (well, one province), I would stick with Evelyn but pick Theodore for a boy. I love Theodore! Leo would be my second choice there. Maybe I'd call him Leo Theodore. Hey, Leodore would be a cool name.
Éibhleann I don't like as much. I'm terrible, truly terrible, with Irish names. I don't understand the rules. I do prefer Aveline but would say it totally differently: "HAV-uh-leen", but no H. Is that wrong?
Using my own country's top 10 (well, one province), I would stick with Evelyn but pick Theodore for a boy. I love Theodore! Leo would be my second choice there. Maybe I'd call him Leo Theodore. Hey, Leodore would be a cool name.
Éibhleann I don't like as much. I'm terrible, truly terrible, with Irish names. I don't understand the rules. I do prefer Aveline but would say it totally differently: "HAV-uh-leen", but no H. Is that wrong?
This message was edited 3/13/2021, 2:19 AM
It's partly a pronunciation thing. Where I live, it's EEVlin, and I quite like it; if I wanted a daughter with that kind of name, I'd go straight for Eve. I've liked all the Eve and Evelyn people I've known, plus I had an Eva aunt (which I don't like much, I'd still prefer Eve).
I don't much enjoy the sound of Éibhleann, and its appearance is against it too! Aveline ... never met one, but I'd guess at AYVlin. What would it shorten to - Avie, rhymes with Navy? Not very appealing.
I settled on the Scottish top 10 because it contained Emily. So I cheated - so what? Emily has been a favourite of mine long before it was anyone else's favourite, and I'm sticking to it!
I don't much enjoy the sound of Éibhleann, and its appearance is against it too! Aveline ... never met one, but I'd guess at AYVlin. What would it shorten to - Avie, rhymes with Navy? Not very appealing.
I settled on the Scottish top 10 because it contained Emily. So I cheated - so what? Emily has been a favourite of mine long before it was anyone else's favourite, and I'm sticking to it!