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I think it's quite pretty! Also, I don't personally care that much that the Harry Potter character was not nice, the association doesn't overbear my positive opinions on the name.

Hi everyone! I honestly didn’t even know about the Lyra book association! I just picked a constellation name that I like. Thank you for bringing that to my attention!

This name makes me go on a journey, I tell you what.

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I find it very fanfic-y, which instantly makes it weird for me. This sounds like a fanfic writer who grew up and still thought her fantasy baby name for her self-insert character's child fathered by Draco Malfoy could work in real life, and that is cringe. But I'm not part of that whole scene, I'm sure I just don't get it, and who cares about being cringe anyway.

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BUT, if a person didn't know *anything* about HDM or HP, it would just be a very fancy-sounding name. And I guess she'd just go by Lyra all the time anyway. So it's not that bad.

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Variations on a theme:

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Lyra Narcisse?
Lyla Narcissa? Lyla is a wonderful name.
Lyra Nicole would be really pretty.
Lily Narcissa is a bit fancy, and still very Harrypottery, but Lily is popular enough to pass as a normie if needs be.
Lillian Narcissa "Lily"?
Lyra Daffodil is fun!
Lara Clarissa?
Lyra Priscilla!

bad idea ...

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Narcissa Malfoy was not a nice character. If you want to use a HP character name, you ought to at least make sure its not a villain, or if it is that there are plenty of other non-villainous associations to it. Yes, there is a narcissus flower, but it's named after Narcissus, who was so in love with himself he gave his name to the name of a personality disorder that everyone on the Internet is diagnosing in people they don't happen to be happy with.
I'm never sure how to pronounce Lyra. Lie-ra? Like liar? Or Lee-ra, like leer?

Lyra Narcissa is really nice! I actually really like Narcissa but I wouldn't use it as a first name, so I approve.

Lyra is very Philip Pullman, just as Narcissa is very JK Rowling. So your child's message to the world will be 'My mother can read!'

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Laura instead of Lyra, and Melissa instead of Narcissa, would work better.

I would not name a child anything associated with Harry Potter but particularly not the name of a villain.

Sorry don't like either name prefer Lara Nerissa

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Alyssa, Melissa, Carissa, Clarissa, Cassandra, Marissa, Vanessa

This message was edited 3/4/2024, 9:06 PM

Everyone mentions the word 'narcissist', but my immediate connection to Narcissa (besides Harry Potter) is the narcissus flower. Yes, the word narcissist and the narcissus flower can both be derived from Narcissus of Greek myth, a self-absorbed man, not the most flattering connection, but I don't think we have to be THAT pedantic about origins of names. It doesn't necessarily mean we will uphold the virtues of the name's meaning, right?
To add to that, just a reminder that the name Narcissa does not mean 'vain' or anything related. It potentially means either 'sleepyness', 'numbness', or 'daffodil' depending on where you look.
The narcissism word aside, I'm quite fond of Narcissa's flow of sound, actually. The common -issa names are generally soft and airy (Melissa, Alyssa, Marissa, etc), but Narcissa's got some lovely bite to it while still retaining that prettiness and flow. Makes me think of a pretty, sophisticated lady, but still has two feet planted firmly on the ground. Soft on the outside, but a mountain on the inside.

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I'm okay with Narcissa as a middle name. It will be a little harder to go through life with it as a first name, I'll admit, but honestly, if I personally saw this name on a stranger's nametag or something, I'd think little of its connection to narcissism. I'd sooner be reminded of Draco's mother or the flower. I'd kind of like to see this name grow in the charts just a little bit, it could help its reputation and maybe undo some of the unfortunate connection that springs to some people's minds. Would be nice to see it go the way of 80's era Mallory (meaning: "unfortunate") and see a small burst of traction going for it despite the origin.

I like it. I think Narcissa is a bit much as a first name, but as a middle name after a flower/character, it's potentially cool. Lyra is fun and popular right now.

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Other ideas -
Lysandra
Leandra
Aludra
Larisa
Isra
Lyla
Isla
Flora
Rhea
Leda
Althea
Meliora
Rowena
Àltaluna
Sapphira
Deianira
Desimira
Vasilisa
Perenelle
Petra
Talia
Myra
Shipra
Phaedra
Electra
Siofra
Saoirse
Sansa
Alanna
Elora
Astraea
Estrella
Astrid
Veda
Aida
Venus
Libra
Gemini
Ariadne
Daffodil
Oleander
Olympia
Claribel
Merope
Melinoe
Rhiannon
Euphemia
Arethusa
Gentiana
Galatea
Morgana
Zornitsa
Zenobia
Hadara
Minerva
Medea
Amedea

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This message was edited 3/4/2024, 8:58 PM

Lyra Nerissa is probably the best substitute, though others listed are good as well!

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Some not listed already:
Lyra Carissa
Lyra Janessa
Lyra Julissa
Lyra Luminessa
Lyra Marissa
Lyra Melissa
Lyra Quintessa

This message was edited 3/4/2024, 6:54 PM

I like Lyra but I'm not a fan of Narcissa.

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Narcissists are not nice people to be around and they cause trouble for family and friends. I wouldn't want to be reminded of the problems they create for others every time I thought or said my daughter's middle name. I would choose similar like ...

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Lyra Vanessa
Lyra Thalassa
Lyra Clarissa
Lyra Priscilla
Lyra Marissa
Lyra Drusilla
Lyra Camilla
Lyra Nerissa

I love the sound but I wouldn't want to use Narcissa IRL because people will think "narcissistic".

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Other ideas:
Lyra Niobe
Lyra Nereida
Lyra Nerissa
Lyra Nausicaa
Lyra Noor
Lyra Nefertari
Lyra Nephele
Lyra Nasrin
Lyra Nuria
Lyra Nadira
Lyra Callista
Lyra Callisto
Lyra Cassandra
Lyra Cassiopeia
Lyra Cordelia
Lyra Persephone
Lyra Proserpina
Lyra Penelope
Lyra Idrissa
Lyra Thalassa
Lyra Odessa
Lyra Sophronia
Lyra Seraphina
Lyra Briseis
Lyra Eurydice
Lyra Demetria
Lyra Hermione
Lyra Hippolyta
Lyra Parthenia
Lyra Ismene
Lyra Polymnia
Lyra Selene
Lyra Titania
Lyra Ophelia