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HelpSafe, Sweet Or Sultry?
Inspired by a comment on another baby name website, which "type" or "style" of name do you find more appealing? Safe, sweet or sultry?
Caution: all names are subjective. I may find a name sweet but someone else would think it's sultry. Also, some names can be safe and sweet (eg. Mia). Other names can have all three elements depending on the individual. Moral of the story: opinions vary. If you don't agree with my lists below, please feel free to make your own lists for each category.
Safe Names: Olivia, Ava, Emma, Sophia/Sofia, Isabella, Charlotte, Evelyn, Caroline, Andrea, Ella, Grace, Ann/Anne/Anna/Hannah, Madeline, Leah, Alice, Audrey, Katherine, Victoria, Mary/Marie, Samantha, Elizabeth, Sarah, Alexandra, Margaret, Laura, Helen, Frances, Stephanie, Jennifer, Emily, Jessica, Eve, Lisa, Florence, Bridget, Louise, Amelia, Paula, Carla, Linda...
Sweet Names: Amy, Lacey, Mimi, Lucy, Mabel, Bonnie, Polly, Rosalie, Lily, Clara, Belle, Daisy, Rose, Hallie, Chloe, Adeline, Abby, Molly, Birdie, Nell, Tess, Isla, Elsie, Clementine, Pixie, Dolly, Casey, Katie, Naomi, Willa, Jane, Poppy, Millie, Rebecca/Becky, Callie, Nina, Pippa, Tabitha, Holly, Winnie, Jessie, Marigold/Goldie, Amelie...
Sultry Names: Angelina/Angeline, Raquel, Lorelei, Valkyrie, Francesca, Carmen, Arielle, Veda, Roxanne, Daphne, Serena, Ruby, Lola, Celeste, Adele, Veronique, Delilah, Maeve, Gabrielle, Maxine, Lucia, Greta, Daniela, Angel/Angelique, Lorraine, Ariana, Crystal, Genevieve, Raven, Savannah, Vanessa, Amber, Eliza, Bianca, Valentina, Ginger, Jolene, Amaris, Natalia, Georgia, Tiffany, Stella, Jolie, Veronica, Arabella, Camille, Simone, Mariah, Scarlett, Alexis, Luella, Gianna, Solange. Chanel, Paloma. Jasmine, Alana, Esmeralda, Kimber, Sabrina, Loretta, Colette, Sylvie, Cleo, Zelda...
Don't ask me why I can think of so many sultry names.
Caution: all names are subjective. I may find a name sweet but someone else would think it's sultry. Also, some names can be safe and sweet (eg. Mia). Other names can have all three elements depending on the individual. Moral of the story: opinions vary. If you don't agree with my lists below, please feel free to make your own lists for each category.
Safe Names: Olivia, Ava, Emma, Sophia/Sofia, Isabella, Charlotte, Evelyn, Caroline, Andrea, Ella, Grace, Ann/Anne/Anna/Hannah, Madeline, Leah, Alice, Audrey, Katherine, Victoria, Mary/Marie, Samantha, Elizabeth, Sarah, Alexandra, Margaret, Laura, Helen, Frances, Stephanie, Jennifer, Emily, Jessica, Eve, Lisa, Florence, Bridget, Louise, Amelia, Paula, Carla, Linda...
Sweet Names: Amy, Lacey, Mimi, Lucy, Mabel, Bonnie, Polly, Rosalie, Lily, Clara, Belle, Daisy, Rose, Hallie, Chloe, Adeline, Abby, Molly, Birdie, Nell, Tess, Isla, Elsie, Clementine, Pixie, Dolly, Casey, Katie, Naomi, Willa, Jane, Poppy, Millie, Rebecca/Becky, Callie, Nina, Pippa, Tabitha, Holly, Winnie, Jessie, Marigold/Goldie, Amelie...
Sultry Names: Angelina/Angeline, Raquel, Lorelei, Valkyrie, Francesca, Carmen, Arielle, Veda, Roxanne, Daphne, Serena, Ruby, Lola, Celeste, Adele, Veronique, Delilah, Maeve, Gabrielle, Maxine, Lucia, Greta, Daniela, Angel/Angelique, Lorraine, Ariana, Crystal, Genevieve, Raven, Savannah, Vanessa, Amber, Eliza, Bianca, Valentina, Ginger, Jolene, Amaris, Natalia, Georgia, Tiffany, Stella, Jolie, Veronica, Arabella, Camille, Simone, Mariah, Scarlett, Alexis, Luella, Gianna, Solange. Chanel, Paloma. Jasmine, Alana, Esmeralda, Kimber, Sabrina, Loretta, Colette, Sylvie, Cleo, Zelda...
Don't ask me why I can think of so many sultry names.
Replies
As you said, this is not only subjective but perhaps cultural. Some of the name you consider "safe," I would consider dated such as Linda. Some of your "Sweet" names I find childish, which might come across as bratty rather than sweet.
Your sultry category is the strangest to me. Angelina and Arabella are toothachingly twee. Francesca and Maeve are solid queenly/mature names, but that isn't the same as being sultry. Genevieve is sweet. Georgia is wholesome. Tiffany is a lamp. Stella is safe. Alexis is sporty. Chanel is a brand that I associate with a rather boxy silhouette. Sabrina and Zelda I associate with fun magical characters, but sultry? Nah.
I have somewhat eclectic taste, and I like names that could fit in multiple categories. I like names that could be considered both sweet and safe like Alice. And I like names that I associate with passion (which is different than sultry) and/or maturity.
Your sultry category is the strangest to me. Angelina and Arabella are toothachingly twee. Francesca and Maeve are solid queenly/mature names, but that isn't the same as being sultry. Genevieve is sweet. Georgia is wholesome. Tiffany is a lamp. Stella is safe. Alexis is sporty. Chanel is a brand that I associate with a rather boxy silhouette. Sabrina and Zelda I associate with fun magical characters, but sultry? Nah.
I have somewhat eclectic taste, and I like names that could fit in multiple categories. I like names that could be considered both sweet and safe like Alice. And I like names that I associate with passion (which is different than sultry) and/or maturity.
As you say, these categories are subjective, but would certainly be influenced by one's generational and cultural backgrounds.
Personally I would not think of Angelina, Veda, Maxine, Lorraine, Genevieve, Eliza, Georgia, Luella, Paloma, Alana, Kimber, Loretta, Cleo, or Zelda as being "sultry". On the other hand, I would have a somewhat "sultry" image of Mimi, Jessica, and Eve.
I think there are several on your "sultry" list (such as Raquel, Lola, Delilah, Amber, Veronica, and Scarlett) which would seem "sultry" to a high percentage of Americans because of their association with particular celebrities or fictional characters whose image still dominates the name.
Personally I would not think of Angelina, Veda, Maxine, Lorraine, Genevieve, Eliza, Georgia, Luella, Paloma, Alana, Kimber, Loretta, Cleo, or Zelda as being "sultry". On the other hand, I would have a somewhat "sultry" image of Mimi, Jessica, and Eve.
I think there are several on your "sultry" list (such as Raquel, Lola, Delilah, Amber, Veronica, and Scarlett) which would seem "sultry" to a high percentage of Americans because of their association with particular celebrities or fictional characters whose image still dominates the name.
The Sultry list seems to include a lot of my favorite names; I think I'll go with that one. However, I find myself enjoying names from all three of the lists!
As you said, it's subjective (I don't relate to these groupings), but I'll count listed ones I'd theoretically not mind being called or naming someone.
Short answer- I'd be most likely to pick names you'd call safe, but I'm about equally accepting of the safe/sweet groups and overall a bit more accepting of names you'd call sultry. There are multiple family names for me in each category.
I wouldn't say my preference for names is safe, generally, considering I unironically love names like Bluebird and Syntyche, and I'm not sure I'd say I prefer sultry names since being rated as "wholesome" is a theme among my favorites, although I do often like vivid/evocative names, if that counts as sultry.
Full Answer-
Safe: Sophia, Caroline, Andrea, Anna, Marie, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret, Helen, Jessica, Eve, Bridget. That's 12 out of 42. I could go along with Isabella, Florence, Linda, Charlotte, Olivia, Catherine, Mary, Evelyn, Victoria, Alexandra, Laura, Paula, Louise in a pinch. So, 25 out of 42.
Sweet: Chloe, Naomi, Jane, Rebecca, Tess, Holly, Marigold, Jessie. That's 8 out of 43. I could go along with Amy, Lucy, Mabel, Polly, Rosalie, Lily, Clara, Daisy, Hallie, Adeline, Birdie, Nell, Isla, Clementine, Elsie, Willa, Poppy, Nina, Tabitha in a pinch. So, 27 out of 43.
Sultry: Carmen, Arielle, Veda, Roxanne, Adele, Maeve, Lucia, Greta, Eliza, Valentina, Tiffany, Veronica, Zelda, Alana, Mariah. That's 15 out of 66. I could go along with Angelina, Raquel, Lorelei, Francesca, Daphne, Serena, Ruby, Celeste, Veronique, Delilah, Gabrielle, Maxine, Daniela, Angelique, Ariana, Crystal, Genevieve, Amaris, Natalia, Georgia, Stella, Arabella, Camille, Simone, Alexis, Solange, Paloma, Jasmine, Esmeralda, Sabrina, Loretta, Sylvie, Cleo in a pinch. So, 48 out of 66.
Listed names I associate with parents and grandparents: Elizabeth, Caroline (Carrie, Carol), Charlotte, Florence, Evelyn, Lily, Nell (Nellie), Jessie, Veda, Loretta, Genevieve. I also associate some qirkier names with my family. My real name is in the safe category.
Short answer- I'd be most likely to pick names you'd call safe, but I'm about equally accepting of the safe/sweet groups and overall a bit more accepting of names you'd call sultry. There are multiple family names for me in each category.
I wouldn't say my preference for names is safe, generally, considering I unironically love names like Bluebird and Syntyche, and I'm not sure I'd say I prefer sultry names since being rated as "wholesome" is a theme among my favorites, although I do often like vivid/evocative names, if that counts as sultry.
Full Answer-
Safe: Sophia, Caroline, Andrea, Anna, Marie, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret, Helen, Jessica, Eve, Bridget. That's 12 out of 42. I could go along with Isabella, Florence, Linda, Charlotte, Olivia, Catherine, Mary, Evelyn, Victoria, Alexandra, Laura, Paula, Louise in a pinch. So, 25 out of 42.
Sweet: Chloe, Naomi, Jane, Rebecca, Tess, Holly, Marigold, Jessie. That's 8 out of 43. I could go along with Amy, Lucy, Mabel, Polly, Rosalie, Lily, Clara, Daisy, Hallie, Adeline, Birdie, Nell, Isla, Clementine, Elsie, Willa, Poppy, Nina, Tabitha in a pinch. So, 27 out of 43.
Sultry: Carmen, Arielle, Veda, Roxanne, Adele, Maeve, Lucia, Greta, Eliza, Valentina, Tiffany, Veronica, Zelda, Alana, Mariah. That's 15 out of 66. I could go along with Angelina, Raquel, Lorelei, Francesca, Daphne, Serena, Ruby, Celeste, Veronique, Delilah, Gabrielle, Maxine, Daniela, Angelique, Ariana, Crystal, Genevieve, Amaris, Natalia, Georgia, Stella, Arabella, Camille, Simone, Alexis, Solange, Paloma, Jasmine, Esmeralda, Sabrina, Loretta, Sylvie, Cleo in a pinch. So, 48 out of 66.
Listed names I associate with parents and grandparents: Elizabeth, Caroline (Carrie, Carol), Charlotte, Florence, Evelyn, Lily, Nell (Nellie), Jessie, Veda, Loretta, Genevieve. I also associate some qirkier names with my family. My real name is in the safe category.
This message was edited 4/1/2024, 7:33 AM
A mix of safe and sultry (sometimes literally with some of my combos), but leaning towards sultry.
out of these, I most like sweet names.
Personally, I think I like the “Safe Names” or “Sweet Names” categories. There are few names that I feel are “Sultry Names”. But I like some of the names in your “Sultry Names” list (Adele, Gabrielle, Crystal, Vanessa, Amber, Camille, Simone, Tiffany, Alexis, Jasmine), and I don't like some of the names in your “Safe Names” and “Sweet Names” list (Olivia, Sophia, Isabella, Ella, Alice, Margaret, Amelia / Mimi, Clara, Pixie, Poppy, Pippa).
(PS. It's my unpopular opinion, but I personally think Monica and Simone fall into the "Sweet Names" category)
(PS. It's my unpopular opinion, but I personally think Monica and Simone fall into the "Sweet Names" category)
This message was edited 4/1/2024, 1:34 AM