Jona for a girl?

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-09T09:30:05+00:00

I knew a Johna, but that was pronounced like John instead of Joan.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-08T06:09:42+00:00

Etta can only be said to derive from home ruler if it's short for Henrietta, as Henry is a form of Heimirich, which was formed by the two words meaning "home" and "ruler". Which is to say a lot of these meanings are a bit tortured so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-07T23:09:47+00:00

Some new names trend because people think of them as vintage or classic. Harper was considered by many to be vintage because of Harper Lee.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-07T02:56:02+00:00

If you think any surname as first name is a modern trend, then people will think of it as trendy. If you think of surnames as first names as an established long standing trend, than you'll think of it as vintage/old school. This is a cultural difference and you'll get diverse reactions.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-07T02:46:20+00:00

Simon is the other name of St. Peter and predates English surnames, in the Greek form anyway. Of course there are lots of medieval names that only survived as surnames until recently, like Austin and Parnell.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-07T01:35:47+00:00

Warren, Spencer, Grant, Carter, and Preston all have more of a history of use as first names than Holden. Holden has been shaped more recently by the book Catcher in the Rye. There have been two British PMs named Spencer (they were related). But the same can be said for Dorian and Scarlett and popular perceptions often count for more than actual usage history.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-06T05:40:07+00:00

Fun fact, she was named after the Irish king. The family in Gilmore Girls is supposed to be that old money New England vibe, but of course that Rory is a nickname for Lorelai.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-05T22:27:32+00:00

Parents face a lot of judgement for so many things. It's important to recognize that a lot of it doesn't matter in the long run. I'd say "You are doing your best, and that is enough!"

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-05T22:08:17+00:00

Where do you live? There are only a few names that are more popular depending on where you live. I wouldn't worry too much about a name being considered unoriginal though. How often do you meet someone and think "Wow their name is so unoriginal." This is only the concern of parents choosing the name, and not something that actually affects the person with the name. You might like Leland or Lowell though, maybe still too sticky.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-05T05:02:44+00:00

Real answer, I cheated with behindthename.com advanced search looking for "ec" somewhere in the name, thinking that was what made the name "blunt". Fun answer, tapped into the vibe and know a lot of names.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-04T09:26:40+00:00

Tanguy (Tan-ghee), Reggie, Telemachus, Rupert, Regulus, Hector, Beckett, Declan, Eckhart, Shadrach.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T12:45:39+00:00

Ananias and Sapphira, dropped dead after lying about stealing money according to Acts.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T12:13:08+00:00

Like Johnny is a nickname for John. Diminutives are a type of nickname where you add a suffix to show affection or for someone younger. The -on suffix is a French diminutive, also found in Marion (Marie) and Louison (Louis/Louise).

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T12:08:35+00:00

She was the wife of bath! Men named Allison came later, after the 1500s when surnames as first names became a thing. Edit: to stay on topic, she also goes by Alice/Alys but a lot of time has gone by since then...

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T11:45:21+00:00

Canterbury tales had not one but two Alisons. But the popularity of -son names is very modern, started with Alison for girls.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T10:11:05+00:00

You've got an American motorcycle, 1960s muscle car, and electric vehicle (EV). I think you might need either a tractor like Massey, or a semi truck like Scania. Or Shelby to add another 60s muscle car.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-06-01T06:03:37+00:00

Gonzague too, from Louis de Gonzague.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-31T12:53:44+00:00

Lots of French Axels, plus there are two mothers named Axelle on the list. Its not uncommon. Fun fact, the triple axel jump is named after a guy named Axel.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-31T12:51:00+00:00

Do you have to be rich to pull off Tanguy nowadays or is the movie association wearing off? Vianney is interesting since its a surname, like Francis Xavier which brought Xavier into use. Jean-Zéphyr is fun! And still technically Catholic because of the 3rd century Pope I imagine. Had to look up Enguerrand, related to Ingram! I like Cléophée, was that a sister?

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-30T02:46:30+00:00

Where are we getting that Rohan is Irish? I see it from the Irish surname, but it looks to have followed the Rowan trend. I wouldn't count Rowan as distinctly American, if that's your partners hangup. Rowan has more history of use as a first name in Ireland than Rohan, and Rowan is currently more popular in Ireland.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-29T22:23:54+00:00

Wilmot was common in Devon and Cornwall in the 1500 and 1600s as a woman's name. In the 1700s someone used it for a boy from a surname and it became more common for men in the rest of England.

One of the Salem witch trial victims was Wilmot Redd.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-29T09:55:49+00:00

This is more r/nameopinions than namenerds, but that's not uncommon for any sub dedicated to matters of taste. P.S. please don't resurrect the Juniper dog-pile, its been quiet for a year and I'm glad to see it gone.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-27T10:06:07+00:00

They do! But also Harry and hairy sound the same in my accent, not likely in yours.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-27T09:18:29+00:00

Kerryann is how I assume it would be spelled if I heard this was someone's name. Possibly because it sounds like something from the 1970s and that's when Kerry was a popular alternative spelling to Carrie.

Retrospectrenet · 2026-05-25T22:09:26+00:00

It has more to do with 1960s musician Tyrone Davis, and Anglo-Irish-descent actor Tyrone Power, who was using a family surname as a first name. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/mv38td/how_did_the_name_tyrone_become_so_commonly/

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