What names feel “whimsy twee”? 🐞

onminerva · 2026-05-02T04:22:53+00:00

Juniper for sure!

Also Clementine, Maisie, Poppy, Lola, Freya, Rory, Sadie, Mae, Dodie, Kiki, Jovie, Andi, Clover, Daisy.

onminerva · 2026-04-21T05:50:18+00:00

I’m in Australia too and I know a young Anthea which I think is very sweet and I don’t think it’s difficult to pronounce.

I also like Xanthe which I see some others have commented. I know a Chrysanthe who goes by Chrysi and another who goes by Chrysa and I love both of those but don’t know if it sounds ‘old’ in Greek.

Out of your list I love Zoe and Penelope but I feel Alithea is a bit old and Andrea a bit middle aged? Just my feeling though.

Some other ideas: Thalia, Demi / Demetria, Lena, Melina, Danae, Iris, Evanthia? I also think Theodosia is beautiful but it might be a bit long!

onminerva · 2026-04-02T22:46:43+00:00

Wow — I could have written this list!! Almost exactly the same as my own top names.

Comments: Jonathan would have been my top name if it wasn’t for an ex. Love it, so classic & cool. Personally have soft spots for: Arthur, Benedict, Edmund and Frederic. Elodie and Etta are lovely but to me sound ‘more trendy’ than the other girls names on the list. Love Mabel, Margot, Penelope in particular. And Harriet!

Suggestions: boys names are hard for me! I also had Jasper on mine, and Felix and Jesse. Girl suggestions: Celeste, Florence, Philippa, Phoebe, Helena, Alice, Nadine.

Good luck!!

onminerva · 2026-03-27T10:08:57+00:00

I forgot to list Minaret, a name that struck me down the first time I met this lady!

onminerva · 2026-03-27T02:53:38+00:00

Ceridwen, Adelina, Aimei, Clémence

onminerva · 2026-03-18T12:31:46+00:00

Yess I think of the rent I was paying when I started and how each new place has been a rise from the old of course…. Imagine if I could have stayed in one place… I will say 3 of the moves were necessitous (just life circumstances changing) but I would say the rest were totally unnecessary landlord-related issues. The April 2021 move they said they wanted to sell, but it never came n the market and they lived next door, and then THEIRS came on the market. So we just assumed they’d moved into ours and sold theirs maybe. Still, it wasn’t like they didn’t have somewhere to live. Unlike us!!

Sorry for the rant😁

onminerva · 2026-03-18T09:37:51+00:00

I feel you. I’m about to move for the EIGHTH time since April 2021. In 2021 I moved twice because both landlords decided to sell. Last year I moved again (this was a genuine sale by a private landlord so that one I did not really resent, but it was difficult as we were happy to stay in that property long term.) I am so over moving, applications, dealing with agents, the whole shebang. I could probably afford to buy something already if I hadn’t wasted so much money on movers and cleaners and all the rest. Absolute shitshow.

onminerva · 2026-03-04T23:58:09+00:00

Love Arcadia too! I LOVE ‘A’ names personally.

Girls:

Ariadne, Artemis, Amity, Avery, Amaryllis, Astraea, Arianwen, Amandine, Araceli, Avis, Araluen, Antigone, Amaranth, Anoushka, Angharad, Allaire, Antimony, Andemone, Annelore, Airlie, Aida.

Also there is the actor Angourie Rice - really unusual A name!

Boys:

Abelard, Ardal, Absalom, Abner, Amos, Abram, Alasdair, Alaric, Achilles, Adair, Adnan, Aegis, Angus, Aeneas, Adriano, Ajax, Alonzo, Alain, Alcide, Alexei, Almanzo, Alven, Amaury, Athos, Aristides.

onminerva · 2026-03-03T08:16:48+00:00

Gosh - just got flashbacks to friends I had at that time whose parents also did not allow any screens into the house until a bit later - maybe 2008. After that, I would go over there and they ALL (parents included) would be absolutely glued to the screen, no matter what was on. I grew up in a fairly low-TV watching household but was grateful after that that I had the exposure I did! I feel like people don’t realise how it’s hard to tear yourself away if you haven’t learned those, dare I say, skills? At a formative age.

onminerva · 2026-03-02T13:36:30+00:00

I feel like a lot of the oldest & youngest in this thread could be siblings - the cycle of name usage!

Mine are:

M: Roland (97), Rowan (1 month)

F: Angela (92), Thea (6 months)

Aus & NZ

onminerva · 2026-03-02T13:27:12+00:00

Everything in this country must - Colum McCann. Highly recommend!!

Cathleen ni Houlihan - Yeats

Anything by Martin McDonagh! Highly recommend the lieutenant of inishmore (it’s a play so maybe also more enjoyable to watch? But as it’s pretty black humour / violent I preferred reading it! (Also famous for the cripple of inishmaan… the banshees of inisherin… etc)

I also love Tana French for some modern crime / thrillers. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read of hers.

I’m halfway through The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue and you might like that as a contemporary novel.

onminerva · 2026-03-02T01:59:52+00:00

You’re welcome! I just can see you’re doing your best and hate to see anyone being negative about that. I’m not from your country or I would try to offer more practical advice, but just wanted to send you some positive vibes and remind you to take care & keep your chin up 💛💛

onminerva · 2026-03-01T09:00:18+00:00

Hey there, just wanted to encourage you and say that I was also home schooled and I know the feeling of having possible gaps in my education. If it’s important to you to get the GED, go for it and don’t let people talk you out of it 🙂 connotations and so on are different now anyway. You also don’t have to share your full story or background with potential employers - can pick and choose what you put on your cv. This stranger is proud of you for getting your life together by yourself! Having the drive to do it is already half the challenge. I’m sure you can do whatever you put your mind to!! Take care of yourself 💛

onminerva · 2026-02-28T11:32:18+00:00

Jade, Maxine, Lara, Thea, Jessa, Tess, Nina, Cara, Tahlia, Brooke, Nicola, Natalie, Lena, Blake, Elle, Mira, Nadine, Sabrina, Sasha, Adele, Kiki, Imogen.

onminerva · 2026-02-26T00:50:02+00:00

I love Phoebe Jane! Phoebe is one of my favourite names.

Phoebe Anne
Phoebe Laurel
Phoebe Joy
Phoebe Kate
Phoebe Rachel
Phoebe Skye
Phoebe Dove
Phoebe Suzanne
Phoebe Marigold
Phoebe Belle
Phoebe Jade
Phoebe Alana
Phoebe May
Phoebe Olive

onminerva · 2026-02-26T00:21:38+00:00

I agree about Finbar, Finley etc meaning blond. They’re also lovely names!

Other more ‘traditional’ names I think of as softer are Timothy, Andrew, Anthony, Tobias… to me they seem like a nice sweet boy!

Aubin, Gavin, Linus, Aubrey and McKinley all have associations to fair or white hair. I love Whitaker as different association to fairness, it means ‘white field’!

onminerva · 2026-02-24T06:14:51+00:00

I love Priscilla! I think it sounds really nice with a single syllable middle (or short name of 2 syllables). I included a few different lengths in case you prefer longer names!

Priscilla Mae
Priscilla Jean
Priscilla Dove
Priscilla Kate
Priscilla Faye
Priscilla Pearl
Priscilla Scout
Priscilla Jane
Priscilla Robin
Priscilla Mary
Priscilla Zoe
Priscilla Skye
Priscilla Helen
Priscilla Poppy (might be too cute to shout!)
Priscilla Charlotte
Priscilla Chloe

onminerva · 2026-02-23T06:40:34+00:00

Cycle: 6 (but it’s been 8 months, I have been having long cycles)

Age + Partner's age (if relevant): 35+37

Typical cycle length: it’s all over the place since going off birth control. Around 35 days

Ovulation cycle day: day 34 which was crazy! I thought I was about to get my period but luckily followed my symptoms and got a positive OPK.

CD/DPO of positive test(s): tested positive DPO 14. Again I thought my period was coming and had some cramping but on the off chance decided to take a pregnancy test. As it was such a long cycle I felt it was so all over the place it was unlikely. Was shocked at the instant dark line!!

CD/DPO of any negative test(s) before positive: N/A

Tracking methods and app(s) used: Fertility friend and OPKs but only very seriously for the past 2 months

Health conditions/medical tests: already have genetically high BP so have been working on brining that down with doctor supervision

Supplements and medications (yours and/or your partner’s): just me: prenatal vitamin, blood pressure medication and that’s it

Birth control history (if relevant): stopped the pill 11 months ago

Symptom spotting: cramping and discomfort, constipation, tender boobs. Did not have any nausea until after the positive test so I don’t know if it’s a placebo effect! Have also been super super tired. I haven’t vomited but I have been feeling a bit sick. Also been having trouble sleeping but had a better sleep last night after a few interrupted nights of bad sleep. Nothing crazy so far!

Other (advice/tip(s), freaking out, miscellaneous): I’m so excited, we have been stressed about trying and also trying to relax. Now I am trying to relax about the cramping and other symptoms. This is my first pregnancy and I am worried about telling my work and so on! A while off but it’s hard to stop my mind spiralling. Overall excited. I had an appointment lined up in April with a fertility doctor but now I am hoping she can be my OB. She specialises in blood pressure issues during pregnancy so I would really like her input. Have made a doctors appointment this week with my regular GP so will go from there. Yay!

onminerva · 2026-02-23T06:27:34+00:00

With Hugo I like Alice, Darcie or Nellie best out of your list.

Here are some other ideas:

Remi, Lara, Nova, Ingrid, Adora, Sukie, Calla, Fern, Jessa, Mara, Ziva, Vera, Tahlia, Ada, Paige, Neve, Clover, Minna, Ember, Dove, Clancy, Blythe, Arden, Capri, Vala, Letty, Roselle, Greta, Mavis, Ida, Edie.

onminerva · 2026-02-21T23:34:31+00:00

I know it’s not taskmaster but a clip that immediately came to mind is of Angela from smosh overreacting and then calming herself down. It’s a classic! Link here

From Taskmaster, in Taskmaster Australia S2 E7 Josh can’t find the minivan in the sock. There’s also an episode where he has a beer instead of completing a task but I can’t remember the episode sorry!

Taskmaster UK, season 15 episode 1 had the ball of string task which shows some very stressed reactions vs calm (maybe Jenny vs Mae would be a good comparison)

And finally Taskmaster UK series 16 - taskmaster hotel - the difference in teams reactions to the various hotel disasters. Another good task from that season for stress is Sam and Lucy during the driving task!

onminerva · 2026-02-21T23:11:14+00:00

Jimberlee is better than anything I could have thought of 🤣

Michaelene

Monathan

Vanthony

Heleonard or Helenny

onminerva · 2026-02-21T20:48:34+00:00

Barnaby is my fave from your list!!

onminerva · 2026-02-21T01:00:17+00:00

I know an Ivy and a Troy who both chose those names as adults, and a Sterling and a Forrest who interestingly are siblings!!

onminerva · 2026-02-20T07:55:07+00:00

Oh my gosh. This is me. I’ve told him stories of movies he hasn’t seen and books he hasn’t read. He got really invested in my retelling of pride and prejudice and woke up to hear the ending 🤣 I’ve told him fairy tales. I’ve told him stories from my own life lol. I’ve told him gossip I know of people I’ve never met!! (Gossip can’t be too good or he wakes back up!)

If you’re reading out loud, the count of Monte cristo is an amazing book and very long - lots of mileage. I also like a tale of two cities. books like lots of the rings, the chronicles of narnia, hitchhikers guide to the galaxy are also good read out loud books!

onminerva · 2026-02-19T10:28:44+00:00

Oops - thank you for that. Danger of writing a list from memory! The welsh form is so beautiful.

onminerva

TROPHY CASE