Clunkies Fit for a Princess

Those names that make you trip over your tongue, yet have an air of elegance and grace.
  1. Artemisia
    • Origin:

      Greek, variation of Artemis
    • Description:

      You might think Artemisia is the feminine form of the name, but in fact the original Artemis is feminine too, the name of the Greek mythological goddess of the moon. Artemisia Gentileschi was an esteemed Italian Baroque painter, unusual in an era when not many women were acknowledged. Artemisia is also a genus of plants which include sagebrush and tarragon.
  2. Augusta
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"
    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.
  3. Brunhilda
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "armed for battle"
    • Description:

      Variant of Brunhild, still clad in heavy armor. Though the heroine Brunhilda of Quentin Tarantino's recent film Django Unchained may have given this version of the name new appeal.
  4. Eugenia
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Eugene, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "wellborn, noble"
    • Description:

      Eugenia, a name scarcely used at all since the 1980's, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival.
  5. Euphemia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "fair speech"
    • Description:

      Ancient martyr's name that, though not especially appealing, might still be mildly possible, especially for Anglophiles. It was widely used in early Scotland, but was overtaken by its nickname, Effie.
  6. Etheldreda
    • Forsythia
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from English surname
      • Meaning:

        "Forsyth's flower"
      • Description:

        This yellow harbinger spring bloom was named for Scottish botanist William Forsyth, and is even more unusual than such species as Acacia and Azalea.
    • Frederica
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Frederick
      • Meaning:

        "peaceful ruler,"
      • Description:

        Frederica is an interesting possibility for the parent unintimidated by its old-fashioned formality, and who can appreciate the vintage charm and verve lurking inside its stuffiness.
    • Geraldine
      • Origin:

        German and French, feminine variation of Gerald
      • Meaning:

        "ruler with the spear"
      • Description:

        Though twin brother Gerald is still in baby name limbo, Geraldine is in line to follow the path of Josephine to imminent revival—even though Gerry is not as spunky a nickname as Josie.
    • Henrietta
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Henry
      • Meaning:

        "estate ruler"
      • Description:

        Despite a return to such feminizations of male names as Josephine, Clementine, and Theodora, starchy Henrietta has not made it into that group. Still, if you look hard enough, you'll see that Henrietta has the same vintage charm.
    • Imelda
      • Origin:

        Italian and Spanish from German
      • Meaning:

        "all-consuming fight"
      • Description:

        Saint's name made infamous by Philippine dictator's wife Imelda Marcos. A more positive famous bearer is the British actress Imelda Staunton, best known for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies.
    • Iphigenia
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "of royal birth"
      • Description:

        In mythology, Iphigenia was sacrificed by her father, Agamemnon -- a difficult legacy to pass on to a daughter, and only one reason the name is hardly ever used.
    • Leopoldina
      • Philomena
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "lover of strength"
        • Description:

          Philomena is an earthy Greek name now used in various Latin countries. While it has felt simply clunky for many years, it's starting -- along with such sister names as Wilhelmina and Frederica -- to sound so clunky it's cool.
      • Sophronia
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "sensible, prudent"
        • Description:

          A name some people first encountered in the old children's book series The Five Little Peppers, in which Sophronia, the youngest of the Peppers is nicknamed Phronsie.`It was also used by Dickens in two of his novels: The Old Curiosity Shop and Our Mutual Friend.
      • Theodora
        • Origin:

          Feminine variation of Theodore, Greek
        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"
        • Description:

          Theodora is one of the most revival-worthy of the charmingly old-fashioned Victorian valentine names, softly evocative but still substantial, as is the reversed-syllable Dorothea.
      • Theodosia
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "gift of God"
        • Description:

          This feminine form of Theodosius has long been buried deep in the attic, but might be a good discovery for the parent who wants to move beyond Theodora. Vice President Aaron Burr named a daughter Theodosia ("Dear Theodosia" is a song in the smash musical Hamilton), and it was the birth name of silent screen vamp Theda Bara. Theodosia actually appeared on the US popularity lists in the 1880s and 90s.
      • Thomasina
        • Origin:

          English, feminine variation of Thomas
        • Description:

          Though rarely used now that many parents would rather appropriate men's names than sweeten them with feminine endings, Thomasina does have some vintage appeal.
      • Wilhelmina
        • Origin:

          German and Dutch, feminine variation of Wilhelm
        • Meaning:

          "resolute protection"
        • Description:

          Wilhelmina might once have been condemned as a clunky relic best left in the past, but a steadily increasing number of parents are dusting it off for their 21st century babies. A reasonably popular choice in the 19th century, but out of favor by the 1950s, in the last decade, the number of babies called Wilhelmina has doubled, with 140 girls receiving the name in 2023.
      • Winifred
        • Origin:

          Welsh
        • Meaning:

          "blessed peacemaking"
        • Description:

          One of the few remaining unrestored vintage gems, with a choice of two winning nicknames--the girlish Winnie and the tomboyish Freddie. Winifred, the name of a legendary Welsh saint, was a Top 200 name into the mid-1920's.