old running list

[so-there.livejournal.com]

back when I was 12 (14 years ago) I started a running list of names I liked, and kept it in a safe place so I'd never lose it, and added to it over the years. well, I found the list (never really lost it, actually) and some of it is like.. wtf? embarrassing, really. but still, entertaining. so I've typed it all out, in its entirety, and so you don't confuse the "I still like it" names with the "what was I thinking???" names, my current opinions are typed after each name. (names toward the end of the list were probably added in my later teens).

girls:
Belinda I kind of think this looks a bit ditzy now.
Bonita didn't realize when I was 12 how spanish this is. would never use it.
Penelope too weird. cool, but probably couldn't get myself to use it.
Zita too italian.
Dymphna too awkward to pronounce
Stephanie NO idea how this made it on, I hate this name!
Jacinta still find this one pretty, but probably won't use it.
Lucia eh.
Noelle not sure how I feel about this one anymore, but it's the name of my husband's former boss so it's out of the question.
Adrienne my name! what's that doing on the list?
Arendine I created this one using every other letter of my name, followed by the remaining letters. doesn't look terrible but of course I'd never use something I made up.
Colette still pretty, but a bit too french for my taste now.
Emma from a book I read as a child.. would never use it due to popularity, but I still think it's pretty.
Bernadette I should like this in theory but I just don't
Fiona too froofy.
Philomena too weird. I know a girl with this name and I still think it's too much.
Helena pretty, but I don't remember liking it as it's not really my taste.
Anda another one from a book I read as a kid. cute, but seems too nick-namey
Bridget not too fond of this one
Liduina again with the too weird.
Wilhelmina and again...
Heidi still like it, probably won't use it.
Hildegard tooo german. I have relatives with this name. I'm surprised this is on the list.
Germaine obviously still like this, as it's my 3y/o daughter's name
Agatha yuck
Gret(t)a still on my list for future babies
Clotilda was my ex-best friend's DOG'S name! plus too much potential for off-color jokes. definitely not.
Bertha probably an attempt at getting Bertie as a nickname. otherwise no.
Ingrid still on my list for future babies.
Gretchen still like, but knocked off my list in favor of Greta
TabithaRuth some of you might get the literary reference ;) I think it's too much and not really fond of Tabitha, but I do like Ruth still.
Madeleine/Madelyn still like it, but too common to use.
Roberta (Bertie) I like the nn but not sure about the full name.
Camille still like it, but my aunt picked it for my cousin 8 years ago, so I'd never use it now.
Amelia pretty. I would consider this but i think it may be getting too popular.
Martha eh. in theory I like it but really don't like the sound of it.
Lucinda can't do it. I have a son named Linus! but my husband is still rooting for this one..
Kateri too harsh sounding. awkward coming from my mouth.
Ramona pretty but not me
Katja not sure anyone would ever pronounce this right. not sure how I would pronounce it.

boys:
Joshua way to common, but I do like it
Francisco ugh. no.
Dominic kind of like it but couldn't see ever using it.
Damien still love, but it's my BIL and his fiancee's first choice so I'm letting them have it.
Isaac like but too popular
Jason huh? no idea how that one got on there
Jacob cute, but getting too popular.
Phillip nah. I dunno. can't decide if I still likethis one or not
Linus obviously still love, as it's my second child's name
Luke like, but too popular
Lucas not too fond of this at all
Elijah still like but too popular
Isaiah still like but too popular
Roch no. I think I was liking the nickname Rocky, but no.
Joel I still like this, but would probably not use it
Basil too, um, spice-ey. even though the pronunciation is a bit different. secretly still like it though
Ignatius love, but too much of a mouthful.
Augustine kind of like, but kind of don't *shrug*
Declan don't so much like this one anymore
Myron I secretly love this name but could never use it due to the conspicuous potential of being turned to "moron" by peers
Elliot not sure about this one
Conor don't like this one anymore
Darryl surprised I ever (apparently) liked this one
Jude too common, but still kind of like
Wolfgang way cool, but couldn't pull it off in america.
Shane don't so much like anymore
Harold like the nn Harry but not so fond of the full name
Douglas like a little bit still. not much
Arthur like, but getting popular. not sure I would have used it anyway.
Gerard kinda neat, but don't like the inevitable nn of Jerry
Liam too popular
Vincent nope
Raphael cool but no.
Xavier cool, but a little too 'trying to give my kid a name that starts with X'
Dietrich obviously still love, as it's my third child's name.

honestly, I think I was so into "different" names that I ended up adding some that I never really liked, but weren't very common. at least until I came up with enough not-so-common names that I could start crossing off the gross ones.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/-mary-jane--/]

"Katja not sure anyone would ever pronounce this right. not sure how I would pronounce it."

it would probably be pronounced "cot-cha". i went to highschool with a girl whose name was spelled Katcha. I'm pretty sure it would be the same pronunciation.

[eleanorgrace.livejournal.com]

Or also "COT-yuh", which said fast is probably the same as what you said.

I don't think it's that difficult, and if people occasionally mispronounce it, well so what? People mispronounce most things.

[http://users.livejournal.com/-mary-jane--/]

mhm. my name is theresa, and somehow people seem to mispronounce it.

[so-there.livejournal.com]

cot-cha would be one pronunciation, another would be like kate-ya. or kat-ya. I dunno.