Shakespearean Names and a plethora of others.

[linds-ayyy.livejournal.com]

I used to dabble in this community quite a bit a few years prior - my name lists have probably changed quite a bit, I should look them up. Might be interesting to compare!

The real reason that brings me here is that I'm pursuing a Ph. D. in Shakespeare and lately, all I've been able to think about is how lovely all of these names are - their only downfall is the fact that I don't think some of them would really mesh with a person named in modern-day.

Not all of these are Shakespearean, some of them are inspired by the research on the Elziabeth era I've been doing.

Female:
Ophelia (LOVE this one.)  - Elizabeth, of course! - Juliet - Rosalind/Rosaline - Kate - Helena - Aliena - Beatrice - Cordelia - Celia
Hero - Emilia - Luciana - Marina - Miranda - Olivia - Titania - Regan (unisex, but I like it for a girl better) - Viola

Male:
Paris (favorite) - Romeo - Lysander - Cassius - Antony - Tybalt (I love Tybalt, but would only use it for a pet.) - Mercutio - Prospero - Benvolio - Jacques (sounds like Jakes, not like Jacques, the french name.) - Hal/Henry - Othello - Ganymede - Julius - Lear - Oberon - Orlando - Robin - Nick - Sebastian - Ross

Obviously these aren't all of Shakespeare's characters, just the ones I like.

Shakespeare's children were named Hamnet and Judith (twins) and Susanna, sometimes spelled Susannah. I like Susannah the best of these. His wife was called Anne.

His counterparts, a number of which were named John, all had pretty basic names that are still common today, such as William, Richard, Henry, and so on.
I think, however, for a literature buff, some of their last names could be used as names for people, in example:
Marlowe, after Christopher Marlowe, for a girl though.
Will Kemp was a member of his playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, so I think Kemp is a fine boy's name.

As far as Elizabethan names go, I'm quite fond of Elizabeth, obviously. Henry and William were also very common names, and I like those too.

For regular names, I'm a fan of pretty common / non-fancy names. I'll make a separate post containing those.
Enjoy, name afficionados!

Comments

[heyskeleton.livejournal.com]

I've never really gotten the appeal of Ophelia, but I don't hate it either. However, I love Elizabeth and Lysander, and I like Kate, Helena, Cordelia, Emilia, Miranda, Olivia, Viola, Orlando, Sebastian and Ross.

I prefer Susannah with the H too.

[linds-ayyy.livejournal.com]

It's funny - I dislike Sarah with an H, but Susannah with an H... it's just better.

I think if I ever went with Lysander, it would be Alexander but Shakespeare-inspired.

[fletwock.livejournal.com]

Ophelia has been on the top of my favorite names list for around four years now. Some names come and go, but it has been a constant. I also like Paris, but I think I'd use it as a middle name.

I actually think all of these names are fine for modern usage. I don't mind unusual names as long as they have a basis in something and aren't completely made up, and these are so memorable. I don't think I'd ever forget meeting a Mercutio.

[linds-ayyy.livejournal.com]

I think it would work better for girls. Some of the boy names might come off as cheesy. I'm the same way with unusual names, as long as they have meaning/a basis, I don't mind them. They also have to sound...idk how to put this...smart? Like, Mercutio is unusual, but Mercutio sounds like an adult's name, too...not a cat's name, or something, lol.

[turtleohs.livejournal.com]

I don't like Aliena because of the obvious look of "alien". Also I think of Paris as a feminine name and don't like it for a boy at all!

its so funny how some of the names are super out there and then others are just normal every day names.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I really like Elizabeth, Kate, Helena, and Tybalt (although not for using). I kind of like Beatrice, Cordelia, Luciana, Lysander, Oberon (not for use), Sebastian, Judith, Susannah, and William. Ganymede is fun to say but I just can't imagine it as a name, which is ridiculous because it started out in mythology as a person. Still, all I think of is Jupiter's satellite.

I could see Marlowe on either gender. I really don't like Kemp. It reminds me of hemp and kelp.

[my-little-voice.livejournal.com]

Ophelia
Juliet
Kate
Helena
Marina
Miranda
Olivia
Henry
William

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

I love Shakespeare names!

I love Ophelia, Juliet, Rosalind, Helena, Cordelia, and Viola.

I like Elizabeth, Miranda, Kate and Celia too.

For boys, I like Henry, Oberon, and Sebastian. I tend to like his female names beter.

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

I love Kate and Helena, and Juliet and Celia are also nice. For boys I like Cassius and Julius. I also like Robin, but more for a girl, actually.

Thibault (spelled like that) is actually quite popular in Belgium! =) It's a nice name.

[browncoatrebel.livejournal.com]

I was in a production of As You Like It a few months ago, and we referred to Aliena as Alien-A. Our director threatened to murder us if anyone did it onstage.

But I really like the sound of the name the way he had us pronounce it: "Ah-lee-A-nah."

[malsywals.livejournal.com]

my husband's cousin just had a little girl 2 weeks ago and she names her Cordelia.

Marlowe for a little girl would be so cute!

[malsywals.livejournal.com]

she named her. not names her!

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I thought Thibault was said "tee-boh"? Or does is it different depending on whether you're from the French or Flemmish side? Just curious. :) I've always heard Tybalt as something like "tih-bolt".

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

True! Tee-bo is right. I just figured it was worth mentioning since they're almost the same name (Tybalt/Thibault), and I recently noticed how popular it was =).

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. I misunderstood. I thought you were saying it sounded like Tybalt or was a variation of the name. I know the first time I saw the name, it reminded me of Tybalt.

[kitchen-poet.livejournal.com]

Ariel is my favorite Shakespeare name. :)

[becomingun.livejournal.com]

I'm a Shakespeare actor, and my favourites are:

Desdemona(I SO BADLY want to name a daughter this), Emilia, Ophelia(played her :D), Regan, Thisbe, Marina, Beatrice, Helena, Celia(played her :D), Juliet, Rosalind, Hermione, and Perdita(played her!).

I like Jacques, but the proper pronounciation doesn't sit well with me to ever use it for a child. I feel like the kid would be mocked with "Jake wees!" all the time, hahaha. For a boy I really do like Hal, and I can seriously see using Lear as a middle name with my first choice boy's name(Deacon), and I also love Ross. I can also get behind Ariel on a boy, and I like Florizel, but I don't want my kid to get his ass kicked, so won't be using it, haha.

[heure-actuelle.livejournal.com]

Juliet and Celia are two of my top favorite names (ever, not just Shakespearean).

i also like Miranda, Julius, Sebastian, and one you didn't list- Corin (boy)