Names

[oboakk]

Kathryn:
<< I've been wandering around the net looking at sites dealing with 
names because i need some for my writings and I wanted inspiration 
(and btw anyone who can suggest good sites I would appreciate it) but 
anyway I came across one which suggested using unusual spellings.>>

This is a pretty good list:
http://www.parentsplace.com/pregnancy/babynames/dictionary
It has name origins and nicknames and related names.

<<But secondly I was wondering if you guys had any thoughts on the 
subject, knew people who had given their kids odd names, have names 
you love/hate, suggestions for names and what sort of impression the 
name would give you.>> 

Oh my, I really hope you don't regret getting me started on this 
subject, as it happens to be one of my favorites.

Thoughts on female names:

Branwen - with some of my other favorite names, I got this this from 
a book (_A_Swiftly_Tilting_Planet_ by Madeleine L'Engle), but I 
actually knew someone with the name (but spelled Bronwyn) as well, I 
believe it's Welsh and there's some legend about a princess or queen 
named Branwen

Balie - pronounced with a long a (alternative spelling for Bailey), I 
have a friend named this and she tends to get called Bally, which she 
finds annoying

Tamsin - also from a book (nickname for Thomasin in Thomas Hardy's 
_The_Return_of_the_Native_), I like it, but my roommate thinks it's 
weird

Kacia - my sister's name, pronounced Kay-See-Uh (but often 
mispronounced Kay-Sha, even by family members), I must commend my 
parents on this one, because I think it's very cool...however almost 
everyone calls her Kasey

Thoughts on male names:

Leander - I know a guy by this name, but he usually goes by Leo. It's 
an unusual name, but I don't think he's been traumatized by it

Hmm...I can't think of any other unique male names that I have 
experience/opinions on.  Other than my grandpa, whose name was Myron.
Also, I just discovered that Hedwig means 'hidden weapon' and was 
pondering what implications this could have for Harry's owl.  Hedwig, 
secretly a ninja owl?

Abby
whose parents weren't as creative with her name