Comments on: Name of the Day: Felicity

By: Fetching Names: Virtuous Boys | Appellation Mountain

Fetching Names: Virtuous Boys | Appellation Mountain — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:03:03 +0000

[...] boys post, and despite my misgivings about his Vulcan vibe, I really like this idea. Like Joy or Felicity, it is part-virtue name, part-wish for a child’s [...]

By: Fetching Names: Joyful Edition | Appellation Mountain

Fetching Names: Joyful Edition | Appellation Mountain — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:03:20 +0000

[...] Felicity – The list would be incomplete without this mix of modern television heroine and Colonial girl in calico. Nicknames like Fliss and even Flick make her a little less Puritan, though they still have a certain retro cool. She comes from a cluster of related names all derived from the Latin word for fortunate. Brother Felix is hotter than hot, but I’d call Felicity just lukewarm, and Felicia absolutely chilly. And yet, Felicia is also the least often heard of the three, and perhaps one to consider. There’s also medieval variant Felice, which is masculine in Italian. [...]

By: Erin

Erin — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:04:21 +0000

I know I’m 3 years behind on this post but I just found your blog and I, of course, had to look at the name we chose for our daughter. She is 9 months old and we call her Fliss or Flissy for short which everyone loves, and it fits her happy personality so well.
I also had to do a double take when I saw so many people mention Penelope as a good name for a sister because that is one of the ONLY names I’ve been able to come up with for a sister as well! They are both equally distinct and familiar without being overused, and they born of a cheery feel to them. Fliss and Poppy would just be too perfect together!

By: Sunday Summary: 3/13/11 | Appellation Mountain

Sunday Summary: 3/13/11 | Appellation Mountain — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:24:08 +0000

[...] a minute to devour A Great and Terrible Beauty. It’s packed with great girl names: Pippa, Felicity, Gemma. In another book, she named a punk rock angel with spray painted wings [...]

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:06:50 +0000

My apologies, Katharine – as I read your comment, I realized that I didn’t acknowledge your suggestion. I’m editing now to remedy my oversight.

Nicknames *are* an issue for Felicity. There’s Liss, Lissa, Licia, even Fliss … but those are in the same style as Flossie and Flick, aren’t they? Fee, like we hear for Fiona or really any starts-with-F name, is an option, but awfully brief. The one I rather like is Flicka. But since Flicka was the HORSE, that doesn’t really work, either.

While I’m sure a nickname would emerge, I do always like to think that out in advance – so it is a strike against Felicity, if a small one.

By: Katharine

Katharine — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:07:08 +0000

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head perfectly when you describe Felicity as ‘that most elusive of names – one that feels instantly familiar, but is not burdened by her history’. Although, I couldn’t put my finger on it, that is exactly what I love about the name and why I suggested it. The only issue I have with Felicity has also been mentioned above and is her overtly happy-feminine, even flighty sound. My other minor quibble is a lack of nickname (Flossie and Flick sound too much like pets names for my liking). Any idea on that front? These issues aside, Felicty remains one of my favourite girls names…

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:54:21 +0000

Reaching for the calendar …

July 30 will be Lorelei; we’ll unpack Nina on August 1; and Whitney is August 3.

Many thanks for the inspiration – I’m particularly intrigued by Nina, as I always think of it as a diminutive. Hmmm …

By: Another

Another — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:01:55 +0000

If we’re doing NotD requests, let me add Whitney to the list, please. I don’t know if it’s your speed, but I’m recently interested in this one. For my own “potential, yet-to-be-conceived daughter”. It’s a little 1980s spoiled rich girl, but that might be why I like it.

By: !!!DirtyHippy!!!

!!!DirtyHippy!!! — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:29:34 +0000

Oh, and AM, I have two name of the day request. I’ve been considering Lorelei or Nina for a potential, yet-to-be-conceived daughter. I’d love to hear you weigh in on them.

By: !!!DirtyHippy!!!

!!!DirtyHippy!!! — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:27:06 +0000

I think the only drawback to Felicity is that it’s not very versatile. As mentioned above, if you are a more serious, dour sort of girl, there’s not ready nickname you could use.

The American Girl connection has also kind of juvenilized (is that a word? Guess it is now!) the name for me. It seems like it would work a lot better on a kid or a teenager than an adult. Judge Felicity Smith seems a bit far-fetched to me.

But, it’s pretty and has a solid history behind it, so I don’t hate it or anything. Just not for me, I guess.