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      FEATHER. Word name. Though it was used for a character in a novel, Feather seems too light and fluttery for a real-life girl.

      FEDERICA. Italian, feminine variation of FREDERICK. Latin version of one of those formerly stuffy female names—think Josephine and Eleanor—that feels fresh and elegant again.

      FEDORA. Greek variation of THEODORA. Occasionally heard among the Mayfair and Belgravia set, but we’re afraid that in some places there would be too strong an association with the man’s felt hat. Fadora, Feodora, Fyodora.

      FEE. Diminutive of FIONA. Too fiscal.

      FELICE. Italian, ’lucky’. The Italians pronounce it fa-LEECH-ay; the Americanised version, feh-LEESE, now sounds dated and not very appealing.

      FELICIA. Latin, ’lucky’; feminine variation of FELIX. A lacy, lucky name very popular in the Hispanic community a decade ago, less so now. Falecia, Faleece, Faleshia, Falicia, Falisha, Felecia, Felica, Felice, Feliciana, Felicidad, Felicie, Felicity, Felis, Felisa, Felise, Felisha, Feliss, Felita, Fellysse, Felyssia, Filicia, Filisha, Phalisha, Phelicia, Phylicia, Phyllicia, Phyllisha. International: Felicita, Felicitas, Felisa, Felixa, Feliz (Spanish).

      FELICIDAD. Spanish, ’happiness’. Used exclusively in Latino families.

      

FELICITY. Latin, ’happy’. As accessible as Hope and Faith, but more feminine—and dare we say happier? Felecia, Felice, Feliciona, Felicitee, Felicitie, Felise, Felisha, Felita, Feliza, Filicia, Flick. International: Felicienne, Félicité (French), Felicita (Italian), Felice, Felicia, Felicidad, Felicita, Felisa, Felixa, Feliz (Spanish), Felicidade (Portuguese), Felicie (German), Fela, Felka (Polish).

      FELIXA. (fay-LEEK-sah) Spanish, ’happy, lucky’. The futuristic consonant x sets this apart—for better and worse – from all the other Felices, Felicias and Felicitys. Felecia, Felia, Felica, Felicanna, Feliciania, Felicianna, Felicina, Felisa, Felixia, Felizia.

      

FENELLA. Celtic, ’white-shouldered one’. This engaging Scottish name, the heroine of a Sir Walter Scott novel, is, though scarcely heard elsewhere, much more user-friendly than some of the Irish versions. Fennella, Finella, Finola, Fionnuala, Fionola, Fynella.

      

FENNEL. Vegetable and herb name. Word name possibility carrying the scent of liquorice-like anise.

      FEODORA. (fay-oh-DOR-a) Slavic variation of THEODORA. An interesting choice for the intrepid name giver, especially with its dynamic nickname, Feo (pronounced FAY-oh). Feo.

      FERGIE. Diminutive of FERGUS. One Fergie was an aberration. But two women with that nickname—the duchess and the Black Eyed Pea – might make a trend.

      FERN. Nature name. Of all the botanicals, Fern has never really moved from the conservatory into the nursery, despite the appealing girl character in the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web. Fearne, Ferna, Ferne.

      FERNANDA. Spanish and Portuguese, feminine variation of FERDINAND. Very popular in the Latino community, with a lot more charm than its male counterpart. Anda, Annda, Ferdinanda, Ferdinande, Fern, Fernande, Fernandina, Fernandine, Nan, Nanda.

      FERNANDE. French, feminine variation of FERDINAND. A dark-haired femme fatale choice.

      FEY. Word name. For middle name purposes, could be thought of as a fey spelling of Fay. International: Feya (Hebrew).

      FFLUR. (Fleer) Welsh, ’flower’. Why bother to invent a new name or spelling when there are intriguing oddities like this in existence? Also in the Welsh encyclopedia of names: Ffion, Ffiona and Ffraid, the Welsh form of Brigid.

      FIA. Irish, diminutive of FIACHNA, ’raven’. A pleasantly light and distinctive possible alternative to Mia.

      FIAMMETTA. Italian, ’little fiery one’. Derived from the Italian word for flame, this name has both femininity and fire. Fiamma.

      FIANNA. Irish, ’fair’ or ’white’. This virtually unknown Irish name combines the best elements of Fiona and Brianna.

      FIDELITY. Word name. An admirable virtue, yes, but as a name it tends to sound like a financial institution. Fedelia, Fedila, Fideila, Fidela, Fidele, Fidelia, Fidelina, Fidelita, Fidella, Fidylia.

      FIFI. French, diminutive of JOSEPHINE. A perfect name—for a French poodle. Fifine.

      FILIPA. Slavic variation of PHILIPPA. See PHILIPPA.

      FILOMENA. Greek, ’lover of singing’; Spanish variation of PHILOMENA. See PHILOMENA. Filomela.

      FINELLA. Irish variation of FINOLA. See FINOLA.

      

FINLEY. Irish, ’fair-haired hero’. This was a 100 per cent male name until recently. Can Finleigh be far behind? Finlay, Finlea, Finleah, Finlee, Finleigh, Finli, Finlie, Finly, Fynley, Fynlie, Fynly.

      

FINN. Irish, ’bright, fair’. The most enduringly popular hero of Irish myth was Finn McCool, whose name is one of the coolest ever. When used for the female protagonist of How to Make an American Quilt, it established its hipness for girls as well.

      FINOLA. Irish, ’white shoulders’. This readily accessible version of some of the more problematic Gaelic versions would make a welcome addition to the stockpot of Irish girls’ names. Fennela, Finella, Finnguala, Finoula, Fionnala, Nola.

      FIONA. Scottish, ’the fair one’. This late nineteenth-century Scottish invention is still being given to baby girls today. Also popular in the US since the 1954 musical Brigadoon had a character with the name. Fee, Ffion, Ffiona, Ffyona, Fina, Fione, Fionn, Fionna, Fiora, Fyona.

      FIONNUALA. (fin-OO-lah) Irish Gaelic, ’white shoulders’. This lovely Gaelic name, very popular in the Emerald Isle, would pose obvious pronunciation problems elsewhere. Simplify to Finola or Fenella. Fenella, Finella, Finola, Fionnuala, Fionnualagh, Nola, Nuala.

      FIORELLA. Italian, ’little flower’. Feminine, floral and rarely enough heard here to be exotic.

      FLAIR. Word name. Beware: extremely high pressure, high-expectation name.

      

FLAME. Word name. Beware again: the kind of name used by women named Fran when engaging

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