Hi Swistle!
I was planning to write to you a little later in my pregnancy, but since you wrote your post about being uninspired, I thought this exercise might be fun to do now.
I have a four-year-old son named after a semi-famous scientist. My husband works in the science field, and I am generally interested in sciency things so it worked out. I also liked that the name was used in a children’s book that I had read 20 years ago, and still remembered that particular character name. If you’re wondering, the name is Tych0.
The issue I need help with is this: We haven’t found out the sex of the second (and final) child, but we have generally discussed names, and for a girl, my husband’s favorites are Anastasia and Aurora. I think both are beautiful names, but something was bothering me about them. And then I realized—my main association with both those names are Disney princesses! It bothers me to have my son named after a scientist and then name my daughter after a princess. Just….No.
So I thought it would be fun to crowd-source and see what woman scientist names people could come up with. It’s surprisingly hard especially compared to male scientists. I know I could just Google, but I’m looking for names that are not totally and completely obscure, names that people might have heard of before and just don’t remember. That’s what I like about Tych0’s name. Some people have never heard of him, but sciency folks get a little twinkle in their eye when they hear it. My current list is:
Marie (Curie)
Jane (Goodall)
Kathryn (Johnson, from Hidden Figures)
Ada (Lovelace)
Mae (Jemison)
Sally (Ride)
…and that’s all I can come up with off the top of my head, sadly. I’d be excited to read what other names you and your readers could think of that fit this category.
Thanks!
Faye
There’s a book on my Christmas wish list that I wish I had now so I could consult it:
(image from Amazon.com)
Women in Science, by Rachel Ignotofsky
Ada Lovelace is the scientist who came immediately to my mind; and because her name is unusual, the scientist comes to my mind whenever I hear it. That’s my favorite from your list.
I can add Elizabeth Blackwell and Grace Hopper. But the names Elizabeth and Grace don’t bring the doctor or the mathematician/programmer to my mind.
I know we’re seeing what we can think of off the tops of our heads, but here’s a link to Wikipedia’s Women in Science page, in case anyone would like to jog their memories: Wikipedia: Women in Science.
Name update:
Hi Swistle,
This is an update for my post, Science-Related Names for Girls, that you published about a year ago. I can’t believe its been that long!
We did not find out the sex of our baby before birth, but I had a strong feeling that it was a girl. So much so, that I couldn’t focus on figuring out boy names at all. (Does that happen to other people?) Our top names for girls were Ada, Octavia, Luna, and Z0ra. I thought I would end up with an Ada because it seemed to fit so perfectly with the theme. We did have a girl, and her name is Z0ra Valentin@.
We originally found her name on our family tree; she was my husband’s great-grandmother. I’m a big reader, so I also liked the association with the author. Just a little while after deciding on her name, I saw your twitter poll on people’s impressions of Z0ra, and it cemented that it was perfect for us. Vintage + space princess is exactly what we wanted. We chose Valentin@ because I wanted something that worked for the Italian-speaking side of my family, and also for the first female astronaut.
So my son’s first name is space/astronomy-related, and his middle is from our family tree, and my daughter’s is vice-versa. We love her name, and we also loved all of the comments and suggestions on the original post. Thank you!
Faye
Ada is my favorite from your list. If you broaden science to include the medical field, I would include:
Florence (Nightingale) and Clara (Barton). Not sure if everyone would immediately draw the connection.
Sticking with the medical field, I rather like the name Metrodora. She was a Greek Physician and writer of a medical book on women’s health.
I love this question! A few other names that make me think of the scientists in question: Rosalind (Franklin) and Lise (Meitner).
I was going to suggest Rosalind!
I was going to suggest Lise (Meitner) as well!
Seconding Rosalind! It’s only sexism that kept her from winning a Nobel.
I also came for Rosalind!
What about some of those last names? Curie? Lovelace? Barton? Jemison?
Mae Carol Jemison is who I thought of as well!
I was going to suggest Curie and Jemison as pretty names that would be recognizable especially Curie
How about after the first female astronaut Valentina Tereshkova? Valentina is beautiful and reminds me of Anastasia
Ada would be my first choice, but her actual given name was Augusta, which even more obviously fits the pattern of Anastasia and Aurora, if that’s a bonus.
I also really like the suggestion of Rosalind. Tycho and Rosalind? That’s beautiful.
I also thought of Ann Druyan (who I believe is an Annie, which I like, and there’s also Annie Dillard) and Rachel Carson.
Upon reading the title my first thought was Ada and my 2nd was Florence as it was on our personal list in honor of Florence Nightingale. I LOVE names that honor influential historical figures but I’m not super interested in the sciences (just more of a literature nerd myself) so I don’t have any great suggestions except I want to recommend the book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. It has 100 inspirational women featured, some influential in the field of science, some in social issues, literature, etc. But its a great place for inspiration. Some are very well known women (Florence Nightingale, Rosa Parks) while others I’d never heard of so it’s a good mixture. And you might find yourself inspired by someone who’s not necessarily a scientist but a more positive, strong role model than a Disney princess! I think it’s particularly important for girls to be given strong role models and reminded all we can accomplish, so I hope you find someone really great!
Tych0 is such a distinct name, that it’s easy to see that when people know who the scientist Tych0 is, they can immediately draw the connection. It would be harder with most female scientists for that to be immediately obvious as most have pretty classic sounding first names—except for Ada, which does draw a quick connection for me.
Or, if you’re feeling adventurous (and Tych0 is an awesomely adventurous name) Hypatia would fit the bill as well.
Looking forward to an update!
OMG I love Ada mostly because there is also a children’s book called “Ada Twist, Scientist which is adorable and you could read to her!
Ada Twist is an Ada Marie, which would be doubly nice here too!
Here some other names I could think of: Amelie (after Emmy Noether, who was actually named Amelie), Eugenie (Eugenie Clark), Maryam (after the first woman to win the Fields Medal–I can’t think of her last name right now).
Ever since I read about Maria Sybilla Merian she has been a favorite of mine-a naturalist and scientific painter. Plus ALL THREE names work as namesakes. If I had three more daughters….
I misspelled her middle name-it’s Sibylla. EVEN BETTER YOU GUYS.
Just read about this chemist named Isabella who sounded pretty fascinating: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/isabella-l-karle-chemist-who-helped-reveal-structure-of-molecules-dies-at-95/2017/10/20/c778f268-b4ee-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html?utm_term=.66eed47ce1e7
And how about Sylvia, for marine biologist Sylvia Earle?
I’m not too up on my female scientists (or male scientists for that matter), so my first thought was Athena, as the embodiment of wisdom (or some other similar historical/mythical figure). In fact, I quite like Tycho and Athena as a sibset. But, I like the idea of the explicit parallel that Tycho and Ada, or Tycho and Marie sets up better, the idea that “men and women can be scientists and discover great things” vs. “men can be scientists and women can be smart in other ways.”
Athena! Or perhaps her counterpart, Minerva.
I think along with Tycho, Ada will get you the head nod for Ada Lovelace.
I like the name Linnea a lot, but that’s acknowledging a male scientist and not a woman.
Ada and Rosalind were my first thoughts, either of them would be wonderful with Tych0.
I also thought of Beatrix Potter who, in addition to being an author and illustrator, was a natural scientist at a time when women didn’t frequently obtain higher education.
Temple (Grandin) would give you alliteration.
Would you consider Hypatia? To me, that would be the most similar to Tych0 in terms of unusualness and association with a specific scientist. Also, I think Hi is an adorable nickname. (Although if you call Tych0 Ty, maybe it’s too rhymy?)
Also fair warning, I think there’s an Anne McCaffrey novel with a character named Hypatia, so people may associate the name with that.
Rosalind immediately came to mind. So did Lise (Meitner), who also was snubbed from Nobel Prize, but that might have a negative association since she worked creating nuclear fission. Ada is great too!
My head instantly went to Hedy Lamarr! She as an actress in the 1930s but during WWII she developed a guidance system for Allied torpedoes! She was beautiful and smart and totally unappreciated.
My next thought was Marie Curie, and i love the idea of Curie as a first name!
I was just thinking that Curie would be an obvious nod to the scientist and have the same level of uniqueness that Tycho has!
Barbara McClintock – noble prize winner for discovering genes. I think her last name would be a cool first.
Hedy Lamar was a beautiful actress and invented a communication system that is the basis for cell phones. Story is that she wrote the first equations on a car windshield in lipstick.
Cecilia Payne discovered make up of stars and was the first female science prof at Harvard.
While not a scientist I love the name Sojourner
Most of the other women scientists I can think of don’t have names as cool as your sons.
How about Dian (Fossey) or Irene (Joliot-Curie)?
For what it’s worth – I don’t think of Aurora as a Disney princess first. It makes me think of the Northern Lights phenomenon, Aurora Borealis,.
My name! With Borealis in the middle so it’s definitely always felt more science/natural phenomenon than Disney princess to me. Growing up in a less princess-iffied time, I was a little confused the first time someone pointed out the princess thing to me (I generally responded to with a weirded out look of derision until I grew up enough to get polite/think the askers were tiny and cute).
And that’s one way to go of course if none of the scientist names satisfy—to the science itself.
Ooh – Mileva, after Einstein’s first wife. She was a gifted physicist and likely collaborator on his projects, although she was never credited for it.
I know a girl named Curie, so I think it would definitely work as a first name
I thought of Florence right away. I also once encountered a young woman named Nightingale (nicknamed Gale). I believe she was named after the bird, but I think it would work as a scientist name too.
I really like Ada & Rosalind. Neither are quite as obvious as Tych0 though. I don’t think I’d think science if I ran across an Ada, and Rosalind would make me think Russell first, but paired with Tych0, the science connection is pretty strong. It also occurred to me that the old-Hollywood glam vibe of Rosalind could help make it appeal to your husband.
Dian (Fossey, esp. that spelling), Hedy (Lamar/splits science with glam). If you wanted to go really obvious & uncommon, there is always Hypatia. Or what about branching out a bit away from strict scientists? Perhaps something like Helen (patron saint of archaeologists), Amelia (Earhart), or Mina (Rees/mathematician) would also convey the message you are looking for?
I’ve been wondering if Anning, after Mary Anning, would work as a first name for a girl. Or maybe it would just be confused with Annie.
Beatrix, Rosalind, & Ada are my favorites from the names mentioned so far.
I second going with last names of scientists! More Obvious your intentions!
My first thought was Rosalyn (Yalow), but I really like the suggestion of Rosalind with the brother name.
I see Rosalind was already called out! Rosalind has a STRONG Rosalind Franklin connection for me. I think Rosalind or Ada are the Strongest Connections to Women Scientists.
Other scientists:
Virginia (Apgar, inventor of the Apgar score for newborns and therefore has impacted the lives of millions of families)
Elinor (Ostrom, whose economic study of the commons is freaking AMAZING, Nobel prize winner)
Dorothy (Crowfoot Hodgkin, who used X-ray diffraction to discover a bunch of important molecules’ structures, like vitamin B12, Nobel prize winner)
Rachel (Carson, environmentalist extraordinaire)
Sally (Ride, astronaut and first American woman in space)
I’m partial to Virginia. I love the nn Ginny as in Ginny Weasley.
Would you be open to social scientists?
Leta (Leta Stetter Hollingsworth)–“an early pioneer of psychology in the United States. She studied with Edward Thorndike and made a name for herself for her research on intelligence and gifted children. Another of her important contributions was her research on the psychology of women. The prevailing opinion at the time was that women were intellectually inferior to men. Hollingworth challenged these assumptions and her research demonstrated that women were as intelligent and capable as men were.” Love love love Leta with Tycho!
1. Great name on your son!
2. If you have another boy (just sayin’!), do you like Kelvin?! (Tych0 & Kelvin)
3. Andromeda could work; she’s got a lot in common with Anastasia and Aurora but is CLEARLY astronomical. (Tych0 & Andromeda).
4. Minerva *might* also be in your wheel house.
Congratulations and best wishes!!
Sophia is the embodiment of wisdom (which may be part of the reason it is so popular).
I second Athena from above. Great idea. Wikipedia offers Sia as an egyptian goddess of wisdom.
Have you looked at the periodic table? I had a look when the poster related to an Aurora nn Goldie and there are some really cool names you can get from the periodic table (like Iris which inspired Iridium).
You could also have science related initials (you can see I’m not a scientist as I don’t have an example).
I heard once about a little girl named after HIldegard of Bingen who was a scientist.
There is also the patron saint of chemists Cosmas which gives you Cosima.
Most (great!) names already suggested here don´t have the advantage of Tych0 — they don´t immediately point to a science connection only. I would like to recommend Hildegard (of Bingen) very much, she not only fits this rule but also has the same amount of history and science “feel” as your son´s name and was a very remarkable woman. Otherwise, Ada :-)
Marie Curie’s middle name was Salomea, which is definitely more distinctive, although I’m not sure how many people know it.
I really love the suggestion of Andromeda, though! Tych0 and Andromeda make an amazing sibset. I also love Valentina, Rosalind, and Hypatia.
Agree that Rosalind is great.
How about Jocelyn (as in Bell Burnell)? Jocelyn Aurora has a good ring to it.
Or Williamina (unusual spelling) for Williamina Fleming.
Curie! I love it so much. I think all the other names are so classic that they don’t scream (or even whisper “science”) but Curie does and also matches the uniqueness of Tycho. There is a doctor in my town named Currie Lastname who is young and attractive plus my grandmother grew up in Currie, Minnesota SO I have all good feelings about Curie/Currie. I also am so curious about what you are considering for a boy :) Good luck and update us!
I also just want to add that my 5 yr old daughter is very into Disney princesses and could name all of them but wouldn’t know who Anastasia is. We have many Disney princess things and Anastasia is not included in any of them. I had to think for a moment about why you listed both names as princess names. So all this is to say – I think you are safe with Anastasia and I think its a beautiful name and it does connotate strength and intelligence to me, even if I couldn’t quite tell you why. :)
That’s because Anastasia wasn’t a Disney movie, it was Don Bluth and Fox Animation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia_(1997_film)). I’ve always loved the movie, though!
what about Maud?
I was thinking of Maud Menten (biochemist, i believe) but when I looked up if her name was spelled with a e on the end, I was reminded of Maud Slye (pathology/genetics)
From all the suggestions so far I like Ada, Florence, Rosalind, Valentina, and Virginia for you.
Okay, here’s a good one: “Vera Florence Cooper Rubin was an American astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation rates. She uncovered the discrepancy between the predicted angular motion of galaxies and the observed motion, by studying galactic rotation curves.”
Plus Vera means truth and she just died last year.
I am really on board with the famous-sciencey-last-name-as-first-name train. Choo-choo!
Curie. Tycho and Curie.
Fossey. Tycho and Fossey.
Joliot. Tycho and Joliot (too rhymey? too honoring-the-dude without the -Curie?)
I love Lovelace but it makes me think of the porn star. Ditto Jemison, unfortunately. I’m so jaded.
Also here for:
Hypatia. Tycho and Hypatia.
Andromeda. Tycho and Andromeda.
Nova? Tycho and Nova. (kinda makes me think of the show and the car)
Tych0’s book was titled “Nova Stella” which could be a lovely choice for your daughter’s name.
Aurora doesn’t immediately scream Disney princess to me. I would think about The Odessey if this was a sister to Tych0. I especially like it paired with Aurelia (periodical table / golden dawn meaning).
Calpurnia. This name is not “science-y” As much as literary. I love it paired with Tych0 though.
Tesla nn Tess.
Darwin nn Winnie
Pascal nn Callie
Rainer was one of the scientists recently awarded a Nobel Prize for the work on gravitational waves. What really awesome science, proving Einstein right! Rainer could be a good name for your daughter.
This list has some good options: https://www.google.com/amp/www.momjunction.com/articles/smart-intelligent-wise-clever-baby-girl-and-boy-names_00400891/%3famp=1
Thank you, thank you to everyone for all the ideas! I am adding many (all?) of them to our list. Funny that Ada was a favorite….that is my favorite too, so far. Love Rosalind, Valentina, Beatrix, Hedy, Florence and Andromeda (bonus Harry Potter reference!!)
Also, it was interesting that people suggested using a last name. I was actually thinking about using a last name but in a different context-my mom’s maiden name. There are no male relatives in my generation so it will die with her and her siblings. The problem is that my husband and I already use both our last names for our kids, so using a last name for the first name would result in three last names. For example, Curie Hernandez Lawson. I can’t decide if I like it or if it sounds like a roll call.
Thanks too for the book suggestions! I will get them, for sure.
I’m not a fan of lasts-as-firsts in general, so I guess that’s why I keep thinking noooooo to the suggestions. I don’t think you are going to find as strong an association as Tych0 or Kelvin, but I think people will definitely get there from Rosalind or Ada or Dian or oh wow, Hedy. And again, my own preferences, but I like using those names so much more than naming her after a scientific phenomena like Aurora or Andromeda, in order to honor an actual woman who studied and learned things. I love this idea, I really do.
Please, please update us. I’m rooting for Rosalind.
Nearly every name that I thought of has been mentioned here already. This is a great list of women scientists! The only one I haven’t seen mentioned is Christiane (Nüsslein-Volhard/genetics of embryo development).
One name you might consider is actually a male scientist, but absolutely works as a girl’s name: Nikola (Tesla).
This was fun! Thanks!
The Fields Medalist was Maryam Mirzakhani. She just died this summer at the age of 40 from cancer. She was a prof at Stanford, as is her husband. I’d definitely have her name on the short list if I had another daughter.
I’m late to the game here, but I love Linnea, which is a feminized version of Linneous, honoring Carolous Linneous who formalized our modern taxonomic system. As a biologist, this one is near and dear to me. Also there are some adorable children’s books featuring a little girl named Linnea.
It doesn’t fit particularly well with Tych0 but I LOVE using Grace and the primary nickname Bug as a nod to both Grace Hopper’s last name and to the fact that she coined the term BUG for a computer glitch. (I had a friend growing up who went exclusively by Bug and it fit her to a T)
As someone already pointed out, Anastasia is NOT a Disney princess. There was an animated movie incredibly loosely based on the real life (and conspiracy theories about her survival after her entire family was executed) of Anastasia Romanov, one of the daughters of the last Tsar of Russia. Anyway, beautiful name, but not a Disney Princess!
I’m really loving the ideas others have posted, and love your son’s name!
Oh! Another thought! We have friends who are big time science fans (chemistry, specifically), and have named both of their children by combining abbreviations of elements from the Periodic Table. A little out there, but they’re both great names!
CURIE CURIE CURIE CURIE. i think for most people who aren’t well versed on science *which according to recent events is basically virtually all of america, including the government) the first names won’t have a lot of context to make one think “scientist” but Curie should get any reasonably educated person there.
I second Beatrix for Potter! And I’ll throw Flavia into the mix. Flavia de Luce is a fictional character, but she’s a child sleuth who solves crimes by working out the solutions in her chemistry lab. She’s in a series of books by Alan Bradley. It could be the science+book connection to her brother and is similarly unusual.
I just thought of Astrid. Not a scientist that I’m aware of, but sounds sciency and also has a literary connection thanks to Pippi Longstocking. In a similar vein to your husband’s suggestions – but definitely not a princess!
Tycho & Astrid.
What do you think?