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[Opinions] Edwilda
I stumbled upon this name on Wikipedia today. It appears to be a very rare name, but it has been in use in the United States since at least the mid-1860s (if FamilySearch can serve as any indication). The meaning and origin seem a bit uncertain, but it is likely a combination of any name starting with Edw- (such as Edward and Edwin) with Hilda or names ending in -ilda or -ilde (such as Matilda and Clothilde).What do you think of it? I think the name is a little bit on the clunky side, but it's rather feisty at the same time, which makes it charming. It's definitely much better than the similar-looking Edwina and its variant spellings (Edweena, Edwena and Edwyna), which seem a little bit whiny and snobbish to me.

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on... when in your heart you begin to understand... there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend... some hurts that go too deep... that have taken hold." ~ Frodo Baggins
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Edwilda is fun. I've always like Wilda ("wil-" not "wile-") and Edwina. So Edwilda is a kick in the pants for a nerd. But in real life i fear Edwilda would not thank you. Apart from being different, it's so close to Edwina. I had to squint to make sure it wasn't Edwina (which I love, btw). Then again, maybe a real life Edwilda would like going by the nn Wilda. And . . . . I win -- which is what the internet was invented for, right?
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It's interesting. I still prefer Edwina, but Edwilda isn't that bad actually and I think it could work these days as well.
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It's not my style. It seems sort of foreign? But isn't difficult. No clunkier than Clementine or Harriet. I'd much rather meet a young Edwilda than any of Matilda, Clothilde, Hilda, Romilda, Griselda, Edwarda, or Edwina. Prettier, more interesting, and like you say, less whiny and snobbish. You would probably not see any Pottery Barn bed linens named Edwilda, is what I think I mean? If you know what I mean.
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I like it! It reminds me of a medieval saints name, like Lidwina and Jadwiga.
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