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Help[Opinions] Fleda
I'm currently reading Henry James's mid-career novel The Spoils of Poynton, the heroine of which is named Fleda Vetch. I'm quite fond of the character and am even charmed by her name, though I suspect it's intended to sound shrewish. What do you think of Fleda?
ETA: I instinctively pronounce it as "FLEE-da"—does anyone instinctively pronounce it like "fled" (as in the past tense of "flee") + "a"?
Some combos:
Fleda Mary
Fleda Helen
Fleda Juliet
Fleda Constance
Fleda Emily
Fleda Margaret
Fleda Cecile
Fleda Lucy
Fleda Rachel
Fleda Patience
Fleda Margery
Fleda Sophie
Fleda Pearl
Fleda Fern
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Laurel
Fleda Opal
Fleda Ruby
Fleda Susan
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Lenore
Fleda Muriel
Fleda Janet
Fleda Ruth
Fleda Rosemary
Fleda Rosalind
Fleda Betony
Fleda Briony / Bryony
Fleda Verity
Fleda Frances
Fleda Esme
Fleda Amy
ETA: I instinctively pronounce it as "FLEE-da"—does anyone instinctively pronounce it like "fled" (as in the past tense of "flee") + "a"?
Some combos:
Fleda Mary
Fleda Helen
Fleda Juliet
Fleda Constance
Fleda Emily
Fleda Margaret
Fleda Cecile
Fleda Lucy
Fleda Rachel
Fleda Patience
Fleda Margery
Fleda Sophie
Fleda Pearl
Fleda Fern
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Laurel
Fleda Opal
Fleda Ruby
Fleda Susan
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Lenore
Fleda Muriel
Fleda Janet
Fleda Ruth
Fleda Rosemary
Fleda Rosalind
Fleda Betony
Fleda Briony / Bryony
Fleda Verity
Fleda Frances
Fleda Esme
Fleda Amy
This message was edited 2/17/2024, 3:38 PM
2
Replies
I find Henry James unreadable: well intentioned and skilful, but life is too short. Can't comment on the name in his context, therefore. I would assume it'd sound like FLEEda, which could fit into unsuitable sentences. 'I tol' yah - FLEAda cat!' or 'Da robbers done FLEEda cops'. Not particularly good for human usage.
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I would pronounce it "flay-dah". It reminds me of Die Fledermaus, the Strauss opera from the 1870s, two decades before James' book was published. The first syllable is pronounced "flay". A fledermaus is a bat.
"Vetch" is the name of a plant. It's sometimes considered a nuisance plant, an invasive weed, although I like it (pretty purple flowers, bees like it, and it has uses in farming). I don't know whether James had any of this symbolic meaning in mind when he named his character, though.
"Vetch" is the name of a plant. It's sometimes considered a nuisance plant, an invasive weed, although I like it (pretty purple flowers, bees like it, and it has uses in farming). I don't know whether James had any of this symbolic meaning in mind when he named his character, though.
1
Flee da, don't like it
1
Maybe I'm dumb but I first read it as FLAY-duh... Like Freya.
2
I suppose my pronunciation is guided by my instinctive pronunciation of Freda...
ETA: I just listened to the first few minutes of the audio book, and the reader (classically trained actress Juliet Stevenson) pronounces Fleda as I do. :)
ETA: I just listened to the first few minutes of the audio book, and the reader (classically trained actress Juliet Stevenson) pronounces Fleda as I do. :)
This message was edited 2/17/2024, 4:28 PM
2
Ohhh, that makes sense.
1
I instinctively pronounce it ‘fled-a’, but I like both pronunciations about equally.
I quite like it! I enjoy names like Elfleda and Ethelfleda, but they feel pretty heavy. It reminds me of my love for Elfrida nn Frida.
I like:
Fleda Cecile
Fleda Margery (very ‘bar maiden’ lol)
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Rosemary
Fleda Bryony
Also:
Fleda Marguerite
Fleda Josephine
Fleda Laureline
Fleda Petronelle
Fleda Bernadette
Fleda Richemay
I quite like it! I enjoy names like Elfleda and Ethelfleda, but they feel pretty heavy. It reminds me of my love for Elfrida nn Frida.
I like:
Fleda Cecile
Fleda Margery (very ‘bar maiden’ lol)
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Rosemary
Fleda Bryony
Also:
Fleda Marguerite
Fleda Josephine
Fleda Laureline
Fleda Petronelle
Fleda Bernadette
Fleda Richemay
1
Ooh, I love Fleda Petronelle, Fleda Bernadette, and especially Fleda Richemay.
1
I didn’t like it until you mentioned the last name of the character. Cool for a character for sure!
2
I instinctively pronounced it "Flay-da" and assumed it was originally short for something like Alfleda or Elfleda.
I don't like it as much as similar names like Frida, Freda, Freya, Flora, Flavia.
I think these work:
Fleda Mary
Fleda Helen
Fleda Constance
Fleda Margaret
Fleda Margery
Fleda Pearl
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Ruth
Fleda Rosemary
I don't like it as much as similar names like Frida, Freda, Freya, Flora, Flavia.
I think these work:
Fleda Mary
Fleda Helen
Fleda Constance
Fleda Margaret
Fleda Margery
Fleda Pearl
Fleda Elsbeth
Fleda Ingrid
Fleda Ruth
Fleda Rosemary
This message was edited 2/17/2024, 3:47 PM
3