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Help[Opinions] "Femme Fatale" names
This is more a discussion of the kind of names we give characters, rather than real people. I made a post a while back about "mean girl" names with this same intent, but that got some pushback, so I want to state right out the gate: I am not judging real bearers of these names in any way.
That said...
What are names that give a "femme fatale" image? It doesn't really matter the era - could be film noir / 1940s or today, or maybe even futuristic - but what are names that make you think of a woman wielding her femininity as a weapon, expertly playing the people around her like pieces on a chessboard?
Two names that immediately come to mind for me are Sasha and Natasha, and I'm not completely sure why. Maybe the "-asha" endings remind me of swishing fabric? I'm really interested to read what people come up with!
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Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
That said...
What are names that give a "femme fatale" image? It doesn't really matter the era - could be film noir / 1940s or today, or maybe even futuristic - but what are names that make you think of a woman wielding her femininity as a weapon, expertly playing the people around her like pieces on a chessboard?
Two names that immediately come to mind for me are Sasha and Natasha, and I'm not completely sure why. Maybe the "-asha" endings remind me of swishing fabric? I'm really interested to read what people come up with!
***
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/117507
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/132018
Replies
Anuschka, Elektra, Lucrezia, Ruslana, Svetlana, Veruschka
Veronica has always felt like a femme fatale to me.
I think I can explain Natasha ...
In the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, the villains were a couple called Boris Badinov and Natasha Fatale. This was very obviously a nod to the tensions with the US and the Soviet Union during the sixties/cold war period.
Some names that call to mind femme fatale to me:
Dominique
Gisela/Giselle
Desiree
Valentina
Simone
Gabrielle
Lola
Rita
(these last two in a tacky, not-very-elegant way; blowsy and slouchy rather than glamorous and mysterious)
Adrienne/Adriana
Astrid
Raquel
Carmen
Serena, somewhat
Alexis, somewhat
In the old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, the villains were a couple called Boris Badinov and Natasha Fatale. This was very obviously a nod to the tensions with the US and the Soviet Union during the sixties/cold war period.
Some names that call to mind femme fatale to me:
Dominique
Gisela/Giselle
Desiree
Valentina
Simone
Gabrielle
Lola
Rita
(these last two in a tacky, not-very-elegant way; blowsy and slouchy rather than glamorous and mysterious)
Adrienne/Adriana
Astrid
Raquel
Carmen
Serena, somewhat
Alexis, somewhat
You hit the nail on the head with this list. The only one I disagree with is Astrid, she seems too logical and straightforward to be a femme fatale.
Dominique! That's a great one. I also agree with Giselle, Desiree (only this spelling - I think variants are a bit more girlish and "cuter"), Valentina, Simone, Lola (this one has a sense of humor), Adrienne, Raquel, and Carmen.
forgot to include ...
Justine and Claudia
Justine and Claudia
I think of Hollywood noirs, so names like Barbara (Stanwyck), Gene (Tierney), and Bette (Davis) come to mind.
I agree with wolvin for Scarlett, very Femme Fatale.
-asha is because Russians have been cast as the villains in a bunch of stuff for the past 70+ years.
I think mostly of Uma Thurman
I'm curious about Anna & Elizabeth's inclusion on this list. The "classics" I've never thought about in this context - in fact, my image of these names is rather wholesome.
Totally agree about Anastasia, Scarlett, Michelle, Alexandra, Gabrielle, and Veronica.
Totally agree about Anastasia, Scarlett, Michelle, Alexandra, Gabrielle, and Veronica.
Cleo, Vanessa, Cassandra
Most of the feminine names that I like are very frilly and sweet, but the few that come to mind for me are Scarlett, Amelia, and Vivienne (or any alternatives of those names you may prefer). Scarlett especially because femme fatales are typically associated with red, and scarlet is a shade of red. Although that may be a touch cliche, haha
Oooh, Scarlett is a good one! And I agree about Vivienne (Vivian and Vivien, too). Not sure I agree with Amelia, though, as that one sounds rather sweet to my ears.
Amalia, maybe?
Amalia, maybe?