I’ve realized that I think
Iva (EE-va) is my favorite female name. (I also don’t mind EYE-va, but I prefer the former pronunciation.) “I” names, in general, have all become favorites (
Irina,
Inez,
Ilana,
Iris, et al), but
Iva “steals the show” for me with its sleek simplicity. I have also been gravitating toward combos with short first names complemented by elaborate middle names. I’ve been considering
Iva Clarissa as my favorite, but
Iva Clementina also speaks to me. Would you consider
Iva?
Also, sadly, someone whom I had been seeing for the past year, who had been struggling with his mental health, committed suicide on
September 30. He was Bulgarian, so in his honor, I have been considering Bulgarian names, in amare memoriæ.