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Baby names

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Original poster

Catherine or Penelope?

35 replies

IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 16/09/2011 16:30

DC3 due in 10 weeks, don't know if boy or girl so trying to pick possible names for each and thought I'd canvass opinions on possible girls names.

I have always loved Catherine (has to be that spelling!) and almost used it for DD - only put off slightly by royal wedding association. I was fairly set on it this time round but now I'm also finding myself increasingly drawn to Penelope. Middle name would be Hope. Surname is short and begins with D.

So it would be:

Catherine Hope D... or
Penelope Hope D...

Any thoughts?

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brodanbell · 22/09/2011 21:23

I know I was in Camp Catherine, so excuse my bias, but not liking Nell or Penny would shelve a name for me. I know you intend on using the long form, but if you are going to have to put up with DH using the nn, will that drive you mad? Poppy is ok, but it does seem a tenuous link.....perhaps ditch Catherine and Penelope and go for Poppy?

NadiaWadia · 22/09/2011 21:13

Catherine is classic and has the nicest sound, IMHO.

Penelope OK but a bit 'jolly hockey sticks', or maybe that image is outdated now? I sppose more people would associate it with Penelope Cruz, which can only be good.

FrankH · 22/09/2011 19:30

IzzyWizzyetc. As a wildlife lover, and especially as a bird lover, I don't find the fact that "Penelope" means a sort of duck at all uninspiring - and clearly the Ancient Greeks didn't, since the heroine of one of their major epics was named such.

As I have a niece called "Kitty" i.e. Catherine, I also like that name.

Original poster
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 22/09/2011 19:13

Beatrice is fabulous too Smile. Sadly dh vetoed that one. And Felicity which was my other favourite Sad

OP posts:
usingapseudonym · 22/09/2011 19:10

I have a Sophie and am thinking about Catherine (would ahve to be Kitty or 'frin though as don't like Kath or Kathy)

We're also thinking about Beatrice.

beatofthedrum · 22/09/2011 18:58

Penelope is fantastic.

Original poster
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 22/09/2011 18:55

Thanks all - frankH and reallace I think the weaver thing comes from the Odysseus story rather than being a literal "meaning" of Penelope as such. Iirc (and it's a few years since I read this at school!) Penelope was Odysseus' beautiful wife and when he went away for many years (to a war?) she busied herself weaving a tapestry while her would-be suitors queued up wanting her to marry them. She said she would answer them when the tapestry was finished, and would weave it all day and then unpick it again at night when no one was looking so it never got finished and she never had to give an answer, until Odysseus came home. Or something like that. But I agree the duck meaning is rather uninspiring!!

I do still really like the name though. Hmmm...

Also, I'm not keen on Nell as a nn and find Penny pretty but slightly bland...personally I have no problem sticking to a full name but dh and others would undoubtedly shorten it; do you think I could steer them towards Poppy as a nn if necessary, or is that too tenuous?

With Catherine (which I think is losing slightly in terms of votes!) again I would try to stick to full name but could live with Kate or Katy if people (dh!) insist on shortening.

Not sure if this changes your opinions...

OP posts:
newmumma · 22/09/2011 08:58

not the greatest fan of Catherine I have to say - just too many of them in my year at school ( a million years ago of course). But i do LOVE the nn Kitty if that helps, and really don't like nn penny!

reallacecurtains · 21/09/2011 10:22

OK, Frank h, wonder if the ducks and weavers are in any way connected - research needed

tammytoby · 20/09/2011 18:43

Penelope is lovely and has lovely nicknames. Catherine is a little dull in comparison imo.

FrankH · 20/09/2011 02:37

reallacecurtains, whether or not there was a weaving connection, its main meaning was a sort of duck. Hence the scientific name for the Wigeon (duck)is Anas penelope.

ViviPru · 19/09/2011 23:47

Penelope for sure - Penny is not necessarily inevitable if she becomes an Nell (utterly lovely nn).
Or you could really push the boat out with Persephone :)

DontTellAnyonebut · 19/09/2011 17:37

Both on my list! Penelope over Catherine.

Meteorite · 19/09/2011 17:19

Penelope

Hassled · 19/09/2011 17:14

Catherine.
More nn options than the inevitable Penny.

reallacecurtains · 19/09/2011 17:13

I thought Penelope meant 'weaver' in Greek, FrankH, pene being the weaving 'pen'

reallacecurtains · 19/09/2011 17:11

Penelope, my mother's name, she was named after a ship. Gorgeous.

NotADudeExactly · 19/09/2011 12:03

Penelope.

Catherine is really, really bland.

FrankH · 19/09/2011 01:49

Catherine is based on the Greek word for "pure".
Penelope is ancient Greek for a sort of duck - a wigeon to be precise.

CollieandPup · 18/09/2011 11:55

Penelope for me I'm afraid! In think Penelope Hope sounds lovely. I think Carherine is very nice, and will be popular, but having said that wouldn't really worry about Royal associations. I just think Penelope has a little more about it. Yes, coud be called Penny, but Carherine coud become Cath, or Cathy which I personally don't like.

Penelope = PHD Grin that's got too be a good sign!! Grin

Grin @ Isaac, I love this! Very high contender for us!!!

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 17/09/2011 22:46

Definitely Catherine, and yes, spelt with a C!

brodanbell · 17/09/2011 22:41

Catherine is the better option here. It is a classic and i don't think you should be worried about Kate Middleton associations.

Penelope is not for me I'm afraid. I really dislike Penny as the inevitable nickname.

FessaEst · 17/09/2011 16:38

Catherine all the way for me!

Original poster
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 17/09/2011 16:35

Thanks all for your feedback so far - although no obvious consensus Confused

If it helps, other DCs are Isaac and Sophie...

OP posts:
CurwySwide · 17/09/2011 09:13

Catherine. Love it

Penelope reminds me of Penelope Pitstop. Sorry