Harper Addy

Mathanxiety is right - Penelope Rose Addy is a beautiful name, that's what I would go for, personally.

Orla is lovely but a bit of a mouthful with your surname.

Using the name Harper on the grounds that 'it was my favourite book' seems likes its intended to excuse susceptibility to a big American trend. As if to say, no no no, I didn't choose a sur name ending in -er for my daughter because that's a current American trend, no, I chose it because I read a book by Harper Lee. But it just compounds the cringe factor for me. So, of all the books out there, you name your daughter after a book that was on the school syllabus (at one point, for most people).

BifsWif not singling out anybody on this thread but it is something I have read and heard more than once.

There was another book written at the same time from a black girl's perspective. Can anybody remember the name of that book? bonus points if you can....

At least the Beckhams didn't claim this, they were quoted as saying it was a character off a tv show their boys watched......... Merlin, was it?

ps Eggrique exactly! even if a woman chooses to take a husband's sur name 30 years from now (and we have to assume that that will be less likely then than it is now ) that is still thirty years with a name that doesn't flow well . And I agree with your other point too, a person's name is their first name and their second name. Unless you're Madonna, Beyoncé or Rhianna then you're going to need a sur name.

I think the longer names work better with your surname as then they stand out as first and second names easier

Penelope Rose Addy
Penelope Harper Rose Addy - maybe better with 2 Middle names

Or

Rosalie Penelope Lyn Addy

Willow and Orls I think are lovely names
Not a fan of Jarper as people will think you're a big beckhams fan and the "jokes" will get tiresome.

Sorry typos

I liked Willow on your old thread, but Penelope sounds nice. She won't be called by her full name that often so unless it's imposssible to say it wouldn't bother me too much.
Caitlyn Addy
Iris Addy
Names that end in n, s, k work well with your surname, but like I say I don't think it's the be and end all.

f0x It was called 'I know why the caged bird sings' by Maya Angelou

OP I like the suggestion of Roselyn Willow Addy. I think Rosie for short would be very sweet ;)
Agree with others that Harper Addy seems like an abbreviation of Harper Adams University - in fact that's why I opened this thread!

Penelope will be shortened to Penny. Penny Addy dies not work sorry.
Live the Rosalyn/Rosalynne etc idea.
Mariella rose Addy
Melissa rose addy
Elizabeth Rose Addy
Meredith/Marianna/Nastassja/Elora/. Charlotte Rose

Does not dies

Thanks F0x you get what I mean absolutely.
I'm not saying I think a whole name has to be 'matchy matchy' Vijac I was disagreeing with what you said about most people being known by only one name, a whole name is on all your official records from birth, through school, college/university, medical, employment, driving licence, passport etc. etc.

What I really took exception to though was the comment about girls ditching their own surname in perhaps 20-30+ years and taking on someone else's I know some women will be Ann for their entire lives and Smith for maybe only part of it, but we're talking about the whole little person now for the forseeable future, one who may never marry and if she does may well decide to keep her own given names.

Looking up the highest climbing names of 2014, Harper was number 1 and Orla number 6 of the Top Ten. Don't know if that has any bearing for you OP?

Yes, I have the sur name I was born with! I am in my 40s now and I wouldn't change now even if I got married. It would just feel odd now, and I also feel that the social climate has changed sufficiently since most of my friends got married between 1995 & 2005 (ish). From a position back then of having to explain the decision to keep one's own name now, I feel a shift, now, women would have to explain why they were changing their name. So that is significant and shouldn't be ignored if choosing a baby's name. It needs to go with the sur name!

TheSecretCervix thanks, I knew there was a book out there from a black girl's perspective and I read it 30 years back (?) and I just couldn't remember who wrote it. Thank you!

I will second that Orla Addy is lovely, has a nice ring to it.

Alice Lynn Addy
Ella Rose Addy
Alex Rose Addy

Ps I like your surname, I went to uni with a girl with the same surname who was lovely x

For what it's worth Penelope gets my vote. Classic, quirky, win win! Also she doesn't have to become a Penny , my siblings have names which are usually shortened (think Elizabeth , Victoria) and nobody ever called them by anything other than the long form, some tried but were always told, no my name is Elizabeth not Lizzie etc. HTH

Do not under estimate the effects of a child growing up with a combination of first and surname that doesn't work. It's shite. Also, even if she changes her name upon marriage, she will have had 25 years or so of it.

I don't think Orla Addy works - whilst I like Orla, I think you need something without an a sound.

There are some great suggestions here. I like Roselyn Willow

I love the nn Nell or Nelly for Penelope

I have to agree that Orla Addy just doesn't work, sorry.

Alice Addy doesn't work, runs together - "Ali Saddy". Alicia Addy would work better as you have to make the break between the a's when spoken, but I don't think that's the OP's taste.

Harper Addy is absolutely fine. Harper was the highest climber of the 2014 girls' names so there will be a few of them about (77th in top 100).

Orla!

For some reason I am very invested in this thread. Please let us know when he she arrives and what you decide.

Fwiw I know a friend with 2 girls with the first 2 letters of your short surname and they have Elsie and Ivy. (I dont think the two names go together but they seem to work with the surname)

I know it wasn't one on your shortlist but can see it has been suggested and have to say I think Elizabeth Addy is beautiful