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Baby names

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Original poster

Penelope or Felicity

46 replies

Frillyfarmer · 28/09/2019 21:38

We've gone around and around and these are two we can agree on - names I love which he has already vetoed are Leonora, Eliza and Cordelia (can you tell my preference was names ending in a?!)

So, our last name is Thatcher, we like Penelope and Felicity. Middle name slightly tricky as we both like Evelyn/Evangeline but that gives the initial "PET" and we both like Grace but again my husband thinks she will get called PG Tips 🙄

If we picked Penelope the intention would be Nel/Nella as a NN, I don't like Fliss or Flick as a NN for Felicity which is my main reservation on that name.

Thoughts, suggestions of names I might not have thought of and criticisms all welcome 😊

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Inlovewitharagorn · 02/10/2019 22:24

I love Felicity. It was our pick for our child (he was a boy).
We were going to use Liss/Lissa for a NN.

PushkinTheCat · 02/10/2019 22:15

Felicity is such a lovely name!

CircleofWillis · 02/10/2019 15:08

Don't use Felicity with the surname Thatcher. It it awkward switching between the F and Th initial sounds.

Confusedbeetle · 02/10/2019 14:54

dont worry about the nn. We have a Felicity and a Penelope. They get Pen Penny and Flick. when names become associated with the child you like them. Even horrible names become tolerable. Worry less. Dont tell any one until after the birth then they cant tell you they dont lke them

Gummibaerchen1 · 02/10/2019 14:49

I prefer Felicity

CatteStreet · 02/10/2019 06:05

Middle name, not surname Hmm

CatteStreet · 02/10/2019 06:04

Like the idea of a one-syllable surname (but not the ubiquitous Grace). I'd go vaguely retro:

Penelope/Felicity Jane
Penelope/Felicity Hope
Penelope/Felicity Claire
Penelope/Felicity Anne
Penelopy/Felicity Ruth

CatteStreet · 02/10/2019 06:02

Penelope and Felicity would be great twin names!

I like them both but Felicity edges it.

spottygymbag · 02/10/2019 05:49

Penelope- we have one (Penny) and love that there are different nicknames she can choose when she's older. Also we haven't met another one in her age group yet!

Bishbosh84 · 29/09/2019 17:36

Definitely overthinking the initials OP!
I love Penelope and I love Penny...I normally absolutely hate name shortenings but Penny is just lovely

123Dancewithme · 29/09/2019 14:52

Penelope Thatcher sounds better

Antonin · 29/09/2019 12:50

Penelope gets my vote

KronksSpinachPuffs · 29/09/2019 12:43

They're both lovely but I'd choose Penelope personally, love the nn Nell

CalamityJune · 29/09/2019 12:34

I know a Felicity with nickname Tilly

LarkDescending · 29/09/2019 12:23

I prefer Felicity by miles and don’t have any difficulty saying Felicity Thatcher. i like Lissy as a NN for Felicity (I know another sometimes called Fee or Fifi).

MimiSunshine · 29/09/2019 12:17

If I say it out loud then I trip over saying Felicity Fatcher instead of Thatcher so I’d go for Penelope

MissHenty · 29/09/2019 09:43

I like both

NoSauce · 29/09/2019 08:51

Penelope.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 29/09/2019 08:33

Just read your update OP. We have similar taste in names: my DD is Miranda and my cat is Cordelia. My "other"names were Artemis, Hebe and Ianthe .... do love Penelope though.

Linnet · 29/09/2019 00:21

Felicity

Astronica · 29/09/2019 00:10

Both great names. I'm choosing Penelope as I think it sounds better with the surname and love nn Nel. No issue with the initials. I like Grace best in the middle.
Other Felicity nns: Cissy, Cece, Lissy, Fifi.

DramaAlpaca · 28/09/2019 22:57

I agree with the recent posters that Penelope goes better with the surname.

I love both names, but the surname thing swings it for me.

As for the middle name, I'd go short, one syllable.

FuckOffBoris · 28/09/2019 22:54

I agree with PP that Penelope easier to say with your surname.

Tweetingmagpie · 28/09/2019 22:47

Penelope goes better with your surname but I love them both!

Passmethecrisps · 28/09/2019 22:45

I have properly read your op and I can probably be of actual use!

People will naturally go for penny as a nickname so you will have to be extremely explicit about that not being the name you are going for. Decide if you intend her to be Penelope with occasional Nelly or if nell/nelly will be her name. The latter would be easier I think.

My F is a Fliss for us but as a nickname it hasn’t stuck at all. Most people call her felicity and Fliss is just for us. No one ever shortens it to anything. I think it’s because it doesn’t have an obvious one. That suits me perfectly actually.

So nicknames and unintentional shortening is more of a concern with Penelope but doesn’t need to be an issue if you are prepared at the beginning.

People comment more on Felicity. I get “wow! What an amazing name” with that. We don’t live in typical felicity territory though so she will be the only one most have ever met.

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