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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

A classic girls name that can be shortened

91 replies

ohfook · 19/09/2021 11:13

Our daughter is called Penelope but now she's older prefers to be called Penny.

I'm pregnant with another girl and would like to do the same again. Give her a classic name with an option of shortening it if they'd prefer (pretty sure dd has shortened hers because it's less hassle to write on the back of worksheets in school.)

My favourite it Elizabeth/Lizzie but dh absolutely hates that name so it's off the table.

Does anyone have any ideas for other similar names?

I do also really like Esther but I'm not sure what that shortens to and also have a sneaking suspicion I might be pronouncing it wrong.

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ChocolateRiver · 23/09/2021 08:08

Harriet to Hattie or Henrietta to Hetty.

mogtheexcellent · 23/09/2021 08:08

Esther can be Essie

Constance would also work with penelope

ChocolateRiver · 23/09/2021 08:07

Constance to Connie and Cecilia to Ceci.

slug · 23/09/2021 08:05

Alexandra - Lexi, Alex (gender non specific and therefore very useful for CVs etc)

popcorndiva · 23/09/2021 08:00

We have a short surname so on our list was only long names with options of nn the were

Felicity (Fliss or Flick) was the eventual name for DD
Clarissa (Clarrie)
Annalise (Annie)
Cecilia (Cece)
Meredith (Merry)

Peaseblossum22 · 23/09/2021 08:00

So lovely to see Penelope coming back , I was born in the sixties and it was very popular then, we had three in our year , Penny, Pepe, and Nell.

Champersandchocolate · 23/09/2021 07:56

@Nillynally I have a Penelope and a Florence. 😊 they get complimented a lot for their names. They are lovely xx

Champersandchocolate · 23/09/2021 07:55

@ohfook I have a Penelope too! She has a sister called Florence - that I haven't shortened. I'm also pregnant again and if it's a girl we like Harriet and Harri for short 😊 happy to share as we seem to like the same kind of names!

ClaraThree · 23/09/2021 07:53

Sarah - Sally

BeaFlowers · 23/09/2021 07:51

Agatha - Aggie, Tag, Taggie
Alison - Ali, Aly
Lillith - Lily
Katherine - Kate, Kathy
Adele - Del, Dellie
Belinda - Bell, Linnie
Margaret- Maggie, Mags

Mercedes519 · 23/09/2021 07:39

Just a thought on shortening…it’s much easier for kids if the shortening is the same initial as their ‘proper’ name.

Otherwise when the initial is used no one knows who they are! Not my kid but a friend who was a Beth for short from Elizabeth. Caused no end of confusion at school as she wanted to be B but on the roll was E.

RosesAndHellebores · 23/09/2021 07:35

I'd consider sticking with Greek mythological names if you already have a Penelope:

Diana
Phoebe
Aurora
Cassandra
Calliope
Athena
Thalia
Hesta (rather than Esther)
Daphne
Olympia
and so many more - google

OnlyFlans · 23/09/2021 07:27

Genevieve- genny
Caroline - caro
Lucinda - lucy
Josephine - josie
Beatrice- bea

Love Constance!

autumnapplepicking · 23/09/2021 07:21

Loretta - Lottie

Chunkymenrock · 23/09/2021 07:21

Fenella, Tamsin, Emerald.

Peaseblossum22 · 23/09/2021 07:12

Catherine
Philippa
Lucinda
Deborah
Meredith
Caroline
Eleanor
Emmeline
Constance
Rosalind

pompomsgalore · 23/09/2021 07:09

Natalie
Charlotte
Jennifer
Deborah
Elizabeth
Susan

MumofSpud · 23/09/2021 07:04

@ohfook

Our daughter is called Penelope but now she's older prefers to be called Penny.

I'm pregnant with another girl and would like to do the same again. Give her a classic name with an option of shortening it if they'd prefer (pretty sure dd has shortened hers because it's less hassle to write on the back of worksheets in school.)

My favourite it Elizabeth/Lizzie but dh absolutely hates that name so it's off the table.

Does anyone have any ideas for other similar names?

I do also really like Esther but I'm not sure what that shortens to and also have a sneaking suspicion I might be pronouncing it wrong.

I would shorten it to Essie (not that that's really shorter! Same number of syllables!) We shorten our Esme to Essie is 'Ez'
Drybird2020 · 23/09/2021 07:02

Jocasta- Jo or Cassie
Lucinda- Lucy
Millicent - Millie
Ophelia - Fifi
Caroline- Carrie or Coco
Matilda -Tilly
Jocelyn - Joss or Jo
Constance -Connie
Gabrielle- Gabby, Ella, Ellie, Lily
Rosamund - Rosie or Monday
Miriam - Mimi

Tiramiwho · 23/09/2021 06:53

I adore the name Elizabeth ( probably more spelt with an 'S' ) and the shortening to Beth.
Hate, hate, hate the name Liz though!

caringcarer · 23/09/2021 06:24

Cassandra shortened to Cassie.

Alexandra or Alexandrina shortened to Alex.

Josephine shortened to Jo or Josie.

Christina shortened to Chris or Tina.

Original poster
ohfook · 23/09/2021 06:19

@WeasilyPleased hijack away! Abe was actually on our boys list and Meredith is a beautiful girls name.

OP posts:
WeasilyPleased · 22/09/2021 23:48

So sorry.. Im new at posting. Admin please would you move this? I didnt mean to hijack someone else's thread Blush

WeasilyPleased · 22/09/2021 23:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IndiaMay · 22/09/2021 15:49

Elizabeth / Effie, Eliza or Libby rather than Beth
Louisa / Lou or Lulu
Josephine /Jo
Emmeline / Emmie
Eloise / Elsie
Lilian / Lily
Anything ending in et (Bridget, Cosette, Loretta) can be Etta or Ettie