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Baby names

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

Original poster

Philomena

59 replies

Rickandmortified100 · 23/01/2023 06:28

Okay I know I’ve posted too many threads, but I’m reading about saints and keep discovering names that I have never heard of before! Interested in what others think of them (although not necessarily planning to use any, more curious). What do you think of Philomena? I can’t decide it’s it’s really pretty with lovely nickname options, or just a bit much!

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Pemba · 23/01/2023 09:42

Little old Irish lady.
Prefer Philippa or Philida.

yikesanotherbooboo · 23/01/2023 09:28

I think of elderly ladies at Mass when I was a child. It is pretty though .

PuppaDontPreach · 23/01/2023 08:32

Rickandmortified100 · 23/01/2023 07:15

I’d not heard this story - is this the story about Saint Philomena? The version I read was different (this one: www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=98 - although to be fair in my version of the story she was scourged, shot with arrows and drowned so it’s not exactly a happy story either 😂)

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Ignore me, I’m thinking of Philomela not Philomena.

Xrays · 23/01/2023 08:28

It’s a bit too religious-y for me. It reminds me of nuns and convents. But I quite like Philippa which is a bit similar. Or even Phoebe if you’re looking for nice “P” names.

Pinkdafodils · 23/01/2023 08:23

It's a beautiful sounding name. And memorable and refreshing compared to all the Ellies and Sophies

Original poster
Rickandmortified100 · 23/01/2023 07:15

PuppaDontPreach · 23/01/2023 06:39

Pretty name, terrible story (the mythological Philomena is raped and has her tongue cut out so she can’t tell anybody*). That would make us unusable for me.

(* She eventually manages to tell by weaving images of what has happened into a tapestry and then escapes by being turned into a nightingale, but it’s still a terrible story.)

I’d not heard this story - is this the story about Saint Philomena? The version I read was different (this one: www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=98 - although to be fair in my version of the story she was scourged, shot with arrows and drowned so it’s not exactly a happy story either 😂)

OP posts:
PuppaDontPreach · 23/01/2023 06:39

Pretty name, terrible story (the mythological Philomena is raped and has her tongue cut out so she can’t tell anybody*). That would make us unusable for me.

(* She eventually manages to tell by weaving images of what has happened into a tapestry and then escapes by being turned into a nightingale, but it’s still a terrible story.)

Exasperatednow · 23/01/2023 06:30

Lovely!

Exasperatednow · 23/01/2023 06:30

Love it. I had a lively friend called Philomena.

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