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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girl name vote

30 replies

SJayne401 · 26/08/2024 17:16

Do you prefer Jennifer(nn Jenny), Lyra or Penelope(nn Penny)? Surname begins with a J and would be a sibling to Harry.

We were also considering Sophie or Charlotte

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Journeytobabyj · 26/04/2025 20:40

Would love to know what you decided on!

NeuroKorma · 27/08/2024 20:20

Penelope by a mile.

Jenny J is just way too neat (I’m a duplicate initial since getting married and it’s so irksome every time I say it! Wish we’d come up with our own surname but that’s by the by)

Jenny and Harry is way too twee for me too.

Penelope is amazing on its own and love Nell.

AgapanthusWealthy · 27/08/2024 20:17

Not Lyra.

There's so many versions of this style it'll really date: , Lila, Luna, Leila, Leah, Isla etc etc

Penelope is beautiful. As is Jennifer and penny and Jenny are both lovely shortenings.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 27/08/2024 20:12

Jennifer, nickname 'JJ ' is perfect, in my opinion.

JosieB68 · 27/08/2024 20:11

Penelope nn Penny by far my favourite, think Penny is a lovely name.

PinkPombear1 · 27/08/2024 20:09

I love Lyra and LJ as a potential nickname I think is super fun.

I'm not too sure this thread will be too helpful though as currently the results are pretty evenly spread with all options sat at 19-21%! 😂

lemoncrisp · 27/08/2024 10:25

I love Jennifer/ Jenny. Classic, strong and very pretty too.

Hannahspeltbackwards · 27/08/2024 09:29

I'm a Jenny (Jennifer really), and only go by Jenny.
Jennifer just feels too formal (it was only really teachers/ other professionals that called me by my full name).
That's just my personal preference.
As I've got older I really like Jenny as an independent name, and wish I could ditch Jennifer completely as it just doesn't feel like me.
Obviously, there will be others out there who prefer Jennifer to Jenny. I'm just giving my opinion.

BoleynMemories13 · 27/08/2024 04:42

Depends what you're looking for.

Jennifer - traditional but quite dated now. Will inevitably be shortened to Jen, Jenny or Jenna.

Lyra - very modern and literally everywhere right now. The name exploded after Ed Sheeran and his wife used it. Nearly every Lyra you meet will be under 5, so I think it could become very much synonymous with the 2020s one day (a bit like Kylie is with the 80s).

Penelope - I've always found the full name to be quite frumpy, although I like the nicknames Penny and Nell. Again it's very 'now', rising rapidly in popularity.

Charlotte and Sophie - true classics which have stood the test of time.

You wouldn't be able to automatically guess the age of a Charlotte or Sophie if you saw them written down, unlike Lyra or Penelope who are more than likely under 5, or Jennifer who you'd probably wrongly guess is 35-65 ish.

I think Sophie fits the best with Harry. A very classic pairing.

WhiskersPete · 26/08/2024 23:00

Lyra is beautiful.

Clawdy · 26/08/2024 22:29

Lyra, definitely. Lovely name.

ellenpartridge · 26/08/2024 22:28

Sophie is perfect with Harry

theduchessofspork · 26/08/2024 22:27

Jennifer nn Jennie (for some reason I like it with an ie!) - classic but quite unusual right now - and Jennys are plucky lasses I find. JJ is great too.

I don’t like Penny (bit wet) and Lyra, Sophie and Charlotte are all nice but overdone.

Moreteaandchocolate · 26/08/2024 21:38

I really like all of your name ideas. I voted for Penelope as it’s having a bit of a revival at the moment so sounds quite current, and it’s so versatile with options of Penny / Nell / Nellie.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 26/08/2024 20:42

If your surname starts with a J and you like the style of Jennifer then I don’t know how you can resist it - the alliteration and nickname JJ are very cool. Jenny is also a lovely nn - the nice sound of Penny but with a much prettier longer version than Penelope imo.

2nd choice would be Sophie - but only because it goes so well with Harry in style (there most be loads of Harry and Sophie sibsets out there).

Heavenlyhoumous · 26/08/2024 20:39

Lyra is lovely, also like Sophie.

newmum1508 · 26/08/2024 20:18

I love Penny, I actually prefer it to Penelope! I think Penny and Harry go so nicely together 💕. Personally Jennifer sounds very dated, but there’s nothing wrong with it. I’m not a fan or Lyra.
Sophie and Charlotte are both timeless and lovely names!
If I had to pick a name for myself out of all of them, I’d rather be Charlotte I think

permanently · 26/08/2024 19:35

Genevieve

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 26/08/2024 19:28

I know a teenage Lyra. I think it's beautiful.

Rory17384949 · 26/08/2024 19:28

Lyra or Penelope

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2024 19:26

Jennifer(nn Jenny) - Great. Jen is fine too. Know a lovely one.
Lyra - awful
Penelope(nn Penny) - The Pennys I know are nice.

Jennifer as long as it goes with the surname, otherwise Penny.

Sophie and Charlotte are both lovely but popular. Sophia/Sofia is too popular. I don't like Charlie for a girl.

SkaneTos · 26/08/2024 18:41

I think they are all lovely names!

I voted for Lyra, it has a very nice and cool meaning in my native language.

Firebird83 · 26/08/2024 17:45

Jennifer! It would be refreshing among all the Avas and Amelias, and Jenny would be so cute for a little girl.

GoodVibesHere · 26/08/2024 17:42

WaitinginVain · 26/08/2024 17:40

Lyra is beautiful.

Lyra is nice but unfortunately always makes me think 'Liar'.

WaitinginVain · 26/08/2024 17:40

Lyra is beautiful.