Penelope or Martha?

Poster1343 · 2025-01-26T23:07:37+00:00

Thoughts on the name Penelope or Martha? Also, any suggestions on middle names for both?

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Celynfour · 02/02/2025 08:31

theduchessofspork · 02/02/2025 01:25

Handmaid’s Tale innit

And tradwives I spose

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Ahhhh . I hadn’t thought of HandMaids Tale . Don’t watch Trad Wife.
We all have associations with most names. We choose what sounds right for us and babies invariably grow into their names .

both your choices sound lovely OP

theduchessofspork · 02/02/2025 01:25

Celynfour · 27/01/2025 16:33

I have a 20 year old Martha who loves being called Martha. She enjoys having a traditional , recognised , easy to spell name that isn’t overly popular but isn’t completely unusual either .
Shes known as Marta or Marty and likes both those nicknames .
Penelope is also pretty .
I'm a bit surprised that people still refer to Martha as a scullery maid name - it’s 2025 and I don’t know any scullery maids 😂
enjoy naming your baby :)

Handmaid’s Tale innit

And tradwives I spose

theduchessofspork · 02/02/2025 01:23

SlaveToAGoldenRetriever · 26/01/2025 23:10

Really love Penelope, dislike the Penny nickname that so often goes with it though! Martha is a bit twee/housewife. DD knows a 20yo Martha and it just doesn’t fit a young girl

This.

Nell for Penelope is nice though - but if you don’t like that, I’d have a rethink

redtinbin · 01/02/2025 13:18

I love Martha, just love it. To me if sounds like a really beautiful and cool post graduate student in 1970's New York studying something like English Literature or Fine Art with a little apartment full of plants and posters of high brow theatre shows she has seen and books everywhere.

Liv999 · 01/02/2025 13:16

Penelope, I really dislike Martha

DramaAlpaca · 31/01/2025 01:35

Penelope is nice, it's a long name that I don't find frilly/fussy.

I'm not at all keen on Martha.

Rosebeds · 28/01/2025 21:09

Martha is a name that was historically given to maids and servants. It’s not a great name. Penelope is fine but Penny will be the nickname, personally I think Penny is nicer — don’t like “mouthful” names.

shoopshoopdedoo · 27/01/2025 22:29

Like them both but prefer Penelope. I’m not keen on Penny but I like Nell as a potential nickname.

I’d go with a family name in the middle. Don’t see much see the point in middles unless it’s to honour someone.

HouseAshamed · 27/01/2025 20:40

Martha Penelope is great.

user2848502016 · 27/01/2025 17:17

I prefer Martha of the two

Martha Penelope or
Penelope Martha ?

HouseAshamed · 27/01/2025 16:46

Of the 2, Martha. Far less chance of it being shortened.

Celynfour · 27/01/2025 16:33

I have a 20 year old Martha who loves being called Martha. She enjoys having a traditional , recognised , easy to spell name that isn’t overly popular but isn’t completely unusual either .
Shes known as Marta or Marty and likes both those nicknames .
Penelope is also pretty .
I'm a bit surprised that people still refer to Martha as a scullery maid name - it’s 2025 and I don’t know any scullery maids 😂
enjoy naming your baby :)

KayEmAy · 27/01/2025 15:58

I much prefer Penelope to Martha

mn ideas:
Penelope Shay
Penelope Josette
Penelope Aria
Penelope Thea
Penelope Isla
Penelope Kate
Penelope Hannah

Martha Madeleine
Martha Jade nn MJ is a personal fav
Martha Lane
Martha Belle
Martha Emmeline

user1492757084 · 27/01/2025 13:46

Both Martha and Penelope are nice names.
Penelope is not a fave but I prefer it to Martha.

Penelope Jean
Penelope Flora
Penelope Ida
Penelope Isotta
Penelope Sarah
Martha Clementine
Martha Delphinium
Martha Josephine
Martha Fleur
Martha Claire

Do you like Mary?

LoudPlumDog · 27/01/2025 13:24

Both equally nice, depends on surname, siblings.

Penelope Emma
Penelope Ruth
Penelope Kate
Penelope Zara

Martha Charlotte
Martha Ruby
Martha Isobel
Martha Lillian

Sanch1 · 27/01/2025 13:22

Why are people so horrible? There is no way on this planet that either of those names are horrible or grim! They may not be to everyone's taste but to be so mean is just unnecessary.

I think middle names should have some meaning OP, a family names or something personal to you. I have a Martha May, as May was my gran's middle name also.

peaceinourtime · 27/01/2025 13:18

For Penelope I’ve known tons of Penny’s who are most probably Penelopes; and one Penelope who went by the full name.

MiddleAgedDread · 27/01/2025 13:07

I love Martha, Penelope is a bit too long and frilly for my liking.

Togetheragain45 · 27/01/2025 10:01

Penelope. I really don't like Martha.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 27/01/2025 09:52

I prefer Martha. Although Penelope lends itself to more and nicer nick names.

Martha Louise
Martha Belle
Martha Rose
Martha Grace
Martha Elise.
Martha Willow.
Martha Isabelle.
Martha Beatrice.
Martha Jane
Martha Naomi

Penelope Jasmine.
Penelope Ava.
Penelope Jade.
Penelope Isabella.
Penelope Skye.
Penelope Aurora.
Penelope Elizabeth.

RitaFromTheRanch · 27/01/2025 09:06

I love Martha and also Marsha.

stickygotstuck · 27/01/2025 08:26

Penelope is beautiful. Wife of Odysseus in Greek mythology (if that stuff interests you!)

DD was almost a Penelope. I do think it's beautiful. But Penelope just evokes a deep sadness to me. A woman who spent half her life waiting and being harassed by blokes while she waited for Ulysses to come back from his jolly jaunt. So DD has a different name.

Fontainebleau007 · 27/01/2025 08:05

Penelope Jane
Penelope Catherine
Penelope Louise
Penelope Skye
Penelope Grace
Penelope Florence

Martha June
Martha Hope
Marta Louise
Martha Joy
Martha Jennifer
Martha Lily

BigSilly · 27/01/2025 07:59

Both are grim names imo

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 27/01/2025 07:52

Penelope is beautiful. Wife of Odysseus in Greek mythology (if that stuff interests you!). Martha is nice too (or Marta as a possible variation) but I'd choose Penelope from those options.