i dont like fiona, but love fifi...

[flanjabelle]

This is purely hypothetical as I'm not pregnant, but I have been wondering about dc2.

I love fifi as it is what we call one of my family members instead of Fiona. She has downs syndrome and is the sweetest person you could ever meet. I would love to name dc2 after her if we have a baby girl one day, as I think it would make her feel really included and special.

The thing is, I don't like Fiona. Could I call a girl fifi? Or how about fidelia shortened to fifi?

I think my views are clouded on the name because of its original owner, but I wouldn't want to give a dc a name that others would think is silly.

What about Ophelia? That could be shortened to Fifi?

Ophelia is lovely and it would go nicely with dds name. I'm not sure dh would go for it though. I don't think he would like fidelia too much either though. He got to choose dds name though, so it's my turn!

Fifi is a traditional nn for Josephine. Any good?

And it would work with any name with a strong 'f' sound in it - Tiffany?

I'm not a Sophie/phoebe fan.

Felicity is lovely, but is a close family members name.

Is fifi on its own a definite no then?

Josephine is nice, but I really don't like Josie which would inevitably be used.

The only problem with Fifi on its own is it won't give her many options when she is older. If Fifi was short for something she could choose to go by that name when she is an adult.

I think Fifi is one of those names that can be very sweet, but it might be useful to have a long version so that she has options.

My great aunt was Faith and we shortened it to fifi. I think both are v pretty.

I think you are right. It would be good to have a longer more professional sounding name too.

Ophelia is winning so far, it really is a lovely name.

I know a Fidelma. Any good?

Fifi definitely fails the boardroom test. Cute for a baby, not so suitable for a professional adult woman...

Sorry I'm not keen on fidelma. It's the elma part I don't like.

So what middle names go with Ophelia?

I think a short name that doesn't end in "a" or an "ie" sound works best as a middle name with Ophelia. Jane, Ann, May, Kate etc... Something prosaic to offset Ophelia (which is a lovely name, but not a stoic one).

I think it would be nice to give your Fifi a choice - some people would love the name, others might prefer to keep it as a nn for use by nearest and dearest.

What about Fenella, Euphemia/Effie, Faith, Farida, Fidelma, Philippa, Flora, Fleur, Fidela/Fidelia, Philomena, Serafina....

As suggested by poster above, Tiffany/Tiffanie (older English spelling) is pretty, though IMHO the link with the brand name is a pity. The original form - Theophania - is very grand indeed!

Is Ffion (Welsh = foxglove) too close to your family member's name?

Sorry, cross-post re Fidelma.

Ophelia Rose?

Flora I like fleur the best out of your list, but we have a very short surname so longer names sound better. However, theophania is a bit extravagent even for me!

I'm a Fiona, my name was shortened to Fifi when I was a child, I absolutely hated it, my sister said it to wind me up, it was a bit of an easy name to take the piss out of. I don't shorten my name at all now.

Ophelia Rose is lovely.
Or even (to keep the Shakespeare theme) Ophelia Rosalind if you are looking for longer names. (Or Rosamund or Rosemary or Rosanna....)

I love Ophelia Rose

I have a Sophia, who started out as FiFI - blamed on a then 9 year old's obsession with FiFI and the flowertops! Like you we started out knowing we wanted FiFI and then looked for a longer version - it started out as Seraphina but then got whittled down to Sophia.

DD is 7 now and prefers Sophia, though still gets Fi as a nickname. She definitely suited FiFI as a baby and toddler and had to grow into Sophia, but we love it

You need a surname check before using Ophelia! It sounds close enough to 'I feel your...' to make it inadvisable if your surname is something like Cox.

I am a general supporter of long names on birth certificates, I suppose Fifi as the long one could be shortened to Fee, I do know one adult who is always known as Fee and it does sound more grownup than Fifi.

If you do go with one of the longer names shortened to Fifi, I do think this is one case where it is highly likely they will want to use the long version once they are a little older, unlike say Catherine / Kate or Elizabeth / Beth, which are probably 50/50 in general use amongst adults.

Wiggles thanks, that makes me even more certain that she will need a longer 'proper' name.