Name preference - Ffion or Felicity

[JazzyPa]

Hello,
My second baby is due this summer and I need help with names. We are having a surprise and already have our boys names selected (and keeping to ourselves) but girls names we need help with deciding.

We already have a little girl, Beatrice, who we call Bea, and if we were to have a second daughter we are thinking of either Ffion or Felicity. We like unusual, uncommon but not too 'out there' names.

We aren't Welsh and have no Welsh heritage but always loved the name Ffion (Fee-on), since we holidayed there years ago and heard it said for the first time. Since then it's stuck. We really like how unusual it is. However, I was wondering if it would be seen as out there or weird to name a non-Welsh girl that? The Ff clearly shows it's Welsh but this is the spelling we would go for. And secondly, l've just read somewhere that the slang term for ass in French is 'Fion'. The two words sound different but this has upset me slightly, not because it's put me off the name as such but because if we were ever go to France or French speakers, would her name be laugable? Would this put you off the name? Anyone French, or French-speakers, would you have associated the two? Are there any Ffion's out there who have experienced negativity in regards to this? I'm sure there's many slang terms/meanings from other languages I don't know about for lots of names but I now know about this one, which is unnerving. I do know some French people but would rather not ask for their input, incase it puts me off their name completely. Plus I never share names with anyone I know due to bad experiences previously.

On to our other choice, Felicity. Again I think a really pretty name and I haven't heard of many. The issue I have here is we love to shorten names. Beatrice, is knows as Bea and Felicity would likely be knows as "Flick" (as I've loved it since Neighbours heyday) & I'm not really a fan of "Liss" or "Lissy" as a nickname. So if we put the names together... Bea and Flick... someone said (years ago) oh like "Flick your bean" ... and it's this reason why I no longer share name choices with anyone I know (but equally glad in a way we're thinking about this now and not when it's too late). My question is, did combining Bea and Flick make you think this? Would this be enough to put you off a name? Or am I just being oversensitive?

I can't believe that the two names I love so much, I've almost over researched and it's causing such concern (as I'm convinced this little one is a girl too).

What are your thoughts on the above? Any help would be much appreciated. And any other name suggestions would be greatly received.

Many thanks,
Jaz

Heron, Ffyon looks and sounds strange in Welsh. yo is not a vowel combination that you see normally.

I'd guess that the parents had misspelt the name, or maybe they wanted a unique name, and someone else copied?

Both lovely.

I do notice Felicity getting more popular. I knew two - one known by full name and the other Issy.

Ffion is more unusual. I think it is slightly odd when people use names that aren’t part of their heritage - but it’s an illogical position really as it’s only odd until they become popular. Actually I suspect Ffion may get more popular as can see another wave of Celtic names coming into vogue (Rory, Seren, Elowen) - so I don’t even think the spelling is that difficult now, and think in future it will get better known.

So either! But if you worry c popularity then Ffion, if you worry c spelling then Felicity.

I have always liked the name Felicia.

Love Felicity but if you don't like the common nicknames I'd avoid it. Ffion is nice.

Felicia just makes me think of the "Bye, Felicia" dismissal.

Think Bea and Fi is inevitable and too much. Love felicity!

I agree, you'll end up with Bea and Fee if you go for Ffion.

I definitely got confused between Ffion and Fionn thinking that Ffion was a boy's name.

Felicity is lovely.

Thank you all SO much for your input so far, I really do appreciate it. Please keep it coming.

I'm not particularly a fan of Fiona or Lucy as some of you have suggested, purely because I have some friends with these names and that's one of our stipulations - ideally choose names we don't know anyone called by, but with hubby being a teacher, the name pool is definitely getting smaller. Currently we don't know any Ffion's or Felicity's.

We also liked the name Thea (although definitely not unpopular) but coming from SE London, you can imagine how that would sound sometimes... "Fear", which I would have an issue with. We thought with Ffion starting with an F it would eradicate this issue. And to my ear Ffion (Fee-on) or nn FiFi, sounds soft and pretty in all accents but maybe I'm biased ;)

Ffion being properly Welsh doesn't bother me so much if I'm honest. I think it makes it more exotic. It's more the connection with the French slang term that concerns me. I'd hate for my French friends to laugh about it behind my back! But equally, as some have said, there are many French Fanny's (I know one) and we have no plans to move to France. Just holidays (when we can again).

Regarding 'Flick my bean', I couldn't believe it when it was said to me. Not once did I make that connection but once heard, I couldn't unhear it :( I don't mind Fliss as nn, so thanks for that suggestion. And as much as I love the names in their full length, I do love a shortened name. I've always been Jazz or Jazzy, so I quite like the familiarity aspect to a shortened name.

Any other traditional, unusual or unpopular name suggestions welcome. I'm probably just being hormonal but I'm gutted by 2 shortlisted names no longer seem perfect 😢

I like both, I think maybe felicity goes with your other DD’s name more though!

How about Theodora? Could shorten to Thea, Dora or Teddy

All those saying Ffion is a girls name, I'm shocked

Tbf I just used OP's spelling but I know a few (boy) Ffions/Fionn/Fyon.... all in Ireland except one Welsh (Anglesey) and he is a big badass rugby playing manly man

Learn something new every day!!

Fionn and Ffion are totally different names.

The only Ffion I've met wasn't of Welsh heritage. I didn't even know it was a Welsh name!

I love both names, but would personally choose Felicity.

I know a couple who recently had a baby daughter Ffion. They have some French extended family and apparently there were eyebrows raised at the name choice. So yes I think it is an issue in France...!

@DramaAlpaca

Felicity goes better with Beatrice. I'd be inclined to go for Fliss as a diminutive, I don't like Flick.

Gorgeous. I second this!!

I prefer Ffion to Felicity generally speaking. I have a relative called Ffion (in a very Welsh speaking area of Wales) and am not aware of her being teased about the French 'fion'.

However, Felicity goes better with Beatrice then Ffion IMO. Bea and Fliss sounds fine to me - surely you'd use the eldest child's name first so 'Bea and Flick' rather than 'Flick and Bea' even if she did go by Flick. Fliss is nicer as a shortening IMO, Flick has a slightly harsh sound.

Ffion is also quite a Welsh Welsh name so I would assume a Welsh connection or heritage. It's not a name like Owen or Megan which is so commonly used outside of Wales that you wouldn't automatically think 'ah, they must be Welsh'.

I have a Welsh name in England which I would say was similar to Ffion in terms of how Welsh it sounds. I get a lot of 'what's your Welsh connection?' questions (Welsh Mam). So bear in mind that you'll get asked that a lot.

Have you considered Philippa? Or even just Pippa?

I love Ffion but Felicity is really not for me.

Oh Philippa is lovely too!

Ffion is lovely and I think English (and other people) could cope with it.

Btw Ffion Hague was definitely Welsh.

My dd is Felicity, known as Flossie or Flo. Can't stand Flick!

If you like the ‘f’ sound then Phoebe goes well with Beatrice? Felicia would give different nn options to Felicity. Or how about Frances/Francesca?

Please don’t call her Ffion it gives me anxiety just reading the name 😅 There’s so many French people living in the UK especially if you live in London (and the Fanny I know was teased relentlessly when she was holidaying in England). All the other suggestions are really lovely, love Thea, love Philippa, love Felicity.
Sorry to bash one of the names you like I never ever do this except this once as of, as you say, your fear is that your French friends will raise eyebrows, believe me they will.
Xxx from a Frenchie

Felicity with the nn Fliss is perfect with Beatrice/Bea. I do like Ffion too, but prefer Felicity!

Also if you go for Ffion, you could potentially have Bea and Fee??

Felicity is my preference.

Do you mind having a Bea and a Fi?