I’m told names are too short

[Mrsangrypants]

First DD is Penelope. We are now due DD2 and family are saying that our shortlist of names are too short and do not go. I’ve no idea why they need to ‘go’ together but what do you all think? Our names are: Evie, Elsie, Hallie

I agree, it was a mistake telling family in the first place....but it looks like a few people here agree with them. Argh, naming second time round is so hard!

I’m not particularly keen on your choices of name for your new baby, but it’s neither my business, nor that of any of your family members. Choose a name that you love, or you’ll always regret it. That’s far more important than choosing something that “goes” - a concept I don’t understand either.

How on Earth is Eve/Evie faddy? It's biblical FFS. One of the oldest names there is.

Penelope is a tad unusual, Evie and Elsie are very common. I think that is more of an issue for me than name length.

Penelope and Evelyn/Eveline/Elspeth do 'go' better to my mind, if that's something that's important to you.

Tell them that on reflection you agree with them and are therefore naming her Persephone

I think Evelyn or Evangeline, in Evie would go nicely with Penelope. Eve is nice too though - both classic names with history.

Generally speaking I would only worry about names not going together if there is a clear established theme to other sibling names, or a very obvious clash. E.g. if you had Penelope, Josephine, Alexandria, Evangeline and Ruth then Ruth would stand out as a different style of name. Same if all names bar one were from one culture, for example in my family there is a group of siblings all of whom have very Welsh names except for one - think Llŷr, Siôr, Angharad, Esyllt and Malcolm. Malcolm stands out and got comments about his paternity growing up as he didn't match his siblings.

I don't think you're in that territory with your choices.

Penelope is beautiful and classy.

Evie is overused and trendy, so it has a very different feel. Elsie is also quite trendy, whereas Hallie stands out and feels more like Penelope.

So it's not about the length imo.

Eloise instead of Elsie? ‘Fits’ with Penelope

I LOVE the name Hallie.

My name is short (one syllable) and I have no middle name. I'd much rather that than some of the mouthfulls you read on here!

Congratulations

You can't go wrong with any of those names my fav is Elsie but they all work fine

I really love Elsie

How about Jemima or Clementine or Verity if you want a longer name. I'd stick with Elsie though.

Does Penelope get shortened to Penny for everyday use? Penny goes well with all three of the names you've chosen (which are all nice names btw).
It might be nice to pick a longer name for the BC though, so she doesn't possibly feel hard done by later on in life, in comparison to her sister! It also gives her more options should she choose.

I once worked with a lovely girl called Halina which could work for Hallie if you weren't keen on Harriet.
Eve / Evelyn / Evangeline are all lovely, and Elizabeth for Elsie.

@BertieBotts Eve isn't really a fad but Evie certainly is!

OP your children's names are your business (and the other parents) but no one else's really.

The names you've suggested don't really 'go' with Penelope in terms of style and they all end in "ee" sounds but if you and your partner love them, that's your choice. The won't be introduced as Penelope and X their whole lives.

Penelope is nice. It's different, but not unheard of or overly modern sounding. It has nickname options (presume you call her Penny?). The ones on your list are extremely overused and bland sounding. They must aren't the same style.

You obviously like very feminine names. How about:
Felicity
Meredith
Elspeth
Miriam
Josephine
Romilly
Matilda
Rosanna
Tabitha
Elizabeth

They do have a very different vibe but that's not really anyone elses business.

I agree that telling rellies in advance opens you up to unsolicited advice and best avoided, but actually I think they're right about the subject at hand.

You need a name that makes the DCs look as if they are members of the same family.

Suggestions:
Susannah
Cecelia
Alexandra
Beatrix
Elspeth
Katherine
Annabel
Theodora
Emmaline
Madeleine
Flora
Charlotte

My name is a short, one syllable name, and my surname was also one syllable. I hated it - there was no rhythm to the name - eg Ann Lee. My sister, in the other hand, had a long and pretty four syllable name, eg Alexandra, and I always felt hard done by and as though my parents had chosen a really popular but boring name for me, and an unusual, beautiful name for her. I know in reality they struggled with her name and she was 3 weeks old before she had one (she's a lot younger than me so I remember) but still I wish I had been given the same consideration.

I'm sort of with your family on this, although you have gone for two syllable names at least.

It's not the length of the names that don't make them go with Penelope, it's the gravitas of them.

Never tell people the name(s) before birth! Except here, obviously.

Penelope & Evie is like Sebastian & Dave.

Agree with PP, it's the type of name and the gravitas that doesn't match Penelope.

Penelope is a beautiful classy classic name.

Evie, Elsie and Hallie are twee chav names, sorry to be blunt. They're incredibly common in all senses. They're also nicknames which doesn't give the freedom of a longer/full name like Penelope. I would feel sorry for your second daughter with one of those names.