Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Elizabeth/Elisabeth, Wilhelmina, or Penelope?

28 replies

sugarpink · 17/11/2021 12:17

I also want to hear everyone's opinion on each of these names.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Treaclepiepastry · 17/11/2021 12:18

Love Elizabeth, loads of cute shortenings.

IsolaPribby · 17/11/2021 12:20

Elizabeth is timeless, classic and beautiful.

The others are ok.

I personally don't like the s spelling.

DuneFan · 17/11/2021 12:30
  1. Elizabeth, timeless, classic, some amazing role models, some great nickname potential. Doesn't feel super common at the moment (although a lot of Betty/Betsy about)
  1. Penelope - also a lovely classic name but quite on trend, might date more.
  1. Wilhelmina- would need a big personality to pull off.
ladycarlotta · 17/11/2021 12:45

If I had a Wilhelmina I'd use the nn Willa which I think is lovely.

Penelope I like but seems like it's really popular now, just depends if you mind being part of a trend. Elizabeth is... fine. Classic. Lots of nickname possibilities for her to choose from as she grows, but it doesn't excite me particularly. I prefer the Elisabeth spelling just as a point of difference.

SummaLuvin · 17/11/2021 12:50

Elizabeth/Elisabeth - classic, I find it a little boring and can't get excited over it. Prefer the spelling Elizabeth, but favourite nickname is Lissy.

Wilhelmina - I actually quite like this, unusual but has a charm to it. Many nice nickname options.

Penelope - Don't really like this name, it sounds smug to me, I imagine a Penelope would be very annoying (though I appreciate that is unfair and very judgemental)

shiningstar2 · 17/11/2021 12:57

Elizabeth. Beth for short

Atla · 17/11/2021 13:04

Classic names with lots of nickname potential: Elizabeth (Beth, Betsy, Betty, Liz, Lizzy, Eliza... er, Lizzo) or Penelope (Penny, Nell).

Wilhelmina always makes me think of Mina from Dracula. It's not my favourite.

WhatHoMarjorie · 17/11/2021 13:11

Elizabeth/Elisabeth - I don't like Elizabeth very much but it has some nice shortenings. I do prefer the Elisabeth spelling, although I'd guess 99% of people will assume Z.

Wilhelmina - dreadful

Penelope - nice

WhatHoMarjorie · 17/11/2021 13:12

I'm not really into the 'timeless and classic' vibe as those names are usually quite boring.

idontlikealdi · 17/11/2021 13:15

Elisabeth will be a nightmare. Elizabeth is lovely.

oneglassandpuzzled · 17/11/2021 13:17

Elizabeth is the usual UK spelling.

Riapia · 17/11/2021 14:02

A family friend named Wilhelmina insisted on being known as Bill.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 17/11/2021 14:04

Elizabeth.

Edenember · 17/11/2021 14:06

Elizabeth is my favourite. It doesn’t excite me, but it’s a classic. Lots of nn options.

Followed by Penelope. Nice enough, and I do like many classic / Greek names, but it seems to be having a moment. I do very much like Penny or Nell as a shortened form. But as a complete name with similar vibe, I much prefer Phoebe.

Don’t like Wilhelmina.

SugarPlum10 · 17/11/2021 15:07

I like all of them. Elizabeth you can’t go wrong with, it’s classic and historical. Penelope is very trendy atm but I love it and the the nn. Penny. Slightly more girly I’d say. As an Enid Blyton fan, the name Wilhelmina reminds me of the cool tomboy character of Bill in Malory Towers. They all have very different feels so I’d wait and see when she’s born to see which suits.

peachescariad · 17/11/2021 15:12

Elisabeth - lovely softer sounding. Elizabeth sounds harsh.

Penelope - awful....don't like Penny or Pen

Wilhelmina (had to go back to check spelling as it's not the easiest) - even more awful

JumperandJacket · 17/11/2021 15:16

We may have a spike in Elizabeths if the queen dies.

TeenMinusTests · 17/11/2021 15:17

Elizabeth - lovely, timeless, classic

Elisabeth will be constantly misspelled. Standard UK spelling is with the Z like the queen.

Penelope. fine name. (Makes me think of The Big bang theory)

Wilhelmina - unusual, sounds German, don't really like it.

toastofthetown · 17/11/2021 15:48

Elizabeth/Elisabeth - I love this name, especially the Elisabeth spelling which looks softer to me. So many nicknames. I can't see a spike in popularity when the Queen dies though there was a recent thread on this if that worries you. Elizabeth is the only girls name to still be in the top 100 from 1904 to 2020.

Wilhelmina - it feels clunky and I'm not keen on the nicknames Willa (sounds alike to the very popular Willow) or Mina.

Penelope - very trendy, but pretty. Penny is cute nickname. Penelope is a classic name but it's a name which has had a huge recent surge in popularity, and in 2020 seems to be falling again (but one year of downturn isn't enough to definitively say) and Greek names in general are a major current name trend at the moment. Penelope might date in way that Eliz(s)abeth and Wilhelmina won't, due to enduring popularity and rarity respectively. Not sure if that's important to you though and Penelope is popular at the moment for a reason.

Wilma55 · 17/11/2021 16:24

Wilhelmina is one of my middle names, no one can spell it!

scottishnames · 17/11/2021 17:33

Mina (short for Wilhelmina) is the brave, clever heroine in Dracula (the original book). Wilhelmina is not my favourite name, but she's a most admirable character. And it is a 'serious' dignified name that anyone might respect.

Elizabeth is fine. Utterly classic. Yes, it might become more popular if HMQ sadly dies. Penelope is - as previous posters have said - an ancient and perfectly pleasant name but very fashionable at the moment.

RavenclawsRoar · 17/11/2021 17:36

Elizabeth- love this, I really like all the shortenings for it too. It was definitely on my girl shortlist (although I have all boys!).
Wilhelmina- a very strong name. I wouldn't use it personally but I also think it's fine to use.
Penelope- love this too, it was our top name choice had dc2 been a girl.

Pemba · 17/11/2021 17:47

Elizabeth/Elisabeth nice, classic, very wide choice of diminutives. Everyone knows it

Not actually that fond of Penelope it has a very upper class 'jolly hockey sticks' vibe (if anyone remembers that phrase) and Penny is slightly twee. I love other names of Greek origin though, like Zoe and Chloe.

Wilhelmina is a bit long, clunky and Germanic, although I do like Mina and the character from Dracula as the pp mentioned.

shouldistop · 17/11/2021 20:08

Elizabeth - beautiful, classic name.
Wilhelmina - too try hard and people might call her Willy
Penelope - not too keen on but don't mind penny as a nn

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/11/2021 20:20

Love Elizabeth, glorious name, and so many shortenings if she wants
Elisabeth is the same, but if you are in the UK it will be an irritation
Penelope - nice, but Penny is wet, and it will be shortened - Nell is nice
Wilhelmina - noooooo