Which name?

[delshell]

I'm pregnant with a baby girl and hubby and I are really struggling to decide on a name. We have a shortlist and would love to know your thoughts:

Harriet
Elizabeth
Penelope
Gwendolen (nn Gwen)

I'm pretty sure we have exhausted the internet looking through lists of names! But also happy to hear suggestions of similar names. We like names that are classic and traditional, but not overly popular.

Gwendolyn.

Harriet -- it's fine, #55 in popularity so not sure what you feel 'overly popular' is
Elizabeth - very classic and so many diminutives that it's popularity doesn't feel as much as much as Harriet, despite the fact is only one position lower
Penelope - trendy at the moment. it's risen very quickly recently and appears to be on the downturn now
Gwendolen - strongly dislike this and Gwen. Just an unpleasant sound to me

Other names you might like:
Adelaide
Artemis
Beatrice
Cecily
Claudia
Frances
Madeleine
Rosalind

Penelope is the only one I like

Harriet is my favourite.
Perhaps you might like Edith, Daphne, Elinor

All good choices, strong and feminine without being girly.

I'd be thinking of the possible diminutives for each. The ones you like/dislike might help your decision.

In order of favourites for me they'd be: Harriet, Penelope, Elizabeth and lastly Gwendolyn/Gwendoline (which are the usual spellings).

Elizabeth - i think it ticks all the boxes ( classic, timeless and many nn options)

Josephine?

Gwendoline nn Gwen - Gwen is fabulous.

Elizabeth is lovely but a lot of them
Quite like Harriet but it’s a bit prissy
I like Penelope but it’s always Penny which is a grey dishcloth of a nn

Other possibles..

Frances
Honor
Susannah
Caroline
Marianne
Meredith
Edith
Felicity
Stella

@Luredbyapomegranate

Yes, the main thing that puts me off Penelope is the fact she'd probably end up being called Penny, which I really dislike.

Thanks for the suggestions. We already have a Felicity so you've clearly got a good grasp of the kind of names we like!

All great names, although I’m not keen on Gwendolen.

I know a Penelope- she is always Penelope- never Penny!

Felicity is a lovely name. How about:

Theodora
Josephine
Juliet or Juliette
Tabitha
Ottilie
Ophelia
Evangeline
Sienna
Arwen
Xanthe
Catherine
Matilda
Francesca
Octavia
Hermione
Jessamy
Rosanna
Georgina
Cassia

I know felicity and Penelope sisters!
Harriet out if your list is my favourite

Penelope

Elizabeth!

I'm biased, it's my name, I never meet any others and there's are so many diminutives. It's perfect.

Penelope (but a Penny) and Felicity were on my list for girls. I also had Charlotte, Rachel, Claudia and Emma. Had two boys though so didn’t use any. Charlotte was my favourite

Elizabeth.

If you don't like 'Penny' then it would be a bit daft to use Penelope.

Harriet- lovely
Elizabeth - beautiful classic
Penelope - she WILL be called Penny
Gwendolen (nn Gwen) - no

Also

Gabriella
Camilla
Angelina
Serena
Alexandra
Tabitha

I love all of those. Don’t think I could chose.

Penelope

Elizabeth is gorgeous.

Other suggestions.
Abigail
Sarah
Victoria
Emily
Hannah
Jessica
Rebecca
Jennifer
Alexandra
Charlotte
Lucy
Lois
Eleanor
Martha
Christina
Vivienne
Tiffany
Catherine
Helena
Madeleine
Stephanie

Harriet

Elizabeth

Harriet or Penelope are my favourites from your list. Penelope could be Nell or Pip from the outset if you want to avoid Penny.

Other names you might like...

Alice
Hannah
Imogen
Madeleine
Susan

I like all your names pretty equally so it’s tough to choose a favourite, but I have been liking Gwendolen lately (though I prefer Gwendolyn).

Penelope is cute and getting very popular at the moment. Elizabeth is a great classic with many great nicknames. Harriet is so nice and elegant.

Some suggestions:
Heidi
Orla
Georgia
Georgina
Antonia
Evelina
Dorothea
Clementine
Rhoda
Delphine
Arlette
Arabella
Araminta
Genevieve
Odessa
Athena
Winifred
Jessamine
Guinevere
Maeva
Isadora