Philomena

[Rickandmortified100]

Okay I know I’ve posted too many threads, but I’m reading about saints and keep discovering names that I have never heard of before! Interested in what others think of them (although not necessarily planning to use any, more curious). What do you think of Philomena? I can’t decide it’s it’s really pretty with lovely nickname options, or just a bit much!

I can't believe I overlooked them. A genuine oversight. I mean no insult to the Colettes and Fidelmas.

I wouldn't choose Bernadette, though. My Dad had a cousin called Bernadette and he used to call her Burntodeath. He was fond of her and certainly didn't wish her any harm of any kind but it really appealed to his bizarre sense of humour when she'd look back at him thinking, "did he really call me that"?

I did meet a lovely lady once who rocked the name Philomena. She was the mother of Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy.

Other than that I would agree with other posters who lumped the names in with Assumpta, Attacta, Concepta, these names came to my mind too before I read the full thread. It's the kind of baby name that makes people assume things about the parents who named her- full on religious, or traveller ethnicity, or under huge pressure from grandparents to honour someone in the family.

If you love your baby, PLEASE don't name her Philomena, there are so many lovely biblical/religious names out there - here are a few to consider Abigail, Anne, Elizabeth, Eve, Hannah, Leah, Mary, Maria, Miriam, Naomi, Rachel, Ruth, Joan, Therese. Even Bernadette is better than Philomena. If you absolutely love the name Philomena then use it for a second or third name.

Can you hear yourself? "Philomena, Philomena, PHILOMENA, come in now, your dinner is poured out"

I love Philomena, it’s fresh and cool, Ava, Evie and Elsie will be the Debbie’s and the Sharon’s in 50 years time. Philomena is timeless. She could also be Pom or Lo.

I can't hear the name Philomena without thinking of Philomena Begley so it's a no from me. She may not be that famous outside of Ireland.

The only Philomena I have ever met is quite elderly now and has hated her name her entire life. Enough so that she has gone by another name entirely for her adult life.

It’s a no from me.

I love it! Nickname Minnie is too cute!

Philomena is smart. My daughter has a friend named Philomena.
She is a scientist and an author.
She is called MIn

I went to school with one, she was ace.

But when she first started school she couldn't understand why she had not learned to write her name unlike the Mary and Anne in her class.