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Original poster

Penelope

32 replies

mauvish · 30/01/2023 19:43

I keep seeing this come up in lists of suggested names.

Has anyone actually chosen it for their DD? If so, do you call them Penelope or Penny?

I know that the name has been around forever. I've come across it (very infrequently) in baptisms etc in church registers from the 1700s. It seems it was at its most popular in the very early 1960s when it peaked at something like the 54th most popular girl's name in E+W. But Penelope is quite a mouthful and no-one knows how to pronounce it!

So - thoughts?

(DOI. Guess!)

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Enko · 30/01/2023 19:46

I've known 2. One was Penny the other Penelope

I've heard of one called lope. (Friend of kids) due to her younger brother not being able to say Penelope.. but never met her.

I like it as a name I don't think it's hard to say.

WeBuiltThePyramids · 30/01/2023 19:47

DD2 was very nearly Penelope. We didn’t use it in the end but it made it to the last two and I still love it. Wouldn’t have ever classed it as difficult to pronounce, surely it’s pretty well known?

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2023 19:50

It's easy to pronounce Pen-ell-o-pee. It us a name from the late 50s or 60s (the same age as me) but is a nice name and due for a revival.

addler · 30/01/2023 19:50

I have a Penelope, she's Nell. No one calls her Penelope actually.

Original poster
mauvish · 30/01/2023 19:58

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2023 19:50

It's easy to pronounce Pen-ell-o-pee. It us a name from the late 50s or 60s (the same age as me) but is a nice name and due for a revival.

Well I agree, it's not difficult to say. But I hear "Penny-Loap" on a regular basis, and it really makes me cringe!

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Original poster
mauvish · 30/01/2023 19:59

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2023 19:50

It's easy to pronounce Pen-ell-o-pee. It us a name from the late 50s or 60s (the same age as me) but is a nice name and due for a revival.

It's a good deal older than that, it dates back at least to the 7th or 8th century BC with the Greek myths!

OP posts:
Twoinapod · 30/01/2023 20:25

I love it, I don’t think it’s a mouthful, I do love penny as a nn though. I know Nell is also used quite a bit.

I’ve never known anyone not know how to pronounce it. It’s a very well known name.

Original poster
mauvish · 30/01/2023 20:28

I’ve never known anyone not know how to pronounce it. It’s a very well known name.

You'd think so, but you would be underestimating how daft many people are ---

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2023 20:29

mauvish · 30/01/2023 19:59

It's a good deal older than that, it dates back at least to the 7th or 8th century BC with the Greek myths!

Show quote history

Obviously. I meant that most Penelopes still around now are about my age. The name was popular at that time but in over 30 years as a teacher I have never taught a Penny or Penelope.

CPHB2021 · 30/01/2023 20:32

I have a Penelope. We call her Nellie or Pea. Never Penny, but I do think it's a sweet abbreviation too.

Cookerhood · 30/01/2023 20:39

I was at school with a Penny. she absolutely hated the name Penelope (association with Lady Penelope & Penelope Pitstop). You'd be amazed how many teachers didn't know how to say the name when they read it out from the register. She used to hate it because everyone giggled every time someone said it as Penny Lope. I like Nellie as an abbreviation.

Hobbesmanc · 30/01/2023 20:48

I think it was popular in Tudor times. Penelope Devereux was a famous star of the Tudor court, daughter and sister to the Earls of Essex. I always think of it as a thirties boarding school name. But there were at least two Penny,s in my school in the seventies.

I love it. Like Daphne and Dorothy. Marjorie. Ursula. Pamela. All jolly hockey sticks. It's a strong name.

Arnaea · 30/01/2023 20:51

Penelope was the faithful wife of Odysseus

She was a character in Homer's Odyssey. She was the queen of Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius and naiad Periboea. Penelope is known for her fidelity to her husband Odysseus, despite the attention of more than a hundred suitors during his absence. Penelope's original name was Arnacia or Arnaea.

Terribleactor · 30/01/2023 21:22

I know of quite a few- most are Penny. Kourtney Kardashian's daughter is Penelope, I haven't heard it shortened!

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/01/2023 22:14

I think everyone knows how to pronounce it, there are loads of mid life Penelopes knocking around.

It’s got very popular again in the last couple years. I think a lot of people don’t like Penny so Nell seems to be now quite common as a short form, and occasionally (more bizarrely) Poppy.

BeautifulWar · 30/01/2023 22:33

Gobsmacked that anyone couldn't pronounce Penelope! There have been enough of them in literature and TV over the years.

I do know a child called Penelope who is a Penny.

Fleur405 · 30/01/2023 22:37

Penelope features in homer’s Oddesy so it’s a bit older than 17th century! I know a Penelope who is about 6. Haven’t noticed anyone having pronunciation issues.

CharitySchmarity · 30/01/2023 22:42

I heard of a Penelope known as Polly (not Poppy) recently. I think if I wanted a DD known as Polly I would just have used Polly, but it's no less logical than Polly being traditionally short for Mary!

redbigbananafeet · 30/01/2023 22:44

mauvish · 30/01/2023 19:43

I keep seeing this come up in lists of suggested names.

Has anyone actually chosen it for their DD? If so, do you call them Penelope or Penny?

I know that the name has been around forever. I've come across it (very infrequently) in baptisms etc in church registers from the 1700s. It seems it was at its most popular in the very early 1960s when it peaked at something like the 54th most popular girl's name in E+W. But Penelope is quite a mouthful and no-one knows how to pronounce it!

So - thoughts?

(DOI. Guess!)

Is be surprised if anyone didn't know how to pronounce it.

xJoyPeaceHealthx · 31/01/2023 07:54

I like it but you have to be realistic and ask yourself do I like Penny (or Lupe depending where you are).

It would work really well with one of those very common sur names like Smith. Give it a bit of flair.

BabyB2022 · 31/01/2023 08:27

We are planning to go with Penelope if my baby is a girl, we love it and also love Penny as a nickname.
We asked my 2 year old if they could say it and she could, so I assume its not that hard to say, but guess we will find out if we have a girl!

user1492757084 · 31/01/2023 08:40

Penelope is nice and very feminine.
All Pennys I know are good women.

Similar names to me are: Sally, Pamela, Persephone, Calliope, Hermione, Pandora, Dorothy and Gladys.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 31/01/2023 09:20

I know/have known a few Penelopes. Four are adults - three go by Penny and one goes by Pen. I also know a young Penelope who is 6 and uses her full name although I'm sure that will be shortened when she's a bit older. And a baby Penelope whose nickname is Poppy. This I don't understand as Poppy is a name in its own right and not really a shortening of Penelope so not sure why they didn't just choose Poppy! I don't know anyone who shortens it to Nell/Nellie. The only Nell I know is just Nell.

Darthwazette · 31/01/2023 09:27

I have a Penelope. She goes by Penny or Pops (short for Penny Pops 😂)

The pronunciation has been butchered a few times though. She was baptised as “Pen-lop” and a few of our GPs have struggled with it too.

ArightFruityLoaf · 31/01/2023 09:32

It's pronounced slightly differently in Greek but a pretty name nevertheless.