Polly or Pauline?

[MommaAddie]

Really struggling because meaning is important to me and Pauline means humble whereas Polly traditionally is a nickname for Mary which means bitter. I will call her Polly anyway but I love both so much can't decide.

Is there a family reason for Pauline? It’s not a name I’d expect to hear on a baby. Maybe as a middle name if it honours someone?

Polly is a nicer name, but I’m wondering why humble holds such meaning to you.

Pauline I think of two women I know in their mid-70's plus.

Polina- I think it’s Polish, if that matters- is nicer than Paula and Pauline.

I actually love Pollyanna if you’re brave enough!

Polly

Pauline (unless you’re French) conjures up a downtrodden 60s housewife. Paula is as bad, Paulina a bit better.

If you think Polly is too cutesy for a full name, which I do a bit, maybe pick a version of Mary you like eg Marianne and use Polly as a nn

Polly! What a lovely name, congratulations on your pregnancy 💐

Pauline is really, truly awful. Please don’t!

There are plenty of prettier names that have lovely meanings.

Or if you really want Polly as the nn just call her Polly!

Names with a P you might like:
Paloma (means Dove)
Poppy (like the flower)
Phoebe (means shining bright)

Both are awful.

I like Polly the best. What about Polina or Paola?

Pauline, Maureen, Doreen. They just feel like an older generation who like a gossip and whilst at heart quite kind would probably vote for Nigel Farage. But obviously this is just my personal opinion lol

Polly is cute. We had a cat called Polly.

Paulette maybe is prettier?

Both are lovely (as is Pollyanna). Are you thinking that Polly will be what everyone calls her? If so, I'd go with that. Agree that the original meaning of Mary is not known. It looks like the original meaning of Paulus may have been more "small" than "humble".

I think I marginally prefer Pauline over Polly.
Polly is more current but a bit cutesy.

Pauline is dreadful!! Of the billions of pretty names, your choices are questionable.....

Sorry but Pauline will always conjure up 'okey cokey, pig in a pokey' for me. It's actually quite a pretty name but the connotations are too strong!

I don't like either but Pauline is really bad. And the meaning isn't great either - humble?!

Yes I agree. Pauline is just not a nice name. Definetly go for Polly

Pauline is hideously dated. Polly is a parrot. Paola, Pia or Portia are much nicer P names IMO.

Polly wants a cracker?

They will say in the playground

Baby Pauline! 😂😂😂

I love Polly - reminds me of the nursary rhyme

Pollyanna is awful.

I'd go Poppy or Polly ... sorry but I agree with others, Pauline is hideous!

I think you are overthinking this.

Polly is actually traditionally a nickname of Margaret not Mary. So you could choose any Margaret type name eg Margaret, Margaux, Margot, and use Polly. Would be much nicer than Pauline and also give your child a beautiful "real" name to choose/use if she wished when older.

It's a nickname for Mary, @skipandwhistle .
So you could choose any Margaret type name eg Margaret, Margaux, Margot, and use Polly. Would be much nicer than Pauline and also give your child a beautiful "real" name to choose/use if she wished when older. Polly is an established name in its own right, so why do this, especially when Margot/Margaux are Margaret nicknames?