First things: we’re team green! (So all this may be irrelevant in the end!)
I’ve never taken names with me to the hospital but alas that may end up happenings here.
Of our current kids:
one pretty much solely goes by a nickname
one loves to be referred to by their first and middle name
one is mostly just their first name……
So I find myself scrutinizing Pr0mise [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] and Ph0ebe [name_f]Joy[/name_f] with the same three criteria. And I’m lost because I think I love one first name more, the other combo more and left wondering what nickname each would have?
For Pr0mise I originally was going for [name_f]Prue[/name_f] but I don’t think hubby saw it as much as a default / making sense as a I was originally thinking so now Im trying to see what else is out there….
For Ph0ebe: I just kind of cringe at “Feebs” but nothing else seems likely……
For this one, I’d definitely advise to go with the first name you love the most! I know one of your children goes by their first and middle, but that’s quite rare, so it’s a much safer bet to use the first name you like the best.
For nickname ideas, Promise could be Ro, Rome, Romy and Missy, and Phoebe could be Fia, Bee, Bea (bee-ah) or Bebe! I do think Phoebs/Feebs may not be entirely avoidable for Phoebe, though, as a nickname that her friends occasionally call her. I don’t see it being a full-time nickname, but likely something you’d hear. That’s something to keep in mind!
Are you considering other names, or have you settled on Phoebe vs Promise?
I second the suggestion of [name_u]Romy[/name_u] for [name_u]Promise[/name_u]! Also [name_f]Missy[/name_f] or Prose could work. For [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], I quite like just “Phi” or “Fee”.
To some extent I’d like to say we’re always open to suggestions. But at this point being a 4th child / 5th pregnancy —— we’ve exhausted and looked at every name imaginable through the years and these are the ones that have stood the test of time for both of us.
Phoebe- was actually one of the names my husband had on his very first short list for girls. Back when I was pregnant with my first. But I vetoed it then because I was thinking too many would think “Friends”…. A number of years have passed since then and I think that show has been gone long enough I’m not really concerned this time.
Joy- I love it in looks and meaning. And it meshes well with our other daughters middle. So this has actually been a middle we’ve had through a couple pregnancies. But previous pairings (Magdalene & Trinity) didn’t cut it this time. My big concern with this is how common it seems. So even though it meshes with well it seems to “pale” for me in comparison.
Promise- was another brainstorm from a previous pregnancy but it never made it with us to the hospital previously because we felt we never found the right middle to it. This time Ruth seemed like the best pairing. We’ve considered other middles with it but nothing has really stuck it out so far
Ruth- was actually the very first name my husband suggested back when we were engaged and talking names. I vetoed it then because it seemed too common. (My first name is too common so I’ve tried to avoid the too common feeling with our kids). But as a middle it seems less familiar. And carries a slight honor.
So, open but also settled because we do both like these names. I was slightly hoping for twins this time because then these could be the names. BUT… it’s a singleton (likely best for my sanity!) so now I’m feeling like having to take apart these two combos to figure out which is “the one”… torn wondering is that the one or is it just a guilty pleasure. Or is that the one or is that just playing it safe.
For what it’s worth, [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] just exudes radiance and light to me. It literally means “radiant joy” and I think that is beautiful. If it were me, I’d save [name_u]Promise[/name_u] for a middle name. (I actually had [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Praise[/name_f] as a combo but my husband quickly vetoed [name_f]Praise[/name_f] )
Also…someone else suggested PJ as a nickname and that is just so adorable!
I think [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] is STUNNING and want to encourage you to use it if you love it.