Okay…i think this will be my last post asking for opinions. I love hearing what everyone thinks but I’m sure I’ve worn out my welcome if you look through all my prior posts. 
” I have two girls: [name_u]Avery[/name_u] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] and [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] [name_f]Ann[/name_f]. I’m pregnant with my 3rd girl, due in [name_f]September[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] oldest daughter insists [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] should be her name. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband likes his middle name for her which is [name_u]James[/name_u]. I like [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] but feel like it’s overkill with the Ls. I really like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] but have learned a lot of people have bad things to say about it. I think it’s one of those names people either love or hate. I like the nickname [name_u]Penny[/name_u] (my husband loves the Beatles connection). I love the literature connection with [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] in The Odyssey…my students want to point out some pig movie 
. So I would love some [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] encouragement. What do you think of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u]?
If you & your husband love [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], go with it! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, she is your daughter. Your eldest could still call her [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] as a pet-name. All of your reasons for loving [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] create a beautiful name story for her.
[name_f]My[/name_f] friend’s daughter is [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Ann[/name_f] & she goes exclusively by [name_u]Penny[/name_u].
[name_u]James[/name_u] is a boys’ name and should stay a boys’ name, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]. I’m really not a fan of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], either, sorry. Whenever I hear it, I just hear “lumpy” and “pee.”
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is lovely and I think that [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] is a bit hard to say. I don’t like [name_u]James[/name_u] for a girl- could you use [name_f]Jane[/name_f]? If not middle names aren’t used that often so it’s fine and I understand that you want to honour DH. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is in the top 100 so I think that most people you met would like it, it’s not like it’s really obscure.
Good luck:D
I’m not a huge [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] fan but I don’t hate it. It’s a lot like [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] to me - I feel like it’s somehow just too happy and sweet sounding, and quite smug about it; lacking in emotional diversity I guess you could say 
I don’t mean to put you off, I’m partly aware that I’m talking absolute nonsense! I think if I met a little [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] things could change.
I really do like the nn [name_u]Penny[/name_u] and I like that it has such a huge literary connection. I do think of the pig movie also, though. Probably not a huge deal, I can’t even remember what it was called (I think it was about a princesses [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] who was half-pig or something?)
Your daughter could also get her little [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] from [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] too which is sweet.
[name_u]James[/name_u] is definitely a boys name and doesn’t work with [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] (which I already dislike). [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] no longer feels classic/vintage to me, but rather trendy and a bit overrated. I think I just got sick of seeing it plastered all over Nameberry though 
I like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], it’s quirky and vintage sweet. [name_u]James[/name_u] is a boys name but I think it’s sweet you want to honor her dad and so I don’t mind it in the middle.
I don’t mind [name_u]James[/name_u] at all — everything goes for middle names, as far as I’m concerned (it’s normal to have surnames or family names for middles — like in Catholic families boys often get [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or [name_f]Maria[/name_f] as middle names). Your eldest daughter also has a traditionally masculine name so I think it works in your sibset.
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is pretty but I worry that it’s too different in style from [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] (two short, modern names): it’s just so long, frilly and traditional in comparison. However it could work if she went by [name_u]Penny[/name_u]. Some alternatives: [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Polly[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]?
[name_f]Ellie[/name_f] works fine in the sibset, but I would use a more formal name to give her more options: [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f], [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]. I honestly think [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] (or [name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_f]Nellie[/name_f]) could be a nickname for [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] as well.
What about [name_f]Jemma[/name_f] to honour [name_u]James[/name_u]?
I really like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] 
As someone else said, it is gaining popularity so it shouldn’t be too foreign to people. [name_u]Penny[/name_u] is a cute name and you can even use [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] or [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] if you wanted.
I’m not normally a fan of “boys” names on girls, but since [name_u]James[/name_u] is a family name, short and sweet, and only being used in the middle, I think it’s a nice choice. I know two girls with the middle name [name_u]Michael[/name_u] and one with the middle name [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]. To be honest, many people won’t know her middle name anyway, so I say go ahead and use it to honor your husband.
I’m really not a [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], but this is your daughter! I like the suggestion of getting [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] from [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], that sounds like a win-win. I also love [name_u]James[/name_u] a the middle name. It’s a great way to honor your husband, especially if you aren’t going to have any more children!
I think [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] is adorable and you could use [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] as a nn to please your daughter.
I know what everyone is saying. I used to want a one syllable short name to go with my other girls. I know I’m going the complete opposite way with a name like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. It’s a big name with many nickname options. [name_f]My[/name_f] other two have limited nickname choices which I liked. If I go with [name_u]Penny[/name_u] as the full name, there can be no [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]. [name_u]Penny[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u]? I used to like just [name_f]Elle[/name_f]. [name_u]James[/name_u] as the middle to me makes me think, “eh, okay, I guess.” I like [name_f]Jane[/name_f] better but was thinking of giving my husband his way. [name_f]Jane[/name_f] was an idea as a first name but hate plain jane or [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Doe[/name_f], etc. I’m just not thrilled like I was with my other two daughters’ names.
Well, you could drop the [name_u]James[/name_u]/[name_f]Jane[/name_f] and go with something like [name_u]Penrose[/name_u] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], or another first name that can derive [name_u]Penny[/name_u], and a middle that derives [name_f]Ellie[/name_f].
I considered [name_u]Penrose[/name_u] but my last name has a long O sound that doesn’t flow nice with a long O ending on a first name. Good idea though.
I would keep [name_u]James[/name_u] in the middle. Yes, it’s a boys name, but it’s in the middle which I feel is the best place to honor family. So you need a frilly first name to offset your masculine middle and I think [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] works fine. I prefer [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] to [name_u]Penny[/name_u] by a country mile, but that’s just me.
I really like [name_u]Avery[/name_u], [name_f]Lyla[/name_f] and [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] as a sibset. And [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] is charming IMHO…it has a nice debonair ring to it. This is surprising as [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is not my fav name… but [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] is very elegant and highly complementary with [name_u]Avery[/name_u] & [name_f]Lyla[/name_f].
Cheers
If you and your husband both like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], then you should use it. Simple as that.
Thank you for the input, given that last post, I’m feeling more validated in the choice.
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] isn’t my favorite, but it is a very nice name that goes well enough with [name_u]Avery[/name_u] and [name_f]Lyla[/name_f]. But, I’m not in love with [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u]. Since [name_u]James[/name_u] is common as both a masculine first name AND a surname, it would just sound to me like she had two last names instead of a first, middle, and last.
I love the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]! I’m always surprised that so many people on here aren’t fans; I think [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is gorgeous! And I think [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]James[/name_u] works well with your other girls’ names