I’m having some trouble trying to decide on what exactly to name our second daughter due in Oct. Before we knew that we were for sure having a girl we were throwing out different girl names & decided that no matter what we would use the name [name_f]Adele[/name_f] in her name. (Note: not after the singer but after my great grandmother who was named [name_f]Adele[/name_f] [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f])
We considered the name [name_f]Adele[/name_f] [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] (or [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f]) as it is pretty & old fashioned but I fear [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] is too old of a name. (And my husband wasn’t too sold on it) So we started thinking of other older names that would ring well with [name_f]Adele[/name_f]. We settled on [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f] & loved that it still is an older name & has a cute ring to it. (My husband suggested [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]). My oldest daughter (named [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Caroline[/name_f]) has already started calling her [name_u]Penny[/name_u].
But today I was informed by my in laws that they are concerned that the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] will set her up for getting made fun of. They are both school teachers & brought up examples of the book [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] Pig & a movie that’s quite similar. I had never heard of either of those & did a quick google search. I honestly am not concerned about the book as honestly it would probably be a book I would buy for her. But my in laws opinions do matter to me.
So now I’m wondering if we should change it. I love the name [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f] & how we could call her [name_f]Lily[/name_f] but my concern is that one of my friends has a daughter named [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] that they call [name_f]Lily[/name_f] & not that we see them that much, but I don’t want her to think we’re naming our kids after them. (They also have a son named [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] & we have already decided on the name [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] for a boy but that’s another story).
I’m sorry for the long post. I’m just looking for other’s opinions on this. What do you all think??
If you don’t think her name being [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is a concern then I’d keep it! You could sit down with your in laws and say that you appreciate their concerns but you don’t feel that they sway your decision. If it is a concern, or they bring up that they just don’t like it, maybe try [name_f]Adele[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]? You can still use the nickname [name_u]Penny[/name_u]!
I wouldn’t use [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] if you already have an [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] name shared with your friend. I would feel a bit offended if my friend took the names of my children for the names of her children. It makes you seem a bit uncreative. If it’s only one name, like [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], it can be easily understood that you just both liked the same name, but doing it twice isn’t as easy to understand.
A lot of names can be found in children’s books and I wouldn’t let that rule it out for you. I know a [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] nn [name_u]Penny[/name_u] and haven’t ever hear this raised. So I’d say go for it if you love the name! If this bothers you too much, what about [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f]? [name_f]Ava[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] are a lovely sibset.
So many names can theoretically be made fun of and I don’t think a book is enough of a concern not to use the name. There are those names that make you wonder how a parent could name their child it without realizing they will most certainly get made fun of, [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is not one of those names!! It is also becoming more common and is on trend so it will not be considered unusual. Your in laws may not be familiar with current name trends for babies. I would still use it and just be honest with them. If you decide to change it, I love [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f]! [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] are very different, but both great names. As for the friend issue, considering you don’t see them much, unless they are very very close friends, I would still use [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] too.
If you love [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], then you should use it! And besides, I’ve never even heard of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] Pig. If a name is not used in a major movie/book/etc., (like my name, [name_f]Annie[/name_f]) then it is fine to use .