So, as many fear, a celebrity stole a top name, and I am due in 3 months. We had narrowed it down to [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name] and [name]Cora[/name] [name]Jane[/name], but [name]Penelope[/name] was most likely the top choice. Now, I am not sure how I feel about it now that the Kardashians named their daughter the name. I know the popularity will rise, probably not to number 2 like [name]Mason[/name] (since it started so much higher), but it will gain popularity none the less, and I am not sure how I feel about that part. I am also not a Kardashian watcher, and I don’t want people to think we named our daughter that because she did.
So my question is this…do we try to ignore the hoopla around the kardashian pick, and hope with all the other celebrities having babies in the next two months, penelope will be not on everyone’s mind as much. Or, go back to the drawing board and start again? What would you do?
Ugh, I’m with you this morning…
I’m just ttc now, but [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Joy[/name] is my top name for a girl. Plan as of yet is unchanged, one good part of [name]Pen[/name] is that there are so many nns. I’d use either [name]Penny[/name] or [name]Lola[/name]…probably just try to avoid whatever nn the littlest Kardashian ends up with.
Or that’s what I’m saying to reassure myself. 
I don’t know if the average person is going to know that one of the Kardashians named her kid [name]Penelope[/name], and I certainly don’t think they’re going to think you named your kid after her kid. I honestly didn’t know she had a kid named [name]Mason[/name] until I read it on here a few months ago. It may well become more popular because of people who do pay attention to that kind of thing, but who knows. The thing is, if you reject a name just because a celeb picked it, what are you going to do when a celeb picks out whatever name you pick next? It’s a good name. If you love it, pick it.
[name]Mason[/name] was already heading toward the top when [name]Kourtney[/name] chose it. [name]Penelope[/name] has been climbing a bit lately and it probably will a bit more, but I don’t think we’ll see it in the top 100. [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name] is absolutely darling, please don’t give up on it!
Thanks, I appreciate the thoughts. Maybe I am just being a little hormonal pregnant lady, but it has totally ruined my day! I guess looking at my boy options ([name]Jack[/name] and [name]Jonah[/name]), [name]Jack[/name] is very popular and it does not bother me, so why should [name]Penelope[/name]? Maybe its just the kardashian thing! Damn those Kardashians.
Lineska - i think you are right, maybe the nickname will be different and that is one of the best parts of [name]Penelope[/name].
I am glad I have 3 months to think about the choice, but I appreciate the feedback. More is appreciated!
What would you do if a celebrity used the name you were thinking of??
[name]Don[/name]'t worry, I don’t follow the Kardashians, they’re a waist of time! I say go for it! I didn’t even know she had a baby!
I say go for it! [name]Penelope[/name] is such a cute name.
Use [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name]! It’s gorgeous and nobody’s going to think that you copied them.
I can understand why it upset you. I was stunned when I saw the name! I cannot abide the Kardashians!
But…you love [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name]. Lots of people don’t follow celebrities and would have no idea who these people are,even if people like us (the name obsessed) do.
[name]Don[/name]'t let a no mark z-lister put you off you favourite name!
Go for it. I think it’s been trendy enough lately (without being ridiculously overused) that people won’t automatically associate it with Kardashian. This isn’t like calling your kid [name]Apple[/name] or [name]Audio[/name] [name]Science[/name], where the connection is way too obvious.
Okay, I’m back after having more time to digest this! Mostly because this morning I was still cursing the day [name]Kourtney[/name] was born…it’s amazing how attached you get to a name, even in my case when said child doesnt even exist yet. So lets break this down…
- So [name]Mason[/name] was born in 2009 and the name was already at number 34. [name]Rose[/name] to 12 in 2010 and 2 in 2011. That’s a jump, but not a huge one really.
[name]Penelope[/name] is 169 this year, no denying she’s risen pretty swiftly, from barely in the top 1000 in 2000 to being in the top 200 for 2009 and 2010…but that’s still a far cry from [name]Mason[/name]. There are tons of factors there too–rise of the old lady names in general, [name]Tina[/name] [name]Fey[/name]'s daughter [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Athena[/name], there’s a [name]Penny[/name] on the sitcom [name]Happy[/name] Endings and I always attributed a little of the name’s revival to the character on Lost. We’re just hearing [name]Penelope[/name] so much more than we had for awhile (short of great grandma or the image of British matriarch, no offense to [name]Brit[/name] matriarchs out there meant, haha). So [name]Penelope[/name] is gaining in popularity, but she’s far from [name]Isabella[/name] and [name]Sophia[/name] (and [name]Mason[/name] and [name]Jacob[/name]) at this point.
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As proven by all the “I didnt know she was pregnant!” responses. Not everyone cares, actually, many people cant stand the Kardashians and might be turned OFF the name because of them. I’d be more worried if [name]Angelina[/name] used a name I loved, or [name]Anne[/name] Hathaway once she has children, or a celeb that the majority of people have a favorable opinion of. Frankly, I’m surprised [name]Tina[/name] [name]Fey[/name] didnt give the name a bigger surge.
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I dont think this is a name that appeals to everyone at all. I know plenty of people who adore [name]Penelope[/name] and plenty who think its just about the funkiest sounding name ever (no offense to your choice because clearly I love it too!!). It’s a much more specific style than [name]Mason[/name] [name]IMO[/name] and I dont think people who raised an eyebrow about [name]Penelope[/name] in the past will run out and use it just because [name]Kourtney[/name] did.
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and my favorite thought of all: The Kardashians CANNOT be on TV forever!! Actually, their 15 minutes is waaaaaay up by most accounts and the show and all its spinoffs have got to have almost been exhausted. There will be a new family to care about (or hate) soon enough. [name]Remember[/name] [name]Jon[/name] and [name]Kate[/name] Plus 8? I’m sure there were parents who were furious because they wanted to use one of the names of those kids and were terrified that little [name]Joel[/name] or [name]Cara[/name] would be compared to them. Now, throw a party, NO [name]ONE[/name] CARES. I think the Kardashians, as far spread as their name and image are, will likely be passe before your little [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name] starts preschool.
Oh god, I wrote a novel for you. I’m sorry, but I think this was partially for me too. [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name] is darling and I hope you use it! [name]Cora[/name] [name]Jane[/name] is lovely too though, so you have a perfectly gorgeous alternative if it keeps bugging you enough.
Lineska - thank you so much for your novel, I adored reading it! Everyone around me can tell im in a pissed off mood today and I can not tell anyone why since we are not sharing names, so it is nice to hear someones opinion on the matter. I happen to be super into the celebrity thing, so I know follow that type of thing, but I think you are right, not everyone does. Though [name]Mason[/name] is popular, if someone tells me their sons name is [name]Mason[/name], i guess I do not really think of the Kardashians right away.
You have helped calm my nerves about it some, I hope that helped for you as well. We are still waiting to meet the little one until we decide on [name]Cora[/name] vs. [name]Penelope[/name], but I feel better about keeping it on the list.
Thanks everyone for the opinions.
In theory, I say go for [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name]. It’s beautiful and who really cares about the Kardashians.
In reality, if it were me, I probably wouldn’t be able to do it. I’m too shallow and it would bother me.
This happened to my coworker today. [name]Penelope[/name] is the number one name she and her boyfriend have agreed on if their baby is a girl, and she got very upset when she found out that [name]Kourtney[/name] named her daughter [name]Penelope[/name]. Other coworkers told her that she should use the name anyway, and I agreed with them. If you love a name, I think you should use it no matter how popular it might be in the future. I also think that whether you fell in love with the name before or after a celebrity used it, you should still use it! Use a name you love!
[name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name] is lovely. And seeing as though you genuinely love it i think you should use it.
Maybe think about does it really matter to you what other people think? If they think you stole it from Kardashians would that truly bother you. I agree with the above poster in that the connection isn’t that obvious, if the name was more unique then maybe the connection would be there.
I hope you use [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Jane[/name]. 
Vivienne Marceline was put on my list from the moment my husband and I got married since it honors family…then Angelina Jolie went and named her daughter Vivienne Marcheline 
I took the combo off my list because it’s so close to theirs that I don’t see how it wouldn’t draw comparisons. Was pretty disappointed at the time but now I love other names just as much so I’m over it for the most part but I was literally shocked when I found out they used it.
I think Penelope is fine to use but I do think the everyday person will now be aware of the name given the constant coverage on magazine covers, online gossip, TV show, etc, of this family. Wanted to add: Josephine is my #1 name, Kardashians could use it, it could rise to the top 10 and it wouldn’t deter me. If you love a name and you know it’s right for your little girl then use it, if not you might regret it in 10 years.
Have you considered putting Penelope Jane in the middle and giving her another first name? For instance, if I was in your situation I might consider Josephine Penelope Jane. Use the names you love and give her another lovely one if you’re too attached to give it up but you don’t want the Kardashian connection.