My wife is having our second baby in a couple weeks and we are still stuck on names. We already have a boy called [name_m]Harvey[/name_m]. This time we want a double middle name of “[name_u]June[/name_u] [name_u]Harper[/name_u]” (these are both family names and I think they work nice and uniquely together). I really like the first name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], but not entirely sold on it. I really want to know what others think.
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_u]Harper[/name_u] is so pretty! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you mind sharing what your older child’s name is? It will help us with suggestions.
His name is [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
It is another name that we have opted to be creative with the first name and have a family tie with the second.
Our last name is a bold single syllable one. One of my worries is that [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] seems to be popular these days off the back of a Kardashian which I hate about it. I like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] 1. for the nickname options, 2. because 4 syllables with a single syllable surname is nice and 3. I love greek mythology and specifically I like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] in the Odyssey because she is crafty, smart and loyal… she is a beautiful character.
Although I’m not a huge fan of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] (purely personal taste, no other reason) I do love the NN [name_f]Nell[/name_f] and think [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] and [name_f]Nell[/name_f] go well together. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] flows well with the middle names too
[name_m]Just[/name_m] as a note on some of those…
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] — We both like that name, but you have no idea how bad it (actually how bad the name “[name_f]Flick[/name_f]”) clashes with our surname ha ha…
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] — This one reminds my wife too much of [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls
[name_f]Amelie[/name_f] — I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] this name, actually I have a connection to Germany in my family tree and we have [name_f]Amelie[/name_f]'s in my family. I lean away from it because of how popular [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] is :(.
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] — My brother has a niece by that name (amazingly)
The other suggestions give us a lot to think about. Thank you.
I really like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] with your chosen middle names. [name_f]Amelie[/name_f] is very nice too. Here are a few other suggestions out of left field. Please forgive repeats.
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Mira[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucretia[/name_f]
[name_f]Clara[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
I think my favorites are [name_f]Clara[/name_f] and [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] (and [name_f]Penelope[/name_f].) Or [name_f]Edith[/name_f]!
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_u]Harper[/name_u] is lovely and works well with [name_m]Harvey[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. If you’re concerned about popularity what about [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]? It has a similar sound and the same number of syllables so the flow would match, and is of Greek origin. The only thing is I don’t think it lends to as many nicknames as [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] ([name_f]Effie[/name_f] would be cute imo). All the best as you decide!
I went to bed to wake up to all of this. Thank you so much. I will discuss with my wife. We have thought about many of those options (especially the other greek mythology related ones which I love). I think as far as greek mythology is concerned, there aren’t many I can get past my wife. I like Adriadne, [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], and Caliope (I mean, the muse of music…how beautiful-- I saw that listed)… all completely veto’d by my wife ( that’s ok though, no matter what, it is much nicer when we both love it). I saw that someone also listed [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]. She is the godess of the underworld that rules with Hades. She has another role as the one that brings spring but the Greeks saw her as a bit of a brooding dark character… so its not as nice/inspirational to me as some of the others despite being a beautiful name lexicographical.
The one I really like, and this is completely left of base (and also completely vetoed - as well as not really working with the chosen middle names which would need reworking) is the name “[name_u]Demeter[/name_u]”. The ONLY problem with it is you would have people pronouncing it “dem-et-er” rather than how it is supposed to be pronounced “deh-meet-er” (it rhymes with [name_f]Anita[/name_f] – I think it might be hated on because people dont know that, I agree “dem-et-er” is pretty bland). Nameberry has that name here and its got a lot of negative feedback on it, but I absolutely love that name. If I had the guts/confidence to use a name that others hate…that’s what I would do. The [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] is absolutely beautiful too! The most well known story of her (as the mother of [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]… that is what reminded me of her) is that Hades kidnapped [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] and [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] and as a result [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] was so stricken with grief she neglected her work and, as the [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the fertility of the earth and the harvest, life on earth started to wither. [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] stepped in to make a deal to get [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] out of Hades to be with her mother [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] for half the year and as part of the deal she had to return to Hades for the other half… We get [name_f]Spring[/name_f] and [name_f]Summer[/name_f] every time [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] joins [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] in [name_m]Olympus[/name_m] and [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] and [name_u]Winter[/name_u] when she leaves for Hades. I think that motherly love story really endears [name_u]Demeter[/name_u] to me… her happiness brings live and hope to the world… its beautiful
Whilst I don’t love [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_u]Harper[/name_u] is really lovely. I also love the suggestion of [name_f]Amelie[/name_f] (it’s my daughter’s name)! Others that came to mind:
Actually, I’m Greek, and the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name are flowers, and someone sweet and pretty. I’ve met a couple of girls with the name too! It’s alright if you don’t want to use it, but actual Greek people don’t seem to mind the association. She was a nice girl that just got in an unfortunate situation, really.
Some other P- Greek names are [name_f]Pelagia[/name_f] “[name_f]Gia[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Pella[/name_f]”, [name_f]Pandora[/name_f], [name_f]Parthenope[/name_f] “[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]” and Polyxena “[name_f]Polly[/name_f]”, though I don’t know if they’re too unique for you.
Οther mythological/Ancient Greek names are [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_u]Artemis[/name_u], [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Hestia[/name_f] “[name_f]Tia[/name_f]”, [name_f]Thalia[/name_f], [name_f]Melina[/name_f], [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] “[name_f]Andie[/name_f]”, [name_f]Danae[/name_f], [name_u]Calypso[/name_u], [name_f]Rhea[/name_f], [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f] “[name_f]Fay[/name_f]”, [name_u]Dione[/name_u], Αntigone “[name_f]Andie[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Tia[/name_f]”, [name_f]Theodora[/name_f], [name_f]Electra[/name_f], [name_f]Nephele[/name_f], [name_f]Niobe[/name_f] “[name_f]Bee[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Nia[/name_f]”, [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f].
Other suggestions:
Demetria - I first heard it when I found out Demi Lovato’s real name and liking it ever since. Maybe you like it too since you mentioned Demeter above.
Althea
Ophelia
Athena
Evelina
Thalia