Never posted here before but thought I could really benefit from some other opinions because my husband and I are going round in circles. Our baby is due in 2 weeks and we have had 3-4 names of each gender picked out for several months (we don’t know if we are having a boy or a girl). Up until really recently we have had a front runner for each list but wanted to keep the decision open until we meet our little one!
We are 100% happy with our boy name choice, but we are having last minute doubts about our girl option. The problem is that we don’t know if our number 1 girl choice “goes with” our surname. Our front runner if it is a girl is [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], which is a name we both really love. However our surname also has 2 syllables, begins with a P, has a double consonant in the middle (different consonant), and also ends with a “Y”. I should stress that it does not rhyme with [name_f]Poppy[/name_f].
My concern is, as a whole name does “[name_f]Poppy[/name_f] P----y” come across “cutesy” or cartoon character-ish? Or is it just a name that rolls off the tongue? I have said the name to myself so many times that I am having trouble looking at it with fresh eyes!
Our other choices are [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] ([name_f]Maddie[/name_f] for short), [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. Are these better options? The middle name will be [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].
Would really appreciate some opinions based on your first impressions!
For me, it is too close. I also took some girl names I liked off the list because they were too matchy with our last name. Our last name is similar to Espinoza, so any girl name that starts with an E, ends with A, and is 4 syllables doesn’t sound right to me.
Any of your other girl name options would sound great, or even another P name that had more syllables or ended in a different sound.
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f] is a popular name in the UK and therefore I hear this name all the time and that cutesy edge has kinda rubbed off a little for me, especially as I know [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]'s of all ages. However I do think [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] is one of those names that can loose it’s legitimacy becoming cutesy and cartoon-ish. I think this would happen once [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] is teamed with your surname. I think alliteration only works regarding certain naming combinations. It would be a shame of you to not use a name you love could you switch the combination around. Could you use [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] P—Y? [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] is really pretty and avoids that alliteration issue whilst using your favourite name.
If [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] isn’t an option my favourite from your front runners is [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]. [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] is elegant [name_m]French[/name_m] classic. She’s just effortless and the [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] nickname is adorable. However both [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are pretty choices.
Have you considered [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], nn [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]? I always say go with what you love, but [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] seems too close to your surname for me.
You have a legitimate concern. To me, [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] with a P—y surname would sound cartoonish. There are way too many P sounds in that combination and having both names end with Y only serves to emphasize the similarities of the names. I do think that moving [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] into the first name position would work. Otherwise, I would stick to one of the other names on your list. Alliteration can be nice, but has it’s limits. Another thing to realize is that P.P. is not an ideal first/last pair of initials. Good luck!
I have to agree that [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] P—y is a bit too sing-songy. If you don’t want to use [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] as a nickname, my favorite of the other names is [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]. That being said, there are some great names that you can get the nickname [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] from:
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f]
[name_f]Primrose[/name_f]
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f]
[name_f]Amapola[/name_f] (means “poppy” in Arabic)
I don’t know if this idea would be too “out there” for you, but you could name her after a poppy plant. There are two beautiful varieties of poppies, one called [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] [name_f]Louise[/name_f] poppies and another [name_f]Queen[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] Poppies. Since your style seems very classic I think you could use [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] or [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] and use [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] as a nickname
I agree that I think it’s a little too much with your last name. Sorry to say that because I know firsthand what it’s like to have to give up your favorite name because it doesn’t work with your surname. But you’re naming a person and you don’t want them to be put in a position having to carry a name that could be a target for others to mock.
What about [name_u]Piper[/name_u]? It’s got a similar sound and feel to it. I also like the idea of using [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] as a middle name.
This is biased because I really don’t like alliteration, but I think it’s better to cross [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] off your list, or at least use it as a middle name if you don’t want to part with it. All your other choices are fine, though [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] particularly flow well.
It does sound like it may be too cartoonish. What about [name_f]Philippa[/name_f], nickname [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] or [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]? The other names you have one your list are nice, too.
I have to agree that you should eliminate [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] from your list. [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] P-**-y does sound cartoonish, and the initials P.P. are rather unfortunate. I have to say that using [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] or something similar as a formal name if you intend her to go by [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] will solve neither of these problems. I say this sadly, because like another poster, I had to give up a favorite name due to a clash with our surname.
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are all beautiful options, and I think any of them would be beautiful, classic choices. However, I will say that they seem a bit removed from your front runner which, for me at least, exudes spunk and exuberance. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t want to derail you at this point, but if your other choices don’t seem to be totally clicking for you, that might be why. Might something along the lines of [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Gemma[/name_f] deliver the high-energy vibe of [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]?
What @bowtiful said would be really cute. That’s an option ypu could consider.
You could also use a name that could allow you use [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] as a nickname, like [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f].
Or you could go with one of the other options you have. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f].
You can also use [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] as a middle and call her that. There is a lot of people that goes withthei middle name.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] because it’s a flower name? [name_m]How[/name_m] does [name_f]Violet[/name_f] sound with your last name? Or [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]?
Your other choices are very common in USA.
I agree, the initials P.P. are pretty silly. I have a friend who never forgave her mom for giving her the initials W.A.R.
Maybe you’ll have a boy and then we can work on a sib set for you.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] because it is a flower name? [name_m]How[/name_m] does [name_f]Violet[/name_f] sound with your last name? Or [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]?
I agree, the initials P.P. will cause pain for her. Kids are mean.
Your other choices are very common in USA. [name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] (nn of former President [name_m]Bush[/name_m]) will become common now that granddaughter [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] [name_m]Bush[/name_m] has used it for her second daughter.
Maybe you’ll have a boy and then we can help you with a sib set.
