[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all, my hubby and I are expecting a baby girl in next year and are split on a name, we both like the other’s pick, but it’s not our favorite. I’m looking for middle name ideas and would love to see your ideas. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] is an option, but we’re not sure if we want to use up a beautiful name we might be able to use in the future on a middle name spot. Thanks in advance for your help!
Both names are beautiful choices. However I prefer [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] over [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] I just don’t particularly like however it is still a nice name. They go beautifully together - whether as sisters or as a combo. I think if you plan to have another child save it. However if you have other names you love use it as a middle name. I prefer the flow of [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] btw :).
I also prefer [name_f]Julianna[/name_f], I like its melodic sound and how it isn’t as popular as [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. And, like the pp said I think [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] flows better than [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] and it has a princess-y air to it. You don’t know when you will have another baby, your taste in names might have changed and you might not like those two names anymore, and you might have a boy so I think you should use both names you love now
I’m going to go the other way and say I prefer [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] to [name_f]Julianna[/name_f], but only just! They are both elegant and lovely names, they make me think of elegant yet slightly exotic people, it just makes me think of places like Monaco, Nice, [name_m]Rome[/name_m] or [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. I would personally pair such feminine and (in the case of [name_f]Julianna[/name_f]) frilly names with something a little more androgynous or with a little bit more of a kick/harder sound to it.
I like the sound of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Jade[/name_f] and also I think [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u] or [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Lark[/name_f] would be very pretty. I think [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] is nice but I slightly prefer the flow of [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f].
I prefer [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] over [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] over [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Julianna[/name_f].
[name_f]Julianna[/name_f] is my choice. [name_f]May[/name_f] I suggest [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosanna[/name_f]…
[name_f]Julianna[/name_f] sounds nicer to me. Plus between here and real life I hear [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] all the time and it’s getting stale. I agree with ppl. Use both now if you love them.
i much prefer [name_f]penelope[/name_f], and i think [name_f]penelope[/name_f] [name_f]julianna[/name_f] has a lovely flow to it!
I love [name_f]Julianna[/name_f].
[name_f]Julianna[/name_f] by far!
Definitely [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] for me! I can never really get on with elaborate -anna/-ana names - they feel a bit fussy for me (but my taste does definitely run more short and abrupt than most). [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] gives you the option for one of my favourite nicknames too, [name_f]Nell[/name_f].
I’d go straightforward and spare for the middle personally:
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Rosa[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Fay[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
Thanks every one. I really like the suggestion of using a short middle name with either choice. And feel more comfortable with using both names in either order.
Some of the suggestions I really like are [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f], and [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Lark[/name_f].
What do you all think of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]Issa[/name_u] or [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_u]Issa[/name_u]? Pronounced Eeesa. Names ending in “ssa” are a family thing, so it would be special, but definitely not required. And since it’s in the middle spot I don’t feel it has to be a “perfect” name.
I love [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] and like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. I know a [name_f]Julianna[/name_f], and we’ve always called her by her full name. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] I feel will always end up being shortened, so if you go with it, pick a nickname you like and start using it. I’m not a fan of [name_u]Penny[/name_u], but love [name_f]Nell[/name_f], and feel like [name_u]Penny[/name_u] is more obvious, so I’d start using [name_f]Nell[/name_f] right away to avoid [name_u]Penny[/name_u], if it were me. You may feel differently!
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f], while a bit popular, is such a cheerful and lovely name (with great nickname options to boot)! I’m with katinka; plain and simple [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is much more appealing to me than [name_f]Julianna[/name_f].
That said, I do like the idea of a single-syllable middle for both names, and I love [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] and [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Lark[/name_f]!
Unfortunately, I don’t think [name_u]Issa[/name_u] flows well with either name. The double “ee-ee” sound in [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_u]Issa[/name_u] throws me off, as does the matching “-a” endings in [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_u]Issa[/name_u]. In the former case though, the “-ssa” ending is very workable if you break the “ee” sounds up with a consonant, so perhaps [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Lissa[/name_f] or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Tessa[/name_f]?
[name_u]Love[/name_u] them both, but [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] is my favourite.
I like both names, but I prefer [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. I really like the nicknames [name_f]Nell[/name_f] and [name_u]Penny[/name_u].
I prefer [name_f]Julianna[/name_f]. I don’t like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] but I do have a soft spot for it because of personal connections and the nn [name_u]Penny[/name_u] is cute. [name_f]Julianna[/name_f], however, is beautiful although I would pronounce it [name_u]Julie[/name_u] - ah - nuh instead of like the name [name_f]Anna[/name_f]. lots of nickname possibilities too!
I prefer [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], along with nns [name_f]Nell[/name_f], [name_f]Nellie[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_u]Penny[/name_u], [name_m]Penn[/name_m]. Name taste around Nameberry generally does run a little ahead of the curve. A few years ago, Berries could not get enough of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]. It’s a #27 name now, having been steadily rising over the past decade and more.
I know a [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] born this summer, they call her [name_u]Juli[/name_u]. It feels outdated to me personally, because I think of [name_u]Julie[/name_u] as a “mom name.” I also know of a little [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]; [name_f]Julia[/name_f] is still in the Top 100, and [name_f]Juliana[/name_f] with one N ranks even a little higher than [name_f]Julianna[/name_f]. The -anna names are hit-and-miss with me, and [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] is a miss (I prefer some clunkier sounds to ground the frill).
All that to say, the [name_u]Julie[/name_u] names seem to be having a hot moment right now, while [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] may be beginning to have saturated popularity. I’ve been gone from NB for about two years, but coming back and seeing so many votes for [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] makes me think that if you want to use [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], do it now while it’s still stylish and before it becomes an “[name_u]Aidan[/name_u] name” that’s so overused people are sick of hearing it. Same risk stands for [name_f]Julianna[/name_f], of course, but it sounds like that one has a few more years before people tire of the trend.
I don’t have a strong opinion on whether to go ahead and use both beautiful names or whether to save one. I’ve always operated on the premise that “you don’t know the future so use it,” and I have a fear of “the name that got away” because, well, you don’t know the future, and there might not ever be another girl or boy for that name. On the other hand, I have to say, now that I’m working on [name_u]Baby[/name_u] #7 (you don’t know the future, remember?!) it’s really becoming challenging finding names after we used 2-3 favorites on every child before. So I understand it both ways. I think the clincher will have to be for you to think about how you will feel if one of those names really does “get away.”
Either way, I don’t happen to agree with the suggestion of a short/brief middle name, just so long as it’s a “sturdy” sounding name alongside [name_f]Julianna[/name_f]. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] isn’t as airy so you have more flexibility on that one. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t forget to consider your surname, though. I know a [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] who has a one-syllable middle (probably on this sort of advice) but she also has a one-syllable surname. It sounds very choppy all together. For a one-syllable surname, I would have made a combo like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], or [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalinde[/name_f]. If your surname is long, as in 3+ syllables, then do go with a shorter middle. If it’s 2-syllables, consider a 3-syllable middle, as that’s likely to have a nice flow going from a 4 syllable first name, to 3-syllable middle, to 2-syllable last. If you decide you can’t part with either of the names, then disregard all of this advice and use all the names you love and ignore the people who tell you the kid will never learn to spell her own name. She will, and it will be fine.
Regarding the [name_u]Issa[/name_u] names, would an “EESE” sound be sufficient? [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f] comes to mind, or Anneliessa, which seems like something you guys might like. Or [name_f]Elisia[/name_f]. [name_f]Elise[/name_f], [name_f]Liese[/name_f], [name_f]Liesa[/name_f], [name_f]Alicia[/name_f], [name_f]Clarice[/name_f], [name_f]Denise[/name_f], [name_f]Liesbeth[/name_f], [name_f]Liesel[/name_f], [name_f]Mariessa[/name_f], [name_f]Bernice[/name_f], [name_f]Berenice[/name_f], [name_f]Anastice[/name_f], [name_f]Antonice[/name_f], [name_f]Charice[/name_f], [name_f]Dorice[/name_f], [name_f]Lettice[/name_f], [name_f]Jannice[/name_f], [name_f]Nanice[/name_f], [name_f]Ranice[/name_f], all possibilities for incorporating that [name_u]Issa[/name_u] sound while offering a nicer transition between the EE or [name_m]AH[/name_m] endings of your favored first names. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Eliese[/name_f], [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] [name_f]Clarice[/name_f], perhaps?
Good luck deciding!