Stuck on Girl Names

DH and I settled on a boy’s name rather quickly, but we’re really struggling on a girl’s name. As soon as we agree on one, the other one of us gets disenchanted with the chosen name. The name has to be older, have nickname potential, and must be able to be pronounced properly in [name_m]French[/name_m], as we’re a bilingual family. Middle name will be [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], which honors deceased family members. Our last name is Italian and ends with -i

I love older names. I have loved the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] for as long as I can remember, but a member of his family (a distant cousin who lives in a different continent mind you) as recently named her baby [name_f]Penelope[/name_f], and it is becoming quite popular which I find off putting. I just can’t shake my love of [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] though.

I also like [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] quite a bit, but DH isn’t fond of it. We’ve considered [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Leonore[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], and nothing is quite sticking.

He likes [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], but especially loves [name_f]Susanna[/name_f]. I do like [name_f]Susie[/name_f] and I think [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] has a lovely flow. But it’s just not clicking?

So I’m looking for some feedback. [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]? [name_f]Susanna[/name_f]? Or do we compromise somewhere in the middle with [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]? Is there a name I’m missing?

[name_m]How[/name_m] do you go about choosing when each of you are in love with a different name?

It sounds like you really like [name_f]Susanna[/name_f]! [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] is lovely as well, you can’t really go wrong. I think [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is too “out there” for my taste. What about these?

[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] “[name_f]Sera[/name_f]” [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Selene[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Pascalie[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Perline[/name_f] “[name_f]Pearl[/name_f]” [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Suzette[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]
[name_f]Claudette[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u]

You have a great list! I love every name there. [name_f]Susannah[/name_f] is especially beautiful. Suggestions:

[name_f]Lucienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]

I might be a little biased (sister’s name), but I love [name_f]Susanna[/name_f]! [name_f]Susie[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], and [name_f]Zanna[/name_f] are all great nicknames. I like the suggestion of [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], as I think it is a little more approachable than [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]. [name_f]Susanna[/name_f] [name_u]Meredith[/name_u] would get my vote… good luck!