Name Poll

[MrsReady2bMama]

Hi all - another ever-popular name poll for your voting pleasure!

We don't know if it's a boy or girl, and these are the options we're thinking of. I'd love to see what comes out as popular among you well-naming mamas!

Boy: (DH is named James, but goes only by Jim)

James Joseph (or possibly Stephen for middle); would only call James, never Jim
Henry James
Martin James - would likely go by Marty

Girl:

Penelope Eve - would go by Penny
Francesca Jane - would go by Francie or Frankie
Summer Katherine (or maybe Jane for middle) - yes, baby is due in March, but DH and I have just always loved this name.

Likely will be a game-time decision when we meet baby, but love opinions!

Oh, and DD is Cecelia, goes by Cece or Celia.

~ Gina

[Peony]

I adore Penelope and James. Henry and Francesca are my second choices, while I love the full name Francesca, I'm not a fan of the nicknames Frankie or Francie. Great choices!

[RedOakMomma]

If you go with Henry James, you're going to get A LOT of questioning about Henry James the author and literary figure. I would avoid it unless you're a fan of his and don't mind the immediate association/assumption that your son was named after him.

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

If you go with Henry James, you're going to get A LOT of questioning about Henry James the author and literary figure. I would avoid it unless you're a fan of his and don't mind the immediate association/assumption that your son was names after him.

Methinks you are well-educated. I seriously doubt that many people know Henry James.

For James Joseph, he will eventually get called JJ.

I loooooove Francesca.

[MaerynPearl]

While I did think of Henry James, the author... seeing as that will be his first and middle name most people will never even hear it to question. And those that do, likely will know you well enough not to need to question it.

I personally used to love Penelope... until Penelope Cruz came around. :/

[Pinoikoi]

There are a LOT of Summers right now.. I love Francesca!

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

There are a LOT of Summers right now.. I love Francesca!

I agree with this too.

Plus its one of those named which will forever be linked to strippers (I have one of those names, its not Summer but its similar and its not a connection I enjoy)

Francesca is cute and different I just don't know whether or not Frankies the best nickname for it... it takes a beautiful feminine name and puts a very masculine spin on it.

FWIW i voted Francesca and Henry...

[philomom]

I love Martin. My dh's favorite uncle's name!


I love Francesca ...... but do have her nickname be a simple Fran. Frannie seems to close to Fannie to me.

[MrsReady2bMama]

Thanks for all the feedback!

If you go with Henry James, you're going to get A LOT of questioning about Henry James the author and literary figure. I think this association is ok with me. To another poster's point, most likely down the road most people wouldn't know his middle name on a regular basis. And to be associated with a famous author wouldn't be the worst thing.

My DH somehow thinks Henry is kind of girly. He feels like if he plays sports he will have to go by Hank

For James Joseph, he will eventually get called JJ. I actually really like the nickname JJ, so this would be ok. It's funny though, I knew someone who really wanted their son to go by JJ (Jeffery James I think?) and it just never took, he was always Jeff.

I personally used to love Penelope... until Penelope Cruz came around. :/ Why? I would think only a positive association from her? I don't know much about her, but she seems a talented actress?

There are a LOT of Summers right now.. That surprised me! I've never met one or known of one. It's 171 on the ssa.gov site so not overly common to me. It is good to know that in some areas it is popular though! It is higher on ssa.gov than either Penelope or Francesca.

Plus its one of those named which will forever be linked to strippers Ouch!! Really? I never thought that! I just think what a sweet, warm name it is. Strippers I think more like Destiny or Candy or something.

Francesca seems to be popular in the full form but no one is a big fan of the nicknames. That makes it hard for me b/c I just think Francesca would be a mouthful for me and for a little girl to pull off. I love nicknames though! I never had one growing up so I think that is why I am partial to them for my kids.

Thanks for giving me lots to think about!! This is helpful

I keep saying I wish baby would just come out wearing a nametag...

[MaerynPearl]

Maybe they will?

DD I had two choices, first middle, or middle first.... and when she came out I looked at her and instantly decided that the first middle order made perfect sense for her! Never have regretted that decision! I just cannot see calling her by her middle name... its so not her, but her first name definitely is!

[MrsReady2bMama]

Maeryn that is good to hear Hopefully baby will help us out!!

[MrsReady2bMama]

bump...

We are still at such a loss for some reason! If anyone has any alternate suggestions based on our naming style, we're all ears...

[Other names we've considered:
Girl - Millicent (Millie); Margaret-Mary (Maisie)
Boy - Charles (Charlie)]

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by Peony

I adore Penelope and James. Henry and Francesca are my second choices, while I love the full name Francesca, I'm not a fan of the nicknames Frankie or Francie. Great choices!

: except here they sometimes call Francesca, Cessa, pronounced Chessa which I think is super cute! If my girl turns out to be a boy we are doing James as well. I love the name. My dad is a James/Jim but this baby will be James or Jamie at the MOST.

[Grace and Granola]

great names!

[OrchideZ]

nak so excuse all the lower caps...

i love the author so henry james is a great "homage".
i like joseph a lot but james joseph sounds awkward to me somehow...i think i prefer it reversed with joseph being first.
charlie is nice but seems more popular.

for a girl, i love francesca and margaret/maisie. penelope is ok but not crazy about penny.

summer doesn't do it for me...it sounds a bit dingy (sorority girl) or like a name you would hear with a stripper.

i think you have some good names to pick from though!

[lovebug]

Henry James and Penelope Eve

other then the middle names these are my top two name for a boy and girl! i love them and think they are awesome! but i would use nell for short with Penelope

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by Galatea

Methinks you are well-educated. I seriously doubt that many people know Henry James.

For James Joseph, he will eventually get called JJ.

Henry and James are used enough and Henry James isn't well known by enough people for this ever to cross most people's minds.

JJ is a possibility, but you have to realize that you CANNOT keep people from shortening James to Jim. You just can't. In high school, we all called our friends by shortened versions of their names - even ones that didn't easily shorten. If you dislike any common or shortened version of the name, don't use it. I felt this way (million years ago) about the name Brittany. I thought it was pretty but really didn't like Britt. Don't use David or Michael if you dislike Dave and Mike. It will happen, at least in some situations.

Originally Posted by MrsReady2bMama

Boy: (DH is named James, but goes only by Jim)

James Joseph (or possibly Stephen for middle); would only call James, never Jim -- I think a child should have their own first name.
Henry James -- This is my favorite of what you have listed. LOVE middle names after people you love!! And Henry is a great name. Hank is a great nickname too - I knew a Hank in high school.
Martin James - would likely go by Marty -- Marty doesn't go with Celia at all to me.

Girl:

Penelope Eve - would go by Penny -- like the name but not the nickname. would you consider Nellie/Nell as a nickname?
Francesca Jane - would go by Francie or Frankie -- cute but Celia sounds so elegant and feminine that it seems unfair to have her sister be Penny or Frankie (although I think Frankie is cute for a girl)
Summer Katherine (or maybe Jane for middle) - yes, baby is due in March, but DH and I have just always loved this name -- Celia and Summer are ok together but I think there might be something better out there. I really like sibling names to go together.

Oh, and DD is Cecelia, goes by Cece or Celia.

Originally Posted by MrsReady2bMama

Other names we've considered:
Girl - Millicent (Millie); Margaret-Mary (Maisie)
Boy - Charles (Charlie)

Millie is cute but not elegant enough to hold up to Celia.
Maisie too - though I like it best of the options you've mentioned so far.
Charlie just isn't as good as Henry!

Originally Posted by lovebug

but i would use nell for short with Penelope

Ditto - but I think you have to use Nellie when she's little.

[MrsReady2bMama]

Oh how fun to see my thread revived! Especially since d-day is quickly approaching and we are no closer to a name than we were several months ago.

DH and I both really like Penelope June for a girl; however, we are nervous that Penelope is becoming ubiquitous and is going to be the next Madelyn or Sophia. I am seeing it everywhere lately - it's outrageously popular on all the baby name forums I've visited, and I've even seen it twice recently on A Baby Story on TLC. I actually love June for a first name, but DH isn't as crazy about it and I am hesitant b/c I think it will be misheard on the phone, etc., a lot - as "jew" or something.

Ironically, we seem to be settling on the least popular Summer. I just love the season so much, don't know anyone here with that name, and just feel like this baby might be our sunshine after a long winter. We'll see.

In the event of a boy, I change daily on my favorite of our top 3. I guess it will just depend on our mood that day I also think if the baby is fairer, it will more likely be Martin, whereas if he is darker Henry feels more fitting. I don't mind the overwhelming popularity of Henry - for some reason, for boys, I almost prefer something common.

Anyhow if anyone has suggestions on names we'd love to hear them!

[ciga]

I personally voted Penelope and Henry
I have a a great friend who is an incredibly talented artist and lovely person to boot named penelope (goes by penny). We considered it as a girl option too. I do like the name James (it is my husband's name too though he only goes by James now, only Jim to people who knew him in his younger days) but there is something very distinguished and at the same time adorable about a little boy named Henry.