Tina Fey; Image via Wikipedia
The gorgeously named Alice Zenobia is a big sister! Tina Fey and husband Jeffrey Richmond have welcomed daughter Penelope Athena.
Fey’s first daughter arrived in 2005. Alice was just barely returning to favor, ranking #414 in the US. Since then, she’s climbed to #172. Penelope seems to be on the same trajectory. A few years ago she was in the 500s. She ranked #2oo in 2010, and I’m hearing more and more of her.
I’ll talk more about Penelope in my Nameberry post for Monday, but I wanted to take a minute to discuss the pair. While the Richmond girls aren’t too matchy, both names share many a quality:
- They’re both antiques on their way to revival;
- There’s a healthy dose of Tina’s Greek heritage represented in both daughters’ names;
- Both names have their own 21st century movie fairytale – Tim Burton’s re-telling of Alice in Wonderland, and the Christina Ricci modern fable Penelope.
In her bestselling bio Bossypants, Fey talked about whether she’d have a second child in a way that makes me think she won’t have a third. Still, I sort of want to sit her down and ask what she’d have named a Duggar’s worth of kiddos.
Congrats to the family of four!
Of all the pregnant celebs this summer, I was most looking forward to Tina Fey’s name selection. Alice Zenobia & Penelope Athena are absolutely stunning on their own, but together, they are breathtaking!! I love that the first names are old fashioned, and then she chose funky, fabulous Greek middles. Congrats to Tina!
I knew she wouldn’t disappoint!
Penelope Athena is gorgeous alone and utterly divine with big sister Alice Zenobia. Congratulations to them!
She certainly didn’t disappoint! Penelope Athena is a wonderful name! I love it with Alice Zenobia.
It is a great sibset. Just as a small point that would have worried me — Penny & Alice strike pretty different chords — I agree that full on with the middle names, it’s kind of perfect, but I wonder about in practice, will Penny always feel less serious and Alice less fun?
Not to be a naysayer! More power to Tina & her awesome girls!
As a Greek-American, I have to say I have never, ever, ever, ever, EVER met or heard of anyone named Zenobia. Neither has anyone in my family. I don’t know where she got it, but if it’s Greek, it’s REAALLLLLY obscure.
And just as an FYI, in Greece, Athena (ah-THI-na) means the city of Athens. Whereas the woman’s name is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable (ah-thi-NA).
Tina’s Greek-born mother is named Zenobia, (although she apparently goes by Jeanne.) So at least one family is using the name.
I knew a Zenobia, she was my mom’s age, so b. during the depression. I presume her fam was Greek-American.
I just finished Tina’s book and when she wrote about the guilt of wanting a second child vs her obligations to the all the people who depend on her at 30 Rock, it broke my heart.
I hadn’t heard she was pregnant, so this is a pleasant surprise! I love Penelope and now maybe it will become widespread enough that (some) people will stop pronouncing it Pen-eh-lope.
We know a family of sibs: Serafina, Calder, & Penelope. I think it’s a great set.
I’m not a big fan of Penelope, but Penelope and Alice sound beautiful together! And Abby, I think your analysis of the two names is spot-on
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What a lovely pairing
love how Penelope is flirty but is given strength by the mighty warrior Athena 
great naming Tina Fey!
Alice & Penelope are just divine as sisters too
Aww these are sweet and quirky!
Agree with Sarah A–I don’t like Penelope myself, but I really like it for Tina Fey’s family. What gorgeously named sisters!
Alice actually had its peak in the UK in the mid 90′s, when it reached the top twenty. Since then, it has mostly been in decline, although it was up to 43rd again in 2010 after slipping to 46th in 2009. Probably because of the Tim Burton film!
Penelope’s definitely on the rise again in the UK too, though.
Personally, I think Penelope, Athena, Alice and Zenobia are all super names and ‘go together’ very well indeed!
Beautiful! I love both girls’ names. They could always go with Nell as a nn for Penelope rather than Penny. Nell and Alice sound great together.
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Penelope Athena made me swoon! Went to college with a Penelope… and my beloved alma mater (Bryn Mawr) has a statue of Athena that is perpetually adorned with offerings in the hopes of easing the passing of an exam or class, so it is extremely happy memories all ’round for me… also, Ms Fey’s 30 Rock character, Liz Lemon “attended Bryn Mawr… …on a partial jazz dance scholarship” and that just about makes me want to cheer.
I flippin’ love Tina Fey *and* her taste in names. Yay, Fey!
Tina Fey is now my favorite celebrity namer. She seriously needs to give lessons to the others! I adore Alice Zenobia and Athena, and while I, personally, strongly dislike Penelope, it seems like the perfect choice for the family. I knew she wouldn’t disappoint!
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