The Best Sparky, Vintage Names to Go with Penelope Rae

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THEY LOVE THE ENERGY OF THEIR FIRSTBORN’S NAME

Nicole writes:

Our second daughter will be here in April, and right now we can’t agree on a single name.

We have a two-and-a-half year old named Penelope Rae. We sometimes call her Penny at home, but she’s Penelope to everyone else.

I’m a little disappointed by how popular her name is. It was always my favorite name, and my husband agreed. But there is another Penelope the class ahead of her at her center. (And the way the classes work, sometimes they’re in the same group until one of them ages up.) It also feels like every time we go anywhere with other kids, there’s another Penelope.

But mostly it hasn’t stopped how much I love the name. It’s fun to say and I feel like it’s got a lot of energy but isn’t made-up.

We’d like to find another name with those same qualities. The names we have talked about so far are:

• Daphne (my favorite), Phoebe (his favorite), Chloe, Zoe – but we feel like it’s weird to have another name with the same ending, and a name like Zoe is so short compared to Penelope.
• Samantha – my mom suggested, and I think she’s right about it being a lot like Penelope in some ways, but I feel like it’s a mom name.
• Olivia – way too popular, we know three.
• Cecilia – I like it, but maybe it’s just too traditional compared to Penelope?
• Alexandra – Except that Alexander is our boy’s name, and we’d like to keep it in case we do have a son in the future.

I feel like the names are all running together on every list I look at. I know we’d never use a name like Apricity, but I feel like those are the names that stand out to me now.

Penelope’s middle name is for my grandpa Raymond. We’re thinking about using Kate for this daughter’s middle, for my husband’s mom, Kathleen. (Or maybe Katherine or Kaye.)

Our last name is a common name with an S at the end: W!11!@m$.

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

A NAME THAT SHARES PENELOPE’S BEST QUALITIES

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your new daughter!

Penelope is such a great name, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. It’s vintage, but not in a sipping-tea-in-the-garden way. More like piloting a hot air balloon in some amazing high-button boots vibe.

And it is sparky and fun to say, without any consideration of pop culture associations.

Cecilia, I think, has a similar vibe, but only if you’re channeling the classic Simon and Garfunkel song. Without it, Cecilia is lovely and strong and all sorts of good things, but maybe not quite a sister for Penelope Rae.

I think your mom is right about Samantha, but I also agree – it’s a name that has peaked.

And while I can imagine sisters named Penelope and Daphne, I do share your sense that it’s a little bit of repeat.

Avoiding a really popular name like Olivia makes sense, given what you’ve shared. But names like Apricity maybe take it too far.

So where does that leave us?

It’s definitely time for a fresh list.

A SISTER FOR PENELOPE RAE

Sometimes I struggle when trying to find the best possible suggestions. This time, though? I feel like I could’ve kept going. I realized I was drawing heavily from this list of quirky girl names, but many of those are a little more out-there than what you’re after, I think.

AURORA

Like Penelope, it’s a Top 100 favorite. But Aurora roars, doesn’t it? It’s a night sky name with a hint of ancient myth and legend, just like Penelope.

FELICITY

Cecilia made me think of Cecily, but I think that might be too different, and still a little lace gloves. Felicity is more high-spirited, especially with the meaning: happiness.

FRANCESCA

Frances is understated, but her Italian cousin Francesca is vivid. Yes, it’s the name of a Bridgerton sister, but I think that’s almost the vibe you’re after.

JOSEPHINE

Like Penelope and Aurora, Josephine ranks in the Top 100. But it also shares that spirited, vintage energy.

MARIGOLD

Despite being used as a character name for Downton Abbey, Marigold wasn’t particularly common in the 1920s. But it sounds like a vintage floral choice, and I think that makes it a great sister for Penelope Rae.

NAOMI

An Old Testament name with an intriguing sound, Naomi manages to rank in the US Top 100 while still feeling distinctive and different. To take it even farther, choose the European Noemi, heard in Romance languages, as well as Slavic ones.

SABRINA

Thanks to singer Sabrina Carpenter, this name is enjoying a little bit of a boost. But Sabrina is a timeless name, spirited and fun to say – just like Penelope.

VERONICA

Probably my go-to for timeless, offbeat names for a daughter. It’s too sparky and fun to be called traditional, but there’s no question that Veronica has plenty of history and appeal.

Overall, I’m going to make Sabrina Kate my top choice for Penelope Rae’s little sister. I think it’s nicely unexpected, but shares all the same qualities as Penelope. I’d put Francesca a close second.

But I know there will be so many great suggestions, so let’s open it up!

What would you name a sister for Penelope Rae?