by The choice of the name of my first daughter was really simple – my husband at the time and I agreed on ‘Esther’. It was the only name of the girls we had in mind because I was convinced that I had a boy I had called “Ernie”.
When I was pregnant with my second child two years later, I was sure that I had a boy. People noticed that my bump “looked like I was wearing a boy”, and I had always imagined a “football mom” for boys, especially because I love the game and used to work for the football association. But again my instincts were wrong and I had another daughter.
She was born in the hospital on December 23 and I really wanted to come home for Christmas Day. I was released on Christmas Eve and came to a small family celebration in a vertebrae of the excitement. We moved from London to Hampshire just two weeks before the birth, and since it was almost Christmas, it was a busy time.
To choose the pressure
People kept asking my husband and me for the name and I started to decide a subtle pressure. He liked ‘Jessica’, but I wasn’t enthusiastic and I loved ‘Vivienne’, but he didn’t. We both liked the names ‘Penelope’ and ‘Wren’.
We thought we would think about it for a few days and get to know our new baby because I think it feels strange to name someone before you hit them correctly – some names just fit the look of a baby. So you have to wait until after the birth to name them.
I decided that the name ‘Penelope’ was too great and grown up for a little baby, but ‘Wren’ felt too short and dull, then we came the name ‘Penny-Wren’. We thought the name was very cute and a little different. We set ‘Penelope-Wen’ on her birth certificate, but we called her “Penny-Wren” and awaited everyone else.
I remember that after birth I still feel on an oxytocin high. I remember that I said to my husband: “Don’t let us rethink”, and when she was five days old, the decision was made.
Cause confusion
I still love the name, but when she went to school, I started to question our choice. Teachers and other people were confused-they called “Jenny-Wren” or only “Penny”-and I was worried that I could make their lives difficult. I wondered if she had to go through life to correct everyone.
The reality is ‘Penny-Wren’ is a sip, so you inevitably shorten it.
Nickname
When she was about seven years old, Penny-Wen said to all her teachers and all other-to name her “Penny”. She was very open about it and I had no problem with it, although I would prefer to have their full name in their school certificates.
Since they fit in, they seemed a little uncomfortable to have a double first name. She was also a bit annoyed, she had no second first name like her big sister.
Since they fit in, they seemed a little uncomfortable to have a double first name.
I still call her “Penny-Wren” and we also have several family tip names for you: “P-Dubs”, “PW”, “Pembles”, “Penren” or “Pen”, but everyone else now calls them “Penny”.
In retrospect, I really wished that we had “Penelope” (as first name) and “Wren” as second first names without byphen.
We are very down -to -earth people without megalomania, so I thought over time: “Oh god, why did I choose a double name?” -In view of this, I deliberately avoided a double last name. My ex-husband and I separated when the girls were small and now live nearby, they happily done them with their parenthood, but I wanted them to keep his last name, the “Elliott” to avoid confusion in school collection, etc.
Everyone always spell their surname incorrectly, never with two ‘ls’ and two ‘ts’. We gave Esther the second first name ‘Elaine’ to my nan, so she has a great alliteration: ‘Esther Elaine Elliott’.
Advice for other parents
We recently received a family poodle that we called “Vivienne Biscoff”. I couldn’t only use the name that I had always loved-“Vivienne” specials they are also twice, so let’s call them all “VB”. I work as a personal trainer and she is a great success on the screen with my members.
I would never change Penny-Wren’s name because this would be confusing, but for other parents who choose a baby name, I would say: “Name what you like, but if you want a simple life, just keep your name so that you don’t have to explain it further.”
In retrospect, it is best to give your child a name that does not require any additional efforts in life.
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