Message: "Pippa" - Behind the Name

Pippa

by belovely

9/20/2011, 9:25 PM

I guess I first came across this name in the book A Great and Terrible Beauty, which I loved. I always thought it was feminine with a punch. Now, there is the association with Pippa Middleton, Pippi Longstockings, even Pip from Great Expectations and Pippin from Lord of the Rings.

Do you think that Pippa is an okay name to use? I'm not the fondest of Philippa. If so, what middle names would go with it?

#Pippa

Replies

- Evie. (augustbugx)

9/22/2011, 2:13 AM

I liove the name Pippa ! :) its so pretty

- Anneza

9/21/2011, 11:15 PM

Pippa Sally; Pippa Margaret; Pippa Louise; Pippa Valerie; Pippa Ruth.

Even if you don't enjoy Philippa and would never use it, it gives more scope to a (potentially) bored teenager who might otherwise start calling herself Skarlytt.

- HappySingleMum (guest)

9/21/2011, 4:36 PM

I don't mind Pippa.

Pippa Anne
Pippa Judith
Pippa Carol
Pippa Heidi

- Siân (Sharley) +1

9/21/2011, 2:42 PM

I've always liked it and linked it to Song From Pippa Passes.

I know it's Swedish for "f*ck." I just can't bring myself to care. I'm not Swedish. I don't know anyone that speaks Swedish. It's not exceedingly relevent to me life.

I liked Pippa for years before I ever cared for Philippa.
I think it could stand alone if you wanted it to and paired it with a sturdier middle name. Something distinguished and longer perhaps.

Pippa Madeleine
Pippa Adelaide / Adeline
Pippa Frances
Pippa Harriet
Pippa Katherine / Catherine / Kathryn / etc
Pippa Vivienne
Pippa Aurore

- belovely

9/21/2011, 6:26 PM

I love Pippa Katherine or Pippa Adelaide. I think I could see Philippa growing on me, but not the DH.

- Annie (Anniemao) +1

9/21/2011, 2:40 PM

I first saw it A Great and Terrible Beauty as well! Amazing book and trilogy, isn't it? I'd really liked it ever since then. I also really love the names Felicity and Gemma.

- belovely

9/21/2011, 6:25 PM

I have always thought Felicity was the only "virtue" name I'd ever like. :) That was from the American Girl series for me though. It is an amazing trilogy.

- kudriashkajo (jodirae)

9/21/2011, 2:19 PM

While Pippa is ridiculously cute, I couldn't take it seriously as a full name. As a nickname, no problem. But on an adult it just doesn't seem substantial enough for me. I think the cuteness of it could sound pretty ditzy as she gets older.

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki)

9/21/2011, 11:01 AM

I don't care for it much. It sounds nicknamey and silly-sounding.

- Marie (Tawnee)

9/21/2011, 9:26 AM

I don't like it, especially as a standalone name. It's just so childish and cutesy.

- alicia_renee

9/21/2011, 7:33 AM

I only like it as a nickname for Phillippa-Pippa is too "forever young" on its own.

- humblebee

9/21/2011, 7:31 AM

I don't like Pippa as a standalone--it's a little too young and perky--but I love it as a nn for Philippa.

I don't think the fact that it's Swedish slang for f--- is such a big deal, but it really would be better to have Philippa to fall back in case she travels to Sweden or works with Swedes. Yes, she could always be named Pippa and go by her middle name, but Pippa would still be on all of her documentation.

I'm just pro-Philippa, I guess. =) I've loved it since I played one in my 10th grade play, and I like how it would give a child so many more nn options than just Pippa.

- Ninor (Frozten)

9/21/2011, 6:34 AM

No, for the reasons mentioned below. Might work in an english speaking country, but most people would probably assume it was a nickname for Philippa.

- AppalachianPie (MariaNikolaievnaRoma) +1

9/21/2011, 5:05 AM

Love and adore it!

It's so peppy and cute and sweet! I always think of Pippa as being a cheerleader of a name and a person you want to have as your best friend in the worst of times, because she can bring you out of your misery, and in the best of times, because she's fun, fun, fun!

I personally like it as a nickname for Philippa, but it can stand alone, too.

How about:

Pippa Eloise
Pippa Rebecca
Pippa Angelina
Pippa Olivia
Pippa Olive
Pippa Isabel / Isobel
Pippa Honor
Pippa Honora
Pippa Josephine
Pippa Victoria
Pippa Harriet
Pippa Maybelle
Pippa Ramona
Pippa Elisabella
Pippa Marigold
Pippa Emilia
Pippa Wilhelmina
Pippa Julitta
Pippa Eulalie
Pippa Erin
Pippa Francesca
Pippa Irene
Pippa Sunniva
Pippa Sunshine
Pippa Lieselotte
Pippa Frances
Pippa Melisande
Pippa Jemima
Pippa Ingrid
Pippa Anne
Pippa Georgina
Pippa May
Pippa Lucille
Pippa Pearl
Pippa Edith
Pippa Helen
Pippa Corisande
Pippa Theodora

- belovely

9/21/2011, 6:23 PM

Pippa Isobel & Pippa Ingrid are lovely to me, thanks!

- Billina

9/21/2011, 4:36 AM

Too cutesy.

- insane romantic

9/21/2011, 1:59 AM

I think Pippa is nice. I personally like it as a nickname for Philippa, but I think it works fine as a name on it's own - it's no more nicknamey than other short names ending in A such as Anna or Emma. It's definitely useable.

- abbasdaughter

9/21/2011, 1:13 AM

I tend to think of it as a nn for Philippa, but I've only ever known 1 Pippa (who was born in England) because it's not all that common in Canada... Not sure how well it would be taken on its own. That said, as a nn, I think it's fun and perfectly usable... and not overused in N. Am.

- Just Jonquil +2

9/21/2011, 12:14 AM

I prefer it as a nn for Philippa but it's so well-established as the pet form I think it's fine. So much better than Piper.

I like Pippa Marguerite

- abbasdaughter +1

9/21/2011, 1:14 AM

I agree. Piper is horrid.

- Caralena Estelle (guest)

9/21/2011, 2:22 AM

it truly is horrid.

- vigdis (guest) +16

9/20/2011, 11:40 PM

As a former poster pointed out again and again: Pippa means vagina in Swedish. Ever since then I have not been able to get the connection out of mind. :-/

- Loki (SamJr7)

9/21/2011, 4:19 PM

Wow. Thanks for pointing that out. I will never like the name Pippa ever again. But it's a good thing to know. I don't want to name my daughter vagina in any language.

- Malin (nilamalin) +14

9/20/2011, 11:50 PM

No no

It's a verb, it's slang for having sexual intercourse. All Swedish articles mentioning Pippa Middleton also have to keep mentioning that "this is a normal English name! It's a nickname for Philippa!" ;)

This message was edited 9/20/2011, 11:51 PM

- Caralena Estelle (GiovannaDevorah) +13

9/20/2011, 11:58 PM

OK, that ruined it for me

Pippa is no longer in consideration for me.....

- abbasdaughter +12

9/21/2011, 1:15 AM

Interesting tidbit for me... If anyone you know named Pippa moves to Sweden, advise her not to go by that... perhaps her mn would be better...

- Just Jonquil +11

9/21/2011, 5:07 AM

Oy vey! Not nearly so bad is

the fact that Lara means "elbow" in Yoruba. There's a place called Lara in Australia, and this was pointed out by a Nigerian I was driving with when the turnoff sign for Lara appeared on the highway.

- abbasdaughter +10

9/21/2011, 5:56 AM

Geri in Jpns. which sounds like Gary means

diarrhea... That one is rather unfortunate.
There's also the old Jpns. word for toilet which is benjo and sounds a bit too close for comfort to Benji.

- ninjato +2

9/21/2011, 1:27 PM

Yep, at least I know why Gary Oak was so anal-retentive in Pokemon. Sounds like diarrhea.

- Rachel Shaina (Evil) +1

9/21/2011, 1:56 PM

You know he's only Gary in the English dubs, right? After a tree called garry oak.

- ninjato

9/21/2011, 7:16 PM

I knew that, but I just was feeling like it was an explanation of the behavior such as, "Smell ya later!"

- Dracotorix +1

9/21/2011, 10:31 AM

I never knew that about benjo! My teacher just taught us "toirei"...

- abbasdaughter

9/21/2011, 6:13 PM

People don't use benjo as much anymore... It's kind of an old people's word perhaps... like those who say bloomers for underwear.

- Serel Channah (floppery) +1

9/21/2011, 9:43 AM

I'll have to tell my mom to be careful if she ever goes to Japan -- her name is Geri. Albeit, it's pronounced Jerry, not Gary.

- abbasdaughter

9/21/2011, 6:13 PM

If it's prn'd Jerry, it shouldn't be a problem.

- ursa +2

9/21/2011, 9:03 AM

Nora & Milo + ETA Rita

Nora means 'crazy' in Slovene language :). Also: Milo means 'soap' (though it's not pronounced the same way).

ETA: Oh I forgot another one. Rita is one of the words for 'ass'. How nice! :D

This message was edited 9/21/2011, 9:11 AM

- Sofia +1

9/21/2011, 3:05 PM

And lets not forget Peder (a slang term for a gay man).

- ursa

9/22/2011, 2:59 AM

Oh, yes of course :)

- Apolline

9/20/2011, 10:18 PM

I love the name Pippa. I'm worried it's not strong enough to stand on it's own, though. I like the combo Pippa Rose (Philippa Rose). It's simplistic but so cute and rosey.

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