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Faith or Fay
Faith is a current favorite, Fay was my favorite name a long time ago. I really like them both. Which one would you choose?I made a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both names :PFaith+ I think it has a better meaning and I like how you're reminded of the meaning each time you say it. I think it's really strong, probably also because it is a word and you can hear what the meaning is when you say it.
+ it's not that popular
+ I like the way the th sounds
+ you could still kind of have Fay as a nickname even though I'd probably not do that because Faith is short already.
+ nn Faithie is kind of cute- many people might assume I was very religious which is not the case. This isn't really a big minus because I don't think there's anything wrong with being religious, but could cause confusion
- it's more common than Fay
- extremely common middle nameFay+ very unusual
+ reminds me of fairies
+ very soft
+ might be easier to pronounce for some people- most people would probably spell it Faye which I don't like
- not as strong
- could also be spelled Fae which I like, but people might spell it wrong a lot
- doesn't have any nicknameWhich spelling of Fay do you prefer?So: Faith or Fay and why? Have you met many little girls named Faith? As a middle name?Oh and I read another thread one Faith and someone said people might mispronounce it FAIF and that it's kind of hard to say. Do you agree?

This message was edited 8/31/2011, 4:22 AM

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Faith.
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In some parts of England, Faif would be the default pronunciation. Which probably needn't ever affect you.I've never met a Faith, but I think it needs an important-sounding ln to avoid seeming trite.I knew a Faye once who was a bossy middlel-aged spinster. But, I was at school with a beautiful, talented and nice Tessa Fay who was a remarkable pianist. So I'd go the Fay route without hesitation.
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FaithI prefer Faith, it just seems prettier to me and I love the meaning. I want to like Fay, but I just can't. There's just something that I can't put my finger on that makes me dislike it. Hmm... I'll have to think about this. If I had to choose a spelling though I would probably choose Fay, the e in both of the other spellings just looks odd to me.I know at least three girls named Faith, two are in about ninth grade I think, the other is about five or six. I can't think of any with a mn Faith. And as several people have said before, I think the only reason you might hear FAIF is from a little kid or someone with a speech impediment.
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I prefer Fay.
I know two Faiths and three Fays (one spelled Fay, and two spelled Faye)
I don't think anyone would say FAIF lol.
I'd spell it Fay, although I don't mind Fae either.
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FayI don't like virtue names so Faith is out. Besides, Fay is a little more whimsical and just more fun over all. Faith is kind of boring, down-to-earth type of name. I think my favorite spelling is of Fay is Fae.
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I prefer Faith. Fay seems really dated to me, and it's just really insubstantial sounding. It's better as a nickname I think.
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I definitely prefer Fay. I hear Faith a lot where I live, both as a first name and a middle name. I don't like word names much. IMO, Fay just has some charm and classicness that Faith lacks.
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Some of my bias comes from having been acquainted with an adult Fay who annoyed the heck out of me, and an adult Faith who was warm and kind and funny. But even without that, I'd prefer Faith.Faith+ I think it has a better meaning and I like how you're reminded of the meaning each time you say it. I think it's really strong, probably also because it is a word and you can hear what the meaning is when you say it. - agree
+ it's not that popular
- not sure I agree about that, I guess it depends where you live. But yeah, not so popular that it would be forgettable.
+ I like the way the th sounds
- me too
+ you could still kind of have Fay as a nickname even though I'd probably not do that because Faith is short already.
- I think Fay might be okay as a childhood nick at least, because kids don't make a TH sound very well
+ nn Faithie is kind of cute
- I think it's childish and sounds like a hedge on the meaning: "Might at least have a little bit of faith"- many people might assume I was very religious which is not the case. This isn't really a big minus because I don't think there's anything wrong with being religious, but could cause confusion - true, unless your social group / hers is mostly self-righteous atheists, I guess. But maybe you are thinking, as I am, that the association is also sort of rural-conservative. Not that rural-conservative is negative, but that you might not want to be named something that seemed to project anything specific about demographic, especially if it were not true. This is the reason I would not use Faith even if it were my absolute favorite name.
- it's more common than Fay
- it's more common than Gertrude, too. ?
- extremely common middle name
- you're really reaching now. So what?

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I definitely prefer Fay, which is less expected and more dignified than Faith. However, I prefer Faye to Fay.
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FayI like it!
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FayFaith is a little sappy and makes me roll my eyes internally a bit. I don't know any Faiths. I think I know of a baby with Faith as a middle name, though, maybe. I don't think most people would spell Fay as Faye. I prefer Fay, it's short and snappy. Fay is WAY stronger than Faith as a name, like a hundred times stronger. Faith is a whiny spoiled brat name; Fay is a little icy and super independant.
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The Faith I know isn't a whiny spoiled brat... and I haven't seen the little Faith whose parents I know in years, but I doubt she is either... Have a friend w/ mn Faith and she doesn't fit that category either.However, 1 of the Fays I know, though an otherwise nice person, sometimes seems like a busybody... or maybe just like she has unreasonable expectations of some people re: things that are none of her business.
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LOLyeah Fay is totally a busybody name
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I like both, but I prefer Faith. It's just a little more substantial, and you really could use Fay as a nn; yes, Faith is short, but even short names produce nicknames. I like Fay more than Faithie. As for FAIF, I guess you could run into some people who have either a speech impediment or an accent that makes them say "fayf" for Faith or "toof" for tooth, but I don't think you'll meet many of them, especially over age 5. I wouldn't let the possibility influence your choice.I know I've met at least one Faith, but she might have been an adult rather than a little girl. I'm not sure about Faith as a mn. I think I've seen it in BAs but not in real life. I hugely prefer Faye over Fay, but both are fine. I actually think more people will assume the spelling is Fay than Faye, but maybe it would be closer to 50/50. Fae is the only spelling I really dislike. I think it seems weaker than the other spellings, and it would constantly be misspelled.
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I prefer Fay. It's less popular and doesn't carry the religious connotations that Faith does. I realize that the word "faith" doesn't necessarily refer to religious beliefs, but that's what I automatically think of. I don't dislike the name Faith, but it's not one I would use myself.I personally know one Faith, and I can't think of any others. She's an adult. I can't think of any little girls named Faith who I actually know, but then again, I don't know many children these days. I encounter the name regularly it seems, though. As a middle name for little girls, I've seen it quite a bit.As for spelling, I like both Fay and Faye, but I prefer Fay.
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FayFay, for sure!! better sound and not that overwhelming
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Faith - you have more positives for Faith and less negatives. It is very soft and pretty and Fay seems incomplete and a bit too dated. And like you said you could use Fay as a nickname. I've never actually met a Faith and as far as I know I don't know anyone with it as a middle name either. I don't know why it would be pronounced Faif except maybe by a little kid who hasn't quite gotten down the th sound.
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Fay, hands down.
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Fay!!! Though I prefer Fae :)
I don't like Faye but equally don't think people would automatically put an e on the end. It reminds me of Fairies too :D ETA: I'm sure i'm be in a huge minority here but I actually like the spelling Faithe much better than Faith, it seems more fairytale - the quality I love about Fay

This message was edited 8/31/2011, 5:21 AM

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I prefer Faith... Fay is ok though. Faith feels more complete and substantial and even though it CAN stand on its own, Fay feels a little bit nicknamey.
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