I’m due in 7 weeks with baby girl #2, and we are down to [name]Helen[/name] and [name]Hattie[/name] as our two main choices. We had been thinking of using [name]Harriet[/name] and just calling her [name]Hattie[/name] because I always find it a little strange when I hear babies named [name]Libby[/name] or [name]Beth[/name] and not [name]Elizabeth[/name] or [name]Annie[/name] and not [name]Anne[/name]. My question is: has [name]Hattie[/name] turned into a stand-alone name in its own right, like [name]Molly[/name] or [name]Sally[/name], which (I could be wrong) started as nicknames? Or does it feel too much like a nickname?
I’ve realized that I love [name]Hattie[/name], but don’t [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] for my own child (though I am tickled when I hear it on other children).
I love [name]Hattie[/name], but personally don’t think it can really stand alone. It seems a bit too cute, if you know what I mean. [name]Even[/name] if you plan never to call her [name]Harriet[/name] yourself, I’d use it on the birth certificate so that she has something more formal/traditional to fall back on.
I’ve actually been going through this same thought process when it comes to boys’ names: both my husband and I love [name]Charlie[/name], but not [name]Charles[/name]; still, we’ve decided to go with [name]Charles[/name] as the formal name.
I’m torn. I love [name]Hattie[/name] as a stand alone name, but it feels almost inadequate.
Personally, I’d do a bit of searching and see if I could find a name it was a suitable nickname for. However, if I couldn’t find a more stand alone name then my daughter would still be [name]Hattie[/name].
I think your instincts are correct. [name]Molly[/name] and [name]Sally[/name] reached standalone power by the sheer volume of their use, spread over centuries. [name]Hattie[/name] hasn’t had that exposure.
If you don’t care for [name]Harriet[/name], there’s always:
[name]Henrietta[/name] / [name]Henriette[/name]
[name]Hadassah[/name]
Hadriana
[name]Hartley[/name]
[name]Haruko[/name]
[name]Hedwig[/name]
[name]Hester[/name]
[name]Mehitabel[/name]
Lhotse
or, the French version [name]Harriette[/name], which emphasizes the last syllable
Kind of slim pickings, and the only ones I can conceive of appealing to someone also considering [name]Harriet[/name] are [name]Henrietta[/name], [name]Hester[/name] and [name]Hadassah[/name] (though Hadriana, after Emporer [name]Hadrian[/name], is kind of cool)…
I prefer it as a nn. To blad’s excellent list I’ll add [name]Hadley[/name] and [name]Heather[/name] as long shot ways to get to [name]Hattie[/name]. I also adore [name]Hatsy[/name]!
[name]One[/name] thought: the way that [name]Polly[/name] came to be a [name]Mary[/name] nn was from rhyming with [name]Molly[/name]. If you’re open to it, that opens up some additional [name]Hattie[/name] options.
[name]Patricia[/name] --> [name]Pattie[/name] - [name]Hattie[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name] --> [name]Mattie[/name] - [name]Hattie[/name]
[name]Catherine[/name] --> Cattie - [name]Hattie[/name]
[name]Natalie[/name] --> [name]Nattie[/name] - [name]Hattie[/name]
Or any of those with an H first name: [name]Helen[/name] [name]Patricia[/name], [name]Hope[/name] [name]Matilda[/name], [name]Hannah[/name] [name]Catherine[/name], etc. [name]Hannah[/name] --> [name]Hattie[/name] actually seems pretty plausible.
[name]Love[/name] Hadriana as [name]Blade[/name] suggested
[name]Hester[/name] and [name]Hadassah[/name] are also beautiful.
[name]Behati[/name] is sweet but a little out there.
[name]Agatha[/name] might work just as well as [name]Hester[/name].
[name]Katharina[/name]? [name]Tabitha[/name]/[name]Talitha[/name]?
I really like it by itself! I don’t think it has to be a nickname! And I think if you love it, go for it! I agree with what blade said about it not having that exposure yet, but all of the more popular names had to start with someone! Best of luck! x
I like it by itself but I do like [name]Harriet[/name]. I think it could work as a stand alone name but on the other hand. Would you be more likely to employ Dr [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Jones[/name] (just put in a random surname) or Dr [name]Hattie[/name] [name]Jones[/name]??? Sorry I haven’t been much help but I just can’t figure it out!
I don’t think [name]Hattie[/name] works as a stand alone name, but I adore it as a nickname for [name]Harriet[/name]. [name]Molly[/name] and [name]Sally[/name] are a lot more well known and common than [name]Hattie[/name] so [name]Hattie[/name] hasn’t quite reached the same level.
I adore both [name]Hattie[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]!! Such beautiful names! <3
I don’t think Hattie as quite turned into a stand alone like Molly has (but your right, Molly was originally a nick name for Mary and Sally was for Sarah). I’m not normally a big fan of nick name names, but Hattie is an exception for me. I can picture Hattie standing alone like Molly does. Though with all the nick name names that are already in, it’d make Hattie fit in even more anyway.
If you don’t love Harriet, then don’t feel obliged to use it. The most important thing is that you love the name! I don’t see any teasing potential or anything against Hattie. Go for it!
Harriet was on my list, but my SO vito’d it. He likes Hadley nick name Haddie, though its not the same. Doesn’t have that vintage feel to it <3
