Hello!
My first child (a girl!) is due at the beginning of [name]September[/name]. Nine months of naming angst goes quickly, it turns out. I am still feeling panicky about our name choice, and prone to question our decision.
At the beginning of the pregnancy Husband and I began trying out our favorite names on the unborn child–using a different name every day. The top contenders were (originally):
We tried these out and, one by one, tossed them. Somehow, they didn’t seem to fit. Then we tried the ones lower on the favorite list and stopped at… [name]Harriet[/name].
[name]Harriet[/name] is my grandmother’s name. I love the family connection, and I love the name–I didn’t think my husband would ever ever go for it. But he did. He latched on and dug his nails in. THe baby WAS [name]Harriet[/name] from that day on. I also liked how it felt with the unborn babe and I was THRILLED that my husband had such a great adventurous naming style.
However, I still have my doubts. I love the name, and I love the IDEA of the name (seriously underused classic legitimate) but I wonder–will “[name]Harriet[/name]” survive Midwest [name]America[/name] when we return there from (our current home in) the UK?? [name]Will[/name] the name wear well in the long run?? Is it too “hard”? Am I in for lots of ugly faces and comments from both family and strangers?
I find myself toying with some of the discarded names on our list–particularly [name]Eleanor[/name]. [name]Eleanor[/name]: what an elegant and classic name! He likes it too (not as much as [name]Harriet[/name]). [name]Eleanor[/name] would be much more mainstream than [name]Harriet[/name] (which is both a pro and con). I do worry that [name]Eleanor[/name] is getting more and more popular. But is this almost entirely due to the fact that parents call their Eleanors things like “[name]Ellie[/name]” “[name]Ella[/name]” or “[name]Nora[/name]”?? We would call her exclusively [name]Eleanor[/name].
I’m kind of a weirdo…I [name]LOVE[/name] both of these names. In fact, they were both on my list until I found out I was having a boy. That said, I have seen other posters on these forums with daughters named “[name]Eleanor[/name]” and they have gotten weird looks, or rude questions regarding what they named their daughter. I say, who cares? I like them both. I haven’t met anyone with a daughter named [name]Harriet[/name], but keep in mind, [name]Eleanor[/name] does have a whole bunch of potential nicknames that [name]Harriet[/name] doesn’t: [name]Nora[/name], [name]Ellie[/name], [name]Ella[/name], etc, etc. Good luck with your decision.
I prefer [name]Eleanor[/name]. I love [name]Eleanor[/name]. Such a lovely name. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t agree.
I believe that [name]Eleanor[/name] will rise in popularity, due to the reasons that you listed, but I also find it unlikely that [name]Eleanor[/name] will break the SSA top 100 anytime soon. All that to say that I don’t believe you will have to worry about 3 [name]Eleanor[/name]'s in the same class at school.
I am warming up to [name]Harriet[/name]. I automatically think of [name]Harriet[/name] the Spy. I don’t think that [name]Harriet[/name] will have much trouble fitting in with her peers. [name]Harriet[/name] is a classic, legitimate name…one you don’t hear everyday, but it has a history. You may surprise some with your choice, but I doubt anyone will say they have never heard the name before.
What name is your favorite? The one you absolutely love? In the end, both [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Eleanor[/name] are lovely choices. and one day, would make great sisters.
I am going to give a big enthusiastic nameberry thumbs up for [name]Harriet[/name]. [name]Eleanor[/name] is lovely but [name]Harriet[/name] wins over her on all counts: It’s far more distinctive, it has a strong family for you, and your husband loves it. Yes, it’s a bit more difficult, but [name]Eleanor[/name] is so mild by comparison and [name]Harriet[/name] has lots of great nicknames if you back off from the original – [name]Hattie[/name], [name]Hettie[/name], [name]Hatsy[/name], [name]Harrie[/name]. I hope you go for it!
[name]Just[/name] me personally – I love [name]Harriet[/name]. I also love [name]Eleanor[/name] – but because of all the wonderful nns options – so my love for it is different from yours.
I can’t speak for the Midwest (or for anyone but myself for that matter), but I believe where I live, in the Mountain [name]West[/name], it is becoming more sophisticated by leaps and bounds. [name]How[/name] sophisticated depends entirely your specific location. One city might be much more trendy than its slightly smaller neighbor. In a city, one neighborhood might be as hip as any coast neighborhood, but across town might be a different story. In short – the Midwest might surprise you. I can think of people here who might wrinkle up their noses at [name]Harriet[/name] (although I don’t think you would get real flack), but I also think many would “get it” and appreciate the choice just the way you do – as at once fresh and antique, classic and contemporary. There are many who would think – or even blurt out – “She’s isn’t another [name]Haley[/name]! [name]How[/name] lovely!”
I’m tempted to say – go with this name. It is fresh now. You might well live to see it become not only accepted, but modestly popular. [name]Every[/name] time you meet a happy, adorable little [name]Harriet[/name] you will think, “I should have done it!” And if you use then, later, for another daughter (should your life play out that way), it won’t be the same. It will seem you are using it because it has become a modestly popular name, not because it is a sweet antique you discovered and loved all on your own.
Giving a girl a name like [name]Harriet[/name] can come under the heading “character building.” You aren’t calling a boy [name]Nelly[/name] or naming your child after a dog breed. Whatever small grief she gets for it is likely to teach her who is kind, polite – and oh – just as a little perk – fashionable – and who isn’t.
Based on your description of how you and DH feel about the two names, it seems [name]Eleanor[/name] would be the safe choice and not using [name]Harriet[/name] may cause regrets. I think [name]Eleanor[/name]'s relative commoness is definitely a con in this case. I vote the lovely [name]Harriet[/name] for you!
Another vote for [name]Harriet[/name]! I love the nn [name]Hattie[/name]. I don’t think [name]Harriet[/name] is too out there at all. I think that you’re more likely to regret using your safe choice than regret going with a name that you love. [name]Eleanor[/name] is lovely, but people will call her [name]Ellie[/name] at some point (even if you don’t), and I have to say, I’m really tired of hearing that named called on the playground!
I think if you love [name]Harriet[/name] then you should use it. I think it’s lovely and people get used to a name very quickly. I also think [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Eleanor[/name] would make great sisters!
If you love [name]Harriet[/name], I think you should go for it. It is certainly unusual which in my eyes is a definite pro. The nn [name]Hattie[/name] is adorable and definitely fits in while still remaining unique. Plus, you may want your daughter to be called only [name]Eleanor[/name], but it’s doubtful that will actually happen. If you don’t want her to turn into [name]Ella[/name] or [name]Ellie[/name] I wouldn’t choose the name.
