I absolutely adore the name [name]Hattie[/name], and I think it fits in with the growing number of [name]Hayley[/name]'s and [name]Hadley[/name]'s and [name]Harley[/name]'s around nowadays, but with old-lady spunky charm. But, I have a few questions I was hoping you guys could take a stab at:
It seems like the two main formal names for the nickname [name]Hattie[/name] are [name]Henrietta[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]. I do not like [name]Henrietta[/name], so it looks like [name]Harriet[/name]'s the next option (plus my husband loves it). First off, do you think [name]Harriet[/name] is ready for a revival? (especially if the nickname [name]Hattie[/name] is being used 85% of the time?)
What if [name]Harriet[/name] carried some meaning for me? The main meaning I would draw from it would be its connection to [name]Harriet[/name] Tubman. [name]Ever[/name] since I did a report on her in the third grade (is it weird that I remember that?), her story and her courage and her resolve have always been such inspirations for me. I think she is a formidable role model for a young girl. Also, I believe that [name]Harriet[/name] Tubman was originally named [name]Araminta[/name], but she changed her first name to honor her mother [name]Harriet[/name]. Using this, naming my daughter [name]Harriet[/name] could also be honoring my own mother, allowing me to use my daughter’s middle name to honor a grandmother I was very close to who passed away about a year and a half ago. New thoughts?
The grandmother I would like to honor’s name is [name]Lillian[/name]. I don’t think [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] flows very well (and it feels a bit “old” to me), so I was thinking of using a variation of [name]Lillian[/name] in either the middle or the front. Right now I’m thinking [name]Lily[/name] [name]Harriet[/name]? I actually really like the name [name]Lily[/name], but it is way too popular for me. But, by using it, I think it makes the name feel younger and gives her a popular name to fall back on if [name]Hattie[/name] or [name]Harriet[/name] feels like a burden. So, any thoughts on a [name]Lillian[/name]/[name]Harriet[/name] combo? Any personal experience using a middle name as the primary name?
Are any of these names we’re also considering ‘better’ than [name]Hattie[/name]? [name]Elsa[/name] (nn [name]Elsie[/name]), [name]Cleo[/name], [name]Leora[/name] (pn lee-OR-ah, nn [name]Leo[/name]), [name]Ingrid[/name], [name]Xanthe[/name], and [name]Ruby[/name]. Any suggestions for similar names? (i’m thinking old-lady names that now sound fresh and spunky for a baby)
Thank you so much if you managed to read through all this I’m just a bit torn, and the baby’s coming pretty soon (end of [name]July[/name]!) Thanks for any advice or suggestions you can give.
I love the nn [name]Hattie[/name], and agree that [name]Harriet[/name] is better than [name]Henrietta[/name]. I’ve liked [name]Harriet[/name] ever since I read [name]Harriet[/name] the Spy If you plan to honor your grandmother with the middle name, I would use [name]Lillian[/name]. [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] is a lovely name and with all the [name]Lily[/name]'s around, [name]Lillian[/name] does not sound old lady to me. If you’re really not sold on [name]Lillian[/name], I think [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lily[/name] is good too - and less confusing than a girl named [name]Lily[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] nn [name]Hattie[/name].
I think that [name]Harriet[/name] nn [name]Hattie[/name] is really cute!
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] - Its sounds ok
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lilia[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lily[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Cleo[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Elsa[/name]/[name]Elsie[/name]
Other ‘old names’;
[name]Elizabeth[/name] nn [name]Bessie[/name]/[name]Betsy[/name]/[name]Elsie[/name]/[name]Elle[/name]/[name]Ella[/name]/[name]Beth[/name]/[name]Lizzie[/name]/[name]Eliza[/name]
[name]Vivian[/name] nn [name]Viv[/name]/ VV
Geogia/[name]Georgina[/name]/[name]Georgiana[/name] nn GG/[name]Gina[/name]/[name]Anna[/name]
[name]Cecily[/name]/[name]Cecelia[/name] nn CeCe
[name]Penelope[/name] nn [name]Penny[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name] nn Seffie
[name]Stephanie[/name] nn [name]Steph[/name]/Stephie
[name]Annie[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] /[name]Elsa[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name] nn [name]Carrie[/name]
[name]Willow[/name]
[name]Frances[/name] nn [name]Fran[/name]/[name]Frannie[/name]/[name]Frankie[/name]
[name]Victoria[/name] nn [name]Vicky[/name]/[name]Tori[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Greta[/name]/[name]Maisie[/name]
[name]Marlena[/name] nn [name]Lena[/name]
I think that [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] is lovely! My grandmother was [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Sophia[/name], which I also think is a great combination. Have you ever thought of giving her two middle names?
My full name is [name]Harriette[/name], and I go by [name]Hattie[/name].
I really struggled with this name as a kid, and I grew up in [name]England[/name]. Now I live in the States (I’m 24) and though I see [name]Hattie[/name] is getting a little attention (especially since the move “babies”) I’m just not sure about [name]Harriet[/name].
I’m just biased though I guess, but I still get comments about my full name, or sympethetic looks if I ever mention it. I even had a black woman ask me why on earth I had that name…it was meant for an old southern black woman! LOL. And I ALWAYS get “my dog’s name was [name]Hattie[/name]” or “my great grandmothers name was [name]Hattie[/name]”. And people are forever calling me [name]Patty[/name] or [name]Heidi[/name]…even someone at Starbucks wrote “Haticka” on a cup. I’m so used to saying “[name]Hattie[/name] with an h” when I meet someone.
[name]Just[/name] a perspective from a young woman who has this name.
It’s just a lot of name to carry, and not really a “pretty” name. I agree that “[name]Hattie[/name]” is cute…but I would change my name if I had a choice. I don’t think [name]Harriet[/name] is ready or will ever be ready to return.
Still love it. [name]Trust[/name] me, I didn’t even need that to persuade me! (:
Combos…
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lilias[/name]
[name]Agatha[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] / [name]Agatha[/name] [name]Liliane[/name] ([name]Agatha[/name] can also be used to get [name]Hattie[/name]).
[name]Love[/name]: [name]Elsa[/name] nn [name]Elsie[/name], [name]Leora[/name] (not crazy about [name]Leo[/name], though, for a girl) & [name]Ingrid[/name] (nn [name]Inga[/name]?).
Some more combos with your other names:
[name]Araminta[/name] [name]Ingrid[/name] nn [name]Minnie[/name] (To also honor Tubman, plus nn [name]Minnie[/name] is similar style to [name]Hattie[/name]).
[name]Harriet[/name] [name]Ruby[/name] (Vintage + Vintage).
[name]Susannah[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] nn [name]Lily[/name] (Since [name]Susannah[/name] means “lily”).
I’m just a bit torn, and the baby’s coming pretty soon (end of [name]July[/name]!) Thanks for any advice or suggestions you can give.
If you plan to honor your grandmother with the middle name, I would use [name]Lillian[/name]. [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lillian[/name] is a lovely name and with all the [name]Lily[/name]'s around, [name]Lillian[/name] does not sound old lady to me. If you’re really not sold on [name]Lillian[/name], I think [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Lily[/name] is good too - and less confusing than a girl named [name]Lily[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] nn [name]Hattie[/name].