hi. I have posted here before about naming our daughter [name]Greta[/name]. I want to understand why some people say it is too harsh. The last thing I want to do is give a sweet little girl a harsh name. When I say [name]Greta[/name], the T sound is more of a D sound. I understand that Americans say it differently from Europeans. Is this why some people think it is harsh? should I reconsider? I just can’t seem to get over the fact that people think it is harsh. not liking it is one thing, there are names that I do not like, but harsh…
help nameberries…talk me out of it if you think I am making a mistake.
It’s NMS (I like [name]Margo[/name] and [name]Petra[/name] way better, which I consider a similar style but still NMS), but I don’t think it’s harsh. It’s a perfectly fine name, but short for my taste. I’m American, for reference’s sake; in a British accent it may not sound good, for all I know.
I personally love [name]Greta[/name]!! I love [name]Gretchen[/name] too though! I’ve mentioned [name]Greta[/name] a few times for our little one on the way but people say it sounds like a smelly old lady But, what do they know?! Once she’s named, people will love her!
[name]Greta[/name] is a perfectly lovely name. Sure, it’s a little harsh-sounding compared to current names like [name]Lily[/name], [name]Emma[/name], or [name]Isla[/name], but there’s really nothing wrong with that. Being ‘harsh’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing; I think strength and distinction also come with a name like that.
Personally, I would use [name]Margaret[/name] nicknamed [name]Greta[/name], but I feel like [name]Greta[/name] is one of those nicknames that can stand fairly well on its own if you’re not a [name]Margaret[/name] fan. Either way, I think you’re overthinking it-- [name]Greta[/name] is lovely, and you love it, so use it!
Oh, what [name]Iris[/name] says makes perfect sense. A lot of the names being chosen for girls these days are wispy and indefinite - [name]Olivia[/name], [name]Isabella[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name], etc. I’ll take some real vowel sounds, not schwas, and a few consonants, please. I like very few of those super-delicate names; they sound a fairy farted or something. Yuck. I like [name]Greta[/name] way better than those.
I just wanted to say that I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Greta[/name]. It is one of my top two girls names for impending arrival of girl #2.
My thoughts:
[name]Greta[/name] is different enough to be unique but still something everyone will know how to pronounce and spell.
It works well for a cute little girl and will also work for a young professional and older person, so it ages well throughout the lifespan
For me, it’s a neat way to honour my mother [name]Margaret[/name] and partner’s grandmother [name]Margaret[/name] without actually using their names
It’s short, spunky and full of life
For reference, I’m in [name]Canada[/name] and have gotten excellent feedback from people whom I’ve mentioned it to…even my impossible to please partner who originally wanted [name]Olivia[/name].
I really hope you go for it, for me it hits all the right notes!
I am thinking about using [name]Greta[/name] or [name]Gretchen[/name] or [name]Grier[/name]. I think the word “harsh” is not the right word for these names. They are…hardy, and perhaps even masculine. But that being said, that is what makes them wonderful, because they are strong names, but also most definitely female. You never meet a man named [name]Greta[/name] or [name]Gretchen[/name]. I think because most of society thinks of “pretty” girls names as being flowery and very feminine, some people turn up their nose at these names. But I think they’re beautiful in their own right. A strong name may be appreciated by your daughter someday, when she is a strong, beautiful woman. She might not want to be another [name]Ava[/name] or [name]Lily[/name] in the crowd. [name]Greta[/name] [name]Garbo[/name] certainly isn’t someone I would consider “harsh” on the eyes. I say go for it!
I would wholeheartedly encourage you to choose the name [name]Greta[/name] for your daughter. It’s elegant in an understated way, simple but sophisticated and definitely worldly. I don’t find it harsh in the slightest. It packs a punch in its small package. Quite an achievement for a five letter name, don’t you think? It’s cute on a little girl and transfers effortlessly into adulthood. What’s not to love? If you love it, go for it! All the best!
One of the women I most admire is called [name]Greta[/name], although her real name is [name]Margarethe[/name] (or something similar that is [name]German[/name] for [name]Margaret[/name]). I think it is both feminine and strong, and that’s a combination you can’t beat.
A co-worker of mine named his daughter [name]Elsa[/name], which has somewhat similar origins. At first I thought I didn’t care for the name, but now I love it. Names grow on people when they know and love someone of that name.
Although I wouldn’t use it, it’s a perfectly fine name - I really want to like it because it’s so strong but clearly feminine, which is a characteristic I look for! For me it’s just something about that “gret” sound - I’ve used the word harsh before but I don’t know if that’s really the right way to put it. I guess I just much prefer [name]Grier[/name]. However, I’d still love to meet a little [name]Greta[/name], because it’s such a nice contrast to all the flowery, insubstantial, vowel-heavy girls’ names out there right now. Good luck!
I am so glad that I decided to write something about this last night. you have all made me feel so much better about it. I really appreciate all of your comments and encouragement.
I love the name [name]Greta[/name]! I have meet a few little baby [name]Greta[/name]'s and one of the girls in college I knew was name [name]Greta[/name] (she was very feminine and personable). [name]Greta[/name] seems soft to me becuase of the “a” on the end (and I even consider [name]Greer[/name] a “girls” name). In a classroom of [name]Lily[/name]'s and [name]Isabella[/name]'s, [name]Greta[/name] is going to sound strong AND girly!
I love [name]Greta[/name]! Very strong and dictinctive. I remember reading something somewhere likening the sound of [name]Greta[/name] and [name]Gretchen[/name] to ‘grinding gears’ and I do sort of understand that impression with the ‘Gret’ sound, but I’d take it over [name]Ariela[/name] or [name]Ariana[/name] anyday!
I can’t think of anything wrong with it.
But, what do they know?! Once she’s named, people will love her!