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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Girls name thoughts please!

63 replies

beijingaling · 22/11/2010 07:03

Thoughts welcome on the following first names for a girl:

Harper

Vesper

Darcey

I seem to see a few posts on other forums about Darcey for a girl becoming very common (as in popular I think). Don't want a common name but live overseas so don't think it would matter.

Vesper is partly from my love of the Bond books and partly a link to my mother's and grandmother's middle name of Vesta. Mentioned to OH that I wanted Vesta as a middle name and he arrived at Vesper as a first name without realising the Bond connection. Also means evening star which I LOVE.

Thoughts? I know they are not for everyone and I do plan on a "normal" middle name in case she hates her first. Should also say that I have a normal first name and I hated being one of hundreds at school!

OP posts:

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Greenwing · 26/11/2010 21:11

It is your child and your choice so go with what you like, most importantly.

However, since you asked:

Harper is a surname and therefore sounds like a boy's name. Also reminds me of Harpic loo cleaner and Harpo, one of the Marx brothers. Not keen in other words!

Vesper looks quite attractive written down but sounds like vest. Vespers are evening prayers, Vespa is obviously famous for being an iconic scooter and means 'wasp' in Italian. Umm.

Darcey sounds like Mr Darcy in P and P but at least Darcey Bussell was a famous ballerina, hence is a feminine namesake. Shame it rhymes with 'arsey'.

Sorry to be negative but they could be very hard for a shy girl to live with (or an arsey teenager).

Good luck choosing.

RozzyJnC · 26/11/2010 20:07

This is my first thread I'm commenting on lol as I've just joined!! Just thought I'd tell you that :)

As for the names I really don't like the name Vesper at all. Imo it's not a name. Harper is better but sounds like a surname so not keen on that name either... BUT I LOVE the name Darcey! It's girly and very sweet! and as for the spelling... Darcey is actually the girls name and Darcy the boys name so I suggest Darcey :)

ThatllDoPig · 26/11/2010 19:31

I like Vesper. Sounds peaceful and sweet.

Wasn't Harper Lee (mockingbird) a bloke anyway?

I quite like it for a girls name, but it does sound a bit like a verb, ie, Harper just kept harping on about something.

I like Darcey.

Good luck!

Dolittlest · 26/11/2010 18:25

I quite like Harper because of the Lee association.

Darcey is OK, but prefer Darcy as a the spelling.

Vesper - truly awful.

minipie · 26/11/2010 18:08

I'd go for Darcey of those three.

Do you like Dulcie?

Bue · 26/11/2010 18:00

Darcey is lovely and miles nicer than the other two. Vesper is just Bond and prayers to me.

Showaddywaddy · 26/11/2010 15:44

Um, I'm finding it hard to have a preference. If the child isn't named after 6 weeks, the state intervene. That's my preference I think.

They're all surnamey and/or americaney and/or wasps.

TabithaTwitchet · 26/11/2010 15:39

I know a little Vesper, and she is v sweet, but I don't really like the name personally - I just can't stop thinking of wasps.

Don't like Darcey much either.

I quite like Harper, I don't think it has to be a boy's name, I would say it is fairly androgynous.

What about Hester?

IWouldNotCouldNotWithAGoat · 26/11/2010 15:28

Darcy is the best of the three, definitely.

Harper is a bit harsh sounding. What about Piper? I wouldn't have the guts myself but think it is quite nice!

cece · 25/11/2010 23:06

Harper - makes me think a shrill shrew

Vesper - makes me think of snakes

Darcey - popular

TBH none of them are my cup of tea, they all sound a bit harsh on the ear to me, and not very pretty.

MelinaM · 25/11/2010 23:03

Love Darcey, Vesper (Martini) no thank you, Harper is okay but a bit 'American' for me

Go with Darcey, lovely name!

ShoppingDays · 25/11/2010 21:24

I don't really like any of them, but of the three I'd go for Darcey.

Komondor · 24/11/2010 10:25

Darcey

ConstanceFelicity · 23/11/2010 07:40

Sorry OP, but I don't like Vesper at all. It also reminds me of wasps and buzzy stingy things.
Harper is a nice name for a boy, if he was best frinds with Huckleberry Finn and wore dungarees with vests.

(Ignore me. I am weird.)

skippingturtle · 23/11/2010 07:36

She didn't, it was Simone Clarke! Before we all get taken to libel prison...

Bunbaker · 23/11/2010 07:13

I prefer Darcey. Harper sounds like a boy's name or a surname. And I'm sorry I don't like Vesper at all. It made me thinks of evening prayers, and Vespa is an annoying sounding scooter.

I didn't realise that Darcey Bussell had links with the BNP.

Farrabelle · 23/11/2010 07:01

Hi Beijingaling,

I'm going to go against the grain here and say i love the name Vesper. I may be a bit bias here as my DS was named after a character from the James Bond novels but I definitely do not regret it. Vesper is unusual without being too out there and it's still easy to spell. I say go for it, i've heard far more unusual names.

seeker · 23/11/2010 04:55

If you are going to go for Vesper - and I really think you shouldn't - had you thought of spelling it Vespa? I suspect most peopel will spell it that way anyway, and it soulds more like a girl's name tht way. Even if it does mean 'wasp"!

nooka · 23/11/2010 03:00

I'm afraid I don't like any of them. Harper makes me think of the ditsy girl in Wizards of Waverly Place, Vesper isn't to me a name at all, and Darcey seems masculine (Pride and Prejudice). They are all too surname to me, but might be totally cool where you live (I live in Canada and naming boys after professions seems popular here - Cooper, Tanner etc seems very odd to me, but each to there own).

Original poster

beijingaling · 23/11/2010 02:47

yes diddl vespers = evening prayers. Not religious but the connotation doesn't bother me.

Lots of votes for Darcy (thanks skippingturtle for the spelling tip!)

Few for Vesper. I know it makes lots of people pull a face which is why I'm teetering about it. Should I worry about what others think? Do you actually meet people with odd names and sneer or just think "whatever!"

ARGH!!! Sometime I just think it would be easier if kids got given a number at birth

That or I'm way overthinking this lol!

OP posts:

diddl · 22/11/2010 19:12

Vespers= evening prayers?

Rindercella · 22/11/2010 18:17

Darcey (or Darcy) lovely, as is Harper.

Really, really not keen on Vesper. This is a Vespa in my mind!

tessofderbyville · 22/11/2010 18:17

Darcey is so much prettier than the other two IMO.

Mrsmackie · 22/11/2010 18:15

Scara - are you sure you're not getting confused with another Ballerina (Simone someone or other) re the BNP thing??!!

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