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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ruth or Harriet?

42 replies

FessaEst · 18/04/2011 20:54

Our current girls' front-runners for DC2 our Ruth or Harriet. Harriet is a family name, but Ruth is one we both just like. Middle name will probably be Mary or Sarah (family names).

Others we also like atm are Emily, Imogen & Martha.

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meredithgrey · 18/04/2011 21:00

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youngjoly · 18/04/2011 21:05

Harriet. lovely name

MelinaM · 18/04/2011 21:06

I prefer Ruth to Harriet, a lovely name that can't be shortened! With Harriet, you'd be forever hearing Harry or Haz!

Emily and Imogen are nice names but ever so popular at the moment, I do love MarthaSmile

WhipMeIndiana · 18/04/2011 21:07

love harriet.
strewth Ruth

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 18/04/2011 21:08

Love both of them. Why not have both - Harriet Ruth is lovely.

smother · 18/04/2011 21:10

I love Ruth and Martha.

LetThereBeRock · 18/04/2011 21:13

I like both,but I prefer Harriet.

Imogen and Emily are also lovely.I really don't like Martha however.

Maternelle · 18/04/2011 21:26

I like Harriet. I don't like Ruth.

ValiumBandwitch · 18/04/2011 21:35

I love Ruth. Harriet is awful. NO idea why it's so popular.

Prinpo · 18/04/2011 21:39

I like them both but prefer Ruth. There's something quite dignified about it.

Jill72 · 18/04/2011 21:39

Harriet

Hatterbox · 18/04/2011 21:41

As a Harriet myself, I'm rather biased, so Harriet would get my nod. Funnily enough, the first two of my four middle names (yes four of the things!) are Mary and Sarah, I'm Harriet Mary Sarah .

NB: Ruth is a great name too though.

SolarPanel · 18/04/2011 22:24

Harriet is quite nice, but I prefer Ruth. I like Emily too.

Personally I'm not particularly keen on Imogen or Martha.

Ruth Sarah would go very nicely, as would Emily Ruth, Ruth Emily or Emily Sarah!

Original poster
FessaEst · 18/04/2011 22:32

Thank you everybody! A pretty fair split of opinion!

DH doesn't like Martha (sob) so unlikely we'll end up with that. Imogen seems very now which puts me off a bit (not that I'm after unusual, just don't want it to be dating iyswim).

It took us ages to name DD and I got a bit overwhelmed with it (all hormonal) so want to narrow it down a bit more this time to avoid a similar situation.

Thanks for all comments.

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Original poster
FessaEst · 18/04/2011 22:33

Gosh Hatter, what a lot of names! What a coincidence so many match our list!

OP posts:
Knackeredmother · 18/04/2011 22:38

I have a Harriet and it us never shortened by anyone. Is it popular? Bogger!

smother · 18/04/2011 22:53

what's your first DD called? that might help you (and us!) decide about this one!

Boo to your DH not liking Martha, I think that's the best of the bunch, although Ruth comes a very very close second! they are all very nice names though so I don't think you can go wrong.

mathanxiety · 18/04/2011 23:06

I love Ruth. Harriet makes me think harridan.

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 18/04/2011 23:11

Martha is the only one I like, too!

Ruth always makes me think ruthless so suggests a cruel person to me. I know this is illogical because 'ruth' means 'pity', but the word is never used, only its negative. (Like 'couth' and 'gruntled'!)

SolarPanel · 18/04/2011 23:34

Twins named Couth and Gruntled, now that would be different! :o

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 18/04/2011 23:44

And their sisters, Gainly and Gusted Grin

weedle · 19/04/2011 00:37

I know a lot of Ruths (all adults) who have always been Roo or Ruthy Roo. Worth remembering if you think it won't be shortened. But not so popular now. Don't know any under 5.

Harriets all shortened to Harry. Few more of them around.

I really like Imogon but don't like Immo which I've heard it shortened to. Was on my list but DH didn't like it.

Think Martha is really pretty for a baby but quite frumpy for a teen? And would be worried about them being called Marfa (daahn sarf obviously!)

Not much help sorry.

Oh and I'm not the personed doing all the nn shortening I promise!! :o

Bue · 19/04/2011 10:33

Both are lovely but Ruth is far less trendy, which makes me lean towards it. It's on my girl list too.

Original poster
FessaEst · 19/04/2011 18:40

Thank you for mulling these over with me!

DD is Kate - she was so nearly Ruth and then it just didn't seem to "fit" her iykwim!

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TheGashlycrumbTinies · 19/04/2011 18:40

Harriet is lovely.

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