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Baby names

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

Original poster

Harper

35 replies

spatchcock · 19/04/2011 15:08

I love this name for a girl - but is it becoming a bit well-thumbed? I'm sure there have been a few slebs giving their babies this name.

Surname sounds quite a bit like the author of Fever Pitch and High Fidelity's... so it goes pretty well together.

Opinions?

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darleneconnor · 19/04/2011 21:47

Heliose
Hermione
Hera
Heather
Honor
Harley
Hatte
Hortence

Edmundo · 19/04/2011 21:41

It's a boys name to me.

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 18:53

This is interesting .... apparently she was named after her grandmother (Ellen) but with the name spelled backwards! And she chose to use the name Harper because she didn't want people to get her real first name wrong,

When the novel was finally ready for publication, the author opted for the name "Harper Lee" on the cover, because she didn't want to be misidentified as "Nellie."

www.neabigread.org/books/mockingbird/mockingbird04.php

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 18:41

Aha, I was right ....

I start to apologise that I hadn't brought more but a beaming Nelle ? as her friends and family call her ? extends her hand

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/28/harper-lee-interview-mockingbird?intcmp=239

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 18:07

I don't think Harper Lee was trying to hide her gender though, was she?

I don't know - I know JK did because she thought it might give her an advantage if publishers & agents thought she was a bloke.

As for nobody knowing HL by her real name -
Her readership, ie strangers won't, but I expect her friends & family do.

mumonahottinroof · 19/04/2011 17:50

Oh yuck, pleeeease not Happy. A lifetime of teasing every time she looks less than joyous.

Original poster
spatchcock · 19/04/2011 17:31

Helena is very pretty. Though I've just seen another thread about the name Happy and that's got me thinking! Bloody hell this is difficult...

OP posts:
mumonahottinroof · 19/04/2011 17:17

Helena instead?

I know both boy and girl Harpers btw

LuluLozenge · 19/04/2011 16:47

Carefulwiththataxe

I don't think Harper Lee was trying to hide her gender though, was she?

Original poster
spatchcock · 19/04/2011 16:44

Yes sorry I meant to say - I like Harriet but it is a bit too traditional. Liking H names though, to go with the surname, if anyone can think of any strong ones.

I quite like Harpy. Harpies kick arse.

OP posts:
TurtlesAreRetroRight · 19/04/2011 16:34

I don't like surname type names at all. Harper is the exception to this rule. I like it a lot.

Harriet is very traditional and quite popular.

Thornham · 19/04/2011 16:33

There was a female doctor in ER, years ago, called Harper. Harper Tracey? Something like that.

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 16:27

Harriet is pretty traditional.

exhausted2011 · 19/04/2011 16:27

yes

mumonahottinroof · 19/04/2011 16:26

Hate it way too of the moment - Harpers all over the place where I live.

BikeRunSki · 19/04/2011 16:26

Paul Simon's son is called Harper too.

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 16:26

Yes but no one knows her by that name!

That's not the point. Lots of writers use a pen name, and women writers from George Eliot to J.K. Rowling have deliberately used names that didn't reveal their gender.

Original poster
spatchcock · 19/04/2011 16:23

Thanks for your opinions! First time I've posted in the baby names forum. I came here because my friends kept screwing their noses up at my name suggestions so I wanted to try them out on strangers.

sweetkitty - the point is that we do not want a 'traditional' name! We want a strong, unusual name. My other like is Harriet (after the ballsy protagonist in The Little Friend), but really don't have anything else to go on yet.

OP posts:
PassTheChocolateTwiglets · 19/04/2011 16:18

I am the world's biggest hater of surnames-for-first-names but I really like Harper!

LuluLozenge · 19/04/2011 16:15

Little girls do grow up to be women though, right?!

KatieScarlett2833 · 19/04/2011 16:14

Harper = Harpic

Sorry.

sweetkitty · 19/04/2011 16:13

As someone else said it's a surname, do not like this trend of using surnames for little girls especially when there's so many traditional girls name put there.

LuluLozenge · 19/04/2011 16:13

Yes but no one knows her by that name!

I really like it, don't think it will be dated in a few years.

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 19/04/2011 16:11

Her name is actually Nelle Harper Lee.

Riddzy · 19/04/2011 16:08

will it date? Harper Lee pulled it off!