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Baby names

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Original poster

Claudia or Harriet?

69 replies

Mythoughts · 05/11/2012 15:16

After much debate, we are settled on these two names, I prefer one and my DH prefers the other. Which do you prefer?

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Edenember · 05/04/2021 20:03

Love Harriet ♥️

GingerFox2021 · 05/04/2021 19:55

Definitely Harriet! It’s more rare, uncommon name which I like.

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 15:34

Argh just spotted the date of OP! I'm sure whichever you went for is lovely.

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 15:34

Harriet

HarryPotterGeek983 · 05/04/2021 14:43

Hey guys, which do you prefer? Pheobe (which means bright) or Libra (which means balance

HarryPotterGeek983 · 05/04/2021 14:41

Personally, I think neither because Claudia means lame and harriet is just so weak and annoying.

survivingautumn · 15/11/2012 13:44

Love both and they were high up my list for dd Smile

Claudia just edges it for me as it is a little more unusual but I think Harriet is an equally lovely name.

I have never heard the association of the name Claudia with 'lame' Confused It was my DM's 'Latin' name at school in the 1960's so will ask her..

StellaNova · 14/11/2012 13:53

I love Harriet. Mainly because of Harriet Vane in Dorothy Sayers, but I still love the name.

On the other hand I feel I have been loving Harriet quite a few times on threads recently, and I have never seen Claudia come up, so maybe Harriet is becoming more popular? (I like Claudia but the Claw sound puts me off a little, unless you pronounce it Cloud-ia)

strawberryswing · 14/11/2012 11:45

Harriet is gorgeous but i really hate Claudia (sorry to any Claudias or mums of Claudia!)

PandaWatch · 13/11/2012 14:40

Linerunner is right.

The association between Claudia and lame comes from the fact that Emperor Claudius allegedly suffered from various physical afflictions. Therefore the name pre-dates this meaning. The myth of the vestal virgin Claudia also predates this.

Remember that Latin taught today evolved over hundreds of years.

A comparison would be the name Hector, which means to hold fast but now also has the meaning to bully - a meaning which was long preceded by Hector of The Illiad.

blondefriend · 09/11/2012 22:57

Harriet. I know a few babies/toddlers called Harriet so the name will fit in without being too common. It's also very pretty. I do teach a beautiful girl called Claudia but I generally think of the name as being for older people.

Bessie123 · 09/11/2012 13:35

linerunner your argument is super lame

LineRunner · 09/11/2012 13:21

(I believe that the origins of the Latium gens 'Claudius' do appear to predate by far any association of the name with 'lameness'.)

michellec1302 · 09/11/2012 11:52

Harriet edges it for me. I wanted to be called Harriet when I was younger because of the film Harriet the Spy which I was obsessed with :)

Unless i've always pronounced it incorrectly, I have no idea where the 'hairy' nicknames are coming from. You could probably derive an ugly word from alot of names if you tried.

LineRunner · 09/11/2012 10:47

It is a myth, honest guv. Those derivations are guesswork that have become modern factoids.

poppydaisy · 09/11/2012 10:42

"Claudia doesn't actually mean 'lame'; it's a latin urban myth. And even if it did, who cares?"

The name Claudia is derived from the latin adjective 'claudus, clauda, claudum'
which means:
1.defective/crippled/imperfect
2.limping, lame
3.uneven/halting/wavering/uncertain

"Who cares" Well, I think I would care if my name had that meaning. Especially as there are so many other beautiful names out there with nicer (or no) meanings.

mummybare · 09/11/2012 07:32

Hmmm, to me, Harriet is a bit Enid Blighton Jolly Hockey Sticks. Claudua is lovely, though - international and sophisticated while still working for a baby/child. Beautiful!

LineRunner · 08/11/2012 23:22

Claudia doesn't actually mean 'lame'; it's a latin urban myth. And even if it did, who cares? Really?

It's beautiful.

I like Harriet, too.

scarlettsmummy2 · 08/11/2012 23:16

Harriet.

Yourefired · 08/11/2012 23:07

Harriet. Bias as knew a claudia (which is a perfectly lovely name) who had a cockney nanny who used to screech "cloudier" at the poor bean.

Fozzleyplum · 08/11/2012 23:05

Definitely Harriet, which I love. I don't mind Claudia, except for the Latin meaning. I know this is very subjective, but in my opinion, Harriet is a less "try hard" name, iyswim.

chickydoo · 08/11/2012 23:01

Claudia is very Germanic, also quite harsh sounding, what would you shorten it too?
Claude?? That's hideous.
Harriet is sweet, Hattie is gorgeous

tigerdriverII · 08/11/2012 22:59

Harriet. If DS had been a girl that's what he'd have been. But in the spirit of Harry Hill - there's only one way to find out.....

baskingseals · 08/11/2012 22:56

i like Harriet more.

i would prefer to be called Harriet rather than Claudia.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 08/11/2012 20:28

How the hell are you pronouncing Harriet that it begins with hairy?

I have a Harriet like MadameC's :) Everyone comments on how lovely her name is.

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