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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jemima or Harriet

47 replies

Mrsindecision · 07/06/2013 12:23

Which name do you prefer?

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MiaowTheCat · 08/06/2013 20:20

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GW297 · 08/06/2013 18:02

Harriet

Original poster
Mrsindecision · 08/06/2013 12:54

SoggySummer, I too would have assumed that Jemima would have been less common than Harriet! Out of interest, where abouts in the UK are you (if you don't mind me asking)?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsindecision · 08/06/2013 08:07

Both fine with surname. DH prefers Harriet, but I think I marginally prefer Jemima however keep wavering. Tabitha is another one I like too........! Thanks for all your comments, very helpful.

OP posts:
blue22 · 08/06/2013 06:59

Both beautiful. Does one go better with your surname?

Wishfulmakeupping · 08/06/2013 06:55

Harriet by miles

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 07/06/2013 21:03

I personally prefer Harriet, although Jemima is a nice enough name. I teach a teenage Jemima, and it always strikes me as a very young name. She is quite mature looking and very quiet, and it just doesn't really suit her. All of her friends call her Jem.

MelanieCheeks · 07/06/2013 20:48

Famous Jemimas:

The ragdoll off of Play School
Jemima Shore detective - rather sophisticated TV character played by Patricia Hodge
Jemima Puddleduck - Beatrix Potter character (not very bright...)
Jemima Goldsmith/Khan - style icon

It's Hebrew for dove, and also in the Bible (Job's favourite daughter)

My Jem (now 19) got called Mima, or Jems, or Jemma, and enbraced the nickname Puddleduck at school (she even had it printed on the back of her ski trip hoodie)
The biggest snag we had with her name was when we lived abroad, where that hard J is unknown, so she was often called "Shuh-meee-ma"

CPtart · 07/06/2013 20:40

Harriet.
Jemma is a doll off 'play school' for those who remember!

LanternGirl · 07/06/2013 20:25

Harriet

Pimmsbear · 07/06/2013 20:11

And we are considering naming dc2 Jemima if she is a girl (if we dare have another child!)Smile

Pimmsbear · 07/06/2013 20:07

Oh God, this thread is making me worried, we have a 16 month old Harriet who is the most strong willed, determined, bossy & demanding child I have ever met! (nb she is also beautiful, clever, funny & loving). Every time we meet another Harriet, & mention this, we get a look of total recognition & understanding from the other Harriet's parents!

I currently teach 2 Harriets, both of whom are also very beautiful & intelligent, but very strong willed!Smile

LondonBus · 07/06/2013 20:07

Jemima. Smile

JazzAnnNonMouse · 07/06/2013 20:04

Both lovely Smile

jenniferturkington · 07/06/2013 20:04

Harriet

Gwen mine is Hatts too!

And yes, she certainly rules our house

SoggySummer · 07/06/2013 19:56

I like them both both.

However I had a right shock yesterday when I was at my daughters school for an arts day. I was handed a leaflet with the names of every child in every form. tbh I was rather bored and looking through the names on the leaflet. Out of 230 children in the school aged between 7 and 13 - there were 9 Jemimas!!

I had (obviously wrongly) always thought Jemima was quite an unusual name. Maybe this is a local fluke?? I have no idea. Incidently there were 3 Harriets and 1 Hattie.

09870987 · 07/06/2013 19:48

Jemima.

Rolf · 07/06/2013 19:46

Both gorgeous. I have a Harriet and when we named her a mother of another Harriet took me to one side and warned me that every Harriet she's ever met has lived up to name's meaning!

DD2 was almost Jemima.

littlepeas · 07/06/2013 19:30

Both are lovely, but Harriet just has the edge. Love Hattie and Harri as nicknames.

fussychica · 07/06/2013 19:25

Harriet for me but both great so whichever goes best with your surname.

FetaCheeny · 07/06/2013 19:16

Harriet

exoticfruits · 07/06/2013 19:05

Harriet

louloutheshamed · 07/06/2013 19:03

I have a Henry who would have been a Harriet had he been a girl. But if this dc is a girl I don't think I can have Harriet as its a bit too much with Henry! And Jemima is at the top of my list!! Alongside Louisa, Beatrice, Clementine and Eliza.

So all in all I think they are
Both lovely.

Bowlersarm · 07/06/2013 18:42

Jemima

IsThisAGoodIdea · 07/06/2013 18:33

I love Jemima but would hate her to be called Jemma or Mimi as a nn.