Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Arabella, Hariette, India ... how many do you know, and order of preference please?

44 replies

fluffyraggies · 28/07/2013 11:02

These 3 are where we are at the mo.
It's been like pulling teeth to get this far.

So, how many do you know? and which would be your 1, 2 and 3.
Or do you hate the lot? Grin

I don't like any shortenings of Arabella.
I like Harri as a nn for a girl.
You wouldn't really shorten India. (would you?!)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SupermansBigRedPants · 28/07/2013 15:10

I don't know any of any of them but whilst at school there were younger girls, twins, one called india and one called Julie that you've reminded me of. Always chuckled as I got older wondering if they wished for each others names!

OrlaNuttin · 28/07/2013 14:48

I like
Harriette
Arabella
India - not at all

In my village a little Harriet has recently had a baby sister called Arabella. There is also an India, which appears to be pronounced 'Indi - arrrdarrrling' in a very loud voice!

Englishroses · 28/07/2013 13:48

I find India a bit to pretentious (unless you actually conceived in India, in which case it's not so try hard). Really love Hetty.

Carolra · 28/07/2013 13:38

I know a 2 yr old Arabella (nn Belle) and a 6mo Harriet (nn Hetty). No Indias!

I like all three names, but India least of the three....

lottieandmia · 28/07/2013 13:35

I know one Arabella (10) and one India (5). Harriet is a nice name, I quite like Arabella too. India I'm not so keen on.

NoComet · 28/07/2013 13:33

All fine by me as long as you spell Harriet the usual way.
(I had a maiden name one letter different to something much commoner, having to spell it all the time drove me nuts).

The only one I know is a Harriet, about 9 (she goes by a totally unrelated family NN)

night1971 · 28/07/2013 13:28

Arabella - gorgeous

Harriet - known nicknames Hettie or Hattie

Not a fan of India personally.

HorryIsUpduffed · 28/07/2013 13:23

Oops, submitted too early.

Arabella will be shortened: maybe not immediately but eventually. If that really bothers you, you need either to pick your favourite - you can probably get Harry from Arabella if you wanted something quirky - or to give up on the name completely.

HorryIsUpduffed · 28/07/2013 13:20

India is a bit dated now, isn't it?

I adore Harriet but find the extra letters unnecessary. Very elegant and timeless. Classless. Brilliant.

Onyabike · 28/07/2013 11:43

I love the name Arabella and really like the name Harriet too (don't much care for the way you spelt it though). Don't like India at all. I know one or two of each. My order of pref:
Arabella
Harriet

India

Allthequeenshorses · 28/07/2013 11:38

I know two arabellas, one is bella, the other is Ara. My niece is Harriet, she is known as Hattie. I don't know any Indias. Harriet, arabella then India.

Original poster
fluffyraggies · 28/07/2013 11:36

Oooh this is interesting, i thought these names would be more common.

I don't mind about the spelling of Harriet.

Indy is nice actually.
(if you don't immediately think of Raiders of the Lost Ark Wink )

OP posts:
insancerre · 28/07/2013 11:29

I know 2 Arabellas
1 Hariet
and 1 India who is called Indy

I couldn't put them in preference as i don't like any of them

rosyryan · 28/07/2013 11:29

In the nicest possible way - I don't like any of them.

Hetty on the other hand, as suggested by Sanity, is absolutely gorgeous.

Littlecherublegs · 28/07/2013 11:26

I don't know any at all!

Not keen on any of them but if I had to choose,.order of preference would be:

India
Arabella
Harriet

ByTheWishingWell · 28/07/2013 11:11

I know one Harriet (age 8, often shortens to Harri), and no Indias or Arabellas. My 1,2,3 would also be Harriet, India, Arabella. If you had to use the alternate spelling, it would be India, Harriette, Arabella.

SanityClause · 28/07/2013 11:08

Oh, the Harriet I know is called Harri. You could also use Hetty, which is an "established" nickname (like Polly for Margaret or Queenie for Victoria).

RedlipsAndSlippers · 28/07/2013 11:07

I know one of each, and Hariette is definitely my favourite. Not a huge fan of India, and Arabella falls somewhere in the middle for me. Hariette used to shorten to Harri or Etta, depending on who was talking to her, really liked both :)

SanityClause · 28/07/2013 11:06

I know a Harriet who is about 16, and a couple of Indias aged about 13 and 16, respectively.

I don't know any Arabellas.

My 1,2,3 are Harriet (not Hariette), India, Arabella.

If I had to go with your spelling, I would put Harriet last. I have an unusual spelling of an ordinary name, and it's a PITA.