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

Esther or Harriet?

64 replies

TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 21/08/2014 12:15

Baby girl due in the next three weeks. Down to Esther and Harriet for final two names.

Siblings will be Jack, Alexander, Sarah and Mary.

So the question is simply...

Esther or Harriet?

NB: Middle names will be Maude Frances, both family names. I'm not really struck on Maude, but it was the name of DH's grandmother, who passed away very recently, so I can't really say no. (Frances Maude actually sounds better, but even though we're now living in the US, I won't use it that way because of the Tory MP, Francis Maude)!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Bowlersarm · 26/08/2014 18:37

Esther

Kantha · 26/08/2014 18:36

I like both, but probably Harriet edges it.

With Esther you get the initials EMF (plus surname) which is either electro motive force (vaguely recalled from GCSE Physics) or the name of a splendid band from the Forest of Dean who sang, "You're Unbelievable" back in the early 90s. Grin

brackengirl · 26/08/2014 13:21

I have an Esther and it really suits her, we don't often shorten it but do use Essie or Bess sometimes (I really thought we'd use Tess but it just hasn't happened) It was DH's choice originally but really grew on me and now I love it too. However I also like Harriet, Mary and Elisabeth so I just think you have good taste!

Gemerama82 · 26/08/2014 09:51

Don't like either sorry, go with Elizabeth!

squoosh · 26/08/2014 03:39

Esther by the country miles of several countries.

Harriet is hideous. I cannot for the life of me even begin to understand its popularity.

Lewismummy2202 · 25/08/2014 19:59

I prefer harriet

TheFutureSupremeRulersMum · 22/08/2014 22:01

Both are lovely but Esther with those middle names

Delphiniumsblue · 22/08/2014 22:00

Harriet

TobyZiegler · 22/08/2014 21:58

I vote Esther! Lovely name.

Hassled · 22/08/2014 21:58

I love Harriet. And all the Harriets I've ever met have been lovely.

mummybare · 22/08/2014 21:57

Esther is lovely. Harriet not so much - it makes me think of a horsey toff, sorry!

Thisisanoutrage · 22/08/2014 21:56

Hester

shinynewname · 22/08/2014 21:51

Definitely Esther. :)

OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 22/08/2014 21:48

Esther sounds like fester.

OftheTwilighttheDarkness · 22/08/2014 21:48

I like Harriet best.

notadoctor · 22/08/2014 21:47

I like both but love Esther.

Ham69 · 22/08/2014 21:39

Well I guess that's better than arguing over the names which would probably happen in my house Grin . I really love Harriet and would had used it if my uncle hadn't named his dog that name. Well you would, wouldn't you! Bizarre. And Esther is my very inspirational late aunt's name. An incredible lady. Elizabeth is great because I doubt it will ever date and there are some fab nn's so you can't go wrong. She would never tire of her name! Good luck.

pilates · 22/08/2014 18:02

Def Harriet, not keen on Esther.

Original poster
TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 22/08/2014 16:30

Ham69 - to be honest, we hadn't asked them, so DH and I asked the oldest three last night.

DS1 (14) shrugged his shoulders and said, "dunno - they're both alright I guess." I think that's as good as we're going to get from him.

DS2 (8) prefers Harriet, as it reminds him of his friend Harry, from back in England.

DD1 (4) said "no" and told us to name the baby Elizabeth (or Elizabuff as she pronounces it). We were considering Elizabeth at one point, but took it off the table, as it's super popular over here. When DH said, "if not Elizabeth, then which of the other two," she preferred Harriet.

So that's a "dunno" and two votes for Harriet. Although given that DD1 said Elizabeth, and then Harriet when DH asked her again, I guess it's closer to one vote for Harriet, and one sort of vote for Harriet!

Harriet it our front-runner at the moment, but only just.

And now DD1 has mentioned Elizabeth, it has got us thinking about that again.

I think we might just wait until we meet her to make a final decision!

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 21/08/2014 23:27

I like Harriet better.

Ham69 · 21/08/2014 23:20

Really love both names, both were on my shortlist. Don't worry about which way round the middle names go. As you know already having DCs, you so rarely use them it doesn't matter. Just go with the names ?ith meaning and the way round you feel comfortable with. All the names will sound great together, whatever combination. Do your DCs have a preference? They may feel special if they think they've helped name her.

ralinax294 · 21/08/2014 21:35

Esther.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/08/2014 18:51

Harriet. Love Hester but not so fond of Esther.

Terrierterror · 21/08/2014 18:49

Frances Grin

I much prefer Esther to Harriet but Frances sounds like it would fit in better with her siblings' names.

nwthree · 21/08/2014 16:56

I've got a 2-year-old Esther and am really pleased with our choice. Agonised for ages but it really suits her and we get a lot of compliments. We sometimes call her Ettie, but she soon corrects us and tells us that her name's Esther, not Ettie! Only downside is that people often can't spell it (they miss out the 'h') - particularly those in the medical profession for some reason.