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

Hester. Your thoughts please

67 replies

Swishyswashy · 23/06/2015 09:22

Do you like it? OH not at all sure, I think it's lovely. I know it's probably a bit love or hate, but any thoughts? Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Cumbrae · 23/06/2015 21:35

I've always thought if it as a lovely gentle name.

I assume you are aware of Hester Prynne From the The Scarlet letter?

That's not necessarily a reason to be put off the name though.

MrsHenryCrawford · 23/06/2015 21:30

Really like it. There's a hester mentioned in Anne of green gables, she had a beautiful garden

villainousbroodmare · 23/06/2015 21:27

I really like it, Like Esther too but not as much.

toobreathless · 23/06/2015 20:22

LOVE it.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 23/06/2015 19:35

I much prefer Esther. Hester sounds a bit witchy to me.

MamaLazarou · 23/06/2015 19:34

It's ugly, sorry. A huffy, hissy sound.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 23/06/2015 18:16

Ds2 was going to be called this, with Hetty for short. I still mourn not being able to use this name.

CrispyFern · 23/06/2015 18:13

I really like it. Love Hettie.

MehsMum · 23/06/2015 18:01

I love it.
But then, my (our) taste in names is a bit off-the-wall. If you like a name, use it provided it doesn't do something awful with your surname.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/06/2015 17:59

Love it. Much nicer than Esther, which looks 'hissy' to me!

isupposeitsverynice · 23/06/2015 17:57

I think Hester is lovely. Not at all a fan of Esther. Isn't it weird that lots of people seem to like one and not the other when they're so similar.

florascotia · 23/06/2015 17:56

Cilla Thanks for your thanks Smile I wonder if someone should start a children's literature Mumsnet strand - childhood books are SO powerful...

ashesandfire · 23/06/2015 17:54

I think Esther is beautiful, but Hester is a little harsh for me. I can't imagine a baby called Hester somehow.

CillaAndArchie · 23/06/2015 16:41

florascotia - yes, it was Twin Spell! I've been wondering for years about the source of my memories about this book. Thank you!

(but OP, I think this is not the best Hester reference as I've remembered she was not a very nice ghost in this book. Still think it's a fantastic name, though :-) )

CakeRattleandRoll · 23/06/2015 16:28

I like it, esp with nn Hettie.

Original poster
Swishyswashy · 23/06/2015 13:25

A good mix of opinions, thank you. I don't really mind if some people don't like it, I can see it's that sort of name. As long as it's not universally hated that's ok by me! Thanks for all the opinions.

OP posts:
DiddilySquat · 23/06/2015 13:09

Dislike, reminds me of fester or the Munsters.

MrsBungle · 23/06/2015 12:05

Not Esther either that is supposed to say.

MrsBungle · 23/06/2015 12:05

I don't like it. Not Esther. They remind me of fester and sound unpleasant to me.

OurGlass · 23/06/2015 11:59

Cringe - sorry

GladysTheGolem · 23/06/2015 11:58

I don't like but I don't really know why.

It's a bit like Dorcas, interesting name but just clunky(?) if that makes sense!

Zakken · 23/06/2015 11:55

I've been trying to figure out why I don't like Hester, because I do like Esther. I think it's because it sounds a bit like hesitate or hesitant.

It also sounds to me like someone who normally drops their aitches who is trying to sound posh while saying Esther. That's completely illogical, because you could make the reverse argument about Esther. I guess I knew the name Esther before I ever encountered Hester.

florascotia · 23/06/2015 11:55

I really like Hester - simple and elegant.

Cilla Your book perhaps sounds a bit like Lucy M Boston's 'The Children of Green Knowe' (about a benevolently haunted house)
or there is Twin Spell, by Janet Lunn (about a haunted doll)

Ludways · 23/06/2015 11:33

I prefer Ester too, seems easier to say somehow. Hester reminds me of Fresh Fields, a tv sit com from the 80's, was my Gran's favourite show, lol

Sophronia · 23/06/2015 11:16

I prefer Esther.