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Baby names

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

Original poster

Henrietta?

33 replies

zaza86 · 27/07/2015 23:24

This name is growing on me! I have a while to decide, and I thought I was set on something a bit simpler (but I think very beautiful) - Anna. I don't know whether this is a hormonal blip! What do you think? Not so keen on Hetty as a nickname - any other slightly less obvious suggestions? Thanks!

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Original poster
zaza86 · 29/07/2015 19:18

It seems to be very much a marmite name! HuftysTrain your response made me laugh Grin It hasn't put me off though!

OP posts:
Daphnedolittle · 29/07/2015 16:44

I think Henrietta is a bit more imaginative than Anna which is very safe. Both are nice names but Henrietta will polarise opinions. On the plus side, Henrietta has so many nice options for nn's - my favourite being Etti.

CakeRattleandRoll · 29/07/2015 16:21

Like Henrietta, and it's good there are so many nn choices.

WankerDeAsalWipe · 29/07/2015 15:29

My mum is a Henrietta, not at all posh and is known as Hetty - she is lovely but I am probably biased :)

Neednewflowers · 29/07/2015 13:57

Hen is cute nn.

Lottiedaydreambeliever2014 · 29/07/2015 09:22

I know an adult Henrietta who normally gets Henry as the nickname from friends. You wouldn't be able to control the nickname once she's at school.

StaceyAndTracey · 29/07/2015 08:58

I prefer Anna . Harriet is a bit old fashioned IMO

Don't like Henrietta at all , but I'm not very fond of " men's names with an Ina or Etta stuck on the end "

I'm impressed by the parents who follow their child around high school / university / work saying " he's not Robbie, he's Robert " Hmm

Goodbyemylove · 29/07/2015 08:54

Depends on your social circles.

EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs · 29/07/2015 08:53

I like Henrietta. But even if you teach your DD to only use her full name, you have no guarantee at all that she won't decide she prefers a short version anyway later on. Or that her friends won't come up with one.

I have a classic name with multiple shortenings and my parents only ever used the whole thing - I used one version at primary, one at secondary and another at university before going back to the full version as an adult. On the bright side, I really like my name and was glad to get something I could play with.

Neednewflowers · 29/07/2015 08:50

Gorgeous.

stuckonnames · 29/07/2015 08:46

Henrietta is gorgeous and so many lovely nicknames! You should definitely go for it!

scrivette · 29/07/2015 02:37

Both are nice names but I prefer Henrietta to Anna.

Harriet is a similar name.

HuftysTrain · 29/07/2015 01:52

Henrietta is really awful. It makes me think of dumpy german women in horn-rimmed spectacles. Or awkward, galumphing posh girls in waxed jackets, full skirts and wellies.

applecatchers36 · 28/07/2015 22:48

Much prefer Anna to Henrietta.
Henrietta sounds too posh and try hard to me.

mypoorfoofoo · 28/07/2015 19:04

Love it! Lots of lovely nn choices too. Anna is fine though but to me it's just fine. Totally non offensive but just a bit uninspiring

ifgrandmahadawilly · 28/07/2015 19:02

Henrietta is really nice. Anna IS dull.

sweetpeame · 28/07/2015 18:59

I don't like Henrietta. It's much more dull than Anna IMO. Anna is classic and elegant and much nicer.

LaceyLee · 28/07/2015 11:48

Really like this but dh vetoed it for our dd.

Sophronia · 28/07/2015 11:45

Henrietta is lovely. Nicknames could be Hettie, Hattie, Henrie, Etta, Ettie

Shockers · 28/07/2015 10:15

I had an Aunt Hetty. Lovely, lovely lady.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 28/07/2015 10:12

Anna isnt dull. It's timeless elegant and beautiful. The only thing that would concern me was in case people started pronouncing it Arna like in frozen.

Original poster
zaza86 · 28/07/2015 09:15

Thank you all! I'll keep it on the list for now, but perhaps veering back towards Anna - just a bit worried it's a tad dull...

OP posts:
Baffledmumtoday · 28/07/2015 02:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NadiaWadia · 28/07/2015 01:22

Anna is lovely. And Henrietta really isn't.

barbecue · 28/07/2015 01:16

I prefer Anna to Henrietta.