What’s wrong with Tabitha???

Absolutely nothing wrong with Tabitha (Tabby). I have one and it's a great name, never share potential names though! Go with what you love and ignore others

Hence Tabitha Tittlemouse in Beatrix Potter is annoyingly fussy and housework obsessed.
Not great associations, OP.

I don’t think this is right - isn’t it just Mrs Tittlemouse? Can’t remember her name being mentioned but I might be wrong. There’s Tabitha Twitchet but she’s a completely different character.

I’ve got a Tabitha nn Tabi so I obviously think it’s great. Witchy associations are a bonus for me but honestly I think people saying it’s a cat’s name is a bit strange given that I’ve never heard of a cat actually called the name and the term Tabby cat isn’t at all related to it but just got tangled up in the entomology hundreds of years ago like Tybalt or something.

My DP was like this about the name Felix which I love, all because of the cat food.

Aside from your OH, don’t mention names to anyone. I found this out the hard way when I was having DC1 and everyone and his dog had an opinion. I didn’t tell anyone with DC2&3 and it was so much better. You don’t find anyone putting the name down once you’ve already called them that or at least I didn’t.

It's cute! Especially because you can use Thea for short which is just gorgeous!

Tabitha / Dorcas was a wealthy widow who was deeply respected in her community for her charitable work. She was resurrected by Peter.

Not great associations, OP.

I agree but I feel like this goes for so many biblical girl's names...

I love it! On our list if we have a girl :)

IIRC, in the Bible Dorcas/ Tabitha is a woman whose good works like housekeeping and crafting won her a place in heaven or resurrection, not sure which. On a par with Lazarus but not as well known.

Hence Tabitha Tittlemouse in Beatrix Potter is annoyingly fussy and housework obsessed.
Not great associations, OP.

I love Tabitha but have had similar comments.
DS would have been Tabitha and if we have a girl in the future she would be Tabitha.

Tabitha is pretty. It has quite a strong association with cats , but it's not an unpleasant link. Jemima and Benjamin are also strongly associated with animal characters, and lots of other names (Daisy, Poppy, Ruby, Molly, Tilly, Flora, Stanley, Felix, Oscar) also remind me of animals.

Older family members or adults that don't know many children are often conservative and out of touch with the type of names that are popular nowadays so it might seem a stranger choice than it is. Tabitha isn't obscure and her schoolmates won't be watching Bewitched. Once she's here and its her name not just a name I think people will feel differently.

It's a nice name.

Also, yes to everything Shirley said.

We picked Tabitha Alice if baby was a girl. Love it.
Told mum when she asked and was promptly laughed at. "It sounds like a witch or a cat!! I'll just call her samantha"

She asked about boys names and I refused to tell her. So when he gets here (any day now) she will just have to deal with the name regardless of her opinion on it.

People always comment on the name before baby is here.
If you say, "this is tabitha" when she is here they can't comment.

If you like the name go for it. Ignore everyone else.

It's a really lovely name imo

Its a lovely name which gives a lot of room for different personalities as she grows up, in my opinion.

Pissed off that DP's ex ruined it for me (it's her name) by launching herself at / climbing on him and trying to snog him last time we bumped into her. Fucking crazy bitch. I'm sure your one will be nice though

I think it's a nice name but I'll be honest my first thought WAS cat. Probably because of the Tabby connection

I think it's a lovely name - ignore the haters.

Cat.

I know a Dorcas and I think it's lovely.

I know a couple of Tabithas. It's cute. It's fine. The ones I know are people not cats.

I know a couple of Tabithas. Neither of them are cats.

Really lovely, talented, bright gorgeous girls.

I love the name.

I suspect that your taste is just too high brow for your nearest and dearest!

Love it. If I'd had a DD she'd have been Tabitha (although happily I did tell my sisters my name choice as I was considering giving her the middle name Katharine but Tabby Kat may have been an error ....).

Tell them you've decided to call her Dorcas (Greek version) instead. Personally I think Dorcas is a fab name but I suspect the kind of people who dislike Tabitha will like Dorcas even less and then when you call her Tabitha they'll be greatly relieved.

But seriously don't worry about the grandparents views. Apparently the most disliked name among grandparents is Charlotte. I mean, what wrong with Charlotte?

LOVE the name Tabitha. I'd have shortened it to Tea (pronounced like the drink) if DH hadn't vetoed it altogether :(
I don't get the cat / witch connection? but we didn't get a TV until 1995... they're going to be TV characters aren't they?

Great name.