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

Meredith or Harriet?

66 replies

Fedoos · 01/03/2019 18:44

Pregnant with DD2 and we've whittled down the list of names to two (for now).

Meredith and Harriet.

What are your opinions on these two? Which do you prefer?

Harriet feels like the 'safer' choice but I can't stop thinking about Meredith.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
PantTwizzler · 01/03/2019 23:04

Harriet. Bad associations with Meredith.

Sophronia · 01/03/2019 22:59

Meredith also makes me think of Meredith Kercher.

Lydietta · 01/03/2019 22:56

Meredith always makes me think of Meredith Kercher, so I couldn't use it personally, but that won't be relevant to someone from your daughter's generation. Especially now that the Amanda Knox court cases are settled, I don't imagine it'll come up in the news again much.

DramaAlpaca · 01/03/2019 22:42

Harriet for me.

Peachbubble · 01/03/2019 21:25

Harriet

IvanaPee · 01/03/2019 20:30

I never would have considered Harriet as more old-fashioned than Meredith!

Nutkin123 · 01/03/2019 20:26

Meredith is such a beautiful name!!! Harriet is a little old fashioned to me but Hattie/Hatty is a cute nickname!

Darcy is top of my list but OH not so keen!

irisheyesaresmiling7 · 01/03/2019 20:20

I like both but definitely prefer Harriet and Hetty (Hettie) for short.

bellinisurge · 01/03/2019 20:17

Take a look at Off the Ranch on YouTube. Extremely cool Meredith on that.

Lindy2 · 01/03/2019 20:11

I like them both.
How do you feel about the likely shortening to Harry or Merry?
I prefer Merry so would go for Meredith.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 01/03/2019 20:11

Harriet by miles. I find Meredith frumpy yet harsh.

cptartapp · 01/03/2019 20:09

Meredith. Harriet is a bit of a '90's name to me.

17caterpillars1mouse · 01/03/2019 20:08

I like both but much prefer Meredith

Original poster
Fedoos · 01/03/2019 20:07

Oh, Mmmmbrekkie - you have to tell me now!

OP posts:
Makinglists · 01/03/2019 20:04

Meredith is my favourite. NN could be edith ( or edie) or Merri both of which are lovely. Harriet is good just a bit 'jolly hockey sticks' in my mind.

Mmmmbrekkie · 01/03/2019 19:58

Love them both!

Don’t want to tell you my daughter’s name as I reckon that as I love your two options so much you will want my daughter’s name!

Missnearlyvintage · 01/03/2019 19:57

Meredith - beautiful

SallyWD · 01/03/2019 19:55

Harriet

TipseyTorvey · 01/03/2019 19:55

Harriet. But then I love the idea of calling a girl Harry for short. Also had a friend at school I miss called the same Smile

SemperIdem · 01/03/2019 19:54

I prefer Meredith

Bellaposey · 01/03/2019 19:53

Meredith. Beautiful name, not common, loads of lovely nickname. What's not to love.

Cinderella2019 · 01/03/2019 19:46

Cristina 👍🏻

Original poster
Fedoos · 01/03/2019 19:43

Thanks everyone.

Looks like Meredith is just edging it. It's good that a lot of people seem to like it, although I know I shouldn't care about what others think! Nickname would probably be Merry or Edie.

Never thought of Hester. It's nice but wouldn't be something I'd pick.

Interesting, I've never heard of Jocelyn as anything other than a girls name. I've learned something today!

OP posts:
TildaTurnip · 01/03/2019 19:15

Meridith. I know a little Meridith who goes by Meri.

Christmasfairy07 · 01/03/2019 19:13

Meredith