We've found the name but scared of people's reaactions

I love the name Araminta.

But then I grew up familiar with the name.

True, oooermissus, but I'm sure the op would find another way of honouring her GM, if her GM had a name she disliked. My DD has my late mum's name as her middle name, but I wouldn't have used it if it was something awful.

But anyway, the op likes it enough to use it, so that's that. And I really don't think it matters if it goes with Araminta, as she will almost never have to say the two names together.

Sorry- it was only a lighthearted observation...

@Shockers - it was me who pointed out several pages back that Araminta sounded like the old chewing gum Arrowmint... Adding an a to the end of the word doesn't deflect from that, it's just a fuck awful extra and ugly sounding syllable on the end of a name that has enough syllables already. Aminta would be hugely preferable to Araminta - or just Aramint. Araminta is just too many slightly ugly, short syllables stuck together to make a too-long, ugly word.

It really doesn't matter whether people are keen on Elsie or not.

They're using it to honour DH's grandmother.

I am also not that keen on Elsie. But when is she ever going to say her middle name out loud 🤷.

I love it. I’d use it if I were given the opportunity to turn back the years and have another daughter. Not overly popular or old ladyish like so many recycled names.

(Not keen on Elsie, by contrast. Think it's rather trendy atm)

It's fine. Seemingly unlike most other posters, it doesn't inspire strong feelings in me either way. I would perhaps vaguely associate it with 'posh'. It also has quite a strong and bold feel, which is good. A big plus is it's phonetic and therefore travels well.

Seems odd to ask on a UK-based forum and the say, oh well your opinions don't really count.

And then agree and thank the one antipodean who likes the name/s.

I really like it and think it does work with Stanley as they are both "vintage" imo.

I also agree with some pps re class really not being an issue. I actually think these days you're just as likely to meet a lower class Araminta and a "posh" Stanley as the other way round. So called "posh" names are popular with everyone these days, as are vintage names like Stanley. I remember when Sebastian and Amelia were considered hilariously posh and now you hear them being shouted out in very not posh accents!

Call her Elsie

As you thought, the name divides people. Do you care or does it make you just dwell on the nicer comments? Now you have your answer!
I also thought that Stanley is more working class/hipster adopting these types of old man names but then I remembered Boris Johnson's dad, frequently interviewed on news shows- he is rather, rather posh! By the way, I'm one who likes Araminta. I know a couple of children with similar type of mildly unusual names or even ones where you initially think "really?" but they all grow into them so even if I hated it (ie if it was Hilda) I'd say disregard others' opinions.

Aramint sounds like a chewing gum, @Walkaround!

I don't like Minty, either and definitely not Araminta. Ariadne is more interesting as a name. I also like Audrey, Ada, Anya and Alana.

Araminta is a really ugly name - probably because all the syllables are short and the same length and there are far too many of them. It makes me wonder why you have to bark out so many short sounds to get to the end of the name. Tbh, Aramint would be nicer. Why the ridiculous a at the end? Also, absolutely no way is it a name people would not ask how to spell - people always ask how to spell a name that is a bit unusual.

Not a fan myself it just sounds like a comedy posh name ie. a name someone would use when taking the piss out of a posh girl. I also really don’t like Minty.
Also why the references to the Borrowers? Her name was Arietty (which I think is far nicer than Araminta)

Similar nicer names I would consider are Arianie, Ariane, Arabella, Aria, Aurelia, Annabelle, Audrey, Aubrey, Adeline, Ada, Anya, Alana.

I have to spell my name without exception. It's currently one of the top 10 most popular names - so very far from unheard of. But there are at least three widely-used spellings.

It's not that big a deal - I think most people probably have to spell at least their first name or their surname, don't they?

My maiden name had to be clarified Mc/Mac, and my married surname is slightly different from the way the Scottish comedian spells it.

I think not having to spell out your name is realistically way down on most people's priority list. And if it is a priority, it leaves you with a pretty small, dull list to choose from.

Even though the spelling seems completely obvious, I suspect she will have to spell it the first time for most situations. People will also read out / write / hear Arabella, Amanda, etc instead.

Its ok, like not awful. I think Agnes or Agatha might be better.

Or Iris.

Not my taste but then not is Stanley. But I wouldn't recoil in horror. I'd just think you were mega rich and had you own pony.

Yes, Minty from Moondial!

The great thing about Australia is that no-one gives a fuck about class.

Stanley is in fact a very Notting Hill name right now. I know two in that bracket. The posters on this thread aren’t even right with their class indicators.

As it's spelt phonetically I can't see how else someone would try to spell it tbh.

My name is slightly unusual (but less so than Araminta) and it is spelt phonetically, yet people constantly get it wrong with some absolutely ridiculous spellings.

Someone could hear Araminta and write it down as:

Araminda
Arraminta
Aramintah

... and so on. Or, as happens to me quite a lot, write down a better known name that sounds a bit similar, e.g. Arabella.

Mind you, I lived in Australia for a year and it was the one place where people generally got my name right! Maybe Aussies are better listeners

I think Harriet Elsie is better. Hetty for short. But it's not my baby!