Harper or Nova?

tuxedocat · 2021-09-28T10:03:54+00:00

We have a DD due at the end of the year and struggling a little on the name. Harper, Nova and Harlow are my favourites but I know that Harlow gets a right dragging around these parts 😂

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midsomermurderess · 29/09/2021 12:04

So much predictable snootiness towards Harper. I think it is one of the newer names on its way to being fairly established, as now names go. I quite like it.

TatianaBis · 29/09/2021 11:36

@Blankscreen

Harper- wannabe Beckham

Nova - an old vauxhall car

Harlow - A town in Essex.

Sorry but they are all awful

Unfortunately this.

EdgeOfACoin · 29/09/2021 10:48

I was also going to suggest Piper as an alternative to Harper if you weren't sure about the Beckham connection.

ILoveShula · 29/09/2021 10:37

Harper was the writer's middle name.
Probably used because men are less likely to buy or read a book with a woman's name as the author. (c/f J.K not Joanne Katherine, George Eliot not Mary Anne Evans)

OVienna · 28/09/2021 23:34

I love Harper - great writer! So what if the Beckham's used it. I'd brazen it out.

Nova is a no go, Harlow probably also. But we live very near it.

Constancia?
Delphine?

ChrissyPlummer · 28/09/2021 23:20

@MayorGoodwaysChicken sums it up perfectly.

WeasilyPleased · 28/09/2021 22:43

I actually really like Nova and dont think it sounds downmarket at all. As for the car, its 30 odd years ago!

HuntingoftheSnark · 28/09/2021 17:33

Out of the three, Harper is okay. How about Scout? Although the names you like have softer endings. Carly? Darcy?

Original poster

tuxedocat · 28/09/2021 17:22

[quote gogohm]@tuxedocat

Harper was the surname in the tv series my family, ran for about 10 years ( currently on iPlayer) it's fairly common as a surname so likely to have a child in a larger school with it.

When choosing her name, my thoughts is to think of her as an adult, looking for a job - does the name sound like one a woman with a career might have? Then shorten it to something sweeter perhaps as a child's nickname [/quote]
Oh yes, so it was! It wasn’t something that sprung to mind.

Agree with what you said about the name as an adult. I do think that adds an element of pressure as a female, naming another female. I see so many very sweet names. I know likewise her generation will have a new wave of names compared to mine and many before and it’s hard to picture how that could be IYKWIM

OP posts:

Original poster

tuxedocat · 28/09/2021 17:18

@Dandy0911

OP, my daughter is named Henley.

Henley Rose.

If I put on here her name as a suggestion before she was born I would get;

'Henley-on-Thames'
'It's a place'
'It's a boat show'
'Henley Regatta'

Etc etc etc

Her name is perfect for her, we love it, and everyone who has ever questioned it, loves it too.

You're brave to put name suggestions on here, but it's such a personal thing, honestly whichever name you choose will be perfect.
I think Harper is gorgeous. ANY name has an association with something. A car. A place. Someone who somebody dislikes. A nasty person on your class as a youngster. A celebs child's name. A boring name. A too 'out there' name.

Names move on with the times. A Vauxhall nova was made in the 90s.

I like all 3 names of your choice! :)

Ahh this is so lovely, thank you. Everything you said is so true, I’ve found it somewhat insightful to gauge a series of opinions and responses but I know deep down it’s our choice ultimately and we’ll figure it out. For the record, Henley is one I’ve never heard (or would think with those connotations) and it’s very pretty.

OP posts:

aSofaNearYou · 28/09/2021 16:54

Harper was the surname in the tv series my family, ran for about 10 years ( currently on iPlayer) it's fairly common as a surname so likely to have a child in a larger school with it.

I thought you were saying your family ran a tv series for about 10 years before I finally figured out you were talking about the actual show My Family

JustAReflektor · 28/09/2021 16:50

Nova makes me think of the car.
Harlow makes me think of the town.
Harper is really pretty but the Beckham association would put me off.

gogohm · 28/09/2021 16:49

@tuxedocat

Harper was the surname in the tv series my family, ran for about 10 years ( currently on iPlayer) it's fairly common as a surname so likely to have a child in a larger school with it.

When choosing her name, my thoughts is to think of her as an adult, looking for a job - does the name sound like one a woman with a career might have? Then shorten it to something sweeter perhaps as a child's nickname

Blackbird2020 · 28/09/2021 16:37

My vote would be for Harper, but to be honest I don’t really like any of them

I find it fascinating name trends change at a much faster rate these days... back in the 80’s and 90’s sure, you’d get a few new and unusual names every now and then, but it feels like names go out of fashion within months nowadays! To be replaced by even more random and newer names!

Dandy0911 · 28/09/2021 16:33

OP, my daughter is named Henley.

Henley Rose.

If I put on here her name as a suggestion before she was born I would get;

'Henley-on-Thames'
'It's a place'
'It's a boat show'
'Henley Regatta'

Etc etc etc

Her name is perfect for her, we love it, and everyone who has ever questioned it, loves it too.

You're brave to put name suggestions on here, but it's such a personal thing, honestly whichever name you choose will be perfect.
I think Harper is gorgeous. ANY name has an association with something. A car. A place. Someone who somebody dislikes. A nasty person on your class as a youngster. A celebs child's name. A boring name. A too 'out there' name.

Names move on with the times. A Vauxhall nova was made in the 90s.

I like all 3 names of your choice! :)

Puffalicious · 28/09/2021 16:32

Nell
Rowan
Marley
Beth/ Bethan
Maisie
Amy good?

Amberheartkitty · 28/09/2021 16:26

I love nova. Isn’t it off planet of the apes?
Harper is way too common.

ZealAndArdour · 28/09/2021 16:24

They’re all very overdone and “current”. I work in a profession where I see lots of babies and children and Harper, Nova and Harlow are ten a Penny currently.

Original poster

tuxedocat · 28/09/2021 16:09

@Happenchance

I prefer Nova.

Other suggestions:
Nola
Hadley
Mallory
Hester
Marlow
Meadow
Marla

Marlow is quite pretty, I like that, Nola too.

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Happenchance · 28/09/2021 15:57

I prefer Nova.

Other suggestions:
Nola
Hadley
Mallory
Hester
Marlow
Meadow
Marla

crikey456 · 28/09/2021 15:48

I really like Nova.

MajorCarolDanvers · 28/09/2021 15:48

Harper

The other one is an old car.

Original poster

tuxedocat · 28/09/2021 15:47

@ManifestingJoy

They're all awful. What about Orla, sounds like it has something of the NOVA and the Harlow about it. Parker is so ugly I can't. even. begin.

What about Marlie?, Shelby? Bellamy, Noelle, Willow, Bailey, they might appeal to you, they have that modern unisex surname vibe but aren't quite so harsh.

We have an Orla in the family already. Noelle is pretty, but I am due in December so not sure that would change opinion 😬

Willow I don’t mind but it’s not for me, my husband did suggest it but said even he thought he would love Willow, but doesn’t.
Parker is also not a name for me (one I would think would be for a male IMO)

OP posts:

OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 28/09/2021 15:44

How about....

Nola instead of Nova?

Arla or Nala instead of Harlow ?

Piper instead of Harper?

user1493494961 · 28/09/2021 15:43

I don't like any of them, agree with pp, all a bit 'chavvy'.