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Original poster

Twins - Henry & Harriet?

56 replies

Reverie · 13/02/2012 12:52

Hello, I've been lurking and reading all of your brilliant posts for inspiration, thank you! Can I ask for some specific name help please?

I'm 33 weeks pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. Very excited, but getting really anxious about names..

The only two names we both love are Henry and Harriet, but really think these are too similar to be used together. Particularly as I really like the nickname Harri for Harriet.

So.. Do you agree they sound too similar to be used together? Any other new suggestions for us?

My number one choice for boys name would be Milo but DH absolutely, completely and utterly hates it. (Can you tell, he's made his feelings very clear?!)

Other names we like (although none as much as the above..):

Amelia (not that concerned that this is so popular, like Millie as a nick name, but sadly, makes me think of Millie Dowler)
Flora (not too worried about the margarine connection, but don't love it as much as Harriet)
Poppy (like it lots, but a bit worried it's a bit 'flighty')
Lola (I originally loved this and DH hated it, now he's softened to it and I'm not so sure.)

William (feels a bit too sensible)
Archie (this is DH's absolutely favourite. I can't get over not having a full name on his birth certificate and can't quite bring myself to inflict Archibald on him.)
Monty (I love the feel of a WW2 fighter pilot. However, again, can't get over not having a full name on his birth certificate and can't quite bring myself to inflict Montgomery etc on him.)

So, any new suggestions gratefully received! Thank you.

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Chynah · 13/02/2012 23:16

Sorry but WHY try and give them little matchy names.

They may be cute little twins but they are little individuas as well so treat them as such. They will one day live apart and have their separate lives so it doesn't really matter.

PopcornBiscuit · 13/02/2012 23:17

Harry is a nickname for Henry, so Harry and Harriet are pretty much the same name.

tildaandarchiesmummy · 13/02/2012 23:23

I think Henry and Harriet are lovely - would be to similar if it was Henry and Henrietta or Harry and Harriet. We have an Archie (he is Archie on his birth certificate) you could use archer for full version. Evie and Archie sound like cute twins with Evelyn and Archer on the birth certificates. Ella and Oliver. Personally i hate william. What about Poppy and Thomas. Charlie and Lottie. I can imagine Milo and Lola would be the cool kids. Montie and Millie looks cute when written down.

Kaekae · 14/02/2012 00:26

Love the names really like Harriet, I love Hattie as a NN. I have a Poppy and the name is bloody everywhere!

AgnesBligg · 14/02/2012 00:29

Well. it is like calling both children Harry no?

Call them Herbie and Hattie. aww.

nooka · 14/02/2012 05:49

I think it would be very unfair to call twins such similar names. I think that it's very important for twins to have separate identities as so many people think of twins as pairs first and foremost. But then I really dislike 'matchy' names for siblings too.

I like William (and Bill, Billy or Will) and Harriet (not sure about Harri, like Hattie)
Henry (or Harry or Hal) and Poppy

bloombloombell · 14/02/2012 11:14

I have a wee sister Harriet and i call he Henry quite a lot. Saying that i love both your names xx Harriet & Archie are lovely x

MrsBovary · 14/02/2012 12:45

I think they're practically the same name, and couldn't get past that personally. Harriet came from Henrietta originally I think, and of course Henrietta is from Harry/Henry. If that makes sense!

allyfe · 14/02/2012 12:57

Is it just me or does anyone else think that Harry is the most ridiculous nickname for Henry? Why create a nickname that is exactly the same length and the same number of syllables but essentially a different name? If you want to name your child Harry, then call him Harry. If you want to call him Henry, then name him Henry. But to name your child Henry and call him Harry is nuts (unless you happen to hate Henry and have just renamed yourself). I realise that Prince Henry/Harry is a prime example of the nickname, but just because the origin is there, it doesn't mean that a bit of logic and reason can't change Harry into an independent name in it's own right surely?

So, personally, whilst it may be that Harry derived from Henry, I would not care at all if two children where Henry and Harriet.

thereistheball · 14/02/2012 12:59

They are the same name, like Oliver and Olivia. Don't do it.

diddl · 14/02/2012 15:31

I like Harriet & Flora.

Like Milo best from your boys names tbh.

MrsBovary · 14/02/2012 16:03

I don't think it's any more ridiculous than Peggy from Margaret, Allyfe (E.g. from Herry to Harry seems easy enough transition). But I do prefer Harry as a dim. for Harold, rather than Henry.

Harold and Henrietta, Reverie? Also love Flora and Monty from your other choices.

oikopolis · 14/02/2012 19:00

Harriet is a nickname for Henrietta
Harry is a nickname for Henry

I think it is odd to name your two babies with versions of each other's names. It's like naming them Thomas and Thomasina.

GetDownNesbitt · 14/02/2012 20:27

My brother had a mate called Paul. Twin sisters were Paula and Pauline.

Honestly!

saintmerryweather · 14/02/2012 20:33

Please don't give your twins matching names, I would hate it if I had a similar name to my twin sister. They will have enough trouble with being known as "the twins", don't make it harder for them!

smother · 14/02/2012 23:21

Henry and Harry are basically same name - I really wouldn't do it!

What about......

Henry and Clara
Harriet and Theo

PeanutButterCupCake · 14/02/2012 23:44

Henry is lovely. Like Lola. Henry and lucy is nice Smile

CrazyBabyLady · 15/02/2012 00:15

How about Archer instead of Archibald?
I really like Archer! :)

Original poster
Reverie · 15/02/2012 18:04

Thank you so much for all of the responses. Like most of you, both DH and I are 99% sure that it's not right to use Henry and Harriet together. I guess I just wanted to check that we weren't being over critical.. It appears not!

Still am not falling head over heals in love with any of our other combinations. I am feeling real pressure to find two names we adore and feel are 100% perfect, or is it ok to choose the best combination, one we agree on and both like and accept that they don't actually make me swoon? I think I've answered that myself as am running out of time!

Thanks again.

allyfe completely agree re Henry/Harry, so odd that they are the same length etc.

OP posts:
ViolaCrayola · 15/02/2012 20:12

I just put all the names you mentioned into Nymbler (www.nymbler.com). I'm a bit addicted to that website Blush
Anyway - these are some names it suggested:

Violet
Alice
Anna
Winifred (Winnie?)
Sophia
Lucy
Stella

Benjamin
Hugh
Miles
Alexander
Samuel
Rupert

It also came up with Milo straight away!

Anyway, hope this helps a tiny bit.
FWIW I love Alice and Hugh, or Stella and Benjamin...
OR Henry and Violet, or Harriet and Samuel...

ViolaCrayola · 15/02/2012 20:14

Oh, and I think (if possible) then try to find names you really love. Even if it's after the babies are born once you see what they look like...

Stellan · 16/02/2012 10:49

I really like both Henry and Harriet separately and I can see why if you like one, you'd probably like the other! At the end of the day, I think you will have to decide which of the two names you prefer and then choose your boy or girl's name accordingly.

For what it's worth, I like the sound of Harriet and Hugo (which I think is a viable alternative to Milo - it sounds a bit more substantial but has that jaunty 'O' sound) or Harriet and Leo.

I'm not sure whether you like the idea of the twins' names matching a little bit hence some of the below inclusions:
Henry & Alice
Henry & Beatrice
Henry & Charlotte
Henry & Cleo
Henry & Hazel
Henry & Helena
Henry & Hilary
Henry & Hope
Henry & Louisa
Henry & Mabel
Henry & Violet
Henry & Willa

Harriet & Arthur
Harriet & Edward
Harriet & Felix
Harriet & George
Harriet & Hugo
Harriet & Holden
Harriet & John
Harriet & Leo
Harriet & Rupert
Harriet & Theo(dore)
Harriet & Wilbur
Harriet & Wilfred
Harriet & William

Good luck!

CrazyBabyLady · 16/02/2012 13:06

Twin naming guidelines!

  1. Don't Rhyme!
  2. Don't use male and female versions (Adrian & Adrianna)
  3. Don't use the same name with a spelling variation and pronunciation tweak!
  4. Don't name them after couples. Twins called Victoria & David, Brad & Angleina and Homer & Marge are creepy
  5. Don't use things that are known to go together. (Smith & Wesson)
  6. Don't use names that can have the same nickname.
  7. Don't use a full name for one and a nickname for the other. (Billy & William)
  8. Do use names that you would use on single babies!
londonlottie · 16/02/2012 15:15

I have twins (Eve and Juliet, although that's not useful in this instance...).

Met a hairdresser last night who had twin siblings - they were called Paul and Paula. Confused I mean, really.

babyblabber · 16/02/2012 17:10

i love henry and lola, have henry on my boy's list and lola on my girls name's list. also love milo but DH hates it!