Claudia or Harriet?

[Mythoughts]

After much debate, we are settled on these two names, I prefer one and my DH prefers the other. Which do you prefer?

Claudia. Not keen on Harriet.

Harriet, definitely, always loved it. A classic and not overused. Love nn potentials and it won't be mispronounced unlike Claudia.

I'm don't like the sound of Harriet - it sounds quite harsh and unfeminine to my ears, sorry. I do like the sound of Claudia but the meaning would put me off, unfortunately (I'd hate my child to grow up wondering why we chose her her that meant lame/disabled ).

Love both.

Claudia, either with clawed or cloud pr.

Harriet is ok but sounds terribly sensible, hockey-playing and head-girly to me, rather bossy.

Thanks so much for all of your replies. It looks like opinion really is divided. Decisions, decisions ......

I don't like the sound of Harriet, it sounds a little harsh and doesn't travel well into other languages. Claudia sounds much more feminine and sounds great in most languages, but the meaning is a shame and would probably put me off.

Definitely Harriet, I love it - so pretty and feminine whilst being very strong. Don't like Claudia at all - sounds harsh and I want to say it in a german accent.

Sorry I'm in the Harriet camp! Claudia is a very hard name - it might work in Italian but it just doesn't at all over here....Have a DN called Harriet, diminutive Hattie after la Jacques!

Claudia is lovely. As are Clara and Cora. Harriet sounds like the noise a train makes.

Harriet lovely

I don't like Harriet, it sounds so masculine. And starts with 'hairy'.....

Claudia (pronunced Clow-dia, the German way) is lovely and much more feminine. But the unfortunate meaning is a shame and wouldn't be nice for your dd as she grows up. Same with the name Cecilia (latin Caecus = blind).

i am biased and therfore think you shoudl have harriett

Unless you're looking at baby name books or researching names online for baby naming, how many people actually consider what a name means when they meet someone? I'm sure if you call your DD Claudia most people's first reaction won't be "oh that comes from the Latin for lame".

Besides, it's not done Claudia Winkleman any harm - despite her being one of the most annoying presenters in the world!

Oh, and there is a feisty Claudia in Roman mythology:

Claudia was a Vestal Virgin as was thought to be Tarpeia, Tuccia, and Rhea Sylvia, who conceived Romulus and Remus. In Roman mythology Vesta pertains to a Roman goddess, the Sacred fire of Vesta, and the Temple of Vesta.

Claudia, a descendant of noble Roman stock, was devoted to her father and had much love for him. One day the Roman Senate decreed a great honor on him. While he was celebrating an elaborate triumph in front of a large crowd, a tribune of jealous plebs lunged forward to do him harm. Claudia, seeing this from the sidelines, rushed in between the plebs and her father to protect him. Somehow, this small woman managed to forge between her father and the attackers, giving her father a chance to escape. He was then able to continue his grand triumphal march to the Capital. Claudia, in turn, was also able to march triumphant back to the Temple of Vesta.

So I vote Claudia! :)

I think some names have more 'obvious' meanings than others and Claudia happens to be one where the Latin root 'claudus', meaning crippled, lame is quite promiment. But perhaps I've just studied too much Latin .

Yes - I think you have

I honestly don't think most people would make a connection between Claudia and lame as there is nothing obvious to connect the two words unless you have a good knowledge of Latin.

Prefer Harriet. Nice name, and name meanings are important to me. What happens when your daughter asks you what her name means?

We have a Harriet and she is neither fat nor hairy.

Everyone thinks it is a very pretty name and she is a lovely, balanced, clever, pretty little girl (well at 5' 3" and 12 not too little).

The only Claudia I knew in real life was a year above me at school and a complete bitch - one of those who ignored you and made all of her friends ignore you if you were out of favour.

So Harriet but then I am very biased! Oh and our Harriet is always Harriet at home but Hatty or Harry to her friends.

I like them both, but prefer Claudia ever so slightly.

How the hell are you pronouncing Harriet that it begins with hairy?

I have a Harriet like MadameC's :) Everyone comments on how lovely her name is.

i like Harriet more.

i would prefer to be called Harriet rather than Claudia.

Harriet. If DS had been a girl that's what he'd have been. But in the spirit of Harry Hill - there's only one way to find out.....

Claudia is very Germanic, also quite harsh sounding, what would you shorten it too?
Claude?? That's hideous.
Harriet is sweet, Hattie is gorgeous

Definitely Harriet, which I love. I don't mind Claudia, except for the Latin meaning. I know this is very subjective, but in my opinion, Harriet is a less "try hard" name, iyswim.

Harriet. Bias as knew a claudia (which is a perfectly lovely name) who had a cockney nanny who used to screech "cloudier" at the poor bean.