Arrietty?

[12ylnon]

For a girl. Too much like a Borrower?

Mmmm. I think personally I'd go for Harriet.

Are the borrowers still widely read by kids? I don't think that aspect is a "biggy" do you see what I did there

Just to add, I have a name that is relatively uncommon but has several very strong associations that were brought up repeatedly, and I mean repeatedly throughout my childhood from the age of four. More well known and more embarrassing associations too possibly, but actually, I love my name. I've always been happy with it and wouldn't have changed it, I liked that it was unusual, despite the jokes getting a bit boring.

As an adult, it tailed off hugely, still get the odd comment but mostly positive. Just something to think about.

Are the borrowers still widely read by kids?
well, I read them to my DD. And there's a film too.

Slightly off topic, but in the book it says even their names are borrowed ... I guessed arriety was Harriet and pod was maybe Todd? But what on earth was Hommliy??!!

In answer to original question yes I like the name, but no to bizarre and to much potential for continual jokes.

Hommily=Emily?

The Borrowers is a classic so always going to turn up I think, whether on school reading lists or film adaptations.

I want to go and dig out my old copy and re-read it now!

Or were their names borrowed from other things, like their surname was Clock, so Pod=pea pod, Homily=sermon?

I love it, why not. And surely the names were borrowed from language, not human names - Pod, like pea pod, Homily, exactly that, and I always thought Arrietty was meant to sound like a French word, weren't there references to it being a bit posh or exotic?

X-post - yes I think so.

It's fine if you're a borrower and live behind a clock.

I think it is a lovely and very unusual name, it gets my vote! Though maybe if it was me, I might do it as a nickname for Harriet as others have suggested.

You can always do a "normal" middle name, eg Arrietty Rose Jones. Then if she really hates Arrietty, she can choose to be Rose instead.

I love Arrietty.

Wendy was also invented by an author - and ended up being very popular so don't let that put you off.

Dominy? Ottilie? Ariadne?

Marvellous name OP

Don't worry about it being made up! Wasn't Wendy made up in Peter pan?

No, apparently Wendy predates Peter Pan but that popularised it.

I had no idea wendy was made up for Peter Pan!
Harriet is a bit ordinary for us, i think if we do use Arrietty, it will be as a full on-the-birth-certificate name.
Lovely, turns out the GPs aren't as crazy as we thought. Thanks for the replies!

Wasn't Imogen made up too? Or I think it was meant to be Innogen (in Cymbeline) but in Shakespeare's dodgy handwriting it looked like Imogen.

I really like Harriet as well.