Arabella, Hariette, India ... how many do you know, and order of preference please?

[fluffyraggies]

These 3 are where we are at the mo.
It's been like pulling teeth to get this far.

So, how many do you know? and which would be your 1, 2 and 3.
Or do you hate the lot?

I don't like any shortenings of Arabella.
I like Harri as a nn for a girl.
You wouldn't really shorten India. (would you?!)

I know a Harriet who is about 16, and a couple of Indias aged about 13 and 16, respectively.

I don't know any Arabellas.

My 1,2,3 are Harriet (not Hariette), India, Arabella.

If I had to go with your spelling, I would put Harriet last. I have an unusual spelling of an ordinary name, and it's a PITA.

I know one of each, and Hariette is definitely my favourite. Not a huge fan of India, and Arabella falls somewhere in the middle for me. Hariette used to shorten to Harri or Etta, depending on who was talking to her, really liked both :)

Oh, the Harriet I know is called Harri. You could also use Hetty, which is an "established" nickname (like Polly for Margaret or Queenie for Victoria).

I know one Harriet (age 8, often shortens to Harri), and no Indias or Arabellas. My 1,2,3 would also be Harriet, India, Arabella. If you had to use the alternate spelling, it would be India, Harriette, Arabella.

I don't know any at all!

Not keen on any of them but if I had to choose,.order of preference would be:

India
Arabella
Harriet

In the nicest possible way - I don't like any of them.

Hetty on the other hand, as suggested by Sanity, is absolutely gorgeous.

I know 2 Arabellas
1 Hariet
and 1 India who is called Indy

I couldn't put them in preference as i don't like any of them

Oooh this is interesting, i thought these names would be more common.

I don't mind about the spelling of Harriet.

Indy is nice actually.
(if you don't immediately think of Raiders of the Lost Ark )

I know two arabellas, one is bella, the other is Ara. My niece is Harriet, she is known as Hattie. I don't know any Indias. Harriet, arabella then India.

I love the name Arabella and really like the name Harriet too (don't much care for the way you spelt it though). Don't like India at all. I know one or two of each. My order of pref:
Arabella
Harriet

India

India is a bit dated now, isn't it?

I adore Harriet but find the extra letters unnecessary. Very elegant and timeless. Classless. Brilliant.

Oops, submitted too early.

Arabella will be shortened: maybe not immediately but eventually. If that really bothers you, you need either to pick your favourite - you can probably get Harry from Arabella if you wanted something quirky - or to give up on the name completely.

Arabella - gorgeous

Harriet - known nicknames Hettie or Hattie

Not a fan of India personally.

All fine by me as long as you spell Harriet the usual way.
(I had a maiden name one letter different to something much commoner, having to spell it all the time drove me nuts).

The only one I know is a Harriet, about 9 (she goes by a totally unrelated family NN)

I know one Arabella (10) and one India (5). Harriet is a nice name, I quite like Arabella too. India I'm not so keen on.

I know a 2 yr old Arabella (nn Belle) and a 6mo Harriet (nn Hetty). No Indias!

I like all three names, but India least of the three....

I find India a bit to pretentious (unless you actually conceived in India, in which case it's not so try hard). Really love Hetty.

I like
Harriette
Arabella
India - not at all

In my village a little Harriet has recently had a baby sister called Arabella. There is also an India, which appears to be pronounced 'Indi - arrrdarrrling' in a very loud voice!

I don't know any of any of them but whilst at school there were younger girls, twins, one called india and one called Julie that you've reminded me of. Always chuckled as I got older wondering if they wished for each others names!

Not India - very try hard and a bit dated now. I know quite a few teenagers with this name and all their parents are a bit hippyish. Its also the name of that revolting woman Katie Hopkins' child so will forever be tainted in my eyes.

Arabella nice, quite posh. My favourite.
Harriet OK. 2nd favourite.

I know none.

I most like Harriet.

In order of preference:

Harriet (agree with previous poster about spelling)
India
Arabella

I've never heard Harriet shortened to Harri before. I think Hattie is far prettier.

xx

1. Harriet
2. Arabella
3. India

So currently:

Harriet is in the lead, with 9 people liking it best.
Arabella 2nd, with 4 liking it best.
and India 3rd with only 1 liking it best.

Personally India is my favorite, but it's my 'out there' name . Always liked it - probably wouldn't actually use it.

I very much like Harriet. I can hear myself saying it IYKWIM?

These 3 names were potential first names, with the quest for a second name coming later, but this thread has given me the idea of Arabella India. I like the rhythm of it.

Our surname begins with A, the same stress as Arabella.
So it would be Arabella India A***

OK, now it's

Harriet 10
Arabella 5
India 1

:)