Esther or Harriet?

[TessOfTheFurbyvilles]

Baby girl due in the next three weeks. Down to Esther and Harriet for final two names.

Siblings will be Jack, Alexander, Sarah and Mary.

So the question is simply...

Esther or Harriet?

NB: Middle names will be Maude Frances, both family names. I'm not really struck on Maude, but it was the name of DH's grandmother, who passed away very recently, so I can't really say no. (Frances Maude actually sounds better, but even though we're now living in the US, I won't use it that way because of the Tory MP, Francis Maude)!

Esther sounds like fester.

Definitely Esther. :)

Hester

Esther is lovely. Harriet not so much - it makes me think of a horsey toff, sorry!

I love Harriet. And all the Harriets I've ever met have been lovely.

I vote Esther! Lovely name.

Harriet

Both are lovely but Esther with those middle names

I prefer harriet

Esther by the country miles of several countries.

Harriet is hideous. I cannot for the life of me even begin to understand its popularity.

Don't like either sorry, go with Elizabeth!

I have an Esther and it really suits her, we don't often shorten it but do use Essie or Bess sometimes (I really thought we'd use Tess but it just hasn't happened) It was DH's choice originally but really grew on me and now I love it too. However I also like Harriet, Mary and Elisabeth so I just think you have good taste!

I like both, but probably Harriet edges it.

With Esther you get the initials EMF (plus surname) which is either electro motive force (vaguely recalled from GCSE Physics) or the name of a splendid band from the Forest of Dean who sang, "You're Unbelievable" back in the early 90s.

Esther

Hester or Esther.

Harriets everywhere at the moment.

Esther

These are both lovely names but I agree that Hester is the perfect compromise! I only know one Esther and one Harriet (both grown ups) and no Hesters.

Thanks for the comments.

We haven't been considering Hester, but the more we think about it, the more we think 'yeah that could definitely work'.

Definitely in consideration now.

Hester is fantastic. And you could still use nn Tess.

I love Esther but I think the best combination of names would be Harriet Frances Maud

Nah, Hester Maud is the twinkly treacle.

Hester a splendid name and excellent compromise. I know two adult Hesters and they are both intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive ...

I like Hester but it does make me think of a 17th century medicine woman who is accused of witchcraft for growing a bit of thyme outside her cottage window.

Not that that's a bad thing!

Makes me think of Hester Sue from Little House on the Prairie who was a teacher in the blind school that Mary and her husband ran.

2 of my favourite names! However we have a close family member called Harriet and DH wouldn't go for Esther... So I'm saying Esther I think .