Hedda

[Whitetara]

Hi
Hb is very keen on Hedda as in Hedda Gabler for our baby's name. My concern is that many people will not get the literary/theatrical connection and I'm worried she'd be teased as it sounds like header as in football.

What do you reckon?

Looks like it is, I'd just never come across it. It's an unusual and interesting suggestion.

I know an Icelandic Heida (hay-tha) which is similar but lacks the BJ connotations...

I got the reference to Hedda Gabler. I like the play a lot but I'd never choose that name for my child. Hedda Gabler is a very dark, destructive character and I really don't understand why anyone would want to call their daughter after her.

Read the play or the plot summary on wikipedia, then you'll have plenty of reasons to say no.

As others have said I get the literary reference but wouldn't use the name beause of her story.

I like Talia

Or maybe Sarah?

If an alternative literary reference might divert your DH from Hedda Gabler, what about Haidee (Hay-dee)? It was made up by Byron, from a Greek word meaning 'modest, reverent' ; she's the romantic interest in Byron's poem 'Don Juan'.

Sarina and Miriam both v nice, as others have said.

I'm Norwegian living in the UK and really like Hedda (it's a perfectly normal name where I'm from), so this thread has been an eye-opener.
If your husband likes Ibsen, how about Nora, from The Dollshouse? She is a much better role model after all...

I know a hedda and never liked her name. Other than her my first thought is gabler.

Not really a goer IMO.

Saskia, Thalia, Sarina, Miriam, Nora all lovely and much nicer suggestions.

Saskia is lovely - go for that.

Absolute no to Hedda. I do like the shape of the name but all associations, teasing potential etc. are awful. If it's the shape and sound of the name, Heidi, Honor, Hebe all much nicer.

I'm Norwegian living in the UK and really like Hedda (it's a perfectly normal name where I'm from), so this thread has been an eye-opener.

If it wasn't for the association with the play (which is where most Brits will have heard the name) I'd think it was a really nice name.

Is a term for oral sex round here. 'She's a right header'

'Hedda Garbler' is one of the best plays ever. It's a nice name but if you are English and living in the UK, with no Norwegian links, it does seem a bit odd, sorry.

Beautiful name despite the play imo.

An alternative might be Hedy? I also like the suggestion of Nora if DH is an Ibsen fan.

I think the chance of 'teasing' is slim to none. I put 'teasing' in quotation marks because is making a remark based on someone's name really teasing or is it just children being children?