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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Habour Grace

53 replies

18katie · 04/04/2015 17:37

Hello,
We are expecting a girl and I love the idea of Harbour (I think of a safe place and the ocean which are positive connotations in my mind). I know that it is not a very gendered name, but I love how it sounds paired with Grace, which I think is very feminine. We are Canadian, hence the spelling of Harbour. I think it is one of those names that might be beautiful once it is attached to a person. I would love some feedback:)

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Igottastartthinkingbee · 04/04/2015 20:15

Sounds like Harper (as in beckham) which is lovely but I'm not so keen on Harbour. It's a landmark not a girls name imo. Sorry

Pippidoeswhatshewants · 04/04/2015 20:15

I quite like it, too.
Are people not going to ask "Harbour? Do you mean Harper?", though?

Gralick · 04/04/2015 20:18

The objections sound weird to me! She's not calling her daughter Docks or Quayside.

If you reckon Harbour is no different from Docks as a name, you may as well say Daisy's no different from Weed

BunnyCake · 04/04/2015 20:35

I'm not keen on the sound of it. I like Marina though

girliefriend · 04/04/2015 20:42

I think Marina would get shortened to Marie really quickly, maybe Harbour would get nn Harbie which is quite sweet.

LadyGregory · 04/04/2015 20:43

It's not like saying Daisy's no different to Weed (because weed has actively negaticve connotations whereas Harbour is neutral) - it's more like calling your child Plant or Vegetation, which are also neutral, but as likely to call up brassicas as roses. Harbour is as likely to have docks, diesel and fish associations as peace and balmy sunsets.

matchingmoll · 04/04/2015 20:47

I can see why you like it - it sounds like it could be a name, and quite a cool one at that - but...
Harbouring a criminal.
A harbourage is where cockroaches etc hide in houses.
As somebody else pointed out, Harbour Grace sounds like a disreputable nickname. "Police want to speak to the landlady, known locally as 'Harbour Grace', about the crime."
It's also a weirdly passive word / sentiment. She should be out discovering, not waiting for other people to return to her!
Saying that, Haven would be much worse. There are lots of other sea-related names if that's important to you - even Ocean.

houseofnerds · 04/04/2015 20:50

I live in Canada, in a very alternative community. I would raise my eyebrows a little at Harbour, I'm afraid. (What other way to spell it is there? Harbour is the British and Canadian spelling)
We have a ton of different names here. Harbour is one of those 'names' that sounds all twee and lovely when you're hormoned up, but mildly deranged when the pg has worn off or you are trying to explain to explain it to sober people. And I know kids called River, Meadow, Forest, Ocean, Sky - every hippy name under the sun. Including Sunny.
Harbour? Not so much. And I love the sea.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 04/04/2015 20:50

Harbour = noisy, industrial, smelly to me as much as lobster pots and quaint wooden boats.

Awful. Sorry

0ldF0x · 04/04/2015 22:32

Love the idea of Marina

Marina Honor or Honor Marina?

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 04/04/2015 22:37

I quite like Harbour. Never heard of it as a name before, but I really like it, and I grew up in an area with several harbours, beautiful places (and yes, in the UK).

mamaneedsamojito · 05/04/2015 09:06

I'm normally reasonably conservative when it comes to name but I quite like it, perhaps because I feel very at home by the sea myself! UK here too...

Kundry · 05/04/2015 09:13

Are you living in Canada or the UK? To a UK speller it looks like you either can't spell or made it up.

Harbour Grace is the name of a boat not a person.

bridgetsmummy · 05/04/2015 09:15

Harbour is not a name!

Kundry · 05/04/2015 10:42

Asked DH his opinion - he says it sounds like someone in whom sailors may safely dock

TheNewStatesman · 05/04/2015 12:39

"I smell women, smell 'em in the air,
Think I'll drop me anchor in that harbour over there....."

Seriously..... Marina. Marina is nice. I recommend Marina as a name.

TheHappinessTrap · 05/04/2015 12:41

I really like Harbour Grace and I like your reasoning/associations to the notion of a harbour.

StarDustMonkey · 05/04/2015 13:36

I love the name Harbour! Don't get the MN obsession that names must be conservative, used time and time again names. I love something a bit different, but that is still a name, and this fits it perfectly. As I said, I love it

SoupDreggon · 05/04/2015 13:40

How does it fulfil your "is still a name" criteria?

MintPink · 05/04/2015 13:44

I like it.

DrSeuss · 05/04/2015 13:45

"Can I moor my big clipper in your harbour?"

madreloco · 05/04/2015 13:51

Iluka is an aboriginal girls name that means where the land meets the sea.

Harbour is not a name.

BotBotticelli · 05/04/2015 14:14

I love it when someone from overseas stumbles onto MN, starts a thread, and gets this outpouring of peculiarly British blunt honesty!

gaggiagirl · 05/04/2015 14:21

Its not the first time I've heard it used as a girls name. I like it. You're in Canada OP so I think you can get away with it.

theendoftheendoftheend · 05/04/2015 14:33

I like it! Can't stand Marina though and Haven is even worse!

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