Hester. Your thoughts please

[Swishyswashy]

Do you like it? OH not at all sure, I think it's lovely. I know it's probably a bit love or hate, but any thoughts? Thanks

Dislike, reminds me of fester or the Munsters.

A good mix of opinions, thank you. I don't really mind if some people don't like it, I can see it's that sort of name. As long as it's not universally hated that's ok by me! Thanks for all the opinions.

I like it, esp with nn Hettie.

florascotia - yes, it was Twin Spell! I've been wondering for years about the source of my memories about this book. Thank you!

(but OP, I think this is not the best Hester reference as I've remembered she was not a very nice ghost in this book. Still think it's a fantastic name, though :-) )

I think Esther is beautiful, but Hester is a little harsh for me. I can't imagine a baby called Hester somehow.

Cilla Thanks for your thanks I wonder if someone should start a children's literature Mumsnet strand - childhood books are SO powerful...

I think Hester is lovely. Not at all a fan of Esther. Isn't it weird that lots of people seem to like one and not the other when they're so similar.

Love it. Much nicer than Esther, which looks 'hissy' to me!

I love it.
But then, my (our) taste in names is a bit off-the-wall. If you like a name, use it provided it doesn't do something awful with your surname.

I really like it. Love Hettie.

Ds2 was going to be called this, with Hetty for short. I still mourn not being able to use this name.

It's ugly, sorry. A huffy, hissy sound.

I much prefer Esther. Hester sounds a bit witchy to me.

LOVE it.

I really like it, Like Esther too but not as much.

Really like it. There's a hester mentioned in Anne of green gables, she had a beautiful garden

I've always thought if it as a lovely gentle name.

I assume you are aware of Hester Prynne From the The Scarlet letter?

That's not necessarily a reason to be put off the name though.

Beautiful name.

It does go with Dorcas, doesn't it? I like that too

I think it's lovely. I know someone who has a Hester. The first few times of meeting, she has to repeat it as people think she said Esther. Also be prepared for people to pronounced it Hesta.

I think it's lovely, but not one I'd choose for myself, I did throw it into the ring as a suggestion for DD1 but DH wasn't keen. We did also consider Esther but I think I prefer Hester because of the Dark Materials connection.

florascotia, good idea. I'm still basking in my knew(re)found knowledge of what that book was. Can you remember what happened in the end? I might have to buy a copy just to remind myself....

(sorry for derail, OP )

Lovely lovely lovely. My dd has a name that is not universally considered beautiful but I love it, it suits her, she likes that none of her peers have that name (they are all called Lily or Eva, at least that's how it sounds in the playground. Boring!)

I hate it, sounds like the sort of name that belongs to a cranky middle aged woman rather than a child.

Hester is the name of Frasier and Niles' mum in 'Frasier'

I love it. Classic but not omnipresent. Easy to spell.

And thanks to the pp for the Anne of Green Gables comment- I was sitting here trying to remember which book I had heard it in