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

Cilla - alas, no. But I see that it's still available, though some copies were re-titled 'Double Spell'. I may have to buy a secondhand copy, to remind myself now!

I love it. Lee Scoresby's daemon. Beautiful creature.

I'd love Hes (Hess) for short.

Hester always sounds to me like someone saying Esther when they're out of breath.

Lovely!

Hester is the girls name we have chosen for our bump, should it be a pink one that is

I much prefer Esther, it sounds softer and to me looks more pleasing.

Hester reminds me of the character in the play Equus, which is a bit of a negative connotation. Not sure how many people would link the two though.

Really lovely name! I think it's great - elegant and strong, feminine but not girly. Not one I'd use, sadly, for personal negative connotations. Makes me all the more keen that other ppl should use it!

Err no. It's horrendous. It's like Esther (which I do like) gone wrong.

Best name ever. I had a rat called Hester as I'll never be allowed to call a baby that name. It's wonderful. I also like Hawise.

I had a witch of a biology teacher called Hester so its a name I can't stand.

It's odd that loads of us like Esther or Hester, but not the other. I think in my case it's that I'm not keen on H names, actually - always would have Anna over Hannah, Ellen over Helen and so on.
I do like that it's strong, and I do like that you're not swayed and using this purely as a sounding board OP. There just isn't a name everyone loves, go with what you love.

Hester is a great name. Not only for the daemon in His Dark Materials but she is a conflicted but strong and admirable heroine in Philip Reeve's "Mortal Engines" series.

Hester is a great name. Not only for the daemon in His Dark Materials but also a conflicted but strong and admirable heroine in Philip Reeve's " Mortal Engines " series.

Reminds me of the Puritans. Very staunch Protestant name.

I suppose I'm thinking of Hester Prynne.

florascotia thank you for reminding me of The Children of Green Knowe. I used to love that book and think I'm due a re-read.

It does sound quite puritan to me too. I also had a boss called Hester once who was (excellent at her job) but very strict and terrifying to approach.

I love it - it was my top choice for DD2 but DH vetoed it as he absolutely hated it. I'm still a bit pissed off I wasn't allowed it to be honest.

I'm holding it in reserve for my future Italian greyhound!

Hester Prynne From the The Scarlet letter was my immediate thought too. But then, from memory, she was quite a brave character, for her faults. Much more sympathetic than the male characters in the story. But then, it is almost two decades since i read the book.

I like Hester. And Esther.