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Baby names

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

Henrietta?

33 replies

zaza86 · 27/07/2015 23:24

This name is growing on me! I have a while to decide, and I thought I was set on something a bit simpler (but I think very beautiful) - Anna. I don't know whether this is a hormonal blip! What do you think? Not so keen on Hetty as a nickname - any other slightly less obvious suggestions? Thanks!

OP posts:
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nailslikeknives · 27/07/2015 23:32

Etta as a nick name? Think Etta James ...

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 27/07/2015 23:38

Don't like it, sorry. Henri etta. What did Henry eat. But it's your baby. Not wanting to offend you. Just different opinions.
Harriet is similar and nicer though. Hatti is gorgeous.
Oh congratulations btw.

JakeyBurd · 28/07/2015 00:14

The only Henrietta I've ever known was so posh she managed to make every vowel sound the same. Thank Zod for The Fratellis to keep us right!

Thistledew · 28/07/2015 00:28

I know a Henrietta who goes by Hetta.

reuset · 28/07/2015 00:46

Henny, Hen or Henri have been the most common shortenings of those I've known.

ancientbuchanan · 28/07/2015 00:51

I love it. Beautiful.

If you don't like Hetty, or Hetta, or Etta or Ettie, Netta is quite nice. Tho I like Hetty and Hetta myself.

Anna Henrietta, Henrietta Anna, go well together.

SheWhoMustBe · 28/07/2015 00:56

I loved this name, but DP vetoed it. I knew a Henrietta who went by Hen.

Effic · 28/07/2015 01:08

Think henrietta is lovely but personally don't like any of the shortened forms. And it is very possible to not have any! I know several friends with children with obvious and commonly shortened names who simply taught their child their name was for example William not Will Or Elizabeth not Liz or Lizzie or anything else and child and parent gently corrected anyone who shortened it including other children and very quickly he's always a William never a Will/ Elizabeth not Liz etc Perfectly possible with henrietta.
Like Anna too!

barbecue · 28/07/2015 01:16

I prefer Anna to Henrietta.

NadiaWadia · 28/07/2015 01:22

Anna is lovely. And Henrietta really isn't.

Baffledmumtoday · 28/07/2015 02:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zaza86 · 28/07/2015 09:15

Thank you all! I'll keep it on the list for now, but perhaps veering back towards Anna - just a bit worried it's a tad dull...

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 28/07/2015 10:12

Anna isnt dull. It's timeless elegant and beautiful. The only thing that would concern me was in case people started pronouncing it Arna like in frozen.

Shockers · 28/07/2015 10:15

I had an Aunt Hetty. Lovely, lovely lady.

Sophronia · 28/07/2015 11:45

Henrietta is lovely. Nicknames could be Hettie, Hattie, Henrie, Etta, Ettie

LaceyLee · 28/07/2015 11:48

Really like this but dh vetoed it for our dd.

sweetpeame · 28/07/2015 18:59

I don't like Henrietta. It's much more dull than Anna IMO. Anna is classic and elegant and much nicer.

ifgrandmahadawilly · 28/07/2015 19:02

Henrietta is really nice. Anna IS dull.

mypoorfoofoo · 28/07/2015 19:04

Love it! Lots of lovely nn choices too. Anna is fine though but to me it's just fine. Totally non offensive but just a bit uninspiring

applecatchers36 · 28/07/2015 22:48

Much prefer Anna to Henrietta.
Henrietta sounds too posh and try hard to me.

HuftysTrain · 29/07/2015 01:52

Henrietta is really awful. It makes me think of dumpy german women in horn-rimmed spectacles. Or awkward, galumphing posh girls in waxed jackets, full skirts and wellies.

scrivette · 29/07/2015 02:37

Both are nice names but I prefer Henrietta to Anna.

Harriet is a similar name.

stuckonnames · 29/07/2015 08:46

Henrietta is gorgeous and so many lovely nicknames! You should definitely go for it!

Neednewflowers · 29/07/2015 08:50

Gorgeous.

EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs · 29/07/2015 08:53

I like Henrietta. But even if you teach your DD to only use her full name, you have no guarantee at all that she won't decide she prefers a short version anyway later on. Or that her friends won't come up with one.

I have a classic name with multiple shortenings and my parents only ever used the whole thing - I used one version at primary, one at secondary and another at university before going back to the full version as an adult. On the bright side, I really like my name and was glad to get something I could play with.