Down to top 5, got to make a decision!

[BobbingUpAndDownLikeThis]

Stuck between Beatrix, Dorothy, Harriet, Marianne and Matilda for baby due very soon! Surname is double barrelled with lots of T's in it, so I think that Matilda probably doesn't work with it but not sure.

Would like to know if you hate/love any of these names, and if so, why. Also would be interested in nicknames used for Marianne (so far thought of Mari, Maz, and Annie but the others have much more nickname potential).

Marianne.

The French Dorothy is Dorothée which is lovely. My DD's NN is Dot or Dotty (she's Charlotte but her twin couldn't pronounce it and called her Dot and it's stuck) and it's quite sweet.

Love Marianne/Annie/Marnie too.

Oh, she's so unkind. And she's Elinor's younger sister- but Margaret's older sister- so she can't get away with that "oh I'm the youngest"school...

Schtik- not school!

She learns her lesson, grows up and gets Brandon as her reward. Far prefer her to the horror that is Fanny Price, who is 'rewarded' with the dull Edmund for basically being a prig and never learning/changing at all.

She "settles" for Brandon because she's convalescent and grateful and on the rebound. She will be a resentful nightmare in 5 years time and she'll make him miserable. He deserves better.

Nope - she grows up and learns to properly appreciate the man who she was prejudiced against initially because of her blind lust for Willoughby. They will be gorgeous together - I refuse to accept anything but a happy ending!

Marianne

Marianne, it's my favourite name but DH vetoed it.

Marianne is very pretty.

Harriet to me is bleugh. Just a bit hockey sticks at the ready/slightly masculine. Hard syllabled name. Just me though I'm sure!

Only like Matilda

My favourite is Beatrix although I prefer Beatrice.

Marianne

Another vote for Marianne. It's beautiful and I very nearly got to use it but didn't.

Beatrix, Matilda, Dorothy in that order

I really like Harriet - mostly for the Dorothy L Sayers connection! - but also because it's a name which would allow her to go for a more boyish shortening (Harry) if she wanted but also not so long that she couldn't just go with Harriet. It doesn't have commonly used alternative spellings (I have seen Harriett but that's rare) and that's always helpful.

On the Sense and Sensibility debate - on a reread, I was struck by the way that Colonel Brandon's love for Marianne feels so superficial. She reminds him of his ex, he barely speaks to her, just enjoys watching her/looking at her, it doesn't really feel to me like he loves her for herself. I think Marianne would have been happier with Willoughby - I very much think she marries Brandon on the rebound.