Harriet or Beatrice?

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I have a 3 year old name Emeline (pronounced with a -line), and we are having another girl and considering either Harriet or Beatrice for a name. I have liked Harriet for a longer time so leaning towards that. However, I am thinking maybe Beatrice is a more beautiful elegant name to go with Emeline. I think Emeline is a gorgeous name but not frilly which I love about it. Some shorten to Em, or Emme, but Emeline flows so easy that most use her full name.

I am hesitant to use Beatrice, because while I would like to pronounce it Bee-uh-triss, I'm worried many will say Bee-triss which I think sounds harsh. I'm also worried she'll just be Bee, which although cute and I don't mind it being used (I like it, don't love it) - I'd prefer for her to go by Beatrice. I'm just worried that nn is so natural and given that Beatrice is a bit of a mouthful, she will just be Bee.

I love that Harriet rolls off the tongue easier - similar to how Emeline does, and I think the full name may be more like to be used. I also love both Hats or Hattie for a nn. I want both a pretty and strong name.

I live in the US, and don't know many of either. Both seem to be more popular in England so thinking this website may be helpful since you may have seen their names in use.

Do you prefer either name better with Emeline?
And do you think Beatrice will likely be shortened?

Thanks!

I love Beatrice. Can't abide Harriet you're not thrilled about Bea. Id go with Harriet.
However if you don't like Hattie or Harri
I'd think of something else entirely.
One rule with names is to make sure you like any possible abbreviations

Beatrice. I despise the name Harriet sorry

You seem to have less concerns about Harriet so I'd go with that, though I do think Beatrice provably goes better with Emmeline. There are a few different ways that Beatrice could be pronounced and it is a bit of a mouthful imo so would inevitably become shortened. If you're not happy with any possible abbreviations then avoid!

Sorry to say this but I don't feel that Emmeline flows easily either, for me it looks like it should be Emm-e-lin? Would Elodie be a contender to go with Emmeline?

Both are nice but I prefer Beatrice to Harriet. How about Alice, Candice, Bella, Bethany, Juliette, Heather, Colette?

I lived in the states as a child and had more than one person laugh at my sister, Harriet, as in sounds like Hairy-et with that accent. Not sure if that would be an issue where you are... However, I think it is a gorgeous name and I much prefer Harriet to Beatrice.

Beatrice

I like both names. I understand your concerns about the pronunciation of Beatrice. I'd pronounce it how you do, and was surprised when I heard people say 'Bea-Triss' which is just ugly sounding.
Harriet I think is a fantastic name, and I love Harry/Lettie as nicknames.
Also I think Beatrice is becoming a bit trendy. Trendy names can sound a bit tacky as they rise then fall off the name charts. So I'd go with Harriet.

I know a Harriet and love the name.

I love them both but think that Beatrice might be better in the US for some reason?

Both are lovely names BUT Beatrice / Beatrix is very popular here. I know four while I don't know any Harriets.

I’m really not keen on Harriet but if you don’t like the short forms of Beatrice don’t use it.

How would you feel if your DD declared she wanted to be Bea aged 3/4?

Both are nice names, but I prefer Beatrice. I also like the shortening Bea though.

Beatrice is much much nicer.

Harriet is so harsh.

And nn - the one I know is Bibi if she is not Beatrice.

I think they are both lovely. I think the only thing to be wary of with H names is that so many people don’t pronounce it - my friend is Helen but so many people say ‘Elen (Ellen is a gorgeous name too but not in this case when she isn’t called it!)

Beatrice is also a kick ass Shakespeare heroine

Thanks. I do sort of think Beatrice is slightly prettier, but I do worry that my daughter will have to deal with correcting people from saying Bee-triss (which I think is harsh and makes me cringe) instead of Bee-uh-triss the rest of her life. Obviously even though I don't love the nn Bee, she could own whatever nn she wants. My name is easy so I never had to deal with mispronunciations, etc. It is a beautiful name but I'm worried it will just be butchered/shortened so not fully used. My daughter Emeline's name is fully used mostly.

But Harriet was also the gut name I had for a long time and I do love it, and I feel like would get used more as a full name (and if it doesn't Hattie, Hats is super cute). I live in New England and people would pronounce Harriet correctly, although I can see in the south people saying Hair-e-it. Not a concern for me. I can see a lot of folks here saying Har-ee-it. I tend to say Har-ee-ette which I think sounds prettier. (like Juliet/tte) But I know either is probably correct, and I'd be fine with. I bet it sounds better with an English accent (most things do ;), but I think mostly would be easy to pronounce in the states.

I wish I could just ask my future daughter!