Is this a nice name? Knock some sense into me, and quick.

[emmyblake]

Turned 30 weeks yesterday with a baby girl and I’ve fell head over heels with the name Arietty I’m in loooooveee!!! Is it a dreadful name? It might be hormones.
Disclaimers

• yes I’m well aware it’s a name from The Borrowers, and that it was made up for it.
• and yes it was spelt with 2Rs as in Arrietty but I think that makes it a bit clunky!

So please, knock some bloody sense into me. I’m just head over heels with it!

Thank you
Emmy

If you didn’t name her Arietty and in a few years time, like a previous poster, you encountered a little Arrietty on a day out what would you predict your gut reaction be when you heard the name?

A pang of regret that you didn’t choose it or a “meh, wasn’t that bothered anyway.”

For what it’s worth, I think it’s far nicer than Harriet and that it’s not at all weird sounding. Was your friend thinking of Arrabbiata sauce? 😂

I absolutely hated my friend’s choice of Luna and told him so when he asked my opinion (Looney, Lunatic etc). In fact everyone advised him against it but he went with it and now she’s here it makes no difference. It’s grown on us all!

Sorry, I think it's awful. It sounds as though there should be an H there.

So tedious for her to explain where it comes from all the time

It's a character in a book, my mum liked it.

Yeah, sure, exhausting.

“It's a character in a book, my mum liked it.

Yeah, sure, exhausting.”
Every time she gives her name for the next 90 years?

Maybe I'm just uncommonly affable but I've found having this conversation: 'that's unusual', 'yeah, my mum liked it', once every couple of months to be one of life's lesser burdens.

@Croquembou

“That’s a nice name, where does it come from?”
“Piss off, you nosy bitch.”

If I met an Arrietty I would just wonder if her parents had realised that it was meant to be a made-up sounding name, i.e. as though it had been borrowed, as perhaps a mishearing of a real human bean name.

And I would put it firmly in the made-up name category. Which I am biased against.

It’s not just ‘a book character’ as in a persons name in a book, it’s the name of a ‘borrower’. I really feel the child would be a laughing stock as people twig where the name is from. It does sound pretty, but it’s just too ridiculous for words to actually use. I can’t believe so many people are in favour!

'If I met an Arrietty I would just wonder if her parents had realised that it was meant to be a made-up sounding name, i.e. as though it had been borrowed, as perhaps a mishearing of a real human bean name.'

This. It becomes clearer if you think about Homily. Meaning 'sermon', but sounding vaguely like Emily.

For me the problem is that it is intended to be a joke. It’s a mishearing. So not even a proper made up name.

It was in my top 3 for my daughter but my husband wasn't as keen, luckily he liked my other ones! I love it!

I think the way you are posting you will really regret it if you don't use it! I think it's fine for an adult and if she doesn't there are so many lovely nicknames she can choose (Ari is my favourite but Etty and Etta are lovely too)

How is it pronounced. Since I was a child I've read it Ar-e-etty but I'm sure on the TV programme it was more to rhyme with variety.

I would go for Marietta, personally. Has a lot of the same sound to it, but it's a real name. And you can still use Arriety (or any other shortening). And, in my opinion, it's a lot prettier than Harriet (one of my least favourite names ever).

It is pretty, I agree. But please don't do it! I would hate to be called that as an adult, far too flouncy and frilly. Plus Id be mortified that everyone would comment on it coming from the Borrowers!
There are so many gorgeous names out there! Save this one for a cat!

And now I've got that song from school, "Aloutte, gentille Allouette" going round and round my head!

I'm trying to think of alternatives....
Henrietta
Etta
Hetty
Estella
Loretta
Stella
Leonora
Peony
Giselle
Delphine
Sabine
Nadia
Tamsin
Zara
Xanthe
Selena
Miriam
Verity
Annika
Marissa
Clarissa
Candace
Corinna
Carlotta
Erena
Neve/Niamh
Jasmina

I love it. Pretty and unusual. Also like Ariella

I love it, it sound lovely and I’ve never heard anyone called it. You wouldn’t have the issue (hopefully) of other people have the same name!

It’s a made up name from the borrowers.
It’s ok as made up names go and at least has no preconceptions of what your daughter “ should “ be and that is a huge plus

I tree with the posters who say it’s supposed to sound made up and on the ridiculous side . Arriety’s parents are want to be simple and borderline illiterate and to be living on borrowings from human society.
Hardly a role model to be followed
OP have you reread the books since childhood

It’s my cats name 😊 (she’s 7). We love it and most people shorten it to Etty. But I warn you, when we tell people her name they struggle to pronounce it then can never remember it!

I looooooove iiiiitttttttt. I love it. Big Borrowers fan in my youth - the books not the adaptations which were always disappointing.

Quite inclined if I have another daughter to call her Harriet so we can call her Arrietty all the time. Having written that, I think you're right, Arietty is a better-looking spelling.

I like it! Great choice. You could play safe by using Henrietta as given name and Arietty as nickname?

Hell no! Purely as it’s a made up name from The Borrowers. If it helps put things in perspective it’s up there with naming your child Khaleesi!

..... or Wendy all those silly Wendys are absolutely preposterous aren’t they!! What were their parents thinking??

I like it OP, it sounds like a jolly and happy name, a bit mischievous.

Ariella
Verity
Hetty???