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opinions on these names

29 replies

joneybabe · 25/11/2020 16:28

What do these names of amazing people I want to name my DD after make you think of?
-Esme
-Harriet
-Flora
My personal favourite is Flora

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MikeUniformMike · 25/11/2020 16:30

Mine too. I like all of them but Esme has several different spellings and is a bit trendy, so it's not a favourite. Flora is lovely, and Harriet is nice too.

Buffledmom · 25/11/2020 16:54

Harriet is very nice 👍

Pbbananabagel · 25/11/2020 17:21

Esme- Weatherwax, Terry Pratchett novels, awesome name
Harriet - Vane, Dorothy L Sayers novels from the 30’s
Flora - doesn’t have any immediate associations for me, very nice if that’s what you like

SendHelp30 · 25/11/2020 17:24

I love Flora and Harriet. Where do you live? Asking as we live in South Yorkshire and when I was pregnant with DD, we loved Harriet. Casually mentioned it to family who all agreed that yes, Arriet is a lovely name 😳

We didn’t call her Harriet 😂

Peachbubble · 25/11/2020 17:50

I like Flora and Harriet, not keen on Esme at all. I'd probably choose Flora.

Carrotcakey · 25/11/2020 17:54

Harriet and Flora were both on my shortlist for DD2.

Esme I do like but it’s a bit chavvy (for want of a better word) around here. Although I don’t think I’m allowed to say that and would never say it IRL!

YoniAndGuy · 25/11/2020 18:08

Flora!

I don't think of anyone in particular, but Esme is too faddy and pronunciation issues, and Harriet is a great name, but very hard and harsh. And I don't like Har or Harry as a nn.

formerbabe · 25/11/2020 18:10

I like Esme a lot

Flora ...I just picture the tubs of it in the supermarket!

Never liked Harriet much

gretagreengrapes · 25/11/2020 18:11

I am going to be honest and go against everyone and say I really dislike Flora. It's the word for the germs that live on your skin / mouth / gut / bits!

Harriet and Esme are both lovely. Harriet is my favourite of the two.

TenShortStories · 25/11/2020 18:17

Harriet by far out of the 3.

For me Flora is a word rather than a name - normal gut flora, flora and fauna, and it's also v close to florrid. There's nothing wrong with it though, those are just my personal associations. Florence on the other hand is lovely to my ears.

Esme is nice but the pronunciation issues would put me off.

RoseMartha · 25/11/2020 18:23

I like Flora

thecognoscenti · 25/11/2020 18:26

Flora - Cold Comfort Farm, a sensible heroine who Gets Things Done. Harriet I like too. Esme is nice but a tiny bit wet.

thriftyhen · 25/11/2020 18:29

Flora, I think of the margarine. I love Harriet.

BingoGo · 25/11/2020 18:29

-Esme, I think of old ladies and very young children
-Harriet, I think of a black old lady for some reason
-Flora, I think of young girls.

I think I like Flora the best of the three.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 25/11/2020 18:30

Love Flora. Gorgeous name.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 25/11/2020 18:34

First thoughts (I read too much):
Esme - J D Salinger (With love and squalor)
Harriet - Jane Austen (Emma)
Flora - Charles Dickens (Little Dorrit)

As names, I like Esme best, but it's pretty popular so may date more (plus it has pronunciation issues).So I'd use Flora - it has a sweet vintage feel (a bit like Clara). For some reason I'm less keen on the sound of Harriet, even though it's a classic name.

Nell96 · 25/11/2020 19:23

Esme - Peaky Blinders / a horrible girl I used to work with. I think it's a pretty name, but quite popular and I'm not sure of the correct pronunciation (es-mee / es-may?)
Harriet - dislike, feels quite 'horsey', though I quite like Harri as a nn.
Flora - margarine - pretty name, feels a bit to girly for my taste, but it's the one I'd go for out of the three.

pilates · 25/11/2020 20:01

Harriet and Esme are gorgeous, Flora is not.

Flora was used as a derogatory word for a loose girl in my secondary school days.

Boxofpinot · 25/11/2020 20:45

Harriet is one of my favourite names, not many people know but the jewellers H Samuel was actually founded by Harriet Samuel, not a male like a lot of people think.
Not keen on the other 2 sorry

theotherfossilsister · 25/11/2020 20:50

I love all these names, but think Harriet has the edge. She has a lot of choice when she's older (Harry, Hatty, Harriet, ever Retty if she likes to be called that, although I love Harry for a girl.)

Flora and Esme are both lovely, but I have two colleagues with babies with these names.

Peacenquiet2 · 25/11/2020 22:51

Harriet will likely become Hattie as she gets school age, not overly keen on either. Flora reminds me of the margarine spread out something that grows on a Petri dish.
Esme is nice but becoming overly used.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 25/11/2020 22:56

Esme - Twilight has ruined this name for me but I liked it before.
Harriett - lovely but will invariably get shortened and its a crap shoot whether she will end up Hetty or Harry.
Flora - Pretty, puts me in mind of the little girl in Haunting of Bly Manor.

DeeandraReynolds · 25/11/2020 23:00

Esme - JD Salinger and also an elderly lady I know who is lovely. She loves dogs!

-Harriet - Jane Austen (Emma)
-Flora - ...and fauna, or gut flora, sorry Blush

Harriet is my favourite by a long way.

DeeandraReynolds · 25/11/2020 23:02

Ha @IamnotwhouthinkIam, I hadn't seen your post when I wrote mine. Great minds etc.

SE13Mummy · 25/11/2020 23:16

Harriet is my favourite; I like names that can be shortened but also prefer girls names to have a definite ending rather than 'uh' or 'ee' sounds.

I don't know many Harriets and my DDs have only ever had one at their school (SE London) so it certainly doesn't feel overused. The one I know is usually called Hattie or Hats (she's a teenager) but I know of a slightly younger one who goes by Harrie.

The name makes me think of the American Abolitionist Harriet Tubman and, to a lesser degree, Harriet Beecher Stowe (another Abolitionist).