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

middle names for Maria and Harriet

25 replies

purpl3pillows · 21/04/2021 19:59

Hi, i'm looking for suggestions for middle names for twin girls, i'm 29 weeks pregnant and me and my partner have already decided on first names for our baby girls, Maria and Harriet. i've always loved both names and my partner really liked them too, been wavering on whether to set them for definite but after brainstorming and considering of other names for a couple of months now these are always the ones we come back too.

however we really cant seem to come up with middle names, i really like flower middle names but unfortunately my partners surname (and the one we've decided they'll take as mine is quite long and i don't like it very much) is the name of a plant so we can't really go with floral middle name, and we're not too keen on classic names as we've already gone with pretty classic names for the first names. any suggestions? thanks

OP posts:
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TheFairyCaravan · 21/04/2021 20:01

DS1 was going to be Harriet Emily had have been a girl

SmednotaSmoo · 21/04/2021 20:03

Elizabeth and Emily go nicely with both, I don’t think there’s a problem with classic names myself...

Scarby9 · 21/04/2021 20:09

Are there any place names or anything special to you? Those can work as middle names with a story behind them. It doesn't matter if they are a bit unusual since middle names are not often used.
I know three girls ( different families) with the middle names:
Lindisfarne (the Northumbrian Holy Island)
Constantine (after Constantine Bay)
Roseberry (after the hill Roseberry Topping in North Yorkshire).

purpl3pillows · 21/04/2021 20:17

thank you for you suggestions! probably should have been a bit more specific, reason we're not too keen in classic names as we'd like something a bit more unusual and don't want them to sound too stuffy, though Emily is lovely, and possibly middle names that go with each other, special places is a good idea though, part of the reason i loved Maria and Harriet is after the two little girls in one of my favourite books from when i was a kid, a stich in time.

OP posts:
serin · 21/04/2021 20:36

Elizabeth and Phillipa as a tribute to HM.

DotDotDotDotDot · 21/04/2021 20:48

Ruby and Pearl
Robin and Wren
Scarlett and Violet
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Scarby9 · 21/04/2021 20:51

Just for the sound, and for the less more unusual names:
Harriet Glory
Maria Juno

ILoveStickers · 21/04/2021 21:02

Lovely names. Maria is a favourite of mine! I definitely think it's nice to use Maria with a less classic middle name though, as you can end up sounding like a minor European royal.

Maria Aisling
Maria Bethan
Maria Cora
Maria Skye
Maria Scarlett

Harriet Iona
Harriet Astrid
Harriet Amy
Harriet April
Harriet Isla

finallychangedmyusername · 21/04/2021 21:59

Maria Clementine
Harriet Sylvie

Maria Yasmin
Harriet Layla

Maria Anneliese
Harriet Lucinda

Maria Elowen
Harriet Kerensa

Maria Jocelyn
Harriet Vanessa

Maria Emmeline
Harriet Adelaide

Maria Elizabeth
Harriet Olivia

Maria Zoe
Harriet Leah

Maria Annie
Harriet Molly

Maria Anouk
Harriet Saskia

Maria Felicity
Harriet Georgiana

Maria Persephone
Harriet Calliope

Maria Erin
Harriet Nina

Maria Esmé
Harriet Thea

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/04/2021 22:03

Maria and Harriet together sound lovely and very Austenesque for me.

You could carry on the feel with traditional Austen choices for middles - www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2011/10/names-from-jane-austen.html

Or you could go the opposite with more "trendy" sounding if you want a complete contrast to classic Maria and Harriet for the middle names - look in the top 100 at names like Esme, Amber, Thea, Isla, Lyra, Freya, Erin, Zara, etc which were likely less well used 40/50 years ago.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 21/04/2021 22:17

Do you/your dp have any other favourite books, films, etc? I think it's a great way to get inspiration, and there's plenty of unconventional names - Guinevere, Anathema, Scout, Demelza...

MyCatHatesOtherCats · 21/04/2021 22:32

My first thought was Elizabeth! It goes beautifully with either. How about:

Harriet Eleanor
Harriet Annabelle
Harriet Alexandra
Harriet Jasmine
Harriet Leonora
Harriet Susannah
Harriet Melissa

Maria Juliet
Maria Phoebe
Maria Elspeth
Maria Isabelle (or Isabel)
Maria Annabelle
Maria Charlotte

Chilldonaldchill · 21/04/2021 22:33

I love the idea of using names that "match" in some way as middle names for twins.
For example:
Maria Scarlett and Harriet Ruby
Maria Violet and Harriet Indigo
Maria Fleur and Harriet Flora
Maria Georgia and Harriet India
Maria Ruby and Harriet Jade
I know you said you couldn't go floral but Maria Ivy and Harriet Poppy would be lovely.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 21/04/2021 22:34

Maria Florence
Maria Grace
Maria Beth
Maria Lily
Maria Jasmine
Maria Scarlett
Harriet Rose
Harriet Sofia
Harriet Elise

Lotsachocolateplease · 21/04/2021 22:35

Maria Kate
Harriet Faye

Maria Eve
Harriet Jane

Maria Imogen
Harriet Caroline

Maria Juliet
Harriet Sarah

Tillygetsit · 21/04/2021 22:59

I love the idea of "matching" middles and you could go a bit wild with mns.
Maria Kitty and Harriet Faun
Maria Opal and Harriet Sapphire
Maria Hazel and Harriet Magenta
Maria Willow and Harriet Rowan.

Baffledma · 21/04/2021 23:18

Maria Florence
Harriet Rose

wishing3 · 21/04/2021 23:53

Maria Willow and Harriet Fearne.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 22/04/2021 04:28

Maria Drew and Harriet Blake

Maria Darcy and Harriet Margo

Maria Harmony and Harriet Melody

Fivemoreminutes1 · 22/04/2021 04:29

Maria Jolie and Harriet Belle

ILoveStickers · 22/04/2021 05:35

@RiaOverTheRainbow Anathema??

But yes to the idea of literary characters, that's a great idea!

Harriet Lyra would be lovely, for example.

Junipersky · 22/04/2021 09:38

They are both lovely names for your twins.

Maria Francesca
Maria Antonia
Maria Lorelei
Maria Rosanna
Maria Genevieve

Harriet Eloise
Harriet Marcia
Harriet Josephine

Squeakerfoot · 22/04/2021 11:26

Maria Zoë
Maria Phoebe
Maria Astrid

Harriet Ava
Harriet Elodie
Harriet Wren

partyatthepalace · 22/04/2021 18:21

Lovely names! No family names you could adapt for the middle?

Harriet Robin / Maria Wren
Harriet Pearl / Maria Emerald

Harriet Hope / Maria Faith
Harriet Athena / Maria Diana
Harriet Astra / Maria Stella

Harriet Isabel / Maria Annabel
Harriet Ava / Maria Anna
Harriet Lois / Maria Ines
Harriet Sophia / Maria Serena

Harriet Louisa / Maria Francesca
Harriet Antonia / Maria Cecilia
Harriet Emmeline / Maria Eloise
Harriet Emily / Maria Cecily
Harriet Penelope / Maria Felicity
Harriet Chloe / Maria Phoebe
Harriet Frances / Maria Charlotte
Harriet Lucy / Maria Clara

CaffiSaliMali · 23/04/2021 10:08

Maria and Harriet are great names.

How about:
Maria Juliet
Maria Helen
Maria Elowen
Maria Romilly
Maria Aileen
Maria Beatrice
Maria Evangeline
Maria Seren
Maria Felicity
Maria Katharine
Maria Laurel
Maria Iseult
Maria Hermione
Maria Gabrielle
Maria Verity

Harriet Caroline
Harriet Marianne
Harriet Morwenna
Harriet Cassia
Harriet Cassandra
Harriet Adele
Harriet Adelaide
Harriet Victoria
Harriet Sabrina
Harriet Seraphina/Serafina
Harriet Georgina
Harriet Jemima
Harriet Lucy
Harriet Frances
Harriet Louisa

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