Eliza Hope

[APoll16]

We have a daughter called Darcey and have a 2nd DD in the spring. We love our daughter’s name and are having a really hard time thinking of another name we like as much! We’re quite set on Hope as a middle name and the front runner at the moment is probably Eliza Hope. What do you think?
Other names we are considering are Isabella, Florence & Felicity.
Any other suggestions?!
Thanks!

[APoll16]

Thank you so much for your lovely comments everyone!! 🥰🥰🥰 I’ve been reading them out to hubby and I think you’ve helped us to definitely go with Eliza Hope!

@TatianaBis at first I was a bit surprised by your abrasiveness, but then I read your comments on other threads & see that is just your style!

[Shasha17]

Am I the only one sneakily adding Eliza Hope to my baby name list too? It's lovely! Judging by the responses on here, there will be a sudden spike in babies named Eliza Hopes in 2022!

[LoveGrooveDanceParty]

One of my dearest friends is an Eliza, so it’s a yes from me.

The only person who really called Elizabeth / Lizzie ‘Eliza’ in P&P was Caroline Bingley and she doesn’t count.

[MrsEricBana]

Eliza Hope is beautiful and by far the best name I've heard someone ask about on here. It's a surprisingly underused name as it is both feminine and strong. I went to school with a fabulous Irish Eliza! The P&P connection? Maybe, but it's hardly a bad association so I wouldn't worry too much unless you plan to use the nn Lizzie (which I don't think is an obvious route). Just don't call her Lilibeth!

[Snoopsnoggysnog]

I absolutely love both names.

Ridiculous to suggest the P&P connection is a problem. I’ve read it loads of times and wouldn’t have made the connection.

[RobertSmithsLipstick]

I really, really like Eliza Hope.
Its gorgeous!

[Riverlee]

And I didn’t think of P and P (but My Fair Lady for Eliza).

The P and P link is so tenuous that it’s not worth even considering ( and wouldn’t stop me choosing it). It’s not a bad link either.

[Riverlee]

Really nice name, and goes nicely with Darcey.

[MrsMop1964]

I didn't think of P & P, I thought of Eliza Dolittle from Pygmalion/ My Fair Lady. Either way the combination works

[Shasha17]

@TatianaBis

The problem is that:

a. It's one of the most famous books ever written in this country.
b. Elizabeth Bennett is called Eliza in the novel as well as Lizzie.

I would cringe at sisters called Darcey and Eliza and I would assume it was intentional.

Are you joking? Elizabeth Bennett's name is Elizabeth. Darcy (spelt like this) is the surname of a man in the book.

Do you REALLY think that two sisters names Darcie and Eliza will automatically be linked to a male character named Fitzwilliam Darcy and a female character named Elizabeth Bennett?

I have read that book countless times and the association didn't even enter my mind.

If it HAD entered my mind, I'd have dismissed it as a pure coincidence and thought nothing more on the matter.

I do think that the comparison to the names from Legally Blonde is ridiculous though. Because Legally Blonde is a rubbish movie from the 90s that most people haven't seen/watched once about 20 years ago, and Pride and Prejudice is a beautiful classic piece of literature still studied in schools today.

But I definitely don't think that anyone with half a brain outside of Mumsnet will 'cringe' in any way, like you claim to have done, purely because OP used two beautiful names which hapoen to have a very vague link to some names that appear in a book.

Then again, I believe you are the poster who claimed the name Mary is unusable because apparently someone, somewhere, used it as slang for a vagina You seem to be on a mission to dissuade people from using gorgeous classic names for stupid reasons!

OP, Darcie and Eliza sound absolutely beautiful together, and Eliza Hope is perfect. It's a really lovely name. Please don't let Mumsnet ridiculousness put you off using what I genuinely think is one of the prettiest names I've ever seen suggested on Mumsnet!

[Cindie943811A]

P&P is a great book and there would be no shame if some random person thought you’d been influenced by it in naming your daughters.
Fact is that only a fraction of readers are likely to associateEliza with Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy is that character’s surname.
With so many unwholesome associations with names there won’t be many other names left to use.
OP I think Eliza Hope is a great combination and Eliza and Darcie complement each other in sound and length
Good luck

[Elisemum]

@TatianaBis you’re very clearly the weird one lol. I haven’t read it becouse I don’t give a shit about it and I don’t like books. Simple as that you silly billy.
Both names are gorgeous

[reytgud]

Great choice! It’s my daughter’s name.

[TatianaBis]

Uhuh.

[Kanaloa]

It’s not weird at all. You sound snobby and really childish if you genuinely think someone is weird because they haven’t read a book that you’ve read. You’ll meet plenty of people who have read fantastic books that you haven’t read, unless you keep a very small circle. Judging people like that doesn’t make you sound more educated, literary, or intelligent, just small minded and childish.

[TatianaBis]

Weird, as I said.

[Kanaloa]

No it isn’t. Lots of people haven’t read lots of different books. Maybe they read another Austen and really disliked the style. Maybe they’re not a big reader.

[TatianaBis]

Dislikes, fine. Not read - that’s just weird.

[LittleDandelionClock]

Eliza Hope is a beautiful name. And Eliza and Darcey? Lovely.

[Kanaloa]

@TatianaBis

Either that or that the parents hadn't read P&P. I don't know which is worse.

Oh yes God forbid. How terrible awful to meet someone who hasn’t read Pride and Prejudice or dislikes Jane Austen.

To be honest that’s what would put me off personally now, wouldn’t want people assuming I was a fan.

[TatianaBis]

Either that or that the parents hadn't read P&P. I don't know which is worse.

[TatianaBis]

The problem is that:

a. It's one of the most famous books ever written in this country.
b. Elizabeth Bennett is called Eliza in the novel as well as Lizzie.

I would cringe at sisters called Darcey and Eliza and I would assume it was intentional.

[Elisemum]

I wouldn’t care the slightest bit about pride and prejudice connection. It’s compelling silly.
My friend named her two daughters Elle and Reese and I’ve known her for 10 years and only when someone pointed it out I realised the legally blonde connection! Both so gorgeous names. And so are yours

[TheCreamCaker]

I've got a granddaughter named Elyza. I must admit, I didn't like the name to begin with, but now think it's lovely. She's 7 and a little joy.

[APoll16]

Thank you so much for your lovely comments! 🥰🥰 I hadn’t thought of the pride & prejudice connection so thanks to those of you for pointing that out kindly (without calling me absurd!) Definitely something to think about!