Nicknames for Harriet

[Mamabear1921]

Can i get away with Hallie as a nn for Harriet?

Yes, but Hattie is nicer

Not sure about Hallie... Callie as an actual name? Hattie is lovely.

Harrie
Hattie
Nettie

I adore Hattie.

I love Hattie but my family drop their t's so its Ha-ie. Doesn't sound as nice!

I rather like hallie for a full first bane. Very pretty

I dont think Hallie works, but if you likenit you could always just use it as her name. I think the Harriet nicknames I hear are Harry or Ettey.

Riri

I really like Harrie not Hattie

Harry is much the nicest.

I think you could get away with it if you push its use with your families, but it really is just a separate name.

Would you not be up for just calling her Hallie instead of Harriet?

Just call her Hallie.

Why do you have two threads asking the same question?

Yep that was me! But my middle name is Alice so it came from that (outs self!).

Just call her Harriet and if a nickname develops she’ll have a nickname…? She might prefer her full name. You can’t force a nickname.

Someone on here said hallie reminds them on halitosis so that put me off the name

That was probably me.

The only one we know insisted on being called Harriet until about 13 and then let people call her Harry. A teacher called her Hettie once and we were all WTH. Poor Harriet has no idea she was the one being spoken to.

Hallie is not a natural nickname of Harriet (and makes a lot of people think of smelly breath).

Are you expecting her to tell everyone her name is Harriet or Hallie? If Harriet, just call her Harriet and let the nicknames develop naturally, if Hallie just call her Hallie.

I knew a Harriet who was Tat for short, which really suited her.

You can’t choose a nickname! They just happen. They evolve, and often have nothing to do with given names. One of my DC has been called Spud for years, I guarantee it’s not a short form of Spudulina.

If you wanted a short form of Harriet, Harri, Arri, Etty, Etta.

Different question. Thank you so much for your comment.

Yep, it was originally a short form of Harriet / Henrietta, like Hal is a short form of Harry / Henry.

I think it’s a good idea to give her Harriet as a full name, as there are going to be a lot of Hallies about and that gives her options.

Ettie

@Mamabear1921

Different question. Thank you so much for your comment.

It is kind of answering the question though.

You asked 'can you get away with' - what you really mean is, will this short form 'stick' and will other people call her it? Because of course being the parents you can 'get away' with whatever you like! You can call her Hallie, introduce her as Hallie - all fine. Yes it would 'stick' for all those people in her early years who YOU introduce her to and who know you, the parents.

Will it stick - not necessarily.

If SHE likes being Hallie and keeps that short form and introduces herself as it - yes. If not - no. She will be Harriet, Harry, Hattie - it'll be her choice.

So in that case you won't have 'got away' with it.

So the real nub of all discussions like this is - you can choose any short form you like and it can be as tangential as you please.

However, it will only be in your power for as long as your child is very small. So if you choose a short form that isn't the 'natural' one, you are indeed risking your choice of everyday name disappearing. And if you actually dislike the natural short form (like a Hattie or a Harry) then you're playing with fire as your child might prefer that for themselves and you'll have no say. That's the real thing to consider.

So I'd say. If you love Hallie, but also like Hattie and Harry and wouldn't mind if she ended up as that -go for it.

If you hate those short forms, beware, because nicknames and short forms evolve beyond your control as soon as they are out of reception.

Friends have an Alexander. Adamant he wouldn't be Alex as they don't like it. He is Alex and has been since he decided to be, around age 6.