Four names I need advice on: Vanessa, Miranda, Haley (Hayley), Hadley

[caitlinrose]

Maybe you'd like to comment on four names we are thinking about adding to our list:

Vanessa
Miranda
Haley (Hayley) - both said hay-lee
Hadley

All for girls.

Vanessa - husband suggested this. It fits my love for feminine, longer names (Isabella, Cassandra) but on the other hand I wonder if it might sound dated. Is the nickname Nessa too close to Ness/Nessie (as in Loch Ness?).

Miranda - I encountered this one. I like how feminine and classic it is (Shakespeare). The meaning is great too. But then it also feels a bit dated to me and I worry people might associate it with Sex and the City. How likely do you think this is?

Haley - husband likes Hayley (he also likes Kaylie). I think Hayley is a decent name but find it quite dated. Then I saw it as Haley and thought it looked more contemporary and classic that way. Somehow less dated even though it's pronounced the same.

Hadley - not sure about this but it does mean "heather field" which I find really pretty. It just came to mind when I thought about Haley. It's not my personal style at all but I do find it underused and not unattractive and DH loves it.

I love Miranda and Vanessa. I like Hayley but Haley looks like a typo to me.

Loathe Hadley for a girl. To me it's a boy's name.

Vanessa: Doesn’t appeal, although I always imagine a strong, uncompromising business woman.

Miranda: Will appeal to a number of demographics due to those with the name or characters with the name.

Hayley: Quite like because of Hayley Mills, an outdoorsy, good egg sort of name. Hayley Atwell wears it well.

I like the Old English spelling with a ‘y’.
Some may be put off by a Coronation Street character but who watches that rubbish, so why would you care what someone allows themselves to be influenced by that, thinks?

Haley: Means ‘hero’ in Scandinavia and I think, Hali is related to the meaning of ‘sea’ in Greek
Reminds me of Haley’s Comet and the heavens. A happy name. My second favourite.

Hadley is ok: I neither love or hate it. A neutral, different name. Urban and is fearless.

Vanessa and Miranda are both elegant. I think you'd need to think of a diminutive that you like. I know a Ness and a Vanessa (V), and a Min and a Miranda (Mindy), all are ok IMO.

Haley and Hadley not my cup of tea.

Vanessa - nice enough...Ness, Nessa, Nessie would probably only be a problem of you actually love near Loch ness. Maybe it is slightly dated but I think it's nice
Miranda - my little sister (15) has one in her year group. Only association I have is Miranda the sitcom, which I love!
Haley (Hayley) - what about Hailey?
Hadley - don't like this, sorry!

I like Miranda. Miri would be a sweet nickname.

Vanessa- quite like but think if gavin and stacey
Miranda- think of the actress and comedy series
Haley (Hayley) - both said hay-lee- Haley I would pronounce ha-lee so different to Hayley, I prefer the latter
Hadley-just no

Thank you all so far!

I have only ever heard Haley as hay-lee and I met a few (all American). I thought that Hallie or Halley were hal-ee.

Thanks for suggesting Estella, I will think it through. I love the meaning.

I'd be a bit worried about Randy because I don't like it but I think most names are likely to be shortened using the first part so I think she's more likely to be Mira or something like that so I am not that bothered.

Vanessa - first thought is Vanessa Feltz, but probably due a revival. Ness is fine for a nn.

Miranda - think of tv programme starring Miranda Hart.

Haley (Hayley) - both said hay-lee - to me, they are pronounced differently. If spelt Haley, she will spend her entire life spelling it out. Really like Kayleigh or Hallie as alternatives.

Hadley - dislike. Sounds like a town in Midsomer murders. Also sounds like a male name to me.

Hadley.....NN Tony

Well you know this is how a name forum works. People ask for opinions on names, and then people give them.

Miranda is one of my favourite names - not dated at all, a genuine classic, and sounds elegant, and both feminine and strong.

Vanessa has a lovely sound, but it does feel a bit dated.

Hayley is very dated.

I don't like Hadley at all. Much too surnamey.

Vanessa.

I always wanted to give a daughter that name.

We didn't in the end, but I still like the name very much.

I like Miranda too.

I actually like Nessa but not Vanessa, the latter has a kind of last century upper class vibe.

Not too keen on the others, don't mind Hayley.

Love Vanessa and Miranda.

I'm not at all fond of the other two. I don't understand the trend of surnames as names for girls.

I like Vanessa and Miranda.
Hayley is Hayley Mills to me and I rather like it. I don’t know many.
I’m not keen on Hadley. I imagine the teenage teasing of ‘ I’ve had Hadley’ etc.

Miriam
Mirabelle
Vivien
Veronica
Valencia
Hallie
Hollie

Miranda is beautiful

Miranda and Vanessa are lovely.

Hayley / Haley very dated / 1980s

Hadley - I don't like surname names and i would assume it's a boys name?

I like the name Hallie pronounced "Ha Lee"
Instead of the usual "Hay lee"

Haley is very 1970s and in my opinion a bit low rent!

I don’t like Hadley. Sounds like a boys name.

vanessa, nope, that V is sharp when you look at it. It’s not a soft name it’s sort of got elbows. To me at least.

miranda definitely. Slightly posh. Perhaps almost too much.

definitely rhe best of the lot

Adore Miranda, I wish I could have called a child that name.

Miranda reminds me of that terrible sitcom. Sorry. People will just keep saying "Such fun" to the point she goes mad.

I really like Vanessa but not the other two names. Sorry.

Vanessa for me.

Miranda is a gorgeous Shakespearean name. Others from his plays include Helena, Hermione, Perdita, Portia, Juliet, Celia, Rosalind.

Not a big fan of Vanessa, it sounds a bit humdrum to me, I picture a middle aged woman who is rather tired. What about Virginia or Vivienne?

Haley and all it’s rhyming names feel very dated to me.

Hadley is unusual, I only know it from the woman who writes for the Guardian. If a friend named her daughter this I’d be surprised but I would like it.

I really don’t think teenage boys say “I’ve had…” meaning sex, that feels like a very long time ago.

i also doubt people would yell SUCH FUN at your Miranda en masse, for people her age it will be a really old show. I actually like the show Miranda and it’s never occurred to me until now to go and yell that at my friend Miranda…

Personally don’t like Haley names or the more popular Halle ( like Berry) makes me think of Halitosis!
Vanessa is the one I prefer

Vanessa is probably my favourite. I think it's a little dated, but not terribly so.
I've never been a huge fan of Miranda but it's a nice name and I doubt your child's generation will be watching the old TV show.
Hayley - Seems quite 90s to me and passed its peak. The Haley spelling will probably lead to confusion with Halle/Hallie.
Hadley - I only know of this name through Hadley Freeman. It doesn't appeal to me.