We have narrowed it down to two names. Which should we use?

[artichokes]

After an afternoon stuck in hospital DH and I finally had time to do some serious name chat.

The result is that DD2 will either be:
Hester, known as Hetty.
Alexandra, known as Alex.

Which do people prefer?

Hester is beautiful. I really dislike Alex - apart from being v common here, drives me nuts that you don't know the gender of the child and it's too masculine for a girl and too feminine for a boy.

I would choose Hester.

Love Hester, really unusual.

Both lovely names, I think Hester just has the edge for me, but they are both really lovely.

"Hester, known as Hetty."
Hmm I don't like Hester at all but I think Hetty is really really sweet

"Alexandra, known as Alex."
Alexandra is beautiful and classy but i really don't like the shortening 'Alex', I think its makes a beautiful feminine name sound masculine.

Thats not helpful is it really sorry

Hester

PS: hope all is well

Both nice, but love Hester & Hetty

hester and hetty both gorgeous

Hester is more unusual and interesting.

Am jealous! I wanted this name but DH vetoed on the grounds that SIL to be called Esther and it could get confusing (weak argument I thought)

Like Alex and Hetty but really not keen on hester it ryhmes with fester

Alexandra

I must the only person on MN who thinks Hester is truly awful! It's 'try hard'. And Hetty is twee and makes me shudder.

Alexandra is a 'proper' name.

Alexandra.
I don't particularly like Hester but don't like it shortened to Hetty-sounds like a hen!

Hester gets my vote

Hester/Hetty lovely.

Nah, me too Mrs M. Alexandra every time!

alex

You can call Henrietta Hetty - does that help at all?

Otherwise I prefer Esther to Hester (but Esther doesn't lend itself to Hetty if that's what you really want)

Alex is cute though.

HTH

hester definitely

In fact you could probably call Harriet Hetty too...

(Not keen on Hester you see )

I know a lovely Hester....

Alexandra, definitely

I like Esther but not Hester at all.

Sorry, I know that's not what you asked!

Both nice but remember what you choose to call DD may be different to what others choose, or what they themselves choose to be known by.

For that reason, I'd say Alexandra as it gives more options. Hetty is quite 'girly' if DD turns out to be tomboy.

Alex/Lexie/Zandra/Sandy/Al/Ali etc

Het/Hes/Hessy/Hetty/Hal

Your choice !

Esther is a completely different name for me. It's biblical, feminine, lovely. Is Hester a variant? It's nowhere near as nice.