does esther go with our surname

[uselessirishmum]

love the name esther buthad discounted it as our surname is westwood initially thought esther westwood sounded like the shipping forecast
its now beginning to grow on me and dont think esther westwood sounds that bad and also how often do you use first name and surname together anyhow
opinions please and please be brutally honest

Sorry, reminds me of the 30 Rock episode with the 'Rural Juror'.

In that when you say it fast no one will have a clue what you just said.

Sorry, you did say you wanted brutal honesty

How about Jemima? (The sister of the only Esther I knew, so I guess the names have a similar appeal?!)

I love the name in general but I fear that in this instance your 1st instinct was the right one. Something with the est and west thing not right.
DH wouldn't let me call DD Esther because it is forever paired with Rantzen in his mind.

I like Esther but I think that the whole name sounds like Est Est Est

No, what about Esme?

I'd say a definite yes - but then I would I'm an Esther and I think it's a fab name. Not many around and can be shortened (I'm an Es sometimes) or it can be used in full and sounds as serious or not as you like. I think it goes just fine with your surname

I like it but I like a bit of assonance, your surname has a lovely sound IMO.
The name Kitty has just popped into my head though.

Esther's a lovely name, but there are other great names that would go much better with your surname.

I had to forsake my all-time favourite girls' name twice because it just wasn't great with our surname. It would have been ok, but on a par with Esther Westwood and I think it would have always bugged me a bit. But I am a bit sad I never got to use it!

It is a bit East West Homes Best

Katherine Westwood sounds great.

East Beast West Beast springs to my Seuss-addled mind.

I would pick something else, although Esther is a lovely name.

I'm afraid I'd choose something else. I love Esther and Westwood is a great surname (very presidential sounding!) but the two together just don't work, imo. What else have you thought of?

Edward Woodward coped (copes? not sure if he's still alive). She'll have the option to choose her surname should she marry so I think it's less of an issue. Equally, how often do you get called by your full name apart from in school registers?

It's a lovely name but I do think it sounds strange with that surname. The Esme suggestion is v good. Or maybe Evelyn?

I think it sounds absolutely fine and you will regret it if you go for a second choice. Go for it!

I think its too much of a mouthfall really and would stay clear.

Mouthfull....

A lovely name but not with that surname. Sorry.

It doesn't really work with that surname, imo.

I think over analysing it and saying it too many times might make it worse, on first instict i think it sounds great like a famous person or a writer's pen name, i don't think its a mouthfull

I'm not sure it works, Esme is lovely as other posters have suggested. Or how about Estelle?

I totally agree with wolveschick. It's a great name.....

Esther is a gorgeous name, but Esther Westwood is a bit of a mouthful

I do hear 'East or West Wood'...

What about Elspeth? Very similar, avoids the Rantzen connection, Elspeth Westwood sounds fine and if she wants to shorten it in her teens both Ellie and Beth are decent choices.

It's a bit hissy. Especially if she has a lisp

Not a diaster, the two names together, but sounds a little bit like a tongue twister to me.

Sorry, it does not go. Zara, Hannah?