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I've been trying to like Harriet for a long time, but I never really succeed. Harriet Amy is a good combo, though.

The sound of it makes me think of severely tangled unruly hair. It also somehow reminds me of the temperance movement ... I guess because of famous bearers, I associated it with that period of US history. Weirdly I come up with temperance for Harriet instead of abolition though. And, the word harridan.

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In real life it's okay, just seems sort of self-consciously antique.

This message was edited 1/28/2013, 10:35 AM

Harriet Amy is very sweet. I can't say I enjoy Harriet enough to choose it as a first name myself, but I'd love to meet a little Harriet. I have a 3rd great grandmother, Harriet Christeny (or some version of a mn like that; records vary as to the exact version/spelling) who went by "Chaney".

Aw, Harriet Amy is cute. I really like that. Amy's youth and freshness is good at a balncing Harriet's heaviness and maturity.

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I used to really dislike Harriet, I thought it was pretty straightforwardly ugly. But then I went though a phase where I was totally into buxom power-matron names, and Harriet is like, queen of that scene. So I learned to enjoy her charms.

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I think though that Harriet is a pretty aquired taste. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if most people would say it was a horrible name. But then maybe I just know lots of those kinds of people. The kind who hate Harriet, Beatrice, Matilda, etc and think such names are akin to child abuse.

Harriet Amy makes me warm to Amy. Tis good.

It's a bit oldladyish. Still, I'd rather meet a little Harriet than a little Mackenzeigh.

Is anyone who refers to names by their genders as if they were people actually fully comfortable doing it? Or are you all just reaching out and toying with something you feel like you ought to like? Because I want to like the practice, but instead can find nothing in my heart but repulsion for it.

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Just wondering. Maybe it's just me. Anyway I don't like Harriet. Something else I'm supposed to like, but simply can't stomach - and I wonder if I'd ask the same question about Harriet as I did the personifying of names. lol Does anyone actually think this name is really cute? Or does it just work so well in theory that they heartlessly employ the practice? Harriet, I suppose, I can understand liking. It's sharp, it's smirking a little, it's wearing nice clothes. (Here I am, personifying! - but without gender, so not really). It's absolutely unlike all of the disgusting names that are popular now. It doesn't need anything from them, doesn't need anyone to like it, it's pretty in its own important way. Hattie I cannot believe in. There is no way anyone could actually like this name. Is there? It's like cardboard. No, not cardboard: parched, flavorless cornbread. That's Hattie. Does anyone actually like that? Yes, it ought to be cute, but it's not. It's not nameist to not like Hattie. Nameism isn't a thing. We're allowed to dislike names. Let's all come together and comfort each other about our inability to enjoy this once perfectly good name, and move forward.

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But I see that you've done that already. Good for you. The result is that you just have good taste, I guess. :P

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You also don't need anyone to inanely point out that Harriet and Amy have different usage patterns. Once this nearsighted suspicion of large shapes is overcome, the world of naming gets much more interesting, indeed acquires new dimensions. Harriet reclaims Amy, hoisting it back to the place of sophistication it had toppled from.

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I feel like I'm writing If Adorno Were A Namenerd right now. Actually that sounds like the most insanely fun project I can think of.

This message was edited 1/27/2013, 11:50 PM

I have always like Harriet. She's a tad dowdy and old-fashioned, but that's part of the appeal. And Hattie is of course super cute.

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I'm lukewarm on Harriet Amy. They go together in the sense that they're both sweet, but not in terms of what periods of time I associate them with. Amy seems to modern for Harriet.

Sorry, I find Harriet to be incredibly, incredibly unattractive. The thought of the potential nn Harry is nauseating. Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but I really do despise it (along with Henrietta). The nns Hallie (especially) and Hattie are cute, I have to admit.

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Harriet Amy doesn't flow, imo, and there's something off about the two different styles of names.

I adore Harriet! Harriet Amy is so sweet.

I like Harriet enough to use; still trying to choose between Harriet Daisy and Daisy Harriet!

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No nns, though, and certainly no Henrietta or Henriette.

I like Harriet. I think it's nice in full, but I especially like it with the nickname Hattie.

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Harriet Amy sounds fine.

Adore Harriet

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I think Harriet, especially with nickname Hattie, is DARLING. It's old-fashioned and cool, and I like that it doesn't end in -ia, -la, -ana, etc.

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Harriet Amy is very nice, but I'd use something a little spicier in the middle. Harriet Lilith, Harriet Cordelia, Harriet Astraea, Harriet Mehitabel, etc. Okay, maaaybe not the last one. But you get my meaning.

Never liked it. It suited Harriet the Spy perfectly: smart, rich, obnoxious, temperamental girl.

Think I prefer Henrietta Aemelia but Harriet Amy is quite cute. I'd probally use Harry or Hattie as a nickname!

Hattie is really cute but I don't like Harriet. It's okay if you want to use Hattie but I don't like the full name. It makes me think of the word 'hairy'.

I hate Harriet. I think she sounds like a loud, hairy broad, and I would never be her friend.

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I love Hattie, though, and Harriet Amy is a nice combo.