Baby Names

We *might* have decided :) How many hate Greta?

First of all, you ladies have been an incredible resource to me, and I really thank you not only for your input, but also for just letting me come here to chat!

So, to recap, we'd narrowed it down to Nora (maybe as a nn for Eleanor, after my Gram), Greta, and Gwen.  Gwen I like, but it just doesn't feel quite right, for some reason.  Nora, I'm starting to think, is getting too popular.  (Which makes me sad as I do like it!)  I still love the idea of Eleanor, because I'm sentimentally attached to it, but DH isn't really a fan of using the full name, and so many of the other nn's (Ella, Elle) are so popular. . .

So, Greta started growing on me/ us!  It's different, without being made up, and I think it sounds right with DS's name (Davis).  I think it'd be cute on a little girl, and I can picture a professional with the name. . . the only thing is I'm not sure how it'd serve her in, say, middle school and high school!   

It was the last to be added to the list, and I had huge reservations about it - I thought it was too harsh, and I thought people would screw up their faces when they heard it.  But the few people IRL we've told our top choices seemed really receptive to it.  Also, even though the "Gr" is a harsh sound, I'm a fan of names that end in "a." 

So tell me - do you hate it?  :)

Re: We *might* have decided :) How many hate Greta?

  • I like it! I knew a Greta in HS and she got a little shiit for it, but mostly because her LN was Gershnur. Kids would call her name in a very harsh german accent. She just laughed it off.

    I think it is very pretty and I can see it for a baby and adult. Much better than Gretel IMHO

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  • I absolutely love love love Greta! It's on my top three list. Great choice!! I agree that it's a name that will be adorable on a little girl but will grow up nicely as well.
  • I love Greta and it was on my short list before being nixed by DH. 
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  • I hate it. My friends name is Greta and she HATES it, got teased when she was a kid and all around hates it. I dont disagree.
  • I love Greta. Always have. It's really such a lovely name - wish DH agreed!
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  • I love it!  For all the reasons you mentioned.  I, too, love Norah, but am worried about it's popularity.  I think Greta is similar without that issue.  What would her middle name be? 
  • I adore Greta. I think it's just lovely. It's also my favorite of the three names you mentioned. It's off-beat with a classic, quaint feel, and I think it matures very gracefully.

    If you wanted, you could lengthen it to Margaret and use Greta as a NN, but I don't think that's a must. Greta stands alone, IMO.

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  • I love Greta! I would have considered it for DD, but we already have a cat named Gretel. :)
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  • I have an Aunt Greta, and I adore her, so I like the name, but don't think I would use it.  I really like Eleanor/Nora. 
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  • That's actually my grandmother's name--love it!

    What were you thinking about for a middle name?

  • I really like the name Greta...I think it might be a name nerd choice. At least that's how I explain my names to family who give us the confused puppy dog look when we say names they don't think are cool. I like the meaning, and it's punchy and short without being too harsh. I think it sounds a touch better when said with an accent, but that's just me.

    Also, Greta is an anagram for the word, great :)

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  • I think it's pretty horrible.
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  • I really like it.  I also like the idea of using Margaret (mental note to self). I  had never considered Greta a nn for Margaret before.  I also LOVE the name Eleanor/Nora, but am concerned it is becoming too popular.  What about naming her Greta Eleanor.  I think that would be a beautiful combo.  
  • imageBethPSU:
    I really like it.  I also like the idea of using Margaret (mental note to self). I  had never considered Greta a nn for Margaret before.  I also LOVE the name Eleanor/Nora, but am concerned it is becoming too popular.  What about naming her Greta Eleanor.  I think that would be a beautiful combo.  


    I really like that :)  Unfortunately, we agreed long ago to go with the middle name Louise - I'm not really a fan!  But it's significant to both of our families.

    thanks all for your comments!  People seem to feel strongly about it, one way or the other - not sure yet if that's a good think or a bad thing!
  • ps  Sorry for the typos above - stupid smartphone!
  • It's not really my style, but I don't hate it. I don't know any in real life either.
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  • No, I don't hate it at all. In fact, I like it.

    Since you are worried about how it'd serve her later in life, why not give her more options by making her full name Margaret. That way later in life, she could go by Greta, Margaret, or any of the other plethora of nns for Margaret.

    I can't remember if I've linked you to this article yet, since I recommend it all the time. But if you haven't read it, I think it will really help you finalize your decision! (Don't be scared by the title)

    "Hate your name? Change it!" by Greta Goss

  • love love love Greta! Hate Nora with a passion, and Gwen is ok(personally I would go with Gwendolyn).  But Love Greta
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  • LOVE it.  I know a baby Greta and adore her name.

    A Greta's not going to get so much as a second thought in middle school and high school by the time our kids are that age.  I know more old lady named baby girls than ever - Sylvia, Helen, Rose, Vivian, Eleanor, Harriet, etc.  Greta would fit right in. 

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  • LOVE Greta!

    I also love Gwen (preferably as a nn for Gwyneth or Gwendolyn), but Greta is my favorite of those three. 

    I agree with you that it sounds great with big brother, Davis. :)

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  • I like Greta (and Gretchen). I really dislike Nora.
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  • Love Greta! I saw on FB a few months back that someone I went to high school with just named her newborn that, and I swooned! What a sweet surprise to hear that name!

    What's your son's name?

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  • I love Greta.  It was on our short list (we didn't decide until DD was born).  Our other options were Gretchen, Eloise, and Norah and we went with Norah. 
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  • I hate it. It doesn't seem feminine and it's a gun store by me. I actually had never heard of it (besides the gun store) until I came on this board. 
  • I love Greta, especially as a nickname for Margaret.  Great choice.  
  • I like Greta Elenore.
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  • I love it, for us it's a family name.  We have the name Greta in the family and Margrethe, which is pronounced like Margreta.
  • I love it!  Our last name is really German sounding, so we would never use it, but I think it's really nice and ages well.
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  • Nooo, I don't hate Greta at all! In fact, I like it very much :)

    I actually didn't like it until a few years ago when I met a teen-aged Greta and only then did I realize how well it ages and that made me like it so much more. I think it's a really sweet, but totally respectable and strong name. 

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