Message: "Hortense" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Hortense

by Wordsmith

9/21/2019, 12:06 PM

Am I the only one who admires this name? It was my maternal grandmother's middle name, and she loathed it, but I'm obsessed with it. I love the meaning ("of the garden") and the "ense" ending. I also really like the nickname Tennie. (Note: I'm pronouncing it the English way because the French pronunciation, though lovely, is unnatural to me, a non-French speaker.)

Here are some combos:

Hortense Adeline
Hortense Agatha
Hortense Amelie
Hortense Bryony
Hortense Camellia
Hortense Camille
Hortense Caroline
Hortense Eloise
Hortense Emeline / Emmeline
Hortense Emilia
Hortense Emilie / Emily
Hortense Eugenie
Hortense Eulalie
Hortense Eva
Hortense Eveline
Hortense Felicity
Hortense Genevieve
Hortense Jacqueline
Hortense Julia
Hortense Lavinia
Hortense Leonie
Hortense Leopoldine
Hortense Lilia
Hortense Lilian
Hortense Louisa
Hortense Madeleine
Hortense Marguerite
Hortense Maria
Hortense Mathilde
Hortense Olivia
Hortense Ottilie
Hortense Ottoline
Hortense Philippa
Hortense Pomeline
Hortense Raphaelle
Hortense Valentine
Hortense Viola
Hortense Violette
Hortense Vivienne
Hortense Winifred

#Hortense

Replies

- solveig (zfluffyboots)

9/22/2019, 2:33 PM

I only like the French pronunciation. The English pronunciation is ugly, just like Hubert.

I have come across a lot of old lady names, I doubt I'll ever come across a Hortense or a Bertha.

- Fictionfan86181 (Realisticmindxxx)

9/22/2019, 9:31 AM

I can't even sugar coat it. Hortense is a blatantly ugly name and anyone living with it should be able to get their name changed for free, it's that bad. It's also so bad that it doesn't even require an explaination.

- Anneza

9/22/2019, 6:52 AM

I was at school with someone who had a younger sister named Hortense. Quite a lot of Afrikaans-speaking South Africans are descended from French Huguenot refugees, so French names do get used sometimes. They gave Hortense an almost-French pronunciation, but made it start Hor- instead of -Or. And they shortened it to Tensie, with the n nasalised so it was close to Tangsi. Which is enough to put any thinking person off the name for life!

- ari.

9/22/2019, 5:37 AM

It's a guilty pleasure of mine. Though I speak a bit of French, I think the English pronunciation is much nicer, and reminds me of Hortense Mancini. I think Hortense "Tennie" Tennyson would make a good name for a character. Some other middle name suggestions:
Hortense Cordelia
Hortense Linnéa
Hortense Magdalena
Hortense Rosalind
Hortense Rosamund
Hortense Rosemary
Hortense Theodora

- Parthenia (OnyxMoon)

9/21/2019, 9:07 PM

Hortense Emilia and Hortense Winifred are beautiful. I like Hortense Felicity and Hortense Viola are nice as well.

I think this name is better then Hortensia, which sounds too frilly and a more like an attempt to make Hortense sound girlier even though that form came first. Too bad for the fist sound, though.

- RoxStar

9/21/2019, 6:39 PM

maybe you're not ...

But I think you're in a very small minority.
Hortense. It's ugly ugly ugly, and seems almost deliberately trying to be ugly and to turn people off.
Whore tense.
It may mean garden, but so what? You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think, as Dorothy Parker said.

- Anatoly (vercatosso)

9/21/2019, 3:37 PM

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan. In an English-speaking country, I think it would get made fun of when she's in middle school (first syllable).

- Tiggs +1

9/21/2019, 1:07 PM

While I do enjoy the meaning, I can’t say this appeals to me sound-wise. For me, Hortensia sounds a bit friendlier but, unlike you, I haven’t familial fondness to work on me. Of your list, Hortense Camellia and Hortense Lavinia are standouts and nearly make me a convert. :)

A few ideas that came to mind which I thought you might enjoy...

Hortense Althea - “garden of healing”
Hortense Carina - “garden beloved”
Hortense Columba / Jemima - “garden of doves” / “garden of peace”
Hortense Danica - “starlit garden”
Hortense Fernanda - this just feels adventuresome to me

- Wordsmith

9/21/2019, 3:24 PM

Thanks for these lovely suggestions! I had thought of Hortense Jemima but didn't include it because it felt oversize (though I love maximalism!). Hortense Fernanda is certainly adventurous.

- skinnyminnie

9/21/2019, 1:01 PM

I love this name as well! It has a nice, earthy and naturey meaning and vintage vibe. I don't care if the first syllable sounds like whore to some people. That's not how I pronounce it and you can always go with a different pronunciation even if you have to correct people now and then.

From your combos, I'd choose Hortense Agatha, Hortense Lavinia, Hortense Marguerite, Hortense Ottoline and Hortense Winifred.
Hortense Pomeline has a very strong gardening feel to it as Pomeline means little apple.

I would use Tansy as a NN, don't care for Tennie much but it's fine.

- Lovekids

9/21/2019, 12:20 PM

I’m sorry... this is one name that will absolutely never be pretty to me. It’s perfectly hideous. All I hear is “Hor”. Horsey hortense. Ugh.

- 6sammie6

9/21/2019, 12:08 PM

My friend has a beta fish named Hortense. It's a good name for a fish.

Naming your daughter something with 'whore' as the first syllable feels cruel.

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