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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Any opinions on Harry?

68 replies

Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 10:48

My DP thinks that Harry will forever be linked with Harry Potter and therefore, even though we both like it, we can't use it. Any thoughts?
P.S. There is a strong chance our DC may have to wear glasses as we both do and DP is using this to strengthen his argurment. He also has no alternatives in place in case we don't use Harry!

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schplappo · 08/06/2011 14:52

I love the name Harry (I have Henry on my list since I want to use full name on BC to allow for Harry/Hal etc as diminutives). Personally, if I had a cat called Henry, I wouldn't call my DS Harry since Harry is short for Henry but as others have said, entirely up to you!

As other thoughts, how about John? (Not common amongst children being born now but traditional and can't be shortened. Will never be in/out of fashion.)

Or George? (More frequent amongst children than John but based on my sample of children I know, much less frequent than Harry.)

Good luck deciding!

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 14:41

What wednesday13???

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wednesday13 · 08/06/2011 14:39

oops, x posted there with your last one.

wednesday13 · 08/06/2011 14:37

Renaissance27 I was not meaning to cause offence just giving my opinion, as you do, on MN Smile. People do shorten names of course for affection or informal reasons but of course nobody is making you. I hope you get on fine with "Harry", it's FIL's name so well loved in this household too.

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 14:34

sparkle i have no idea why you were so offended by my comments regarding the 70s/80s names! They aren't frequently occuring according to some list but they are in my life and my local area! No need to get defensive.

I WILL use the name if I like it and don't have to have a bunch of strangers say it's ok to do so, just wanted an opinion, which I think you have definitely given now. THANK YOU!

Thanks emmyloo2. It's nice to get an opinion without sarcasm etc. I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes oldfashioned/traditional names. I like Edward but have two in the family already, my other half doesn't like Charles unfortunately, and I don't like the ways William can be shortened but thank you for the ideas. Smile xx

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emmyloo2 · 08/06/2011 14:29

I love Harry despite it being common. I am not sure it is as common as Thomas, Jack etc.

What about Edward, Charles, William? I have a George and so I like the old-fashioned, traditional names.

If you both love Harry, I wouldn't hesitate in using it.

sparkle12mar08 · 08/06/2011 14:26

Are you worried about common as in frequently occuring, with common as in a poorer perception of a name? Because self evidently the 70's/80's names above are much lower on the ONS lists than Harry - they are not as frequently occuring as it - fact.

As to people's perceptions, in a way that's their issue not yours. If you love a name, use it.

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 13:54

Thanks for being so nice hellokitty123

I know a lot of little Stephens, Andrews, and Davids (lots and lots of older ones too!)

I still like Harry despite it being so very common just because my DP and me agree on it and like it! I agree that that is all that matters. Smile

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hellokitty123 · 08/06/2011 13:50

There are 3 Harrys in my ds's class of 28, so I wouldn't use it on that basis.

I don't know any little Stephens, Andrews or Davids - I can't believe they are more common than Harry...

But at the end of the day we all have different tastes and the main thing is that YOU and your dh love your name choice, not us (we're just a random bunch of internet users whose tastes you may find awful Grin).

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 13:38

To answer your question wednesday13, "Why do you want to use a diminutive so it can't be further shortened?". Why would you want to call a child a name and then spend the rest of their lives using a different version of it?! I can understand you thinking as an adult they should have some choice but it's an important decision choosing a name and I want to get it right. I'm not totally against names that can be shortened but it's my choice not to prefer that!
Don't appreciate your sarcastm when I am asking an innocent question about what I consider a big decision. Aren't I allowed my opinions and choices too (shock horror)?!

By the way your 70s/80s names are all as common, or more so, as Harry!

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Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 13:33

I have mumoftoomany, it really doesn't take that long to know whether my DP and me like a name or not.
Plus being fussy about my first child's name is my prerogative! I consider it an important decision so yes WE are hard to please.

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Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 13:30

I get the point "nearlymumofone", thank you!

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mumoftoomany · 08/06/2011 12:44

"I don't like any on that list, but thanks mumoftoomany!"

Have you honestly considered every single name out of the thousands that were used last year? Then you are very hard to please Grin.

wednesday13 · 08/06/2011 12:33

Harry is very frequently used at the moment, No. 4 after Jack, Oliver and Thomas. It is the Dave or Mike of this generation. How about choosing a name less likely to have 2 or 3 in his class at school?

Why do you want to use a diminutive so it can't be further shortened? I really don't get why parents are so controlling about shortening (there have been a few threads on this subject) - you can choose what to call them when they are small and (shock) when they are grown up they are allowed to make their own decisions. I also think it would be a PITA as an adult not to have a choice of being Katherine, Kat, Kate or Kath but have Kitty on your BC.

How about some 70's/80's names?

Alan
David
Ian
Mark
Michael
Nicholas
Peter
Patrick
Andrew
Alastair
John
Jonathan
Stephen
Jason

nearlymumofone · 08/06/2011 12:30

Within in the space of a month last year 3 of my close friends all gave birth to a Harry. When I'm out shopping or in the playground it's the name I hear the most. It depends if that bothers you.

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 12:18

Thanks sparkle it's good to know that others have been through the same thing. For some reason we find girl's names easy but boys names really difficult.
Really appreciate your help and opinions. Smile

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sparkle12mar08 · 08/06/2011 12:16

Dh and I couldn't agree on ds2's name either. It took nearly four weeks to come to an agreement. It's an important issue, and it basically boiled down to the fact that one of us felt incredibly strongly about it, the other less so. But it was very much a two way process and we went over and over and over and over it till I though my head was going to explode! If you truly adore and love a name then it doesn't matter what it is, or what other people think of it, it really doesn't. We may all poke gentle fun on these boards occasionally, but no one I know in real life would ever dream of being so rude as to say anything to a parent or child's face. Never.

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 12:13

Thanks for the more unusual names sparkle they're really appreciated. x

Barcus - No, Bar for short
Aquila - too much like Aqua, so no
Forest (1890's would you believe?!) - Gump? NO WAY
Verdun (1916, homage to the battle I expect)Too old
Jabez - No
Jervis - Sounds like gerbil and germs!
Lavender (I kid you not) - Love it but my DP doesn't!
Endurance - Only heard of this for a girl
Obedience - Only heard of this for a girl too

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Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 12:11

Have got at least four name books and cannot find a name we both agree on sparkle!
Alexander/Xander - DP's name!
Callum - Yuk, already four in the family
Willoughby - yuk
Noah - Nothing biblical
Christopher/Kit - Far too common, more than Harry
Samuel -Sam for short, NO
Richard -Dick? NO
Jonathon - More common than Harry
Alastair - NO,
James - Not bad but DP hates it
Robert - BOB? NO
Benjamin - Ben? NO
Benedict - Not having a monk!
Sebastian - Had a cat called that and hate Seb!
William - Not bad but too many ways to shorten
Aaron - Evil Shakespearean character and boring
George - I like but DP doesn't
Phillip - Grandad's name but don't like
Gervase - Horrible
Hugh - Grant!
Conrad - Dog's name
Theo - No way

Thanks anyway! Smile

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sparkle12mar08 · 08/06/2011 12:10

And for amusemnets sake, some of the more fun boys ones that have cropped up in my family tree over the past 200 years include

Barcus
Aquila
Forest (1890's would you believe?!)
Verdun (1916, homage to the battle I expect)
Jabez
Jervis
Lavender (I kid you not)
Endurance
Obedience

Take your pick!

rachel234 · 08/06/2011 12:05

Harry is very common and I too find it a little boring, tbh.

sparkle12mar08 · 08/06/2011 12:05

Get a name nook from the library, open a page, point randomly. The names I like won't be the same as the names you like. But for what it's worth, I quite like:
Alexander/Xander
Callum
Willoughby
Noah
Christopher/Kit
Samuel
Richard
Jonathon
Alastair
James
Robert
Benjamin
Benedict
Sebastian
William
Aaron
George
Phillip
Gervase
Hugh
Conrad
Theo

Quite a mix, really.

Original poster
Renaissance227 · 08/06/2011 12:04

Henry is the name of our cat atrixo!

I don't like any on that list, but thanks mumoftoomany!

Thanks fifipink. I also like William but not Charlie. We didn't choose William because of all the ways it can be shortened, which would inevitably happen!

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fifipink · 08/06/2011 12:00

I think its a good English name but i also like Charlie and William so i wouldn't associate Harry with HP, i do associate it with Prince Harry though!!

I wanted to have kittens and call them Harry and Pippa - DP soon vetoed that idea!!

mumoftoomany · 08/06/2011 11:57

I suggest you look at the ONS list of ALL the baby names given last year (or 2009) and you will find lots and lots of lovely names that our outside of the top 100 or even top 250.