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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Henry a posh name?

41 replies

heidihole · 15/03/2013 19:34

We have one son called James and I'd love to have Henry for our next son.

DH will not consider it AT ALL he says its hugely posh. I said I don't think people see Henry as posh...posh is "Horatio" or something.

So...in society today is Henry a posh name? I'm happy to be proved wrong! Do you think it 'goes' with James?

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sjupes · 19/03/2013 23:25

I have read this whole thread going ''they're 2 they're 4 they're 6 they're 8 shunting trucks and hauling freight'' etc because of the thomas the tank connection!

Sorry Blush

It's still posh-ish where i am and not very popular that i know of.

Lovely name tho.

olivertheoctopus · 19/03/2013 23:07

No, not posh. Point your DH in the direction of Thomas the Tank Engine books: James, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Gordon... Not posh, just good old fashioned solid names.

WormCanner · 19/03/2013 20:13

Henry is not posh, there used to be loads of working-class Henrys who were mostly called Harry. Fashions change and Harry has become popular in its own right, which has possibly muddied the waters a bit. The two names are traditionally interchangeable.

crashdoll · 19/03/2013 19:56

I think it's become more used and therefore, less posh. I adore it! You can't go wrong with a James and a Henry. They are good, solid names.

sunnyday123 · 18/03/2013 12:43

I love Henry! It's the new Harry in my area though!

racmun · 18/03/2013 10:49

I've got a James and really like Henry too. They're both really strong names. Any name can sound Posh/Chavvy depending on how it is pronounced. Where i live middle class people calling their children names like Henry are the norm.

Some people our really pretentious when it comes to trying to find an alternative name for their children and just look like dicks IMO.

I also really like Jeremy, Theo and Ben.

Astley · 17/03/2013 08:55

I'd think 'Not another one!' It seems to be the only boys name actually used round here Hmm

anonymosity · 17/03/2013 00:22

Horatio is poncy, Henry is posh. Unless you pronounce it "Enry!"

Dragonwoman · 17/03/2013 00:10

Don't think Henry Cooper was posh. He's the first Henry I think of who is in the public eye.

Lighthousekeeping · 16/03/2013 23:42

I know of three born in the last mont. lovely name but, far too popular.

lisaloeb · 16/03/2013 23:39

Definitely not posh to me, its my sons middle name.

H was named after my grandfathers, one a working class man from the north east, the other had it as his middle name. A working class man from the midlands.

To me Henry is a classless name.

wordfactory · 16/03/2013 08:46

It can be a posh name, but equally it's popular in some poorer parts of London.

NotTreadingGrapes · 16/03/2013 08:45

No, not any more.

James is posh-er.

Lovethesea · 16/03/2013 08:44

You can have Alexander (not biased me, oh no) that's great with James.

bootsycollins · 16/03/2013 01:10

James and Henry are excellent names for children and cats (helpful)

SorrelForbes · 16/03/2013 01:03

My Grandpa (born in 1897) in an East London slum was called Henry (always known as Harry) so, not posh at all.

Froggy2013 · 16/03/2013 00:55

It used to be very posh when I was at school (I'm 36) - but is becoming less so now.

girlsyearapart · 15/03/2013 21:59

Ds is Henry & we are not posh hth Smile

Original poster
heidihole · 15/03/2013 21:58

To answer question, nothing "wrong" intrinsically with posh. We just want to pigeon hole him. We have a high income and don't want our children to be part of 'that family' .... so a name that crosses boundries is preferable.

What's "wrong" is we dont want a name that if his choice of career is a toilet cleaner than his mates are going to ridicule him! Same as I wouldn't want a name that was seen as "chavvy" because if he became a high court judge then he'd also feel out of place.

I don't want either end of the spectrum. However I suppose ironically we would fall more into the posh category than any other due to current lifestyle.

OP posts:
Taffeta · 15/03/2013 21:55

3 Henrys at DCs primary, none of whom are remotely posh.

AmandaPayneNeedsaHoliday · 15/03/2013 21:51

Used to be posh. Dead ordinary now.

I think that's what you wanted to hear and hopefully adds another vote to helping your case Grin

CheeseStrawWars · 15/03/2013 21:39

It's the "hooray Henry" connection that makes it "posh". Google "hooray Henry" if you're not aware of that term.

snice · 15/03/2013 21:34

I think its a bit posher than Harry but not uber-posh like Hugh

SleepyCatOnTheMat · 15/03/2013 21:32

I think the confusion arises from the fact Henry used to be posh but is increasingly being used by all classes. Six out of ten for poshness sounds about right.

hmmmhmmm · 15/03/2013 21:21

i consider Henry a posh name.
classics i Dont think are posh are Andrew, William, Simon, Adam, Jack, David, George,harry , Ian ,Michael, peter,Robert, Stephen,