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Original poster

Nicknames for Harrison?

38 replies

fishesfordishes · 04/01/2015 22:43

We like this name and have sentimental reasons for being set on it.

however a relative lost a child who was named Harry. We don't want to steal this name in case it is wanted by others in the future who were closer relatives to him. (this isn't our sentimental reason for wanting to use the name Harrison, we actually didn't realise, duh! until wondering what we might nickname 'Harrison' after having our hearts set on it and referring to the baby as Harrison.)

Any ideas what we could use as a nickname? DH just informed me that Harris is a euphamism...??? I thought we could have gone with that.

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shoobidoo · 06/01/2015 08:16

I agree - if you want to avoid upsetting grieving relatives with Harry, I'd avoid Harrison. Too easy to shorten to Harry imo.

sleepybee · 05/01/2015 20:40

Harris is popular in Scotland like Lewis it is a Scottish island

Rhubarbgarden · 05/01/2015 12:32

I know a Harrison who is just Harrison. It's never shortened and it has never occurred to me to do so. I don't think nicknames are essential.

That said, if it was me I would choose another name. I would feel too uncomfortable using a name so similar to that of a child who'd died in tragic circumstances.

Springsintheair · 05/01/2015 09:47

Wow, a I the only one to think it would be completely inappropriate for you to end up using 'Harry' eve if it's just a nn? There are tons of names out there would you really want to risk opening old wounds for your relatives? I would stay well away from naming him Harrison. Hth.

Myfourblondies · 05/01/2015 08:54

Yes Arris means arse (my cockney father uses this term frequently.) There is a Harrison in my sons class and he is never known by anything other than Harrison.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 05/01/2015 08:49

I think it really would be best just not to use it.

School friends are likely to shorten it to Harry, he might like it, then you'd have to tell him he's not allowed the natural shortening of his own name because of your relative. It seems unnecessarily complicated. It's not like you are using it for sentimental reasons, it's just a name you like. I'd start looking for another one.

Connor
Arthur
Greyson

Japaninthesweep · 05/01/2015 08:39

Harrison I know is just Harrison. None of us thought to shorten it to Harry as it felt like a totally different name iyswim.

On another note, Harris is a Scottish isle but I don't know a single child with the name.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 05/01/2015 08:32

The Harrison I know has always been called Harry or Reece as a nn

specialmagiclady · 05/01/2015 08:21

Have you thought about speaking to the bereaved relatives about it. You could say "we wanted to name our child Harrison - how would you feel if he ended up being nicknamed Harry (Harri??)? Would it upset you or would you like there to be lots of Harrys in the family?" They might think it nice to have lots of children named "after" their lost son...

OutragedFromLeeds · 05/01/2015 00:40

Harrison and Harris are very close to Harry, if it's going to be that much of a problem you might need to use Harrison as a middle name.

Otherwise, just call him Harrison. If Harry already has meaning to them they won't randomly start calling your DS Harry because Harry is someone else iyswim.

I think if you make it longer by double barrelling it, you might find people are even more likely to shorten it.

Harrison is a lovely, not too long, easily pronounced name. Just call him Harrison. No nickname required.

Original poster
fishesfordishes · 05/01/2015 00:19

would it be cruel to double barrel it with something? and if I could double barrel it as a first name that could be a nice nn what are the possibilities?

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pieceofpurplesky · 05/01/2015 00:09

I know a Haris (one r) who is really cool and known as Haris or Haza

Clueing4looks · 05/01/2015 00:01

My Neighbour has a son called Harrison but everyone calls him Reese.

badtime · 04/01/2015 23:58

Oh, and my first thought was Hal as well - it reminds me of Prince Hal as well.

badtime · 04/01/2015 23:57

Aris(totle)=> bottle (and glass)=> arse is the rhyming slang, so it's not Harris, it's aris.

Original poster
fishesfordishes · 04/01/2015 23:55

I also kind of want to see if there's a way to avoid a "he's not going to be called harry" talk... as don't want to offend that way either.

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Original poster
fishesfordishes · 04/01/2015 23:54

thanks, this is all very helpful.

yes its very true that he probably will develop a nn over time, I guess we just want to try not to offend from the outset if that's possible with family...

as it was a tragic death at a young age, I feel we would be cruel not to start out with something that was very different rather than leave relatives calling him Harry by assumption but feeling upset over it...

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OutragedFromLeeds · 04/01/2015 23:50

Harris/Arris is definitely a euphemism for arse in East London. Probably fine elsewhere.

I don't really understand why you need a nickname though. You like the name Harrison so why not just call him Harrison? It seems the obvious choice as that's the name you both like....Confused

No doubt he'll develop a nickname that suits him over time, which may or may not have anything to do with his name.

marshmallowpies · 04/01/2015 23:43

I think the euphemism is a bit cockney/geezer talk - if you say 'Arris without the H it sounds a bit like 'arse'. I've heard Russell Brand use it! (Sorry!)

I think Harrison is a great name though - Hal would be my choice of nn though, as Hal to me is Prince Hal from Henry IV (Shakespeare) who is a loveable scoundrel till he grows up to be heroic Henry V! To me he's a bit of a romantic tearaway figure.

payuktaxrichardbranson · 04/01/2015 23:42

your dh is probably thinking that Harris sounds a bit like arris which was another (polite) way to say arse.

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 04/01/2015 23:40

I know a couple of Harrisons and they are called Harrison, no nickname. Can't you just call him Harrison?

mummyinlove · 04/01/2015 23:36

It's a while ago now but I don't think anyone assumed he'd be a Harry. A few people did ask but because I didn't call him Harry no one did.

Original poster
fishesfordishes · 04/01/2015 23:24

ooh I like Haz too. in my position would you have felt the need to tell relatives that he was "Harrison" not Harry at the start when you used it or did people just not assume Harry was the nickname anyhow?

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Original poster
fishesfordishes · 04/01/2015 23:22

oh dear. I cant see it pleasing my rather "proud to be welsh" grandmother if it's a popular scottish name.

Mind you, she did eventually recover from pfb's name

Was my DH just imagining it as a euphamism? He's rather "cockney" and I still haven't got a clue after 5 years of marriage about the various sayings he will come out with

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mummyinlove · 04/01/2015 23:21

Why do you need a nickname, why not just call him Harrison?
It's a fab name, we have a Harrison and I thought I would shorten it to Harris but instead call him Harrison Barrison (no idea why). His brother calls his Haz and dp calls him Aitch.

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