Harry and Henry

We had this the other way round - DP's nephew is Henry [Blinders], and I wanted Henry on the BC, to be known as Harry or Hal. But DP said it would be too weird to have two Henry [Blinders] in the family, so we went with something else.

Just looking at the top 10 babies names tells you that thousands of Harrys have Harry on the birth certificate. I've got 4 in my family, one born in the 1880s, one in the 1920s, one in the 70s and one in the 80s and they are all Harry on the birth certificate too.

Cross posted with you.

Not sure whose wedding it is, but yes, it sounds like baby names can wait a bit if parking in the car park is challenging them all a bit 😳🙄😂

No, just use Henry if you want to.

I can’t see why she’d care if she’s using Harry day to day and If shes precious about having a ‘Henry’ first then she should be calling him Henry or not be bothered that you have a child called Henry when she’s chose to name hers Henry but call him Harry.

Harry is a traditional nickname for Henry, but Harry has become a name in its own right and many ‘young’ people don’t even know it’s a traditional nickname. She may not.

Otherwise, to avoid it altogether, do you like any other names that are of a similar type Arthur/Artie, Edward/Eddie...

I have a Henry (nickname Henners!) and my DB has a DS named Harry. He is just Harry on bc. Strangely my DH wanted our DS to be called Harry but I thought it was important to put the 'proper' name on the bc and use the nn Harry and then it just never happened. We put Henry on the bc and then just seemed to stick with it. Mine and my DBs children are the only grandchildren on our side of the family and it doesn't seem to bother anyone.

Well, Harry was the second most popular boys' name in the UK last year, so there's plenty of people putting it on the BC!

I don’t know anyone who is Harry on BC

I think most of the current wave of Harrys (Harries?) under about 25 are Harry on their BC. My DC are in the relevant age group and know lots of people called Harry who are officially Harry (and one who is officially Harriet!) Prince Harry must have been one of the last to have been officially Henry and known as Harry.

It's fine. I know two brothers called Harry and Henry and no one bats an eyelid.

I really wouldn't.

There'll be one set of grandparents (or one side of the family) who'll have two grandsons/nephews with basically the same name. A lot of people on MN insist that this doesn't matter but they're wrong

I'd never heard of Harry being a NN for Henry until Prince Harry. Thought Harry was just short for Harold.

My friends son is Harry and is Harry on his birth certificate.

I don't think I would ask her. If she says no are you going to call your child by a name other than the one you want? If she says yes it would be like she had allowed you to call your son by your preferred name. I would just call him Henry.

My DH has 3 cousins in the same side all called same first name, same second name. Nobody cares. We all know which guy we mean when we are talking.

MancUnicorn is their brother called Matt?

Cousins named Henry and Harry would fine imo.

(even If your nephew is Henry on the bc, btw. They’re cousins, not brothers. If you do ask her... I myself would make it clear that this isn’t about asking for permission, tbh.)

If Harry is just Harry (which I think is likely to be the case given how high Harry is on the ons list) then cousins Harry and Henry are fine. Isabel is the Spanish equivalent of Elizabeth and I doubt anyone would come on here asking if it's OK to call their baby Isabel when the cousin is Elizabeth.

The only Harrys I know that are shortened from Henry tend to be older (e.g. My grandad, friends of my parents etc). I know some Harrys through school that are all Harry on bc and a handful of Henrys that are known as Henry although they could get shortened when older to Harry I guess. (Most of the Henrys tend to get called 'Hen' for short atm ).

If you go ahead with Henry, you can't nickname him Harry. But you can do Hal.
I'd just choose another name to be honest because basically, your kids will be considered to have the same name. And that could be awkward for everyone.

Don't think it's a problem if your nephew isn't Henry on bc.

I know a Harry (just Harry) and a Harry short for Harrison

I'd assume it was common knowledge that Harry was a nickname for Henry. But I don't think it's a no-go for there to be two Harry/Henrys in the extended family - it's not like you all live together.

Most people know Harry as a nn for Henry so think it's a bit odd. Are you sure it's not Henry on bc? Wouldn't your ds become known as Harry?

My Grandad was Henry, known as Harry.

My DS is Harry and just Harry on the BC.