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Baby names

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

Original poster

William and Harry

35 replies

Eminybob · 11/07/2018 02:41

We have just found out that dc2 is going to be a boy.

Dh and I both love the name Harry, but ds1 is William so I don’t know if we are completely ridiculous to use it?

I had ruled it out completely when we were talking in the abstract, but now knowing we are having a boy and that we are going to have to name him, we have come back to it.

So what’s the verdict? Will people forever make the royal connection and assume that we are either royalists, or copycats, or just plain daft?

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auntyflonono · 18/07/2018 07:14

Edward
Conrad
Hector

MariaMadita · 18/07/2018 06:57

William and Harold is nice.

I also like Henry and Henrik.

Flamingosnbears · 17/07/2018 22:14

How about putting Henry on the the BC that way he has choice... You could always go Harrison, Harris, Harold to get to Harry.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 17/07/2018 21:47

Choose Henry.

ShaunaKeenan · 17/07/2018 12:07

I'd go with it. DS1 is called Louis, we had chosen George as DS2 name however prince Louis arrived a month before DS2 so we decided on Alexander as DS2 name as we thought it would be too royal to have a "Louis and George" in the same household. I do secretly wish I'd gone with George though.

MariaMadita · 14/07/2018 16:20

I wouldn't do it...
Suggestions: Louis, Thomas, Henry (I know, Prince Harry's "actual" name), Frederick, Alfred, Nicholas, David, Patrick, Peter, Zachary, Charles, Andrew, Matthew, Samuel, Michael, Julian, Benedict.

fudgesmummy · 14/07/2018 13:45

We’ve got a William and a Harriet 😁
They are 31 and 28 now so only a few years younger than the royal princes
Only one in all these years has anyone made a “Royal comment” 😁😁

toomanyeastereggsurghh · 14/07/2018 11:17

Sorry but I think it sounds way too much like the royal princes and it will always get a mention when you give their names.
Lots of lovely names to choose from I’d pick something else if I were you.
Other names similar to Harry:
Toby
Felix
Charlie
Thomas
Freddie
Oliver
Max
Samuel
Alexander

Thetimehascometo · 12/07/2018 04:18

I'm Kate and one of my fave boys names was William, both my mother and mil poo pooed the idea because of the royal issue... thankfully we had a girl, I think I may have used it anyway. We were between William or Thomas

sycamore54321 · 12/07/2018 01:15

It does seem really Royal and almost everybody would notice that, so up to you to decide if you're ok with that. The thing about these two is that they will be known as brothers and a really famous pair probably for the rest of your lifetime. It's not like the name of two pop stars in a band, where they might split or never be heard from again.

If you have another child in between, it's nowhere near as clear cut - Harry, Claire and William for example - and the fact that the elder one is Harry makes it a little less "royal super-fan". But it's still likely to cause some comments so either you can tolerate that or not.

Enko · 11/07/2018 23:11

My girlfriend lives in Denmark and her 2 oldest boys are called 2 hugely traditional royal names for the Danish Royal family She said as a rule people said " ohh thats very royal "and then forgot all about it ..

if you like the name go for it.

RavenWings · 11/07/2018 22:32

I think it screams royal, the age Gap between your lads and the princes doesn't change anything about it. That's coming from a non-UK person.

Original poster
Eminybob · 11/07/2018 19:01

Ha I did think that if I’d named ds Harry first, then had William second, it wouldn’t be as much of a connection.

I actually wanted to call ds Harry, and dh vetoed it, but has now changed his mind and loves it Hmm

OP posts:
dinosaurkisses · 11/07/2018 14:56

I’d go ahead- they’re two very common names. If you had a girl called Beatrice and considering calling dd2 Eugenie I’d be more Hmm , but William and Harry are both top 20 names.

Just address them as Harry and William collectively, it’ll throw at least some people off!

LeeMiller · 11/07/2018 14:14

I'd avoid as the royal connection is so strong, it's the first thing people will think of, and not just in the UK either. I think William and Henry is absolutely fine though, it might be Prince Harry's real name but it's never used and the association is weak.

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2018 14:08

I think it's fine. the royal princes are much older. Harry is very popular though.

Original poster
Eminybob · 11/07/2018 13:56

It’s weird that they are 2 such common well used names which no one has any issue using on their own, but the minute they are put together it’s a massive no no!

Ah well, plenty more names out there. A girl would have been so much easier to name!

OP posts:
halcyondays · 11/07/2018 10:20

I think people would be sure to think of the royals.

lovelsa · 11/07/2018 10:18

This is one of my current dilemmas. Our first boy is Henry, and I'm consider William for our second due in August, but the Royal connection is what is holding me back from using it. So totally feel you!

DaniCam89 · 11/07/2018 09:32

Sorry but I would immediately think Royal Family.
How about,
Oliver
Lewis
Zachary
Alexander
Matthew
Micheal
Peter
Samuel
Ryan

HeyDolly · 11/07/2018 08:59

I know that Awwlook but he’s more commonly known and referred to as Harry rather than Henry.

MikeUniformMike · 11/07/2018 08:39

I know two brothers called William and Harry. Not the Royals. It's fine.
The obvious name is Benjamin. Bill and Ben.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 11/07/2018 08:39

I doubt that Dolly. Henry is Harrys real name

HeyDolly · 11/07/2018 08:37

Absolutely a royal connection. You might be able to get away with William & Henry.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 11/07/2018 08:03

Freddie
Samuel
Edward
George
Charlie

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