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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Henry, Harry, Freddie or Bertie?

67 replies

Josephine82 · 08/08/2018 10:41

Pls help! Our baby boy is already here and we can't decide on a name. It's causing endless of arguments. We've currently opted for Henry but neither of us seem to love it ( my husband prefers Harry and I Freddie (Frederick)). We're also considering Albert/Bertie but not sure we're brave to go with the name. Pls let me know what you think. Makes me sad that my rainbow baby (had 2 losses last year) still hasn't got name. :-( x

OP posts:

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lovelsa · 16/08/2018 10:37

We have a Henry and have come across surprising few other Henrys.

It was my pick but my husband prefers Harry. We agreed to do Henry on the birth certificate and he can go by Harry as he gets older if he chooses or my husband can call him that since he prefers it.

Anyway, Harry originated as a nn for Henry, so not much of a stretch to use it that way!

Original poster

Josephine82 · 16/08/2018 08:52

Ok so today is decision time and I think we will be going with Frederick - Freddie for short. Henry is still in the running though but we’ve ruled out Harry and Bertie (love this one but realised it’s a difficult one if we move back to where I’m from).

OP posts:

Sessy19 · 14/08/2018 22:11

Ive literally met four Beeties in the last month...ranging from few months old baby to 7-8yrs. It’s a very popular name here in Wiltshire.

Henry is ridiculously popular...with a MUCH broader age range, same as Harry. I feel like they’re sooo characterless as a result of they’re popularity. Shame, perfectly nice name. Good choice to go with second name.

I live Freddie and all it’s variants.

As an aside, it’s perfectly reasonable to go with, say, Frederick Henry and call him Henry. Or Henry Frederick and call him Freddie. There’s a quirky story behind it if you don’t actually address him later on by his first name....it’s quite common for the reasons you are experiencing now.

Theresomethingaboutdairy · 14/08/2018 20:44

Love the name Henry, it's timeless. Harry is a genuine nickname for Henry too so you have options with it.

holasoydora · 14/08/2018 20:39

Henry is a lovely name. I also like Harry. But if you love Freddie I think you should make your DH aware how much it means to you and stick to your guns.

TenThousandSpoons · 14/08/2018 20:36

You can’t go wrong, they’re all nice. Personally I prefer Harry to Henry because of the “Horrid Henry” books/programmes.
My order of preference would be
Harry
Freddie
Henry
Bertie

WillowRose79 · 14/08/2018 20:27

Have you decided!?x

MrsWinkly · 14/08/2018 20:22

ShackUp
It's such an uncommon name, think it'd surprise me too if we met another in real life!
Mine's really sociable too. I always think of it as a sort of warm and friendly name, sounds like it suits yours!

ShackUp · 14/08/2018 19:48

Hi threewheeler the weirdest thing happened today, the people in the queue behind us for soft play had a seven-year old Bertie, literally the first time we've ever met another out and about!

My Bertie is a dude, all surferish and white blonde and very sociable! DS1 gets overlooked somewhat when they're together because he's a bit more aloof...

MrsWinkly · 14/08/2018 15:59

BevBrook
That's what we shortened it from

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 14/08/2018 15:21

Henry is lovely. Really nice.

Original poster

Josephine82 · 14/08/2018 15:20

Thanks all, so helpful. We’ve already registered him as Henry but it was such a rushed decision and the name wasn’t even on our list. Know I could leave it a bit longer but really want to make a final decision now as I’m even avoiding seeing people as I dread them asking about his name. Just need an end to it now. I think it is between Freddie and Bertie now with Henry as the middle name if my OH let’s me. Thanks again, all your comments have been great.

OP posts:

BevBrook · 14/08/2018 15:17

I love the name Bertie. If I had another boy he would be Bertie, but short for Bertram. There was a little Bertram in one of the Scandi dramas - Borgen I think.

MrsWinkly · 14/08/2018 15:15

ShackUp
Just waving at you - I have a Bertie too.
We've never met another one

MrsWinkly · 14/08/2018 15:12

I have a Bertie so I'm biased .
Not shortened from Albert though.
We don't know any others and it suits him.
He has a touch of the 1920s top-hatted gent about him.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 14/08/2018 15:04

Definitely don't rush it. Why not go for Frederick Henry, then you can narrow it down later?!

I think you can easily change their name on the BC for their first year. Passport makes it slightly more expensive to change your mind, but sod it.

I'm still not convinced by my DS1's name. It's a lovely name, but it's not "him". He's almost 16 now...

Go with Fred if it's what he feels like to you.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 14/08/2018 14:59

I was in this situation! Couldn't decide between William/Billy and Henry/Harry until a week after he was born. I went for Henry in the end. We call him Harry, which REALLY suits him.

My friends have a Burt, which is just the coolest name ever! Or what about Alfred/Fred/Alfie?

Original poster

Josephine82 · 14/08/2018 14:52

Hi all, can you believe that we still haven’t decided on this but need to make a final decision tonight as have to apply for passport tomorrow. Pls help! My favourite is still Freddie, but I am not sure my husband will give in... love the name Henry, but I don’t feel like that is his name. Not sure if that is just me being silly? Advice pls. This whole name saga has added so much stress. X

OP posts:

Belindabauer · 11/08/2018 11:17

I really don't like Albert or Bertie, sorry.
Id chose either Freddie or Harry.

Original poster

Josephine82 · 11/08/2018 11:15

Thanks all. If we go for Albert I’d definitely call him Bertie as not a fan of Albie. He could then be Albert when he’s grown up. Decision time this weekend and still not closer to decide argh. Only ruled out Harry as it’s way too popular now. X

OP posts:

MadisonAvenue · 11/08/2018 10:50

Freddie is fantastic!

There are loads of Harrys around, there were a lot in my oldest son's year group at school (he's now 21) and we know several much younger ones. It's not a name I particularly like, simply because all of the Harrys that we know aren't very nice.

ShackUp · 11/08/2018 10:42

'Albie is better than Bertie'.

Erm no it isn't! Bertie is a classic. Bertie Wooster is not a toddler. Also, millions of Albies popping up everywhere.

CommanderDaisy · 11/08/2018 09:02

While Bertie might be cute for a baby or a child, it is definitely not cute for an adult man.
" Bertie X will now present to us a.....". " Bertie says....". Nope, doesn't work for me.
Albie is the other main twist on Albert which is better that Bertie.
Henry has multiple options for nicknames - Harry, Hal, Haz, Hen, and it's a bit more dignified.
Freddie again is not great for an adult, though Fred is better.

My pick would be Henry.

NotOurDivision · 11/08/2018 08:53

I'm due soon and if it's a boy we're thinking of Henry but to be shortened to Hal.

Snoopychildminder · 09/08/2018 20:45

I look after the most beautiful little Bernie.

I also love Henry/Harry

Really like Bertie/Albert

My husband really wanted Wilf when I was pregnant but she turned out to be a girl

Frank

Percy

Robert

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