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Baby names

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

Original poster

Archie & Alfie

116 replies

Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 14:20

Are these names suitable for all ages?!?

DH loves both - I much prefer Archie

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MikeUniformMike · 06/08/2020 20:37

@Ijustcannotdecide,
It's fine to just have the short form.

I know plenty of people with names like Dick, Tony or Sandra on the bc.
Sure it's nice that Aunty Betty is really Elizabeth and Aunty Daisy is really Margaret, but that's from decades ago.

There's an MN obsession with needing a grown-up name in case little Ellie or Max ends up a high court judge.

If Archie is what you are going to call him, call him that not Archibald or god forbid Archer.

BigMamaFratelli · 06/08/2020 20:37

My first thought was 'they sound like a right pair of shits'. Sorry.

Whoever said about their mums being screechers also has a point

Original poster
Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 20:27

@Bubbletrouble43

I know everyone has opinions but in my family old relatives are Elsie, Ronnie and Bobby ... all on the birth certificate and I’ve never once thought they are just cutesy baby names..

OP posts:
MrsSpookyM · 06/08/2020 20:26

Elizabeth and Lizzie are classic and not overused.

Archie and Alfie may be shortened versions of other more classic names (the full names are much nicer), but the shortened versions have become trendy and overly popular. I just wouldn't want to give my child a name that 10 other kids in their year will have.

I'll also say that I have a very 80's "trendy" name that you can date to the decade it was fashionable, and I hate it.

Bubbletrouble43 · 06/08/2020 20:20

Op I'm with you. I'm an Elizabeth and have always been a Lizzie. No one, not even my mum, colleagues, anyone, calls me my full name. Is Lizzie too cutesy for me at 45 years old? I'll be Lizzie till the day I die! Ridiculous notion that names ending in ie are for kids only.

BlueBoar · 06/08/2020 20:14

Urchin names we call them in our house. Anything twee with “old man/ old lady” stem ending in -ie is going to really date. I am a primary teacher and it’s just so common. Charlie (Charles on BC) is about as far as I would go but even then, I wouldn’t. DS has a mega traditional name and he actually hates people giving him the -ie suffix, as do I when people do it with my name.

Original poster
Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 20:14

@Hortensien

Hence Archibald/Archer or Alfred...

Just because I didn’t state the full name does not mean I have no intention of using it for BC

OP posts:
Gummibearsi · 06/08/2020 20:07

Dreadful infantile overused names with certain connotations.

This sums up my view too.

There are far nicer, stronger and more classic names!

Hortensien · 06/08/2020 20:04

soon the little Archie’s and Alfie’s will be grown men

And they may then well want a more grown up name!

Hortensien · 06/08/2020 20:02

I'm afraid I also find Archie and Alfie childish and the opposite of classic. I think they'll soon fall out of fashion and sound dated.

RedRec · 06/08/2020 20:01

A few years ago it seemed compulsory to name every newborn baby boy either Alfie or Archie.

cleanermam92 · 06/08/2020 20:00

I like them both :) I think they are associated with little boys but soon the little Archie’s and Alfie’s will be grown men and we’ll associate them with that

Original poster
Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 19:57

@Sunshines123

Ha I know I’m exactly the same. I knew Archie wasn’t a popular choice with people on here as I’ve seen it get bad reviews before.

I personally do not think of either as cutesy, to me they’re both old names that are quite classic especially Archie..

OP posts:
Sunshines123 · 06/08/2020 19:55

Wow can’t believe how unpopular both these choices seem to be. I personally think they both lovely choices and yes they are popular but im a strong believer in pick what you like don’t not pick because you worried it’s popular.
I have a first name that was very popular when I was at school and multiple girls with same name in my class and never bothered me at all to be honest I didn’t give it a second thought.
I don’t really get the cutesy thing either because they are popular names and will grow with child so won’t be considered cutesy in 20 years time. For example I’ve never thought of the famous singer Alfie Boe having a cutesy name he’s an adult and suits him!

cptartapp · 06/08/2020 19:31

Dreadful infantile overused names with certain connotations IME.

timetest · 06/08/2020 19:27

They sound a bit too twee and will date rapidly.

MaverickDanger · 06/08/2020 19:24

I think by dating, PP means that you can easily tell how old most Archies will be.

It is likely that the vast majority of Archies are under 10 currently, compared to a name like James for example which you cannot “date” to one decade or period of time.

Thefaceofboe · 06/08/2020 19:22

both too cutesy and very unoriginal imo.

Original poster
Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 18:26

I do not get them dating badly as Archie has actually been around for years..
As I said my DH great uncle Arch is 80

OP posts:
123Dancewithme · 06/08/2020 18:21

I think they’re fine but will both date badly.

Original poster
Ijustcannotdecide · 06/08/2020 17:53

@wizzler

Is your Archie, Archie on the BC??

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MrsSpookyM · 06/08/2020 17:50

I hate them both. So overused, cutesy and twee.

At least give the child the full name in case they want to use it in future.

Grufallosfriends · 06/08/2020 16:44

They will probably date badly!

JorisBonson · 06/08/2020 16:39

We have an Alfie next door. Both he and his parents enjoy screeching.

JustanotherTuesday · 06/08/2020 16:37

There is an Alfie living down the road from me, his Mum is always telling him off, when she walks by our house.