Archie and the connoations

🤣 🤣 🤣

I didn't even think of H+M when I read the name and I don't think most people immediately would.

I wouldn't worry about it being overly popular either. I'm like you and aren't particularly bothered by using a common name, DS's name was no2 on the top 10 and I've only come across 3 others with the same name in 6yrs! And only one of those his age.

Has nasty connotations and won't sink into oblivion any time soon. Atchwell will keep being reported.

I personally loved the name pippa and it was my name for DD but then Pippa Middleton was on everything after the royal wedding and I didn't use it. No disrespect to her (not that I'm sure she cares lol) but I didn't want a name that people thought was influenced by someone in the public eye. So for that reason if I were you I wouldn't use it.

It's a very popular name and was way before H&M used it. If you like it, use it. Why would you care if people think you have copied someone's name choice?

He's the most famous young Archie so it might cross my mind but the name had already been really really common for a few years when they chose it, so I don't think it's a big deal.

I would think of H&M’s boy but prob because I don’t know any other Archie’s.
Personally I wouldn’t use it because I’d think people would think I’d named after him and I feel a bit naff. But I probably spend far too much time worrying what other people think.

Personally yes I think of Harry and Meghan but that is perhaps because I'm not around children.

I would still use it if it’s the name you love. Once your boy is here the name will be his, you won’t even give H&M a thought and neither will your family after a few days. This is why it’s best not to discuss names with family, they think they can give their opinion and then it’s awkward. If you just had the baby and said we’ve called him Archie I doubt they’d say anything about it. Also for what it’s worth I have 3 kids (2 in school) and don’t know any Archie’s. So even if a name is popular in some areas or high on the lists it doesn’t mean there’ll be loads of them in the class, people over exaggerate that. I’ve literally never come across one. But if I did meet an Archie I wouldn’t think ‘Harry & Meghan’ and even if it crossed my mind I wouldn’t think anything negative (and I don’t like them!)

I just think these things are so regional and specific though.

In 15+ years of teaching Early Years I’ve taught one Archie. I’ve never come across one outside teaching. I’m not disputing it’s a popular/ top ten name but these things are always going to depend on where you live / whose path you happen to cross.

Even the most popular name is still always going to be a relatively small percentage of the population - it’s not like when I was growing up and the vast majority of people were choosing from the same shortlist of about 10 names. Yes you might end up with a few in the same class but you could equally easily go through school without ever encountering another one.

To answer OP’s original question before clicking on this thread I assumed it was a Royal/ H&M thread - but that’s because this is mumsnet I think. If I came across the name outside of this setting my mind probably wouldn’t automatically go there.

Archie is fine imo.

Also Archie and The Connotations sounds like a great band name.

Here are the popularity stats for the name in England & Wales.
names.darkgreener.com/#archie
It's also popular as a dog's name.

I think it might be more popular in Scotland.

Use it if you like it, and ignore what your family thinks. By the time your son starts school, I think (hope) H&M will have faded from view quite a bit.

I work at a private school and we have a few Archies, but they are all 10 and over. It seems to have had a moment locally and peaked a while back. We have lots of little Albies, Alfies and Berties.

I'm also half Scottish, and I know Archie is a much less "trendy" and more classical name there. My Scottish routes another reason why I like the name

You've got to be joking. Every other sproglet here is called Archie. It's so common it's dull.

It might vary by area. I'm in Scotland and I haven't yet encountered a single Archie or Oliver under 12, and rarely those over 12.

I think enough time has lapsed now that nobody will think of H & M. Fo for it its a good sturdy name!

It's just a popular name surely?

Yeah, there’s NO WAY Harry would have chosen Archie (actual name, not a nickname) if it were up to him!

I was surprised h&my chose this name. It is a nice name but it was clear meghan was in the driving seat with this choice as Archie is unusual in the USA but not in Britain. Also Harrison as the middle name? A more royal choice would have been to put Henry in. Harrison is the American version of that. I think Harry just said Ok

As many people saying Archie is wildly overused, I would genuinely love to hear what people would call their son if they were having a little boy soon?

How about you take a look at the ONS lists of all boys names - you'll find lots and lots of great underused classics outside the top 100 names.

Is the only way to avoid dated names to call your child a classic name like Henry, Tom, George etc? Those names are fine but also really over used and not too exciting either IMO.

No, on the contrary. You choose names that are NOT in the fashionable top 100 names.

There are so many great underused names - my dc's was used 20 times the year they were born. It's not a 'fashionable' name.

Archie and Alfie type names are already starting to sound a little overused and dated imo.

I have two young DDs, and if one had been a boy they'd have been James.

I know Archie is a top ten name but I don't know any baby Archies. I have come across an awful lot of baby Arlos.

I think it depends on where you live.

As for the PP who suggested Noah as an alternative - Noah is more popular than Archie!

How do you choose a name that won’t date badly?

It’s very obvious. Avoid the very popular names. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t understand people who say ‘popularity doesn’t bother me’, but then don’t wanted a dated sounding name. You can’t have one without the other.

And it’s also exactly why lots of people avoid popular names - because they WILL sound dated in a few short years.

All the popular names from my childhood now sound dated - Karen, Nicola, Joanne, Jennifer, Mark, David, etc, etc. All tired sounding, but were lovely and popular in the 70s/80s.

And it’s really not a choice between ‘Archie’ and ‘Moon-Unit’.

There’s vast swathes of really good name choices between completely tired and over used, and stupidly unique.

Use it if you like it. No on would think of Harry and Megan. Extremely popular name, we have loads in our school and they're all the naughty boys. 😅 Very popular dogs name too... Buy a baby book and pick a name from there if it bothers you that much?