Archie and the connoations

109 replies

inky1991 · 29/01/2023 21:30

So we're expecting a baby boy very soon. My husband and I don't agree on many names but we both really love the name Archie. I have personally wanted that name since I can remember.

As soon as Harry and Meghan announced they'd called their boy Archie, I was pissed off. They got there first as took us a very long time to conceive, and I knew when and if our time came, people might assume we copied them, or it would suddenly become mega over used.

Now I don't really need peoples opinions on the name itself, as I know these kind of names can be marmite on mumsnet as some see them at "cutesy" or whatever.

Anyway I just wanted to know what comes to your mind when you hear the name Archie? Do you immediately think of Harry and Meghan? My husband tells me to get over myself, and that people wouldn't think that, but he's not really up to date with any current affairs especially anything to do with Royal Family. My immediate family have made it pretty clear they aren't keen cause of connotations of H&M.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

SummaLuvin · 29/01/2023 21:49

Some people might have formed a strong association with H&M, but for me the more ubiquitous the name then the weaker the association with a single individual. If someone introduced me to their baby Hermione I would 100% think Harry Potter, if someone introduced me to their baby Harry I wouldn't at all, despite his name being on the cover and him being the main character.

I also think there's a difference between having a passing thought of "oh that's what H&M called their kid" and "that child must be named after him". I was a Twilight fan back in the day and I still immediately associate Rosalie with that character, but I wouldn't assume a baby Rosalie must have a Twi-Hard mum.

2013isback · 29/01/2023 21:48

It's my grandfather's name (technically Archibald, but very rarely called that), so I just think of him. He was called after his own great grandfather, who left Ireland and went to Scotland in the wake of the potato famine. I would not personally use it, but if someone in my family or demographic did I would assume they had a good reason. Harry and Meghan would not enter into it; I understand that these people are in line for the UK throne and that that's important, but internationally it's a tiny footnote especially as there's no history of the use of Archie or anything similar I either family. They used it because they liked it, and so can you.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 29/01/2023 21:45

I know quite a few Archies so Harry's son isn't the first thing that comes to mind. I wouldn't let that stop me if I loved the name.

Original poster

inky1991 · 29/01/2023 21:43

SummaLuvin · 29/01/2023 21:38

Archie is fairly common, 9th boys name for England & Wales in 2021, and has a pretty long history (especially taking into account those with long form on BC), so most people won't think it's copied from H&M as it's not at all unusual. For the same reason I wouldn't think a couple copied the royal by using the name George.

I say exactly the same thing to my family re names like George and Harry, but apparently those names are more classical so they don't think of Royal Family with them

OP posts:

Suprima · 29/01/2023 21:43

No, I think of the extremely common boy’s name Archie

I was surprised when h and m used it

Twoinapod · 29/01/2023 21:43

I had no idea that was the name of Harry & Megan’s son, my first thought is monarch of the glen. But I like it, it’s a nice name

Orangebadger · 29/01/2023 21:42

I don't think of H&M at all when I hear the name Archie. But I really pay no attention to H&M.

AuntieStella · 29/01/2023 21:41

I still think first of Balamory and Archie the Inventor in the pink castle

SummaLuvin · 29/01/2023 21:38

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread