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Baby names

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

Original poster

Arch

94 replies

KatieB356 · 05/01/2026 21:32

A male colleague has just announced that his son is Arch, just Arch. Not short for Archibald or Archer / Archie and now I want to add it to my shortlist as I absolutely love it however with Arch not being too popular would I look like I have stolen their name?

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EmpressaurusKitty · 06/01/2026 07:46

I was thinking of Villain as a suitable middle name.

CurlewKate · 06/01/2026 07:46

Cope?

Lollylavender · 06/01/2026 07:46

And really close to Arsch (Arse in German)

Lollylavender · 06/01/2026 07:45

Arch Rivals or Arch Enemies…..

Lollylavender · 06/01/2026 07:42

Arch?! What an ugly sound. Worse than Archibald.

MrsMoastyToasty · 06/01/2026 00:10

It's like calling your child Pedestal or Settee.

user2848502016 · 05/01/2026 23:30

I wouldn’t bother, it’s awful.
And yes it would look weird and like you stole their name!
How about Archie/Archer/Ash?

FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease · 05/01/2026 23:20

I prefer Marble

Please don't call your poor child Arch

BatchCookBabe · 05/01/2026 23:19

Dreadful. 😖

SirChenjins · 05/01/2026 23:17

Snap!

SirChenjins · 05/01/2026 23:17

I'd go for Nemesis - they'd make quite the pair

LighthouseLED · 05/01/2026 23:17

Is the middle name going to be Nemesis?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 05/01/2026 23:16

TraitorsLantern · 05/01/2026 23:09

If you like the spelling of Arch but want to be a bit different, you could go for Archangel?

That’s even more stupid than Arch.

Yes OP, Arch is stupid and it’s lame to
brazenly copy someone’s name. Call the kid bridge or square instead.

AspiringChatBot · 05/01/2026 23:15

It makes me think of Arch Bug from Outlander. As far as the perception of copying your coworker, I'd guess it would only be evident when you announce the name/birth - ten years from now you probably won't still be working together, and most people who hear you say your son's name won't know whether Arch is a stand-alone or short for another name.

Behindthename.com says that in addition to being a diminutive of Archibald, etc., Arch is also an Armenian word, sometimes used as a male name, meaning bear. I think the original word (արջ) would usually be transliterated as Arj, though.

ResusciAnnie · 05/01/2026 23:15

Yes it would 100% look like you’ve ‘stolen’ the name, given essentially no one else has called their child Arch.

TraitorsLantern · 05/01/2026 23:09

If you like the spelling of Arch but want to be a bit different, you could go for Archangel?

InsolentAnnie · 05/01/2026 23:08

If you do it, don’t ever let him go to Germany, because it’s extremely close to the German word for arse.

catontheironingboard · 05/01/2026 23:03

Really, OP, the hormones do make one a bit dotty at times when pg. I developed a notion that I would call DD Lettice; but thankfully I came to my senses. With the greatest of respect, don’t do it. Arch is a terribly silly name, and everyone will think you are That Parent.

sittingonabeach · 05/01/2026 23:02

Bet that child will be changing their name as soon as they are old enough

NormaSnickers · 05/01/2026 22:59

You could hyphenate it to make it a bit different - how about Arch-enemy?

yonem · 05/01/2026 22:55

Sohelpmegod25 · 05/01/2026 22:21

I mean if you stole this ridiculous name or “arch” if you had an other child you could call them “bridge” or something equally as stupid!

I was thinking Smug (boy) and Sardonic (girl, nn Sadie) as sibling options 😂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 05/01/2026 22:46

Sleepasaurus · 05/01/2026 21:38

Bridge would be a nice alternative. Maybe Curve?

I was thinking maybe Cornice (sounds a bit French-like) or perhaps even Parapet?

sesquipedalian · 05/01/2026 22:41

If you want to call you child Arch without copying your friend, then name them Archibald or Archie and just call them Arch for everyday. (I agree with others that I have no idea why you would want to do this….)

k1233 · 05/01/2026 22:39

Sohelpmegod25 · 05/01/2026 22:21

I mean if you stole this ridiculous name or “arch” if you had an other child you could call them “bridge” or something equally as stupid!

Arch, Ridge, River, Valley, Everest, Munro, Cliff, Summit, Rain - you could get a whole theme going

yonem · 05/01/2026 22:38

Don’t they know all the meanings of the word? Being arch/saying something archly is such a weird thing to name your child after.