Question about Archie

[Atkinson79]

We think we may go for Archie for our son.

I know it will probably date at some point as it's not a classic like James or William. But my question to you is, will it date in an Andy kind of way, or will it date in a Kevin kind of way?

I don't mind if it dates like Andy, Mark etc but I wouldn't choose it if it's likely to date in a Kevin kind of way. I hope you get what I mean!

Thanks

It is a lovely name, but I fear it tends towards the "Kevin" when I think of the little Archies that I know.....

"Freddie" on the other hand is probably more of an "Andy"......

Archie does have a very 'trendy' feel to it and I fear it will date soon. Why don't you name him Archibald, so that he can use his full name if he wants to later on?

I know a little kevin and i agree that it is awful! it still shocks me everytime i hear that kevin is his name!
so i get your fear.
Its hard to say really if i was set on that name i would go for Archibald shortened to Archie.
As i feel archie on its own it a little common, but thats just my opinion.

I know it will date. What I'm asking is do you think it will date in a Kevin or an Andy kind of way??

I don't mind if it's in an Andy way.

Archibald will be called Archie all the time so will not make a difference. Archibald is terrible anyway and it is not an option.

I'm not dead set on the name hence me asking you your opinion on this matter.

Kevin I think. I would worry about going for Archibald, I think there may be teasing sadly..

It will date in a 'Kevin' way. Not an 'Andy' way.

I hated Archie when I first heard it, but the little boy was so lovely that I love it now :)

I don't know - to me Kevin & Andy are as bad as each other - equally dated but I guess in my mind it would date more like a Nigel than a Dave/Phil - does that help?

However, the way I look at it is, Archie is reasonably popular now, so as he ages his name will too - so yes in 20 years time people probably wont still be calling their babies Archie, but there will be plenty of Archies of his age.

I think it will probably become a Kevin/Nigel/Trevor name.

I agree - it will date. I'm already getting a bit 'bored' with it - there are just so many little Alfies and Archies around...

If you must, I'd use Archibald on the bc just to give ds more options later on.

I quite like the name but I think it will date in a Kevin way.
I usually prefer long names rather than giving the short as the actual name, but you are right - Archibald is just awful. What further options does it give you - Baldy? Chichi?

Baldy, Chichi

Ok, perhaps there aren't many nice nickname options, but at least Archibald give him the option of using a proper, long name if he wishes to.

I think a lot of people assume that an Archie is an Archibald, just as they assume that a Will is a William or a Tom a Thomas, but maybe that is just me..?

I suspect it will date in a bad way.

In the interests of redressing the balance and because...
A) I have an Archie and love the name and
B) I think Mumsnet can be a bit snobby about the name (huff)...
I don't think it will date like Kevin. I think Kevin was a more modern name which therefore marked a time more than a name like Archie might. I think a Jayden, Ashton may become more of a Kevin. That's not a criticism of those names but more a reflection on the style of name they represent (modern, not seen in historic generations). I know Archies my grandfather's age, Archies my father's age and Archies my son's age. For that reason I personally think it will age more like an Andy.

It's a great name and if you love it go for it. Don't be put off by the common/popular comments - there's not a name on here that isn't ripped apart (in the nicest possible way) for one reason or another. Hector may become the new Alfie, Arlo may end up like Kevin, who would have predicted the Noah explosion 5 years ago, Henry may be as popular as Harry 18 months from now - tis all guesswork and the only way to not drive yourself insane is to find a name you both adore and take your chances. FWIW I font regret my choice at all.

That's don't clearly (I do regret the font slightly as it's a bit dull) x

Twatty well put...I will remember your wise words when names DC later next month!

x [bsmile]

It will date like Andy. Agree that Jayden and Kayden will be the Kevins and Waynes.

If Archie is the equiv. of Kevin then what will Jayden be?!

But Jayden isn't as popular as the cutey type names Alfie/Archie ones and therefore won't date as badly imo.

So I think Archie will date badly.

Kevin I think, Im afraid. As will Alfie.

I wouldn't describe Kevin and Wayne as 'cute'!

But in the 60s/70s people did think the names were cute .

3nearly4 I'm with you all the way.

Kevin didn't become 'Kevin' just because of it's popularity or 'cute' appeal. In my opinion it became synonymous with 70s/80s man because it was a name that seemingly came from nowhere, was popular for a generation and then almost totally disappeared. You wouldn't expect to see a 'Kevin' on a census from 1700/1800/1900 but you would still see plenty of Archibalds, Charles and Alfreds. If you see the name Archie Rochester on a document you'd be hard pushed, without knowing more, to definitively guess when he was born, if you see the name Kevin Williamson you'd pretty much be certain they'd have been born post 1960 and pre 2000.

The same applies to Jayden/Kayden/Ashton. Unlikely to be older than 20 - and pretty surprising if they were born pre the Industrial Revolution. But I don't think that's all that made Kevin, Sharon, Tracey and Wayne date so badly. Various comedy sketches and Viz helped them along the way and to be honest none of us can predict which names will be open to some kind of ridicule in years to come. There is as much chance that an unpredicted turn of events will change the way we see Oscar, Hugo, Jack or Conrad by the time our little ones are fully grown. Jordan was an Aramaic name introduced by the Crusaders till a girl with giant wangers came along and ruined it. Who could have seen those 32 GGs coming!

I still think it's an Andy.

I know three Archie's - one who's 7 and one who's 4 and one who's 45! I think it's a lovely name and I don't think Archibald is necessary at all.

As for dating no one can really predict what name will do well - the jordan example shows that.