Harris and Harry

[earlgreyismynectar]

DS was born a week ago and we finally decided on the name Harris though I intend for him to be known as Harry, whilst he's little anyway and he can use Harris when he's older if he likes or if there are more of them in the class! I realise that Harry is quite a popular name which is why I'd like another option in the wings.

I might regret this as I suppose I'm looking for reassurance following some negative / sniggering reaction to the announcement, mostly around the name Harry but I've also had a few querying comments (as well as positives) around Harris. Are there connotations to either name that I am missing? Or am I being hormonally over emotional just now?!

I really don't like Harris as a first name. WHy not go for Henry as a formal name and just call him Harry? Or if you're going to call him Harry regardless, then why not just register him as Harry?

I think Harry is a lovely name as it is. It could be short for henry, Harold and its older (Nordic?) form Harald.

Harris might be problematic if you live in an area which drops its aitches, especially the East End, as Aris is slang for arse.

PS: that was meant as explanation - not intended to dishearten. If you think about it, it's no different to Willy or Dick or Louis.

I like Harry. I'd just go for that.

harris is ok if your surname isn't tweed or tweedie personally i prefer harry

Argh! Really??? Well I'm in Scotland so not here... Yes, I like Harry as it is but not the more traditional Henry / Harold, I thought Harris as in the isle of (along with Lewis, Iona & Skye) worked as well but perhaps I'm complicating things. I'm really hormonal & unable to think straight

I think it works quite well in scotland as I'd think of the island too.

It's quite a modern thing to name babies after islands and older people will possibly look askance.

I think they are both nice and really can't see why you'd get any adverse reaction to either (also in Scotland).

I really like Harris! Much nicer than Harrison and I think it's nice to have a 'proper' name on the birth certificate so he's got the choice when he's older. I think you should go for it, be brave

Harris is much nicer than Harrison which seems to be used a lot these days.

The only associations I can think of are Harris Tweed, Rolf Harris and cockney rhyming slang - Arris = Aristotle = Bottle & Glass = Arse. Also arris is a process used in the glass industry, and means to grind the sharp edges and corners off a sheet of glass.

Prefer Harry.

I like it :-) in Scotland too and just thought of the stunning beaches on Harris! Definitely a good association. Prefer it as a long name for Harry too, over Henry or Harrison. If you love it go for it!

Congratulations!

I find Harry a little boring/overused personally. Harris, on the other hand, is less common and if it has positive associations in Scotlanad (where you are), I'd stick with it.

Thanks! Good to get feedback, hormones are definately making me overly sensitive & messing with my logic I do love both names & agree with the idea of a formal name for the birth certificate. It's a monumental decision naming a child...

Much prefer Harry too, Harris is too 'surnamey' for me x

Really like Harry. Unfortunately, for me, Harris would be too much like 'Arris - Arse. sorry.

I love Harris! So much so I wouldn't shorten it to Harry and probably growl at anyone who did. Not that I don't like Harry, but just such a lovely name in it's own right.

Thanks Tarlia! None of the arse connotations in Scotland which helps!

Harris is a bit surnamey for me....I would just go with Harry. If you're wobbling about it now, it will always be in the back of your mind.

Go for Henry with Harry as a shortening.

Harry is lovely. Not a fan of Harris, sorry. I imagine that the conotations are very different in Scotland to the ones here in Manchester, but it sounds a bit 'try hard' and as if it is an alternative to Harrison. My dad also uses it to mean 'arse'.

Congratulations on your baby

I'd go for Henry with Harry as nickname.

Thanks, I totally take on board the regional differences to the connotations of a name so it's good for me to hear how it's viewed elsewhere. Harris in Scotland would always be viewed in terms of the place I think. I appreciate that Harry is a short form for Harold or Henry but neither of those names feel right to me. He is already being referred to & introduced as Harry & it suits him. I just don't know. Harry as a name is more popular in England than Scotland, it sounds very English to me which I like (I am English) & perhaps that's why I've had some negative reaction to it here. If it doesn't feel right to me then I'll have mo qualms changing it, even at this late stage, have to do a bit of soul searching.

Harris is a lovely name, even more so here in Scotland - I by far prefer Harris to Harold or Henry for the long version, so go for it and enjoy your lovely wee boy.

Thanks Ann! I'm loving every minute!