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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Henry or Harry?

28 replies

IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 27/09/2011 10:18

Having received plenty of feedback on my Catherine/Penelope girls name thread, I'm now trying to sort out potential boys names! 9 weeks to go now...

I'll admit to being a little uninspired on this as, unlike when we had ds, I'm struggling to find any boys names I really really love, but favourite so far (that we can both agree on!) is Harry. And yes I know it's popular, and would prefer something slightly lower down the top 100, but really not convinced about any others.

If we were to go with Harry, I can't decide whether we would be better to put Harry or Henry on the birth certificate. Usually, I don't like nickname type names as given names (so would put Charles rather than Charlie, Catherine rather than Katy etc). However for some reason I see Harry less as an obvious nickname and more as a stand alone name iykwim? Just wondering what others' thoughts on this were?

Also, I hated my name growing up and couldn't really shorten/adapt it to anything different so do see the advantage in giving "options" and wondering whether to put Henry rather than Harry on the bc for that reason (although we probably wouldn't use Henry)? I just don't know.

Middle name would probably be Felix or Benedict depending on what goes best with first name (probably Harry Benedict or Henry Felix as they seem to go best but open to suggestions on this).

Would welcome any feedback to stop me going round in circles on this one!!

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Moulesfrites · 27/09/2011 10:21

I think Harry is a stand alone name now, same as Jack.

I like Henry but then I am biased . Henry Felix is lovely.

Meteorite · 27/09/2011 10:23

I'd put Henry on the BC.

themightyskim · 27/09/2011 10:30

I prefer Harry but only because I know a Henry and hes a pain :)

ilovespinach · 27/09/2011 12:31

The Harry/Henry abbr really confuses a lot of people - I know from experience!!!! You will get a lot of people asking what his 'real name' is.

For me Henry is better....Henry George especially so :)

MorallyBankrupt · 27/09/2011 13:04

I think of Harry as a different name now tbh. When he starts school I think it would be odd to have Henry on everything but then have him called Harry.

I definitely think if you intend to use Harry it's enough of it's own name to just be Harry. Why add any unnecessary confusion by having a name on the BC you won't actually use?

ShoutyHamster · 27/09/2011 13:31

I think it's a stand alone by now - kind of. But, as you are unsure which is best, AND you tend to like proper names, why not give him Henry? Then he gets the choice too, and can pick which he prefers. You can quite happily call him Harry to start with.

Also - although Harry is great, I do think that Henry has a touch more gravitas. Give him the option I say.

poppydaisy · 27/09/2011 13:34

I don't see how Harry is a nickname for Henry .

Harry is a nickname for Harrison or Harris imo, but not Henry.

If you prefer Harry, choose Harry. If you prefer Henry, go for that. Round here, Harry is very very popular (3 in our Beavers group of 14).

Original poster

IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 27/09/2011 13:43

poppy I have no idea where Harry as a nn for Henry came from (would love to know because it's not obvious!) but it definitely is - even Prince Harry's real name is Henry.

I do prefer Harry and would use that form day to day, but would it be better for dc3 to have a choice when he's older?

Harry's very popular here too, although not more than one in any class at dcs' primary school (and none is ds' or dd's classes) so I'm not sure whether that bothers me or not...

Thanks for comments so far...keep them coming!

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MorallyBankrupt · 27/09/2011 13:46

I know 3 of each. All the Harrys are just called Harry.

I do think it would be confusing and most people these days think if Harry as a separate name. Its not like when you see Tom you assume Thomas, when you see Harry, you assume that is the full name IMO.

MorallyBankrupt · 27/09/2011 13:48

Oops pressed send to soon..... Anyway, I just don't like the idea of using quite a different name day to day but then needing to put a different name on forms.

ForYourDreamsAreChina · 27/09/2011 16:06

Harry. Much nicer than Henry in any case.

Meteorite · 27/09/2011 16:35

Harry/Charlie/Alfie type names are all quite "cute" but this is because they are nicknames for other more straitlaced names. If you take away the distinction and use these names in their own right then over time they will just become as staid as all the others.

Original poster

IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 27/09/2011 16:58

You see, the problem is I don't like the cutesy boys names like Charlie/Alfie etc because they're so cutesy (hence I would rather use long form on bc). In my head, for some reason, I don't see Harry as being in the same category but clearly others do? Hmmm....

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MrsJohnDeere · 27/09/2011 17:15

The Harrys I know (and there are many in the under 5s age group) are all just Harry on their birth certificate.
Henry much nicer name IMHO.

sparkle12mar08 · 27/09/2011 18:17

Harry is fine but it's ten a penny round here. Just go with Benedict or Felix as first names - much better :)

rachel1970 · 27/09/2011 18:44

I see Harry as a name in its own right, like Jack. Can't say I particularly like it - it is very common round here, along with Alfie, Charlie etc.

Mondayschild78 · 27/09/2011 20:22

I like Harry, I'm not keen on Henry.

lurkinginthebackground · 27/09/2011 23:41

I think Harry is a stand alone name. I don't know any young Harrys who are actually Henrys. Likewise the only Henry I know never gets shortened to Harry. Out of your list I do prefer Benedict though.

nilequeen · 28/09/2011 00:05

I def. agree with sparkle - Benedict and especially Felix are amazing first names. Go with one of those.

Sirzy · 28/09/2011 00:09

My ds is Harry, never even crossed my mind to use Henry! It's not that popular here and I have only met one other

iskra · 28/09/2011 00:50

My grandfather was called Harry on his birth certificate in the 20s, so its been a standalone name for a while.

Original poster

IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy · 28/09/2011 07:15

Hmmm...we can't use Benedict as the first name because the inevitable shortening Ben (I dislike Ned) sounds ridiculous with our surname. I love Felix, and it has a great meaning, but dh won't agree to it as a first name (he also vetoed Felicity for girls)

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MorallyBankrupt · 28/09/2011 08:15

That is true, my step Grandfather was born in about 1914 and was just Harry on his BC.

henryhsmum · 28/09/2011 09:12

My DS is Henry and we never have had it shortened to Harry - tend to shorten it to just H if anything but normally just say Henry. I think in the past, Henry was shortened to Harry more but I see that as being a thing that my grandparents generation did. Personally, I am obviously very biased but I think Henry is nicer than Harry as Harry is so common now. Everyone always comments on what a nice name Henry is to us

Megatron · 28/09/2011 21:56

I would say it's a standalone name now too. It's a sweet name but there are soooo many of them round here (4 in DD's class of 14!).

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