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Original poster

Is Henry a posh name?

41 replies

heidihole · 15/03/2013 19:34

We have one son called James and I'd love to have Henry for our next son.

DH will not consider it AT ALL he says its hugely posh. I said I don't think people see Henry as posh...posh is "Horatio" or something.

So...in society today is Henry a posh name? I'm happy to be proved wrong! Do you think it 'goes' with James?

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ladymia · 15/03/2013 19:40

No, it's just one of those names like Harry, Jack or Alfie. It's a popular name used by lots of different people ranging from middle class to posh.

I would say it's in the same league as James.

Original poster
heidihole · 15/03/2013 19:47

thank you for replying. We like traditional names, no youniquee spellings, and one of the things that drew us to James was the "class-less" ness of it. Ie you can imagine James the bin man and James the primeminister. I'd like another name like that.

Don't mind if it's popular, because James is, and we think names are popular for a reason ;)

DH utterly against it because its posh (in his mind)

OP posts:
Shr0edinger · 15/03/2013 19:50

Not really. It's too ordinary.

TheBuskersDog · 15/03/2013 19:52

I don't think Henry is seen as really posh these days, but it is still posh enough to be used by very posh people IYSWIM, very much like James. I think James and Henry sound fine together.

It's not like some names that can seem a bit too 'try hard', like you want people to think you are posh, if that makes sense.

seimum · 15/03/2013 19:52

The Henry in my son's class was not posh. Pretty standard classic name, really

HorryIsUpduffed · 15/03/2013 19:52

I think it's moderately posh, in a way that Harry isn't. A Harry might be the poorest child in the disadvantaged school, or the richest at Eton, but I would expect Henry to have professional parents IYSWIM.

In the same way, I find Jamie more socially level than James, Ellie than Elinor, etc. Just a full name/nickname bias. I realise there are many exceptions, but when talking about the "class" of a name generalisations are all we have.

Posh is more Rupert, Ptolemy, Jeremy IMHO.

buttercrumble · 15/03/2013 19:52

Love Henry its a beautiful name.....

BoringTheBuilder · 15/03/2013 19:56

Jeremy...as in Jeremy Kile lol. HenrY sounds posh to me but than I'm not English.

armagh · 15/03/2013 19:57

Is he Irish? Henry would be posh in Ireland Smile

kitchenidiots · 15/03/2013 19:58

I teach a class with 5 Henrys in it. The Maths teacher puts them all on one table. He thinks it's hilarious to say 'Henry' and watch them all turn round. The boys do too!

tollyandfeste · 15/03/2013 19:59

I think Henry and James are lovely names. They can cross the divide And fit in anywhere (except perhaps a sink estate 'think shameless'). Although I called met cat James and my MIL commented that it was 'posh'. But hat on earth is wrong with being posh anyway. Or not posh. Who cares?! Wink Xx

mamapants · 15/03/2013 19:59

I started a thread asking people where they would put Henry on a scale of poshness recently, for very similar reasons to you. The consensus was that it wasn't considered posh I think most people gave it a 6 out of 10 'poshness'

Lizzylou · 15/03/2013 20:03

It's a lovely name and goes well with James (another lovely name).

Whether it is posh or not very depends on whether you buy into all that guff!

sink estate?? Really! Poorest child in class or at Eton? Professional parents?

So much utter tripe. Name your baby what you like. Please don't buy into all of this rubbish.

Original poster
heidihole · 15/03/2013 20:08

I love MNetters :) DH now re-considering Henry...I love how easily he was swayed Hmm he is Scottish but we are in the Channel Islands and likely to live here or England for ever. (to answer a question above)

OP posts:
poppydaisy · 15/03/2013 20:52

What on earth is WRONG with 'posh'? Honest question, I don't understand!

notso · 15/03/2013 21:13

I don't think Henry is the classic all-rounder James is, but perhaps I'm swayed because of the Henry's I have known in the past.

hmmmhmmm · 15/03/2013 21:21

i consider Henry a posh name.
classics i Dont think are posh are Andrew, William, Simon, Adam, Jack, David, George,harry , Ian ,Michael, peter,Robert, Stephen,

SleepyCatOnTheMat · 15/03/2013 21:32

I think the confusion arises from the fact Henry used to be posh but is increasingly being used by all classes. Six out of ten for poshness sounds about right.

snice · 15/03/2013 21:34

I think its a bit posher than Harry but not uber-posh like Hugh

CheeseStrawWars · 15/03/2013 21:39

It's the "hooray Henry" connection that makes it "posh". Google "hooray Henry" if you're not aware of that term.

AmandaPayneNeedsaHoliday · 15/03/2013 21:51

Used to be posh. Dead ordinary now.

I think that's what you wanted to hear and hopefully adds another vote to helping your case Grin

Taffeta · 15/03/2013 21:55

3 Henrys at DCs primary, none of whom are remotely posh.

Original poster
heidihole · 15/03/2013 21:58

To answer question, nothing "wrong" intrinsically with posh. We just want to pigeon hole him. We have a high income and don't want our children to be part of 'that family' .... so a name that crosses boundries is preferable.

What's "wrong" is we dont want a name that if his choice of career is a toilet cleaner than his mates are going to ridicule him! Same as I wouldn't want a name that was seen as "chavvy" because if he became a high court judge then he'd also feel out of place.

I don't want either end of the spectrum. However I suppose ironically we would fall more into the posh category than any other due to current lifestyle.

OP posts:
girlsyearapart · 15/03/2013 21:59

Ds is Henry & we are not posh hth Smile

Froggy2013 · 16/03/2013 00:55

It used to be very posh when I was at school (I'm 36) - but is becoming less so now.