Harry and Henry

[ClareB83]

My SIL has two boys, one called Harry. It's Harry on birth certificate I think.

Would it be weird if we called one of our babies Henry?

OH didn't even realise Harry was a nickname for Henry, but I'm worried it's a bit funny.

Check if he is an actual Harry - I don’t know anyone who is Harry on BC.

My bro is Harry - he is a Hen on BC - I would call my DC Henry but insist on it as I love the name ! Shame DB didn’t 😂

A bit. Maybe run it past her.
My OH thinks that Harry is a nickname for Harold, not Henry. In which case it would be fine. But he probably isn't.

I know a few Harrys who are definitely Harry on bc.

I don't think it would be weird even though I
know a Henry who's known as Harry but he's very, very posh. Also, Prince Harry's real name is Henry (who is also posh, I guess).

I don't think most people would associate the two names in most cases.

See I'd find it a little odd, but if you have no intentions of nn him Harry then it should be ok. I know two sisters called Amy and Amelia, now that's strange to me! All the Harry's I personally know are just Harry. I know of one Harry who's son is called Henry. Maybe just talk to your SIL about it. If you're both ok with it then there's no harm :)

I met sisters Fiona and Rhona today so anything goes!

I’ve never actually met a Harry who is Henry on their birth certificate- they are all just Harry. Why is that considered not a ‘real’ name?

I know a family who have a Jack and John (siblings). Not sure if they are aware it's the same name.

On that basis, cousins Harry and Henry are fine!

Thanks. I'll ask her when we see her over Xmas.

My Grandad was Henry, known as Harry.

My DS is Harry and just Harry on the BC.

Most people know Harry as a nn for Henry so think it's a bit odd. Are you sure it's not Henry on bc? Wouldn't your ds become known as Harry?

Well this is why I asked @deptfordgirl. And it seems from people's responses that it's not clear cut. There are quite a few Harrys on BCs and I've known quite a few Henrys that go by Henry.

Since SIL is more likely to think like OH than me I'll ask her what she thinks.

I'd assume it was common knowledge that Harry was a nickname for Henry. But I don't think it's a no-go for there to be two Harry/Henrys in the extended family - it's not like you all live together.

Don't think it's a problem if your nephew isn't Henry on bc.

I know a Harry (just Harry) and a Harry short for Harrison

If you go ahead with Henry, you can't nickname him Harry. But you can do Hal.
I'd just choose another name to be honest because basically, your kids will be considered to have the same name. And that could be awkward for everyone.

The only Harrys I know that are shortened from Henry tend to be older (e.g. My grandad, friends of my parents etc). I know some Harrys through school that are all Harry on bc and a handful of Henrys that are known as Henry although they could get shortened when older to Harry I guess. (Most of the Henrys tend to get called 'Hen' for short atm ).

If Harry is just Harry (which I think is likely to be the case given how high Harry is on the ons list) then cousins Harry and Henry are fine. Isabel is the Spanish equivalent of Elizabeth and I doubt anyone would come on here asking if it's OK to call their baby Isabel when the cousin is Elizabeth.

Cousins named Henry and Harry would fine imo.

(even If your nephew is Henry on the bc, btw. They’re cousins, not brothers. If you do ask her... I myself would make it clear that this isn’t about asking for permission, tbh.)

MancUnicorn is their brother called Matt?

I don't think I would ask her. If she says no are you going to call your child by a name other than the one you want? If she says yes it would be like she had allowed you to call your son by your preferred name. I would just call him Henry.

My DH has 3 cousins in the same side all called same first name, same second name. Nobody cares. We all know which guy we mean when we are talking.

My friends son is Harry and is Harry on his birth certificate.

I'm not in a power struggle with my SIL and we're not set on any name yet, so if I ask and it makes her unhappy we won't use it.

She's our only sibling, so her kids and our kids are it.

I'd never heard of Harry being a NN for Henry until Prince Harry. Thought Harry was just short for Harold.

I really wouldn't.

There'll be one set of grandparents (or one side of the family) who'll have two grandsons/nephews with basically the same name. A lot of people on MN insist that this doesn't matter but they're wrong

It's fine. I know two brothers called Harry and Henry and no one bats an eyelid.