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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is Archie so awful?

49 replies

SpongeCake23 · 04/04/2018 09:05

I've seen several people saying it's a horrible name. I know it's been overtaken by young mums (nothing wrong with that in my opinion) and has taken on a 'chavvy' feel, but it's actually a very traditional and classic name, which had its popularity rise in the 1880s. And was in the top names list until the 1930s. Archibald was on the list but so was just Archie. These were on the name lists of those years. Then had a dip and came back up. It's a very traditional Scottish name too. I don't understand the hatred for it. I think it's a very masculine sounding name. Just because it ends in 'ie' doesn't mean it's cutesy in my opinion!

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TheCraicDealer · 04/04/2018 18:08

I liked it when Archie in Monarch if The Glen contributed to my sexual awakening but since then it's meshed with all the Arnie/Billy/Harry/Alfie/Albie/Ollie cutesy names. Cute for a dog or a toddler but don't have the versatility I'd look for. They're very of a time. Archer on the other hand is a super cool name that lends very well to being shorter to Archie.

My parents gave me a long version but called me a nn of it (which I still get at "home"). I'm really grateful they gave me the long version as it means I don't have to use the twee and dated nn at work. It feels more professional to me.

Thistlebelle · 04/04/2018 18:14

I’m Scottish and live somewhere terribly middle class and naice and there are loads of little Archies so I certainly wouldn’t think of it as “chavvy” (horrible term)

I wouldn’t think if it as terribly masculine though either. I’d tend to think of Connor, Callum, Angus and Jamie as very masculine. It’s all about perspective though.

If you and your DH both like it, you should use it. It’s no body else’s business. It’s a perfectly good traditional name and everyone can spell it.

MN likes some much, much worse names IMO

FallenAngel89 · 04/04/2018 18:15

I liked Archer when I was looking for boys names 😊

DramaAlpaca · 04/04/2018 18:17

I can't stand It, sorry. It has to be one of my least favourite names. I really dislike cutesy names for both boys & girls. It doesn't even have a nice longer form to redeem it.

But your baby, your choice. At least you & your DP agree, which is the main thing.

SomeRandomBird · 04/04/2018 18:20

Love it - one of my favourite boys names. And I'm dead posh and practically middle aged.

TroubledLichen · 04/04/2018 18:21

Well if you and your DP like it then what does it matter? And considering how popular it is, it’s obvious a lot of people agree with you! Personally it’s not my cup of tea but then I’m some random stranger on the internet so you really shouldn’t care what I think. It would make for a hell of a lot of confusion if we all had the same tastes in names. Go ahead and use it!

PeonyTruffle · 04/04/2018 18:21

I have an Archie (or an Archibald when he’s being naughty )

He’s 3 and I’ve honestly have rarely met another.
I am not a chav, my son is not a chav. A lot of people on MN really dislike the name but I can’t bring myself to care really

Original poster

SpongeCake23 · 04/04/2018 18:24

Thanks for all your comments.
I'm going to stick with Archie. Not Archibald because I think Archie can stand in its own right and I don't see the need for longer names just for the sake of it. But each to their own on that one.
He'd be Archie William Black on the birth certificate which to me sounds fine.

OP posts:

IHaveBrilloHair · 04/04/2018 18:24

It's very of the moment, which means it will probably date but then lots of names do.
I'm not keen as others have said it blends in with the Alfie/Albie thing, but he is your son and if you love it, use it.

PeonyTruffle · 04/04/2018 18:27

(My Archie is just Archie on the BC, I only call him Archibald in jest, I would never lumber a poor kid with Archibald!)

MikeUniformMike · 04/04/2018 20:34

Archer is dreadful. Archibald is not very nice. Archie is overused and a popular dog's name.

Original poster

SpongeCake23 · 04/04/2018 21:08

I'm just so surprised at the huge dislike of this name!
I'm not too bothered about it being popular, to be honest. I work in a school and have only heard it a couple of times.
I hear more: Ollie, Thomas, George, Tommy, Jacob, Billy and Dylan.
I'm just more wondering what's so horrible about it! But I guess each to their own.

OP posts:

CathyandHeathcliff · 04/04/2018 21:10

@PeonyTruffle Aww I think Archie on the birth certificate is fine. That'll be us too.

midsomermurderess · 04/04/2018 21:13

I think in Scotland it has longevity. I certainly don't see it as a naff and cutesy name.

squoosh · 04/04/2018 21:14

I don't think I've ever met an Archie in Scotland, Is it still popular?

chezmk1988 · 05/04/2018 22:35

Not awful but common

Thistlebelle · 06/04/2018 02:00

I know several little Archie’s Squoosh before that all the Archie’s I knew were friends of my Grandparents.

Freyanna · 06/04/2018 02:19

I like Archie, great name. (I am Scottish).

funmummy48 · 06/04/2018 02:21

I love it & have only ever met two. I work in a primary school and we've never had one, though we do have a plethora of Alfie's, Oscars and Olivers.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 06/04/2018 02:28

I guess the thing is its very common and lumbered with the cutesy nickname as a full name. I wonder how many of the people using these names as a full name know the name it comes from, i'm not saying you don't op, but for instance I saw somebody being absoultely astontished by the fact Prince Harry's name is Henry, i asked what they thought his name was and they went just Harry i didn't realise it was short for anything.

But i wonder if this is because their being named after grandparents who would have used the nickname, when i was growing up you wouldnt find many children called alf/harry/archie they were older names.

Also i see archie as quite middle class.

I'm not so keen on archibald but then my parents didn't really like my name, and shortened it immediately, i've never been known by my full long name, but i have it for if i ever chose to use it. So i don't see why not have archibald or archer as the full name.

Plumsofwrath · 06/04/2018 02:28

Well, between Archie and Baldie, I’d go with the former...

pipilangstrumpf · 06/04/2018 10:22

Baldie

SleepFreeZone · 06/04/2018 10:24

The popularity is the only thing that would put me off. My son’s primary school is full of Archies.

Mclaren37 · 07/04/2018 00:24

We have an Archie, Hamish and Margot. I see it as a particularly Scottish name. And obviously like it! Our Archie has the full name of Archer, which we probably use more often than Archie tbh. But Archer is a family name for us so very particular to our circumstance. If you don’t like Archer or Archibald then you should just go for Archie, great name.

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