Harrison and Lily; too Harry Potter?

Malicharu · 2021-01-20T22:12:08+00:00

We already have a daughter; Lily and we are expecting a boy! We want to name him in honour my husbands grandfather, Harrison but we are afraid it sounds too 'Harry Potter'. His nn would be Hal.

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Lizadork · 20/01/2021 22:15

Maybe if it had been James and Lily that would be a bit too themed, but think you get away with Lily and Harrison. Not obvious like it wouod be with Harry and Ginny, or Ron and Hermione. Or Harry and Hermione. Go for it.

Bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 20/01/2021 22:18

Sorry but when I read the thread title I thought it was about Harry Potter!! I think lily and Harrison is less Harry Potter than Harrison and lily for some reason! Is your last name potter!? Cute names though

DoctorTwo · 20/01/2021 23:14

It's more Ambridge than Umbrage. Harrison and Lily both feature in The Archers.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/01/2021 23:36

I wouldn't have made the connection - it's not like they are unusual names like Ron and Hermione (where even people who have never read the books or seen the films could think "where have I heard those names together?".)

Your husbands Grandfather was called Harrison? I thought the "surname as a given name" trend tended to be more recent in the UK, so that's interesting to know! Classic Henry (nn Hal - which is gorgeous) would match better with Lily in style but I understand in that case why you want to use Harrison.

Luckyelephant1 · 20/01/2021 23:44

It's fine. I'm a massive HP fan and wouldn't have associated the names with HP if you'd not mentioned it

LochJessMonster · 20/01/2021 23:45

They are fine.
Big HP fan and wouldn’t associate

BikeRunSki · 20/01/2021 23:48

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

I wouldn't have made the connection - it's not like they are unusual names like Ron and Hermione (where even people who have never read the books or seen the films could think "where have I heard those names together?".)

Your husbands Grandfather was called Harrison? I thought the "surname as a given name" trend tended to be more recent in the UK, so that's interesting to know! Classic Henry (nn Hal - which is gorgeous) would match better with Lily in style but I understand in that case why you want to use Harrison.

The OP doesn’t say she’s in the UK. Harrison Ford is 78! and not in the UK.

BikeRunSki · 20/01/2021 23:49

But yes, Harrison and Lily is fine.

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 21/01/2021 01:15

I personally don’t like Harrison , but if your husband’s relative had this name them that’s personal to you . I don’t think it goes with Lily , but Hal does & prefer that as nn to Henry .

DramaAlpaca · 21/01/2021 01:19

It's fine. I do like Lily and Hal together, and that's not in the least bit HP.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/01/2021 01:59

The OP doesn’t say she’s in the UK. Harrison Ford is 78! and not in the UK.

Of course not, but OP is asking for opinions on a UK based board so I gave my (UK based) opinion. And Harrison Ford famously popularized the name as a first name, that is the point - so I would be surprised to meet many older Harrison's whereas Lily has been a well used name since Victorian times. But as I said, I understand why the OP would want to use a family name in this case and nn Hal is lovely.

EdgeOfACoin · 21/01/2021 07:19

I wouldn't have made the connection with Harry Potter.

As PP said - James and Lily, yes. Lily and Harrison, no.

bourbonne · 21/01/2021 16:04

Would not occur to me in a million years.

Echo PP's astonishment at Grandpa Harrison.

Chilldonaldchill · 21/01/2021 18:29

I love Harry Potter and wouldn't have made the association.
I dislike Harrison but I don't think it's a problem with Lily.

partyatthepalace · 21/01/2021 19:15

No it’s fine. No one would think of that.

SnottyLottie · 21/01/2021 19:20

I’m a massive Harry Potter fan and I didn’t make the association.

When I think of Harrison I automatically think of Harrison Ford! If it was Harry I might have thought “aww like Harry and Lily Potter, how cute” but they are both popular names in their own right so wouldn’t think they were being used because of Harry Potter. If it was something like Lily and Remus or Lily and Hermione I would wonder if the parents names them after the characters.

EuphieKat · 22/01/2021 06:27

I have a Harrison! His middle name is James and we often call him Harri James, which is HP’s name (we spell Harri the Welsh way). It was partly inspired by a Harrison Ford. I think it’s fine with Lily.

HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur · 22/01/2021 06:34

To me it's very Harry Potter. Also, Lily is gorgeous, Harrison seems a very different style of name though.

ILoveStickers · 22/01/2021 06:53

I think it's completely fine.

To other posters, mother's maiden name as a first or middle name is also very traditional in Scotland.

Anyway, loads of English people did this in the 19th century too. I have googled some random Victorian cricket teams, and I've already found people called Fairfax Gill and Hesketh Pritchard and Montague Druitt in the first three minutes.

Basically, I'm not surprised!

ZebraKid71 · 22/01/2021 21:03

I am a massive Harry Potter fan and actually know siblings named Harrison and Lily and it has never occurred to me until I saw this thread.

Harry and Lily are both very popular names so rhe association isn't so strong (plus you wouldn't even be using the name Harry!) Something like Draco and Hermione would be totally different but I think you're fine with Harrison and Lily.