Archie and the connoations

[inky1991]

So we're expecting a baby boy very soon. My husband and I don't agree on many names but we both really love the name Archie. I have personally wanted that name since I can remember.

As soon as Harry and Meghan announced they'd called their boy Archie, I was pissed off. They got there first as took us a very long time to conceive, and I knew when and if our time came, people might assume we copied them, or it would suddenly become mega over used.

Now I don't really need peoples opinions on the name itself, as I know these kind of names can be marmite on mumsnet as some see them at "cutesy" or whatever.

Anyway I just wanted to know what comes to your mind when you hear the name Archie? Do you immediately think of Harry and Meghan? My husband tells me to get over myself, and that people wouldn't think that, but he's not really up to date with any current affairs especially anything to do with Royal Family. My immediate family have made it pretty clear they aren't keen cause of connotations of H&M.

I think of my late father in law, a little boy we knew at baby group and a friend's hamster.

I have just counted up and between acquaintances, employees, children in DCs schools, DCs clubs & playgroups: I’ve met 14 Archie’s (that I can remember) in the last 8 years.
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear it isn’t H&M. It’s not a name I would use though.

Agree.

It’s so over-used that the association with H&M’s child will be diluted a lot.

As soon as Harry and Meghan announced they'd called their boy Archie, I was pissed off. They got there first as took us a very long time to conceive

Get a grip Jesus

My husband is an Archie and so is the neighbour’s dog. Makes for some confusion if he’s in the garden and I’m calling him from the kitchen 😂

Why? Because it’s such a popular name that it doesn’t matter how famous they are.

You're probably right, but how can you be sure you won't choose a name that dates? These names are still making top of the lists so aren't dated as of yet. Of course, they might be one day though.

Is the only way to avoid dated names to call your child a classic name like Henry, Tom, George etc? Those names are fine but also really over used and not too exciting either IMO.

I work in a nursery and Archie reminds me of a cheeky wee boy we had last year! I never associate it with Harry and Megan.

Call him whatever you want/ like. I’m

I don't know any Archies. Good few Alfies's. I have nursery school kids and a primary one, lots of friends with kids that age and below. No Archies. And I wouldn't think of theirs when cuddling yours.

But Archie is also wildly overused. Far more so than your example of Tom (I’ve not heard of a Tom/Thomas born in all the time I’ve had kids).

I suspect you’ve not been round many children’s playground / nurseries etc, and you’re still thinking that the ‘popular’ names are the ones from your own childhood?

Archie was wildly popular when I had DC1 a decade ago; they were everywhere (and it had, unfairly, quite tacky connotations at one point). It’s definitely starting to date, along with all the Alfie’s, Charlie’s etc. Will be terribly dated in 5-10yrs.

The Harry and Meghan link isn’t the problem the fact it’s so common and over used would totally put me off. It’s not special any more it’s run of the mill. I was surprised they chose it.

Snap. I was really surprised they went for something so over-used and ubiquitous. But I suspect in their circles they might not have come across many, as it’s only made a comeback amongst us common folk, so it probs seems terribly exotic to them, whereas it’s seen as a bit common as muck to us plebs! 😆

This - I told DS some names of girls in my class at school (Jessica, Sarah, Katy, Anna, Nicola, Emma) and he literally fell about laughing and said “those are such weird names!”

The girls in his class are called Monroe, Kylie-Ann, Nevaeh, Phoebe, Olivia, Ava. All pretty weird names by 1980s standards, but things move on.

Some people saying it's wildly popular and some saying they haven't really met many

I suppose if I had met many Archie's I wouldn't be worried about H&M connotations, but I just haven't. Maybe the trend hasn't reached the depths of Cornwall yet where I'm from

I'm also half Scottish, and I know Archie is a much less "trendy" and more classical name there. My Scottish routes another reason why I like the name

Op just do it. You both like it, that's what matters.

Thank you , we probably will

I have an Archie, born before the Royal one - he was the only one at his nursery and is the only one in his year. I was worried about it being too common but I've hardly come across any where I am

Don't like the name anyway, but people thinking you copied H&M would put me off

My thoughts are:

1. nicknames as given names are weird
2. archibald is weird (would you call your daughter Guinevere?)
3. Harry and meghan
4. oh yes, I remember how weird it was that Harry and Meghan went with such a common name, and a nickname at that. It’s Just Not Proper 😂

The first thing I associate with the name is a ventriloquist’s dummy that appeared on a radio programme when I was a child. Never met an Archie until comparatively recently when suddenly the floodgates opened and every 10th child and dog seemed to be called it. If anything I think H & M using the name will cool the demand because parents won’t want to be thought to copy them.
If you are really keen to use the name why not. If anyone every mentions H&M just tell them what you wrote on this thread.
Dont rush to register your precious wee one — you’ve got plenty of time and if you happened to get irritated by people’s response to your choice you can reconsider.
Good luck

Archie and the Connotations. Great name for a group

I'm also half Scottish, and I know Archie is a much less "trendy" and more classical name there. My Scottish routes another reason why I like the name

You've got to be joking. Every other sproglet here is called Archie. It's so common it's dull.

You seem to have a serious fixation with this name and keen to defend it against any criticism. But as an actual Scottish person let me tell you it's trendy and common as muck up here too. Every lad is an Archie or an Oliver.

Surely there are other names you like?

The fact that you were upset at H&M naming their son Archie, and that they somehow beat you to it, tells me it's maybe time to let this name go and move on. There are a million nicer names that bloody Archie.

I agree with this