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.

As many people saying Archie is wildly overused, I would genuinely love to hear what people would call their son if they were having a little boy soon?

I'm not going to be the sort of person to call their child Fox, for example

I didn't say it wasn't common in Scotland, but that its a much steadier name there than it is here. It's surged in popularly in England in recent years.

Your reply really didn't need to be so aggressive. Please do tell what names you would choose?

I have an Archie. Born before H&M's son. Still love the name as much as I did when we gave it to him. He's the only one in his class of 30 and among his friends so although popular it doesn't seem to be overused.

Nothing good can ever come of telling family and friends your name choice before the baby's born. I'll never understand why anyone does it.

If you want Scottish try Angus, Cameron, James, Fraser, Douglas, Alisdair, Callum, Andrew, Kester.

Names I personally like? Peter, William, Thomas, Noah, Ivor, Samuel.

Sack off Archie. It's too trendy.

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?

Well, yes. But mainly because I wasn't sure if you were trying to type 'coronation' or 'connotations' 😄

My DN is called Archie and as for as I know no one has ever made the H&M connection.

When he was first born I was neutral on the name but I’ve really come to dislike it based on the fact that he’s always called ‘Arch’ which just sounds awful to me. I only mention it in case that’s not something you’ve come across.

There are lots of little boys called Archie, it’s part of the Victorian vintage Alfie, Arthur, Ernest, Albert, Alexander, Theo etc - don’t worry about it - it would be like worrying if you had a Charlotte the same time as Kate did

I think of my friend’s grandfather. Lovely man with a super name .

Still has that “tacky” reputation in some places; especially in the city nearest to where we live.
@inky1991 no, I wouldn’t use anything like Fox either but, for me, because of the point above I wouldn’t use Archie. It’s in the Kaiden, Jayden camp for me and they’re just not to my taste.

You’d probably dislike my DCs names. Best advice is, as others have pointed out; just use whatever name you like and don’t worry what others think.

Use it if you like it. No on would think of Harry and Megan. Extremely popular name, we have loads in our school and they're all the naughty boys. 😅 Very popular dogs name too... Buy a baby book and pick a name from there if it bothers you that much?

How do you choose a name that won’t date badly?

It’s very obvious. Avoid the very popular names. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don’t understand people who say ‘popularity doesn’t bother me’, but then don’t wanted a dated sounding name. You can’t have one without the other.

And it’s also exactly why lots of people avoid popular names - because they WILL sound dated in a few short years.

All the popular names from my childhood now sound dated - Karen, Nicola, Joanne, Jennifer, Mark, David, etc, etc. All tired sounding, but were lovely and popular in the 70s/80s.

And it’s really not a choice between ‘Archie’ and ‘Moon-Unit’.

There’s vast swathes of really good name choices between completely tired and over used, and stupidly unique.

I know Archie is a top ten name but I don't know any baby Archies. I have come across an awful lot of baby Arlos.

I think it depends on where you live.

As for the PP who suggested Noah as an alternative - Noah is more popular than Archie!

I have two young DDs, and if one had been a boy they'd have been James.

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.

No, on the contrary. You choose names that are NOT in the fashionable top 100 names.

There are so many great underused names - my dc's was used 20 times the year they were born. It's not a 'fashionable' name.

Archie and Alfie type names are already starting to sound a little overused and dated imo.

As many people saying Archie is wildly overused, I would genuinely love to hear what people would call their son if they were having a little boy soon?

How about you take a look at the ONS lists of all boys names - you'll find lots and lots of great underused classics outside the top 100 names.

I was surprised h&my chose this name. It is a nice name but it was clear meghan was in the driving seat with this choice as Archie is unusual in the USA but not in Britain. Also Harrison as the middle name? A more royal choice would have been to put Henry in. Harrison is the American version of that. I think Harry just said Ok

Yeah, there’s NO WAY Harry would have chosen Archie (actual name, not a nickname) if it were up to him!

It's just a popular name surely?

I think enough time has lapsed now that nobody will think of H & M. Fo for it its a good sturdy name!

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.

It might vary by area. I'm in Scotland and I haven't yet encountered a single Archie or Oliver under 12, and rarely those over 12.

As for the PP who suggested Noah as an alternative - Noah is more popular than Archie!

Yes that was my thought exactly!

Use it if you like it, and ignore what your family thinks. By the time your son starts school, I think (hope) H&M will have faded from view quite a bit.

I work at a private school and we have a few Archies, but they are all 10 and over. It seems to have had a moment locally and peaked a while back. We have lots of little Albies, Alfies and Berties.

Here are the popularity stats for the name in England & Wales.
names.darkgreener.com/#archie
It's also popular as a dog's name.

I think it might be more popular in Scotland.

Archie is fine imo.

Also Archie and The Connotations sounds like a great band name.

I just think these things are so regional and specific though.

In 15+ years of teaching Early Years I’ve taught one Archie. I’ve never come across one outside teaching. I’m not disputing it’s a popular/ top ten name but these things are always going to depend on where you live / whose path you happen to cross.

Even the most popular name is still always going to be a relatively small percentage of the population - it’s not like when I was growing up and the vast majority of people were choosing from the same shortlist of about 10 names. Yes you might end up with a few in the same class but you could equally easily go through school without ever encountering another one.

To answer OP’s original question before clicking on this thread I assumed it was a Royal/ H&M thread - but that’s because this is mumsnet I think. If I came across the name outside of this setting my mind probably wouldn’t automatically go there.