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Baby names

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

Thoughts on the name Henley/Hedley (UK)

81 replies

Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 08:36

Thoughts on the names Henley or hedley. We live in the UK. Please be really honest.

OP posts:
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Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 14:10

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/10/2024 14:03

It's not silly, @Iwouldliketogoonholiday .
If you'd posted What are your thoughts on Augustus, Austin, Xavier, Henley and Hedley, you'd have one big jumbled up thread.

The Xavier one is a pile-up. Shame cos it's a nice name. Some names seem to attract the ones who will point blank refuse to accept any opinion different to their own.

Thank you exactly, the same people commenting on each one would all be in one thread so wouldn't reduce the number of responses and notifications people would be getting and would indeed be a jumbled up mess.

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Nikitaspearlearring · 23/10/2024 14:10

I also thought clothing for Henley. Hedley reminds me of Hedwig. I did know a Hedley but (autocarrot changed that to Headless!) but I think he spelt it Headley.

I'm not a fan of surnames as first names. I love Gus though, so I'd go for Augustus or August. Also Guy and Kit but you're not asking about those.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/10/2024 14:33

I like Guy. It's simple and short. Gus is OK. Augustus is nice but I did think Gloop. Augustine is better than August IMO (1st/2nd syllable stress).

If you start a thread about Guy, you'll get pages of 'It's pronounced Ghee' or 'I know one who's Gooey'.

FluffMagnet · 23/10/2024 14:36

On Thames, and a surname. Nope.

PomegranateKernals · 23/10/2024 14:38

My Guider had a springer spaniel called Headley in the 70s. We used to call him headless 😆
Henley (on Thames) is a nice enough town by the river. V Expensive to live there.

I feel like neither are good names for a little boy. Or girl, for that matter.

LisaJohnsonsFacebookMole · 23/10/2024 14:52

Nah, sound kind of shit tbh. I'm not English though.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 23/10/2024 17:11

Not heard of either name before. Sounds like place names rather than a person (although I do get some can be both but these just don’t feel like people names to me, could just be because I haven’t heard of them).

WhitneyBaby · 23/10/2024 17:13

Both names are absolutely awful, trying to be different and just sound knobby.

blindasaba51981 · 23/10/2024 18:24

You again!! Both awful. Xavier is best so far. Keep looking

Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 19:29

blindasaba51981 · 23/10/2024 18:24

You again!! Both awful. Xavier is best so far. Keep looking

What do you mean you again?? I've made 4 post in total ever on Mumsnet that happen to be today. I didn't realise there was a capacity on how often you can post!!!

If you don't want to see my posts don't comment on it. Move on to something else. Very odd!

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MerryChristmasToYou · 23/10/2024 19:58

Just call him Oliver or Noah, middle name James, or if you want him to have lots of nn options, call him Nathaniel James. You need the name to be one that would befit a High Court Judge or Prime Minister.

FusilliGerri · 23/10/2024 20:35

blindasaba51981 · 23/10/2024 18:24

You again!! Both awful. Xavier is best so far. Keep looking

You literally love the baby name threads. If people didn't start them then you would be doomed.

YourFunMember · 23/10/2024 20:47

I like Henley but always worried people would think we were saying Henry and couldn’t do with always correcting.

Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 21:16

YourFunMember · 23/10/2024 20:47

I like Henley but always worried people would think we were saying Henry and couldn’t do with always correcting.

Yes it is very close to Henry and people may think that's what is said on a first meeting.

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Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 21:19

FusilliGerri · 23/10/2024 20:35

You literally love the baby name threads. If people didn't start them then you would be doomed.

😂 you are so right. Moan about it by then comment on a number of the posts 🤔. People need to find something else to occupy there time of this is such a problem for them😂.

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Thunderpants88 · 23/10/2024 21:21

What’s the fuck is wrong with Henry? Stop trying to be different your child is not that special

BluebirdBoogie · 23/10/2024 21:22

Both awful.

Wolframandhart · 23/10/2024 21:24

blindasaba51981 · 23/10/2024 18:24

You again!! Both awful. Xavier is best so far. Keep looking

Depends on how Xavier is being pronounced, surely.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 23/10/2024 21:33

Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 23/10/2024 21:16

Yes it is very close to Henry and people may think that's what is said on a first meeting.

How about using Henry?

MirandaBlu · 23/10/2024 21:49

IMO, there's nothing wrong with this TYPE of name - one that is not so much a traditional first name, but which has been adapted from a surname (in both cases) and/or from a place name (in the case of Henley). Some people don't like these types of names, but they do have a long history (including in the UK, most so in Scotland) and both of these names are nice sounding.

I'd have some concerns mainly because any name no matter how short and easy to say will likely get abbreviated at some point, and neither Hed (head) nor Hen (maybe not as strange outside of Scotland, where it's kind of a universal way to address a woman or girl - "you all right, hen?") can be a bit strange. Henley also makes me think of a "Henley" shirt/jumper.

The things I've said, and other posters have said, don't need to be dealbreakers if you've considered them and still love one of these names more than anything else you've found. For me personally, I'd choose Henley over Hedley.

Just in case you're looking for suggestions, have you considered Hendley? (OK, it's a perfume company in the USA, but I don't think they're known internationally).

Iwouldliketogoonholiday · 24/10/2024 03:03

Thunderpants88 · 23/10/2024 21:21

What’s the fuck is wrong with Henry? Stop trying to be different your child is not that special

Who said there was anything wrong with Henry?? Calm down!!

And my child is very special to ME.

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LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 24/10/2024 03:52

MirandaBlu · 23/10/2024 21:49

IMO, there's nothing wrong with this TYPE of name - one that is not so much a traditional first name, but which has been adapted from a surname (in both cases) and/or from a place name (in the case of Henley). Some people don't like these types of names, but they do have a long history (including in the UK, most so in Scotland) and both of these names are nice sounding.

I'd have some concerns mainly because any name no matter how short and easy to say will likely get abbreviated at some point, and neither Hed (head) nor Hen (maybe not as strange outside of Scotland, where it's kind of a universal way to address a woman or girl - "you all right, hen?") can be a bit strange. Henley also makes me think of a "Henley" shirt/jumper.

The things I've said, and other posters have said, don't need to be dealbreakers if you've considered them and still love one of these names more than anything else you've found. For me personally, I'd choose Henley over Hedley.

Just in case you're looking for suggestions, have you considered Hendley? (OK, it's a perfume company in the USA, but I don't think they're known internationally).

I actually quite like Hendley but it is unusual

user1492757084 · 24/10/2024 13:31

If you're from a successful rowing family Henley would be cool.
Otherwise, I prefer Xavier.

Do you like ..
Denby
Henry
Henham
Hartley
Digby

Justsayit123 · 24/10/2024 13:35

Henley awful as a name. Hedly even worse. Dont subject your kid to these names.

MerryChristmasToYou · 24/10/2024 13:52

Thunderpants88 · 23/10/2024 21:21

What’s the fuck is wrong with Henry? Stop trying to be different your child is not that special

There was no need for that. All babies are special.