Why was Prince Harry named Henry at birth but then became widely known as Harry?

[SecondSpare]

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was born and christened with the name Henry Charles Albert David, but has long been known and referred to as Harry since his year of birth. I assume this is widely known by most MNers, but perhaps not amongst the general public. I have always wondered if not wanting to be called by his actual birth name was due to the notoriety of previous royal Henrys - particularly Henry VIII, perhaps the most notorious of all British monarchs. But if that was the case, why wasn't he given the name Harry from birth?

Because Harry is traditionally a diminutive and not a proper name?

Obviously, people can decide to register the diminutive as the actual name, but that wouldn't be traditional and the RF is nothing if not traditional.

Tradition obviously.

You do realise this is common place amongst the wider population as well? Just read the Baby Name threads for the dozens each day who pt 1 name on the birth certificate snd use something else day to day.

It’s a common diminutive of Henry (Henry VIII) was often referred to as Harry by his by Courtiers I believe.

Because Harry isn't a proper name, it's a shortening. Someone that close to the top of the line of succession was never going to be given anything other than a proper name.

Same as if they liked the name Jack he would still have been christened John.

If I liked the name Harry I still would have had Henry as the official name and used Harry day to day

This is utterly bizarre

Why is someone naned Henry called Harry day to day? Really? You really don't understand this?

It’s not that uncommon to be always known by the diminutive is it? My sister is Amelia but has only been called Millie by everyone since she was born.

He’s certainly not the first royal Henry to be known as Harry!

”Cry god for Harry, England and St George”

When he did something official at the Olympic games or something a few years he was announced as "Prince Henry of the United Kingdom" and loads of people on social media were laughing and going "oh my God they got his name wrong he's called Harry" completely unaware Harry was only a diminutive.

The number of people I saw saying "anyone else only just find out Harry's real name is Henry?" was mad.

I think a lot of people don’t realise Harry was originally a nickname for Henry. Understandable as it’s still the same amount of syllables and Harry has very much become a name in its own right.

You’re right on this. My Cambridge educated 48 yo husband is convinced that Harry is short for Harold not Henry.

anyway I wonder what name he used when he got married. I think Harry but I know his actual name is Henry

Henry in the most formal parts of it but allowed Harry in the spoken vows.

I wonder why he didn’t stick with tradition and call his own son Archibald (childish snigger)

it was traditional to give the first son the same name as his father, so nicknames are very common to differentiate- Harry for Henry, Jack for John etc

They used both!

BBC News - The royal wedding order of service
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44174413

And surely this stonkingly huge precedent was part of the motivation for Charles and Di naming him as they did. It couldn't loom much larger than it does, as an iconic bit of royalist history.

Shakespeare did even more than JK Rowling for the name Harry.

I think I seem to remember when he was born that his name was announced as ‘Henry, to be known as Harry.’

The same as someone christened Samantha being know day to day as Sam. Many traditional names have abbreviations; it’s very common and normal.

My dad was christened Michael and has been known as Micky since the day he was born!

Did you also know Bill Clinton's real name is William?
Teddy Roosevelt is really Theodore.

Yes, I was going to say this.

Or his daughter Elizabeth

Lots of member of the royal family are /were known by diminutives within the family. Just like the rest of us. Some used a different name when crowned but within the family were still called Bertie for example. I thought everyone knew that?

Are you unaware of how names work? Birth name James, known as Jamie/Jim, Robert; Robbie, Bert etc
As always, amazed at the level of stupidity I read.

It might blow OPs mind to discover that John and Iain are the same name 🤣
Or not I did know someone who named their son John Iain (lots of Scottish eye rolls)

Of course Harry is often a nickname for Henry or Harold, but not necessarily. My grandfather, born into a very traditional family (ie unlikely to be innovative) in 1911, had Harry on his birth certificate. So it’s been a separate name for at least a century.

I have a family member called Elizabeth who has always been know as Liza. A Margaret who is known as Maggie and a Mildred who is known is, um, Sylvia. We also have a Harry in the family who is known as Harry. I didn’t know Prince Harry’s name was actually Henry.