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?

Meghan's birth name is Rachel Meghan Markle. It's quite common in the US to go by a middle name. I do and so does my son.

Why is that ? What's the point of giving them a first name you don't use?

IIRC, the Royal family wanted him to be called Henry - but h

is mother (Diana) wanted him to be called Harry. So they compromised.

.

Oooh yeah I forgot about that!

It's quite common in the US to go by a middle name. I do and so does my son.

Paul McCartney is really James Paul. I was at school (SE England) with a girl who was originally from Yorkshire. She and her two siblings were all known by their middle names.

Family tradition maybe?
A good friend of mine goes by her middle name as do her siblings and also her Dad
When I was a nurse i always asked somone their preferred name it wasent that uncommon to have a " John" known as " Robert " or whatever.

What amazes me the most is that people don’t know this already and i suppose don’t get the concept of nicknames. BTW i think it’s ridiculous that he called his own kids nicknames rather than proper names that they can choose to use longer/ formal or informal nickname later in life according to their desires. My dh is known by his nickname but has a proper traditional name for formal things, I use my full name most of the time

Henrys are Harrys and Johns used to be Jacks, if not now, and Margarets used to be Peggys and Dorothys were Dollys and Williams were Bills et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

A friend of mine has a family name all the first born girls are called. Until they are 18 they go by their middle name and then when they are 18 they have a sort of ceremony and then they are known by their first name. So there are currently in her family something like 12 women all with the same name in the extended family. I’d not come across that before. They are white British also, so it’s not a cultural thing , just a family culture thing.

In my case, I was named after my mother and the middle name was used to differentiate us. In my son's case, his middle name is a family surname (also a common naming practice here in the States) and it fits better as a middle name, however it does work as both, and he is called by his middle name.

I will admit it does sometimes create confusion. I didn't change my surname when I married so most of my documents, bank card, etc. have my first name, middle initial and surname, so I do sometimes get referred to by my first name.

I’m always astounded by some people’s ignorance about English names. Harry is a diminutive of Henry, just as Sally is a diminutive of Sarah. Or Kitty/Kate are diminutives of Katherine. Or Jack a diminutive of John. And so on.

Same reason as the other minor royals.... They're just going to be cousins of the future king, hardly anyone will care..... Like Zara, Mia and Savannah....

If a person called John can use Jackie as a named then a person called Ben can use Benjamin if they so wish...

Have not read the full thread, so someone (other old fogey) has probably already said this:

When Harry was born, the news outlets (including BBC) that the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were naming their new son Henry but he would be known as Harry.

I’m fascinated by the names that go so far from the originals.
Elizabeth Bethany
Roberta Bobbie
catherine Kitty
Jane Jeanie
William Liam Billy
Charles Chuck
Alexandra Lexi Sandy
John Jock
Theodore Teddy
edward Ned
Patricia Trixie

Elizabeth and Bethany aren't from the same name, although they may both be shortened to Beth.

Elizabeth is Hebrew, meaning "God is my oath," and Bethany is a biblical place meaning "house of figs"

My Grandma was called Jane and was known as Jennie .

I had a great aunt Jane known as Ginny, which is normally short for Virginia or Genevieve. It might have been a corruption of Jenny.

I remember that too.

Liam is an Irish form of William, as is Uilliam.

I think people may be confused by the fact that it isn’t an abbreviation; it’s a different name of the same length.

It used to be common when a child was named after a parent- to differentiate between the two.

Because Harry is the accepted nickname for Henry. Henry is formal and would generally only be used in an official capacity such as signing documents, being read out at a wedding etc.

Like Tilly for Matilda and Lottie for Charlotte etc.

True, I had an older relative named Henry, and son was named Henry but called Harry. Also had one named Edward who was Edward/Eddie/Ed, son was named Edward but called Teddy/Ted.

I know Liam is used as the Irish for William but I never actually noticed the Liam in William before 🙈

I read somewhere that Diana didn’t like the name Henry, so while he was baptised Henry, it was never intended to be the name he was known by.