(no subject)

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

I thought our name was pretty set. We didn't even discuss boy names, really, Henry, after his grandfather, John Henry, from whom he got his name, John from. Set, right? Except now I'm 9 months pregnant and my husband is having second thoughts. He worries about what the name means for the future of our son. He wants to make sure it's strong and can grow with him, won't put him at a disadvantage. And I may lose my mind. Because I honestly can't think of any other name for him. Even other boy names I love, like Benjamin, just don't feel right. And we've never been much on the same page for name styles so Henry was a blessing in many ways. And now he's not sure and even asking our other kids what they think of the name and what name they think would be good (and it's become apparent our other kids don't understand the difference in boy and girl names. No, Barbara isn't a good choice, LOL). I've shown him articles on the name. There are a lot of successful people with that name, and it's a huge name in royalty so how could it be bad? And with the recent popularity of those older names, he won't even be drastically out of place, it'll be a more normal name, while still being a strong masculine name.

He said he likes Jake, but not Jacob. Jake doesn't feel whole to me, though, more like a nickname from a longer name, and I agree with Jacob. But I like Jack more than Jake, but with him being named John, and my mom being Janice, and an uncle named James, and every uncle and aunt he has minus his dad having a J name...I'd really rather stay away from J names all together.

Any suggestions? Because I'm stumped. I am open to another name if it feels right, it's just Henry has been the only one to feel right and that he agrees with...

Comments

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

If it helps, I've seen a lot of little Henry's in the last two years (at least one with Indy as the nickname).

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

Okay, the geek in me giggled at the Indy nickname. :)

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

It always makes me grin.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

Wow I'm surprised that he thinks Henry won't age well. I think it is a classic and one of those names that you don't instantly picture an old man or a young person. Can I ask what your other children are named? I started questioning our name too just because of the pressure but ultimately we love it and I felt like calling our son anything else felt strange since we had been calling him that name for the entire second half of my pregnancy.

[starcrossed.livejournal.com]

I'd still go with Henry. I know lots of boys named Henry, all very different and I think it suits all types. I'm using Henry as a middle name for my future son.

I really like Jake but I honestly (without being crude) think it could be a name with a lot of teasing as he gets older (just search 'Jake Off' on google!) I also think Jacob is way overused.

Other ideas if your husband really doesn't want to use Henry?
Thomas
Max
Frederick/Freddy
Joseph
Hugh

(But honestly I'd still go with Henry.)

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

I agree with the others that Henry is a name that ages well. It's not a name that needs to be grown into, nor will someone grow out of it. It's a current trend for names to be old-fashioned, so he won't stick out. Would nicknames help at all? Henry has a few that are traditionally used: Hank, Harry, Hal. I've also seen Huck used. Maybe you could find something, or make-up something, that could be used if your husband feels Henry is too big a name for him as a baby.

[odetothevoi.livejournal.com]

I think Henry is a great name. And I agree with everyone in saying that it is an ageless name.

I would suggest you have a few, in a sense, "back up" names though just in case. My mom planned on naming me Cassie but after she gave birth and was holding me she knew I wasn't a Cassie. She said; "You didn't look like a Cassie."

But through the flurry and exhaustion of giving birth (along with the nurse bugging her so they could complete the documents) she named me Cassie anyway. So now I have to live with a name on my birth certificate and drivers license that's different than the name everyone actually calls me.

All I ask is that you don't name your son Forest (Run Forest! RUN!) my sister seriously contemplated that name for her kid. And his life would have been filled to the brim of Forest Gump jokes. My mom and dad both confessed to me that when choosing names, they sat and thought of all the ways the names could be made fun of.

But anyways (getting off topic here) I think Henry is a wonderful name, but here are some that I have always liked;

Rhet
Joel
Issac
Dominic
Jaden

And that's all I can think of at this time. I hope you find a solution soon!!

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

We definitely don't like any of the nicknames for Henry, but only youngest has a nickname, we tend to stick to using their full given names, though someone said Indy was used as a nickname for a Henry they know and I think that's pretty cute!

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

I like Max and Thomas reminds me of Theodore, which I also like, but he refused. He's really picky, the name can't remind him of anything popular or famous from books or movies, a reason he's against Jacob.

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

Elijah, Amelia, and Esme. and, I know, it's a timeless name! I think some people at work probably planted seeds of doubt. He gives in to peer pressure quite a bit so if some idiot said anything negative it'll sit with him more than listening to his own wife.

[lil-cherub.livejournal.com]

If you like Henry, you should name him Henry. It coming into style now. Another few years and it will be on top of the charts.

I also feel that Jake feels incomplete. I would name him Jacob, Jacoby or ... how about Jackson nn Jake? Jack is a nickname for John... John's son would be your baby boy! Its not a junior, but pretty darn close to what your husband wanted without it actually affecting your oldest son's feelings. Jackson Henry has a nice ring to it, like he should go into politics or run a company.

(BTW, I still like Benjamin! My Benjamin's middle name is Jacob. I love all of your name picks)

[sex.livejournal.com]

I think you should stick with Henry. It seems like there is substantial significance to it within your family. Furthermore, I think Henry is one of the classiest names for a boy. Like you said, it's a very popular "royal name" and it ages well. I think Jake sounds like a nicename as well, and I totally understand why you'd want to stay away from J's. My whole family has B names with a B last name - so I have no interest in doing B's for my children.

[curieuse.livejournal.com]

My husband (33yo) is named Henry and it was unusual-ish while he was growing up, but he liked it. Everyone can spell it, etc. Now it's really getting a lot more popular. Maybe your husband will be reassured by looking at the name voyager? I can't put a link in without this being marked spam. Bahhh.

I made a screen cap of the chart for you though and it's available at tinypic[DOT]com/r/2wf6a83/5

[roseofjuly.livejournal.com]

What the name Henry means for the future of your son...? I've never known anyone's conventional American name to make a significant difference in their lives, and I really fail to see how the name Henry would put any kid at a disadvantage (vs. something else conventional like Jake). Like I seriously don't understand his reservations about the name.