Henry/Harry John/Jack

[LouiseB]

I'm sooooooo confused

My friend had a baby and it was announced as Henry and then i just spoke to her and she corrected me saying that he is called Harry, but he was christened Henry.

I don't get it.

I'm not arguing whether it is correct or not, but what the point is...

She said that it's like when you have a child that is christened John, but known as Jack - but i don't get that either

Then she said it is a shortened version, so i pointed out that they both have 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Can anyone shed any light?

 

[amyjayne77]

I think in the olden days Harry's were an informal Henry. It's like Prince Harry's real name is Henry (i think). Same with john/jack. Don't see the point myself but hey ho!

 

[Mrs N]

Half of my family are called a different name than they are actually called which is very confusing, dont think that I will be inflicitng this on bubs tho!!
xxx

 

[Froslass]

Yeah I agree totally! I don't see the point lol!

My oh Is called Jaimie, and people ask him all the time if his name is actually James. He's like eh, no. If it was James I would have told you that! His brother is called charlie, and people call him charles without even asking if his name is charles (it's not!! lol) xx

 

[leibiloo87]

I find that a pretty pointless thing to do if you want your child to be called Harry why not just christen the kid Harry surely it will only confuse the poor child later on in life!!! I dont understand it and I wouldnt personally do it to my children x

 

[MrsR]

I have no clue but I did date a guy who was christened John but called Jack and his friend was christened Chris but called Geoff! WTF?! Lol x

 

[charliebear]

I don't get it!?
Why not just name them what your going to call them?

 

[Froslass]

I don't get it!?
Why not just name them what your going to call them?

AMEN!!!

 

[FebMum2Be]

Our chapel won't christen children with a "new" name, they had to "get back to me" about Odhrán, but it turned out he was a charioteer for St Patrick back in the day so it was acceptable.. I understand children having to be named a full name eg, "Joseph" then shortened to Joe.. Think the Henry/Harry thing is v old fashioned though x

 

[Lander]

Like my Granddad's siblings, Florence, Alfred, William and Robert were known as Flossie, Alf, Bill and Bob.

 

[clairebear22]

My Grandad is called Eugene but we all call him Grandad Taff while everyone else calls him Tom! lol

The weirdest name change I know is ladies called Margaret which is then turned into Peggy?! I think it's a Scottish thing but nobody can tell me why they do it! lol

My Grandad calls my Brother George/Georgie and his real name is Christopher lol But it's because my grandads brother was called Christopher George but everyone called him George.

Very confusing! lol x

 

[Mrs N]

Well as explained before I have a confusing family, my uncle is actually anthony but called andy, my dad is trevor and called ted, my grandad was James but called charlie and my nana is actually called phylis (which she loves) but is called audrey!!
Soooo confusing especially when doing our wedding invites!!
xxx

 

[Piglet's Mama]

*shrug* beats me... x

 

[2010stacey87]

it is very strange/confusing... i say christen your child what he will be called (unless a shortened name)!

my great grandad was Charles but I always knew him as Grandad Derek and only found out he was Charles when he passed away!

xx

 

[inky]

I have a friend we all call Hal which I thought was short for Harry but his name is Henry, I never understood it either!

I also had a grandad called John but everyone called him Jack, also a Nan called Joan who calls herself Sybil and an Aunt called Karen who calls herself Jayne. Very odd!!

 

[Piglet's Mama]

I have a friend we all call Hal which I thought was short for Harry but his name is Henry, I never understood it either!

I also had a grandad called John but everyone called him Jack, also a Nan called Joan who calls herself Sybil and an Aunt called Karen who calls herself Jayne. Very odd!!

LOL - that's brilliant x

 

[wookie]

in some catholic families (particularly the irish) one of the boys was named after the priest out of respect but the family would usually use the second name as his known name

 

[mustard]

its handy were there is a 'family tradition' of a first name to distinguish the different family members. In my family the first male in each generation is called John but my grandad in Jack, my dad John and my brother Johnny otherwise we would get very confused.