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11-16-2012 at 8:04 AM
penguingrr...
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Question about the name Henry

I like the name Henry, but my mom swears that if I name my son that people will call him Hank. She's convinced it's as inevitable as a Michael being called Mike (which DH has gone through despite always introducing himself as Michael and preferring Michael). Is this true? I *hate* Hank, so if a Henry will definitely end up called Hank there's no way I'll use the name.
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11-16-2012 at 8:08 AM
jlsimon56
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I don't think so.  It's not like it's even in the name.  Ed for Edward, Ben for Benjamin, Chris for Christopher....those I can see.  Hank for Henry is not as intuitive.

FWIW I LOVE Hank and that was my only reason for keeping Henry on our list (DH's deceased uncle was Hank/Henry).  We had a girl....but it will prob stay on the list for next time. 

 
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11-16-2012 at 8:09 AM
oliversmom...
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I'm naming my boy Henry, and we will NOT be calling him Hank. I have an Oliver and I refuse to call him Ollie or have anyone else call him that. lol 
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11-16-2012 at 8:11 AM
~Kat~
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I know that Hank is a nn for Henry, but I really don't think it is inevitable that he will be called that. Mike is the first part of Michael, just like our Maxwell gets called Max because that is the first part of his name. I don't think you need to worry about it.  
 
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11-16-2012 at 8:12 AM
rpalen29
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never knew hank was a nn for henry. I dont really see how you get hank from henry. its a small name on its own, i would just call him by his name. your moms crazy to think that people will be calling him hank. 
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11-16-2012 at 8:12 AM
UberBiz
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~Kat~:

I know that Hank is a nn for Henry, but I really don't think it is inevitable that he will be called that. Mike is the first part of Michael, just like our Maxwell gets called Max because that is the first part of his name. I don't think you need to worry about it.  

This. I haven't even thought that Hank was short for Henry, though. My BFF named her son Henry, and he is most definitely always Henry, and nothing else.

 
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11-16-2012 at 8:18 AM
penguingrr...
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Thanks ladies! I had no idea Hank was a nn for Henry until I  brought up Henry as a potential name for a our little boy and my mom said everyone would call him Hank, which is just not a name I like at all (sorry PP who likes it a lot!). We've had so little luck finding a boy name that we like (3rd pregnancy, we have yet to find a boy name we like) but Henry kind of pings on me as a possibility so I hated to rule it out, but being called Hank would be a deal breaker. Now to convince DH that Henry's a nice name because he's not a fan but hasn't offered anything else.
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11-16-2012 at 8:21 AM
Joy2611
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I would never call a Henry Hank.  I think it's quite silly to assume that all Henrys go by Hank.

Harry is also a nickname for Henry.  Prince Harry is actually Henry.

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11-16-2012 at 8:28 AM
StarBe
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DH is Henry and has NEVER been called Hank...

With names like Edward being shortened to Ed it is very different then an Elizabeth being called Betty. I think if a NN is a shortened version of a name its harder for people to not associate the 2 where as a name like Hank for Henry is basically a different name... Not saying it's right to assume and call an Edward Ed but people tend to naturally do that more...
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11-16-2012 at 8:32 AM
penguingrr...
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Joy2611:

I would never call a Henry Hank.  I think it's quite silly to assume that all Henrys go by Hank.

Harry is also a nickname for Henry.  Prince Harry is actually Henry.

I didn't know that. Interesting. The only reason Harry is not on my list is that two of my cousins got engaged this summer and both are to men named Harry, so I figured 2 new Harrys in the family next year is plenty lol!

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11-16-2012 at 8:57 AM
Sunidaze
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When I was pregnant, that was one of the names I loved because of the nickname Hank (I prefer that nickname to the formal name)...I just couldn't get DH to go for it.  People will inevitable try to shorten the names/use the common nicknames, but just keep giving 'gentle' reminders. 
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11-16-2012 at 9:29 AM
mbody
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Inevitable? I don't think so.. It's not like the sound 'Hank' is actually in Henry, so to me, it wouldn't be an automatic thing. If someone happens to call him Hank, just correct them and let them know that his name is Henry.

FWIW, I love the name Henry. It was my grandpa's name, and I hope to use it as a middle name if I have a son. My grandpa was called Hank though.. but it's not inevitable ;).

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11-16-2012 at 9:49 AM
MrsD1
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It depends on where you live. It seems like the nn Hank for Henry is much more common in the south. However, you don't even hear Hank in the PNW.
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11-16-2012 at 10:04 AM
ColeRose
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I really think if you can stick to calling him by his full name, so will everyone else. For example, my friend named her son Michael and another named his son James. All of the parents use their full names so no one calls them Mike or Jim/Jimmy.

I think you will be fine, as long as you don't shorten it, people will likely follow your lead.

(Another nn for Henry is Harry - which I don't understand at all)
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11-16-2012 at 10:11 AM
kpaivel
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I definitely don't think it's 'inevitable'. I personally would never call a Henry by the nickname 'Hank', unless they introduced themselves to me as such.

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11-16-2012 at 10:19 AM
BrideBuddi...
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Nicknames are never inevitable.  The first time someone calls your kid by an unwanted nickname, you simple tell them, "We don't call him/her that... we're going with ___."   It's not that hard for people to figure out... just be assertive and not passive about it.

FWIW.. my aunt pegged me with a ridiculous nn when I was a baby.  My mom didn't have the guts to stand up to her, so now as an adult, my weird aunt STILL calls me by this lame nn.  Hate it.  Nip it early and most normal people will get the hint.

 

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11-16-2012 at 10:23 AM
animalcrck...
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We have a four year old Henry and no one has ever called him Hank, ever.
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11-16-2012 at 10:25 AM
ahbEsq
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One of my friends has a son named Henry and she gets annoyed all the time at people calling her son Hank even though she's firmly stated that his name is Henry, not Hank.
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11-16-2012 at 1:14 PM
blu-eyedwi...
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I know several Henrys and only one is called Hank, and that's because his parents call him that.
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11-16-2012 at 3:21 PM
RWMomma
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I had never heard the NN Hank for Henry until after we announced the birth and name of our Henry. I immediately put my foot down and said "he will not be called Hank." Our family and friends totally understand. I will let it slide with My FIL because his Grandpa's name was Henry and they called him Hank (he has yet to call him Hank though.)

I don't think that calling a Henry by Hank is anything like shortening a name from Micheal to Mike, IMO.  
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11-16-2012 at 3:44 PM
clizh
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I absolutely disagree with your mom. Henry is just Henry to me, and I've never even heard a Henry being called Hank before. It's a very classic, handsome name and a great choice IMO.
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11-17-2012 at 1:39 AM
Kimbus22
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I've only known one Henry and he was always called Hank.
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