Archibald

I adore the name [name_m]Archibald[/name_m].

The crustier and quirkier a name, the more inclined I am to love it.

What are my chances of instilling confidence in a child with this name in 21st Century [name_u]America[/name_u]?

What type of image does it conjure up in your mind’s eye?

For me it conjures an image of an old man in a country village, complaining about the ‘kids of today’.
It also obviously has ‘Baldy’ teasing potential. Personally I think it’s quite a nice name though, and the nn [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is wonderful.

Yes yes yes and yes!

I love [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] and the nickname [name_m]Archie[/name_m]. It is in my top 5.

I see a happy child, an athletic teenager, a handsome man and an old crazy scientist with this name.

I haven’t spoken about this name around me. I don’t know if people are going to like it.

[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] is a GREAT name!

And with a nickname like [name_m]Archie[/name_m], no crust there.

Or [name_m]Archer[/name_m], which is a bit trendy, but is still a cool word.

God, give me an [name_m]Archibald[/name_m]/[name_m]Archie[/name_m] over a [name_m]Breaker[/name_m], [name_m]Kaiden[/name_m], [name_m]Drexel[/name_m], [name_m]Draven[/name_m], [name_m]Braxton[/name_m] any day!

It was my grandfather’s name. He was a scholar of etymology and the headmaster of a boys’ school, a voracious reader and opera buff, and a very sweet, but low key, person. So that’s my image.

With all the other vintage names making a comeback, hopefully [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] wouldn’t seem wildly old-fashioned.

[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m]! [name_u]Cary[/name_u] [name_m]Grant[/name_m] was born, [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] Leech, which I think adds to the name’s coolness.

I do wish it was spelled differently because I don’t pronounce the ending as “bald,” when I say it out loud. And that word kind of jumps out when it’s written. But oh well. I can definitely see this name making a big comeback. Maybe not now, but definitely within ten years. [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is just too cool of a nickname to deny.

We want [name_m]Archie[/name_m] but we don’t want [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] so we’re going with [name_m]Archer[/name_m]…

I feel like it wouldn’t be fair to saddle my baby boy with [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] “[name_m]Aren[/name_m]'t-ya-bald?” when he’ll be going to school beside Aidens and Hunters and Kylans, I feel like [name_m]Archer[/name_m] is a better fit for our day and age.

I think of my all-time favorite actor, the dashing [name_u]Cary[/name_u] [name_m]Grant[/name_m]. I’ve never liked [name_m]Archie[/name_m] so I prefer the nn [name_m]Archer[/name_m]

[name_m]Archibald[/name_m] is at the tip top of my guilty pleasure list. I’m not so sure a child would enjoy wearing it, but it definitely has some charm.

@trix - Crotchety old man is one of my two name images :).

@flokoflo - “Old crazy scientist” made me smile.

@lesliemarion - I’m with you on vintage versus trendy.

@vasilisa - Expert and scholar is the other of my two name images :). What an attractive picture you’ve painted of your beloved grandfather.

@katiespills - If [name_u]Cary[/name_u] [name_m]Grant[/name_m] had kept his birth name, how might [name_m]Archibald[/name_m]'s image have change?

@alphabetters - That’s what’s so sad: School-age children are often our biggest influence on naming.

@nat108 - Ditto my reply to katiespills :).

@lerenard - I want to think a child could be taught to wear his name with pride?

I see a old gentleman living in his castle. I would never use this name because it’s just isn’t my style. I feel like it’s for a middle name contender than anything.

I don’t mind it, but I do prefer just [name_m]Archie[/name_m] by itself. The -bald part bothers me a little bit and I also get the old man feel off of it. I think it would make a good middle though.

I love [name_m]Archibald[/name_m], but then again I also love [name_m]Theobald[/name_m]. I don’t think the ‘bald’ ending is much of an issue because it almost sounds like bold to me, plus the nickname [name_m]Archie[/name_m] brings the names up to date, [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is very popular in the UK at the moment along with [name_u]Alfie[/name_u], [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], [name_u]Joey[/name_u] etc.

I love the nickname [name_m]Archie[/name_m], but I’m not fond of the -bald part of this name. I can see the appeal though.

I see it as a last name. And I don’t really care for surnames as first names. Anyway that is just my opinion.

Not just school aged children judging the name - everyone and anyone you have to consider when its a child. Would a potential employer look more kindly on a resume from an [name_m]Archer[/name_m] or [name_m]Archibald[/name_m]? Would his wife prefer to yell out [name_m]Archer[/name_m] or [name_m]Archibald[/name_m] in the throes of passion? [name_m]How[/name_m] will the name shape the person, and what are peoples first impressions? All important.