Favourite formal name for Hal?

Boy Names
1

See the results of this poll: Favourite formal name for Hal?

Respondents: 45 (This poll is closed)

  • Henry : 28 (54%)
  • Harold/ Harald : 15 (29%)
  • Harry : 7 (13%)
  • Other (comment): 2 (4%)
2

I voted for [name_m]Henry[/name_m] as it isn’t as mega-popular as [name_m]Harry[/name_m] (at least where I live). [name_m]Harold[/name_m] still sounds old-fashioned to me, conjuring images of The Battle of Hastings and [name_m]Harold[/name_m] Godwinson with the arrow in his eye. Plus, as [name_m]Harry[/name_m] is short for [name_m]Henry[/name_m] anyway, you could occasionally call him that, too.

3

I like [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_m]Harold[/name_m], but voted for [name_m]Hal[/name_m] I prefer [name_m]Harold[/name_m]. [name_m]Harlan[/name_m] can be another option

4

[name_m]Hal[/name_m] is lovely, and [name_m]Henry[/name_m] is a good strong classic to back it up with more formality.

5

Voted for [name_m]Harold[/name_m] but maybe Halyard or [name_m]Halston[/name_m]?

6

Thanks everyone! My son’s name is [name_m]Roderick[/name_m] so I think [name_m]Henry[/name_m] would be nice with it. I slightly prefer [name_m]Harold[/name_m] just because it’s in my family but [name_m]Henry[/name_m] is softer and just as nice sounding.

7

[name_m]Harold[/name_m] would be the most intuitive to get to [name_m]Hal[/name_m] I think.

8

I like [name_m]Hal[/name_m]! But my personal nn preference is for it to use consecutive letters in a name, so I really like the [name_m]Halston[/name_m] suggestion.

9

[name_m]Hal[/name_m] is such a favourite of mine! I like it best short for the lovely [name_m]Henry[/name_m].

But with brother [name_m]Roderick[/name_m], I’m actually loving [name_m]Harold[/name_m]/[name_m]Harald[/name_m]. They both have the same solid, strong, Anglo-[name_m]Saxon[/name_m], super unexpected (on a 2019 baby) feel to them. If it’s a family name on top of that, I’d run with it!

10

I have never been that keen on [name_m]Henry[/name_m] for some reason, but I love the tousle-haired strength of [name_m]Harold[/name_m]. I once knew a [name_m]Harold[/name_m] nn H@l with a sister called Th0m@sin, which in hindsight I think is a stunning sibset.

11

@katinka I think so too. I also live in [name_m]Quebec[/name_m] and have some
[name_m]French[/name_m] relatives, they pronounce [name_m]Henry[/name_m] “Enh-[name_f]REE[/name_f]”, so the only consonent they pronounce is the “r” which doesn’t sound nice to me. [name_m]Harold[/name_m] would be “é-RALD” which I can live with lol They would probably say “[name_m]Al[/name_m]” instead of [name_m]Hal[/name_m] because they have a hard time with H.

My great great uncle [name_m]Harold[/name_m] fought for [name_f]Canada[/name_f] in WW2. He and his 4 brothers all fought and all made it back home, so I think it makes a nice honour name.

I just need to pass it by DH. Crossing my fingers lol

12

I would assume a [name_m]Hal[/name_m] was [name_m]Henry[/name_m], but all of your options could work.