Harry = hairy (American pronounciation)

suttonplacedsa · February 4, 2021, 8:38am

We absolutely adore the name [name_m]Henry[/name_m]/Harry.

What are everyone’s thoughts on [name_u]Harry[/name_u]'s American pronunciation “hairy”? Is it disgusting?

To Americans on here: do you know any kid under 10 named Harry?

jessicaflux · February 4, 2021, 9:01am

My brother is [name_u]Harry[/name_u] but we’re english so it’s always been Hah-ree but I’ve been watching [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] recently where the dad is [name_u]Harry[/name_u] and the son is [name_m]Harrison[/name_m] and I haven’t noticed the ‘hairy’ pronunciation at all so I think it sounds fine!

anon25197097 · February 4, 2021, 9:03am

I know a lovely redhead boy called [name_u]Harry[/name_u]. I am [name_f]English[/name_f] and it’s always been HA-ree. How about [name_m]Harrison[/name_m]?

MaisieDee · February 4, 2021, 9:33am

Harry is such a great name and so well loved here in the UK, I never even considered that there was a different pronunciation before! But now you mention it, whenever Americans talk about [name_m]Prince[/name_m] [name_u]Harry[/name_u], it does sound a bit like Hairy… But I really don’t think it would occur to most people, I think it’s a classic name

Greyblue · February 4, 2021, 10:37am

I’ve always pronounced it hah-ree but i think it’s popular enough that the hairy sound is fine

choupette · February 4, 2021, 10:56am

I’m British so it doesn’t sound like “hairy” in my accent. I personally wouldn’t use a name that sounds like “hairy” since I can see teasing potential.

whatchamacallit · February 4, 2021, 11:29am

I really like the name [name_u]Harry[/name_u] but probably wouldn’t use it for this reason.

QuirkFlower · February 4, 2021, 1:20pm

I’m American and I’ve got to say, I never know what Brits are talking about when they mention the difference between [name_u]Harry[/name_u] and hairy. [name_m]Even[/name_m] when I listen to you all say it, they sound exactly the same to my ears!

But no, I don’t think it’s “disgusting.” [name_u]Harry[/name_u] is still a well-established name here. The phonetic similarity to hairy puts some people off it, but I don’t think it should stop you from using it.

No, I don’t know any children with the name.

GdayMama · February 4, 2021, 1:55pm

We wanted to call our second son [name_u]Harry[/name_u] but decided against it for this very reason. We’re aussies living in the Midwest and pronunciations of names has been our single biggest hurdle in naming children. I can’t stand how so many names sound different.

hellobanjo · February 4, 2021, 1:59pm

I’m American and knew a [name_u]Harry[/name_u] growing up, so I knew him as a kid… It was never weird and I don’t think anyone ever teased him about it. I think his full name was [name_m]Harrison[/name_m]. This is even with my family being UGA fans and their mascot is named Hairy Dawg It’s such and established name that I don’t think it would be weird. I didn’t know there was any other way to pronounce [name_u]Harry[/name_u] lol. I’ve never even noticed with all the [name_u]Harry[/name_u] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] movies… All I heard was British accent, I guess. I think everyone is overthinking this.

dandy_orchid · February 4, 2021, 2:08pm

I’m American and it’s always made me a sad that [name_u]Harry[/name_u] and hairy sound the same in my accent–I like everything else about the name, but if I’m honest that pronunciation issue has kept me from fully loving it. However, I don’t think it’s disgusting by any means! It’s a great name. I don’t know a [name_u]Harry[/name_u] under 10 but I know one who’s college aged and I’ve never thought much of it except that it was a pleasantly unexpected name when I met him!

ElizabethAntoinette · February 4, 2021, 2:12pm

I’m American and I don’t pronounce them the same. It’s very similar, but the vowel sound is slightly different. The ai sound is more nasally. It’s definitely not gross.

may.rose · February 4, 2021, 2:18pm

Unfortunately, I dislike [name_u]Harry[/name_u] mainly for that reason. (From the US)

skylerros · February 4, 2021, 2:18pm

I don’t know anybody under 10 named [name_u]Harry[/name_u].

It does set me off, & the HP associations are strong as well. I prefer [name_m]Henry[/name_m]! ^.^

suttonplacedsa · February 4, 2021, 2:25pm

yes omg i feel the same. i hate our accent because so many gorgeous british names can’t be used here.

jk_garrison · February 4, 2021, 2:37pm

I used to dislike the name for that reason, but I think it was really just unfamiliar at the time too. After [name_u]Harry[/name_u] [name_m]Potter[/name_m], it became very familiar as a name, and I lost the hairy association.

futuremama · February 4, 2021, 2:38pm

I don’t usually make the connection, so no, I don’t find it disgusting.

lateaugust · February 4, 2021, 2:42pm

I know a [name_u]Harry[/name_u] - short for [name_m]Harrison[/name_m] - in the US who is young elementary school (K-2) age. With [name_u]Harry[/name_u] [name_m]Styles[/name_m] and [name_u]Harry[/name_u] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] I think it’s been normalized here enough. I really like the name too

Kipperbo1 · February 4, 2021, 2:57pm

I do say if the same as hairy, but I still like it. I know one [name_u]Harry[/name_u] who is probably around 10 now, and his name is short for an unusual name I won’t say here, but it is ___hart.

kat.felton · February 4, 2021, 3:05pm

I’m not a fan of what the American pronounciation does to the name, but I think it would only be an actual problem under a couple of circumstances:

The middle name or surname is a word name. I had a substitute teacher when I was a kid named Mr. [name_m]Dick[/name_m]. As if it wasn’t bad enough to try and teach a bunch of immature preteens, his first name was [name_u]Harry[/name_u]. A truly unfortunate combination.
If you have the genetic potential for your child to be teased for their hair (head or body). I have a lot of friends with Italian heritage who are sensitive to this, and I imagine them avoiding [name_u]Harry[/name_u] for that reason.