[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! We are having such a hard time with the name for our 4th son, due in a few weeks. Brothers are [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Walter[/name_m] (goes by “[name_m]Walt[/name_m]”), and [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m].
The name we are currently leaning toward is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m] are the baby’s great-grandfathers from each side. Here is my problem: I don’t want the baby’s nn to be [name_m]Art[/name_m]. My husband likes [name_m]Art[/name_m], but I just have too many associations. But the combo [name_m]ARthur[/name_m] [name_m]CHarles[/name_m] does seem to lend itself to the nicknames [name_m]Arch[/name_m] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m]. My husband likes [name_m]Arch[/name_m] more than [name_m]Archie[/name_m], and I like both.
I’m hoping to get your opinion on whether you think [name_m]Arch[/name_m] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m] are not too much of a stretch from [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. I also would like your opinion on whether you think [name_m]Arch[/name_m] is enough of a “real name” and whether you like the name [name_m]Arch[/name_m]. I like it, but have never met someone who went by [name_m]Arch[/name_m] and I don’t want to force a non-name.
It is so hard to know what nn you will end up calling your kids. If we announced the baby’s name to our friends as [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] to go by either [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] or nns [name_m]Arch[/name_m]/[name_m]Archie[/name_m], does that seem super awkward? [name_f]Do[/name_f] we need to just outright commit to either calling the baby [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] or [name_m]Arch[/name_m] or [name_m]Archie[/name_m] and announce this plan with authority, or can we just be fuzzy and let what happens happens?
Sorry for the long post! Would love any input!!!
My favorite nn for [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is [name_m]Bear[/name_m] so I think [name_m]Archie[/name_m]/ [name_m]Arch[/name_m] would work just fine. I would use [name_m]Archie[/name_m]/ [name_m]Arch[/name_m] interchangeably. I would announce his name as “[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Archie[/name_m]’ (last name)”. I think if people see it written down like that they will have no trouble understanding and using his nn.
What about [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] nicknamed [name_u]Ari[/name_u] or [name_m]Thor[/name_m]? Or you could politely insist that it he’s called [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. If he is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m] is his nn, that seems perfect.
If you want to just go with the flow and see how his personality is once he is born, then that would not only make things easier now, but he actually may end up acting more like an [name_m]Archie[/name_m] or even [name_m]Ace[/name_m], [name_m]Arrow[/name_m], [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_u]Asa[/name_u], etc. Nicknames do not have to be intuitive. Example, my nickname turned out to be [name_m]Bean[/name_m]. My name is [name_u]Ashley[/name_u]. 
I think [name_m]Archie[/name_m]/[name_m]Arch[/name_m] would be absolutely fine Actually, I really like it - as thenameprincess said, if you wrote it as [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] ‘[name_m]Archie[/name_m]’ and mentioned the nickname when verbally introducing him, I don’t think anyone would get confused. Your sons all have beautiful names, by the way, and [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] fits in with [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Walter[/name_m] and [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] perfectly
Oh my gosh… I love every one of your boys’ names!! So handsome and classic; they work amazingly as siblings.
There was a thread about this exact topic not too long ago (with a poll) and most people who commented said they can see the connection between Arthur and Archie, including myself. I tried really hard to find the page to link for you but I couldn’t 
Anyway, I think Archie or Arch work just fine for Arthur; especially Arthur Charles. I would just announce and say something along the lines of “His name is Arthur Charles and we’ll be calling him Arch (or Archie)”. I don’t think it’s a nickname people will come to on their own, they’ll probably call him Art so I would just let people know what you plan to call him and they’ll follow suit! Good luck & congratulations
(PS- I just have to mention Simon as an option too, if you’re open to suggestions! Simon works too well with Walter, Malcolm and Henry not to mention it!)
While I like [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] a lot with [name_m]Arch[/name_m]/[name_m]Archie[/name_m] as a nn, but [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is too close to [name_m]Walter[/name_m] to me, so I probably would not use it. What about [name_m]Charles[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] nn [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] instead? Alternatively, could you use other names to honor [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m]? [name_m]Chester[/name_m] or Arles/[name_u]Arlo[/name_u] might be a good way to combine and honor them both. Other possibilities: [name_m]Arnold[/name_m], [name_m]Archer[/name_m], [name_m]Archibald[/name_m], [name_m]Carl[/name_m], [name_u]Chase[/name_u], [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], or [name_m]Clarence[/name_m].
It’s funny, I actually considered the name [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] when we were naming [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] and at that point, my husband was set on the nn [name_m]Art[/name_m] and I DID think [name_m]Walt[/name_m] and [name_m]Art[/name_m] were too similar. Now that there is a buffer of another name ([name_m]Malcolm[/name_m]) and now that my husband isn’t planning to call the baby [name_m]Art[/name_m], I’m not so worried about [name_m]Walter[/name_m]/[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Walt[/name_m]/[name_m]Arch[/name_m] being too similar, but if others feel the same, let me know!
I think [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] is a perfect choice with your sibset. I also think [name_m]Archie[/name_m] or [name_m]Arch[/name_m] work great as nicknames for [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] even without middle name [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. With the middle name, they are perfect and not a stretch at all. I like [name_m]Arch[/name_m] I’ve never heard of it but I don’t think it’s a problem that it’s made up sounding since it’s a nn. If I were you, I would wait and see what evolves, whether you use both or just one of those. People will follow your lead with whatever you decide to call him! Great choice!
Great ideas!!
[name_m]Arthur[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] is dashing. You can call him whatever you like, but what if he decides to go by [name_m]Art[/name_m] one day?
If you like [name_m]Archie[/name_m], how about [name_m]Arty[/name_m]? Good compromise between [name_m]Art[/name_m] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m]? I taught a 6-year old [name_m]Arty[/name_m] whose full name was [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] - he was great!