Looking for the next wave in geek chic? Disappointed that your little Gus is one of three in his nursery school? This one is a bit daring, but it just might work on a modern child.
Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Name of the Day: Harvey.
We’ll concede that Harvey has far to go. After a strong showing in the 19th century, he faded from use. His last appearance in the US Top 1000 was seven years back. And while we have starbabies called Walter (son of The Office’s Rainn Wilson) and Frank and Dexter (Elvis Costello and Diana Krall’s twins), Harvey feels like even more of a stretch.
Except that Harvey has fared well in the UK. He ranked #29 in 2007, and has been in the Top 50 for the past several years. With the English so often leading the way in baby name innovation, that bodes well for a comeback on this side of the Atlantic.
His origins are simple. In Breton – a Celtic language spoken in the Brittany region of France – Haerviu comes from the words haer – battle – and viu – worthy. Back in the sixth century, it was the name of a famous saint. Saint Harvey was born blind and lived as a hermit. Legend has it that he could talk to the animals – he’s sometimes depicted telling frogs to hush up or using a wolf to plow the fields.
The Normans brought the name to England, and he was in use through the early part of the Middle Ages. He fell out of fashion, but was revived by the Victorians.
The name has been in use ever since, but has some quirky meanings attached. In 1944, Mary Chase chose Harvey as the title of a play about an invisible rabbit. In 1950, it became a movie with Jimmy Stewart playing the only person who could see the giant bunny.
Then there’s the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail. One explanation for the drink’s curious name is that a California surfer called Harvey had one too many and literally walked into a wall. That’s probably just be a tale, but the drink has been around for decades.
Harvey Firestone founded the tire company; Harvey Ketiel is a well-known actor. And Harvey T. Birdman is an animated superhero-turned-attorney on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. When in London, you can shop at Harvey Nichols. There never was a Harvey Nichols – it’s the last names of co-founders Benjamin Harvey and Colonel Nichols.
Today, Harvey remains a common surname and, in the US, an infrequently heard first name. We’re all about to hear a lot more about Harvey with the release of Milk, a biopic about the first openly gay man to hold public office in California. He was assassinated less than a year a later.
While we doubt he’ll unseat Aiden anytime soon, Harvey could edge back into favor. He’s an alternate way to get to the nickname Harry; he’s not too far from the popular Henry and he’s both unusual and easily spelled. That’s an appealing combination for some parents hoping for a truly rare traditional name for a son.
I quite like Harvey – it’s different, fun, and everyone will know the name – how to spell it and say it, even though it’s not a common one. Always a plus (I’ve saddled my daughter with a name that, in the US anyway, is confusing in both spelling and pronouncing). Maybe it doesn’t seem too ‘out there’ to me because I spent some years in England, but I don’t recall meeting any Harvey’s while I was there. If we have another and it’s a boy, I think I’d have to think about Harvey as a possibility. I think it works as well on a baby as on a grown-up and has a somewhat casual feel – it almost sounds like a nickname, but it’s not. Kind of like Harry, except that with that one you can go for Harris or some such more “formal” sounding name with the nickname… I can’t think of a formal version of Harvey (Harvis certainly doesn’t exist or work!) In addition, I think it passes the play-ground-test – I can’t think of any horrible rhymes or nasty things to call Harvey (another thing it’s good to consider with names). Yay Harvey!
Don’t forget the boyfriend in the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” series. He was a great character, but I don’t know that I’d name my son after him (he was a bit of a dunce). Harvey sounds a little TOO casual if you ask me. I don’t think it’s really out there, and definitely doesn’t merit an eye-roll, he’s just not for me.
Don’t forget there’s the handsome Harvey Dent from the Dark Knight and Batman comics!
I really like it. I think it has the potential to be the next Henry. I have a Great Uncle Harvey, and I have a soft spot for it. Once again, Harvey Huff just sounds silly, though.
FYI Vee, they’re inducing me tonight! Can I request James as a NotD for sometime in the future? If that’s too much, Kenneth?
Thanks!
Congratulations, Kayt! You must be a mother by now. That’s so fabulous!
James will be NotD on 1/7 and Kenneth on 1/9. I agree with Lola – I think Kenneth could qualify as a modern classic.
I’ve always liked Harvey and I’ve never understood why everyone thinks it’s so nerdy. The bully on Boy Meets World was called Harley, but turned out his name was really Harvey, and when the kids in the school found that out they made fun of him. I don’t get that. Harvey is cool sounding, to me. It’s definitely something I would consider.
Thanks Verity! Harvey’s one that’s been appealing to me for awhile now But haven’t put it forth for consideration yet. You forgot Harvey Fierstein! And I don’t think he’s a far stretch from Frank or Henry either, he sounds like a compatriot to me. I really like his two syllable swing and think he’s definitely ready for a revival. He never sounded as dated to me as Walter, either, maybe that huge rabbit keeps him youthful? (I have a soft spot for “Harvey” with Jimmy Stewart). He’s definitely going into consideration, Harvey’s a winner for me!
And may I second Kenneth? (James too, for that matter) I think Kenneth is turning into a beautiful classic very slowly, he’s never been off the charts! And I must admit a soft spot for him too, he’s my other half! I think he’d even be tickled to see Kenneth as a NotD. James is one of the few true classics I don’t think I’ll ever tire of, no matter how popular he gets (and is my OH’s middle)!
I’ll third Kenneth and James as suggestions for name of the day. I’d never considered Knenneth untill Lola mentioned him back along, since them I’ve really grown to love his proud and proper sound. And James, well as Lola has already mentioned – James is one of the few true classics that you never tire of hearing. He has strong family ties for me too, as he is (take a deep breath) my brothers name, my dads middle name, my grandad’s middle name and my great granddad’s first name plus my OH’s middle name – phew!
Back to the matter in hand: Harvey. I have say that I’m in a rather weird place with Harvey. Part of me feels that he has a very old school – cool, glamorous, off the beaten track, Hollywood movie vibe to him (probably brought on by a mixture of associations like the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail, Harvey Weinstein and Harvey Keitel). On the flip side, the fact that he has has achieved relative popularity in the UK in the last ten years makes him feel ultra modern – even though he’s not.
To give you an idea of his usage over here, I reckon that Harvey would more likely be the sibling of a Finley, Dylan or Callum than the more geeky-chic Gus, Bertie or Archie as you might expect. Personally, I just can’t reconcile his slightly off beat, cool feel with his popular usage – the two just seem so at odds.
Isn’t that interesting – Harvey and Dylan! In the US, I think it would be Dylan and Jayden.
I could definitely go for Kenneth, James, Frank, Harry, and Henry, but somehow Harvey still sounds too old-guy for me. The sound does not appeal to me much.
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my parents decided to name me Harvey and Im a girl. i havent ever met another Harvey let alone another girl Harvey. its funny that my name is the name of the day
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