sharing an unimportant discovery that made me laugh

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 100240

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "nkafkafi" <nkafkafi at y...> 
wrote:

Neri:
> This is indeed a point that I always wanted to ask the British 
here. 
> Is my impression correct that the name Harry Potter does have 
> a "common" sound to it? To my knowledge Harry is indeed the common 
> form of the more aristocratic Henry. Wasn't King Henry the VIII, 
for 
> example, known as "Great Harry" to the commoners? 

Geoff:
There are a fair number of contractions. Henry often becomes Harry - 
and in earlier days as a "familiar" name - Hal. This can be seen in 
Shakespeare. Some of the contractions become the given name, Harry 
included. Examples are: Sarah/Sally (sometimes Sal as a familiar 
name),William/Bill, Terence/Terry (often Tel in London).

Harry is quite acceptable as a name despite Petunia's comment. She 
was just being waspish I think.....