A couple have chosen a soon-to-be-extinct name for their baby, confident that he’ll be the only one in his school with it, despite critics suggesting he might face bullying. Casey Hennessy, 21, and her partner, Zacchaeus Harper, 25, have always favoured traditional names.
Upon discovering they were expecting a boy, they considered names like Winston, Axel, and Finnegan, but ultimately, one name stood out. Little Arnold was born to Casey on December 9, 2023, weighing 8lbs 3oz, at 23.13pm.
Casey said that as soon as she saw him, she knew he was an Arnold. The couple are thrilled with their unique choice and believe people will affectionately call him Arnie, after Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Casey, a healthcare assistant from Eastbourne, East Sussex, said: “I like the idea of him having a traditional name – it will sound smart. We do shorten his name to Arnie to make him sound more youthful.”
“We both like our traditional names. People refer to him as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hey Arnold as well,” reports Bristol Live.
Casey gave birth to her first child, Maggie, two, on April 28, 2022. When she discovered she was pregnant with her second child in March 2023, she decided she wanted to give him a traditional name.
Casey added: “We both appreciate traditional names and It was so hard to come up with a boy’s names. I like the fact that they are actual names, and they can grow into that name and have nicknames. I also wanted him to be the only Arnold in his class.”
The moniker Arnold is on the brink of extinction, alongside a host of other old-fashioned names. Casey disclosed that as soon as she laid eyes on her newborn, she was set on the name Arnold.
Casey explained: “He could’ve been a Winston, Murphy or even an Axel, which are the sort of names we liked but as soon as I saw him I knew he was an Arnold. None of the names suited him, I instantly just knew, and it felt right.”
Casey revealed that since Arnold’s arrival, opinions on his name have been divided. She has noticed that while the elderly adore the name, younger folks aren’t always convinced.
Casey pointed out: “The older generation love it, but it differs with the younger people. I have got comments where people said that he will get bullied because of his name, which I hope will not be the case.
“We do call him Arnie for short but overall we love his name. The older generation do say how ‘lovely’ the name is and how they haven’t heard it in a while.”
