Archie

From Archibald: roughly “truly bold”.

Archie is a boys’ name used in English and Scottish naming, originally a familiar form of Archibald. Its meaning comes through that longer name: “truly bold” is a compact way of expressing the older elements, rather than a separate meaning of the word Archie. It can also be a given name in its own right, so an Archie need not have Archibald as his full name. The English pronunciation has two syllables, with the emphasis at the beginning. The ch sounds as it does in “chair”, and the ending has an ee sound. The British pronunciation shown here does not sound the r; the American one does. Archie’s appeal lies partly in how much of Archibald it leaves behind. The clipped ending and bright ch make it feel lighter and more conversational, while the final ie softens the finish. It may suit someone drawn to the warmth of a familiar name form without the more formal presence of Archibald.

Etymology: An English short form of Archibald, whose Germanic elements carry the senses “genuine, true” and “bold”.