# H is for Henry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526 "2003-04-09T12:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/1 "2003-04-09T12:20:39Z")
…okay, if it’s not Henry, then what does the H in Jesus H. Christ stand for? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/2 "2003-04-09T12:29:36Z")
It stands for Hippy, because his hair was long and he was cool and stuff :). If I could use the search engine properly I could find you one of the previous threads that discuss this… sorry. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/3 "2003-04-09T12:35:09Z")
> [@](#): > > H is for Henry? > …okay, if it’s not Henry, then what does the H in Jesus H. Christ stand for? Only for the Electromagnetic Jesus. Otherwise, lok up the prior threads. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/4 "2003-04-09T12:40:40Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_033.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_033.html) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/5 "2003-04-09T16:35:04Z")
Off to Comments on Cecils’ Columns ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/6 "2003-04-10T05:18:47Z")
Perhaps [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107808&highlight=jesus+christ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107808&highlight=jesus+christ) is a follow-up discussion which may help. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/7 "2003-04-10T17:03:05Z")
I still like “Haploid”, personally. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/8 "2003-04-10T21:22:07Z")
I thought it was about the H in “John H. Watson, MD” and this was yet another comment on the [Sherlock Holmes Staff Report](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msherlock.html)in the wrong forum… ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/9 "2003-04-10T22:07:51Z")
It’s for “Howard” as in “Our Father, who art in Heaven, Howard be thy name”. Jesus got his Father’s name for a middle name. The alternative theory is that it stands for “Harold” as in “Hark, the Harold Angels sing” but why he would be named after a singing sports team is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/10 "2003-04-11T03:47:52Z")
One theory I’ve not seen here: “H” is a euphemistic replacement for “F,” which is more offensive and therefore less frequently seen in print. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-is-for-henry/167526/11 "2003-04-12T05:27:06Z")
Holy. Jesus Holy Christ. Makes sense to me.