To think that deciding on a shortening/nickname for a DC's name is actually quite common?

[Thurlow]

Apologies, this is half a thread about a thread. Or lots of threads.

I feel like I read loads on times on Baby Names comments that 'nicknames develop over time', or how you shouldn't start with a shortened version and work out to a longer name.

Obviously this applies when your child is still known as Moo because she made a noise like a cow when she was a baby... But not when you're thinking that you want to call your daughter Katie, and then work out to decide of they should be a Katherine, Kathryn etc.

Is it just me, or is it actually quite common in RL to decide at the start that you want a Benjamin nn Ben, William nn Billy, Elizabeth nn Libby etc?

(I should qualify that this isn't exactly bothering me. I'm slightly bored this afternoon...)

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

I agree completely. I picked both of the dc's names based on the nicknames. I like options, I didn't know it was a looked down upon.

[ghostmous3]

I must be common as muck then because my daughter is an Elinor but always been known as Ellie.

[squoosh]

I’d imagine most people who want a son called Joe will officially call him Joseph. But I don't understand when someone who wants to call their child Daisy is advised to put Margaret on the birth cert instead. Yes Daisy is derived from Margaret but they are still two completely different names.

I always remember a thread where the poster wanted to call her daughter Pie and was looking for suggestions as to a longer name this could be a nickname for. PIE.

[Thurlow]

Probably why I notice it, DD has been deliberately called by a short version of her long name since before she was born!

[Thurlow]

Pie?!

[squoosh]

I do think people can be a bit weird with the 'I want to call him xxxxxxx day to day so what should his proper name be?'. Just call them the name you want to call them.

[WeirdCatLady]

Dd is called Grace but people always "shorten" it to Gracie.

The irony of shortening it to a longer name is lost on some :D

[ThursdayLast]

I'm not sure.
I don't like it myself, but I don't consider Ben the nn of Benjamin, more a shortening.
I think something like Benji is more of a nn and should be a kind of organic development, rather than a decision but because i don't really like many nicknames.

However, I would never look down on anyone for doing it because I believe names are accepted when they're already attached to a little human

[Thurlow]

People will always change it, won't they, WeirdCatLady? I have a one syllable name too. People often stick 'abella' on the end. It's like some people have to come up with an affectionate version of a name.

[Thurlow]

Oh god, I've just realised that in the OP people might think I meant 'common' as in 'common as muck' I meant common as in 'happens all the time'!!

[ViviPru]

YANBU. I think people are confusing between nicknames and shortened versions.

My given full (relatively long) name has 2 obvious, well-known shortened versions. My being called these were inevitable when my Mum chose my name for me, and didn't develop over time. It would have been silly her not taking them into consideration when choosing my name.

I am currently considering baby names myself and the shortened version (not nn) is a very important factor in my considerations.

Conversely, our dog has a regular human name (think George as opposed to Fido) and she gets called silly nicknames, some deriving from her name, some not. These are names that we would never have associated with her given name before - the kinds of names you can't plan for and I think what those uppity posters are really referring to.

[WeirdCatLady]

Absolutely, Thurlow.

Mind you, we use the nickname of Mooshalinda so we're even worse hehe

[Mordirig]

The initials of the names we chose for DD spelt cat and I thought kitty would be a lovely nick name, I got shot down on baby names for presuming this as a nick name and quite right too!
She has never been called kitty at all, she is refered to as my pudding instead

[lljkk]

Ah, you really did blow it with the common word there, OP. Expect further flaming.

Yes lots of people do this. With mixed success. Why did you need to ask about it?

[Stinkle]

Weirdcatlady same here

I also have a DD whose actual name is the shortened version of another name. That gets shortened even more

My Mum gave me what she calls a "business card" name. The full name in case I ever became a lawyer, the shortened version for day to day use

[overthemill]

I chose a name I have always lived, from Shakespeare, and told everyone what the shortened version was going to be. Because some of the other short versions I loathe! So I was a bit fascist. Dd wishes she had just been called the short version but I thought she might want something more elegant when she is prime minister, QC, leader if the free world etc. the non that has stuck though is Bo!!!

[Stinkle]

X-posted, the same here wasn't the Moonshalida bit

[Thurlow]

Is there another word for common in that context? Or should I start a debate about how the word has been hijacked?

The Oxford English Dictionary has "Occurring, found, or done often; prevalent" as it's first definition. That's my defence!

[basgetti]

I did this. DS named Eddie, but has Edward as his official name. I sometimes wish I'd just put Eddie on the birth certificate in the first place as he's never been known as Edward and doesn't seem to believe it's his proper name!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I just put the short name on the birth cert. I liked neither of the longer versions it could have been so stuck with the nickname. It carries itself very well as a stand alone name.

Had I given her one of the longer versions, it would pee me off if a different shortening was used.

[WeirdCatLady]

[Sparklingbrook]

Long version on birth certificates and use short version from birth here. Options for when they are older.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Both mine are named as I liked the long and short!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I never understand the "options" argument. There are many many names with no options that are popular or classic names.

Sarah Claire Alice Janet Laura

No options there so why would Eddie or Billy be seen as not giving options.

[Thurlow]

I know what you mean, ThinkIveBeenHacked. But I guess some parents like names that will give their DC options when they are older. Though if DD grows up and chooses one of the suddenly popular shortenings of her long name, I might cry