Help me choose between Leo and Leonard

[Londonpansy]

Dh and I have settled on Leo if we have a boy (am 8 months pg but don't know the sex).

We def don't like Leopold or Leonardo. We know we want the baby if it is a boy to be known generally as Leo.

But I am starting to think I much prefer Leonard as its full name.

I know Leonard is a bit old man, but it is a nice name and a proper name (it was Churchill's middle name for example). I also like Lenny though dh doesn't like Lenny and absolutely detests Len.

One concern I have is if he goes to school and there is ore than one Leo in the class he becomes known as Leonard by default even though the plan is he will be known as Leo. If we just call him Leo of course then they have no choice.

Also if he were called Leonard is Leo an obvious short version?

Aaaargh - any thoughts please do share them (as long as they are not of the 'horrible name, have you thought of Fred' variety - we are def going with Leo or Leonard).

[Habbibu]

I think Leo, as it's quite possible Leonard will be shortened to Len, which I don't really like. Also I know a wee Leo and he's lovely.

[greentriangle]

I would just call him Leo.

He will be called Leonard, Len, Lenny etc if you call him Leonard.

[Habbibu]

Oh, yes, and Lenster. well, maybe not. But possibly.

[Jojay]

Normally I would think, go with the long version, but in this instance, I'd stick with Leo. Lovely.

[comtessa]

Entirely up to you how it gets shortened. I have a friend called Nia - short for Stephania. She is never called Steph or Stephie.

[belgo]

Leon. Far better then both of them.

[megonthemoon]

I have a Leo :)

It is a name in its own right and has been for centuries (lots of popes, Romans etc. just know as Leo), rather than just being a short form of anything. Leonard to me becomes Lenny or Len, not Leo because of the way it is pronounced in English. Leo is an unusual shortening of it actually, even if it does start with the same 3 letters - maybe works for Leonardo where the o is pronounced but a bit off for Leonard.

Just go with Leo :)

[megonthemoon]

not off, odd!

[JustDoMyLippyThenWeWillGo]

Leo nice, don't like Leonard, and Leo is a proper name - great name for a boy, I reckon

[theagedparent]

Leonard is much nicer

[wildstrawberryplace]

Leo is a full name in it's own right. It's not short for anything. Other names with Leo in them are later variations in other languages - Russian, Italian etc.

If you call him Leonard then it will get shortened to Len or Lennie without a doubt (Leonardo DiCaprio aside).

I would just call him Leo!

[PollyTechnique]

Yes, how about Leon, nn Leo?

[londonpansy]

Don't like Leon. But reassured you all think Leo is a proper name in its own right. And it means lion - how cool is that!

Starsign connection puts me off a bit though. Will people think we are hippydippy - I mean it won't even by a Leo.

After all this will probably be a girl - and girl name we have chosen is nothing like Leo.

[megonthemoon]

I never thought about the star sign thing - Leo is a proper name, and the star sign is just coincidence. If you were to call your child Saggitarius (which isn't a known first name) and he/she actually be a Gemini it would be very weird, but a Leo born any time other than July/August isn't odd (mine is March-born and nobody has ever commented on it being odd, or asked if he was born in August!)

[B52s]

Leo, definately.

[ValiumSingleton]

I prefer just Leo tbh, I love that name. A good Roman Classic.

Leopold and Leo now, that would be tough! I am not ooo la la enough to have a son called Leopold though.

[wildstrawberryplace]

Apols for errant apostrophe in "it's"

I have a Leo and never thought about the star sign (he was born in the spring) and the only person who did ask me, was a hippy dippy chanelling-the-goddess type herself, I just thought she was a bit nuts.

[sparkle12mar08]

Definatel just Leo - it's lovely :)

[ValiumSingleton]

wildstrawberryplace, I remember somebody asked me what star sign my son was, and I couldn't figure it out! I do remember wondering when I was pg with dc1 what star sign he/she would be, but for dc2 who was born early, I really had to say, um, dunno, if I tell you his birthday will that do?

[liliputlady]

Leo on its own is perfect.

[diddl]

Leo

[pacinofan]

Leonard - love Lenny for short.

[LynetteScavo]

ditto.

[FranSanDisco]

Leo.

[allbie]

Leo. My grandad was Leonard and was known as Len.