Looking for classical names for DC3 that have lots of different shortened forms...

[CinnabarRed]

DP and I are expecting DC3. Don't know whether the baby's a boy or a girl.

We like classical names that allow for lots of different variants to be used (each set of GPs use a different familiar variant for DS1, and he loves it).

If we have a girl we're thinking of Elizabeth (Eliza, Liz and all its variants, Beth, etc).

But we've used our favourites on DS1 and DS2 so are really scratching around for a third boy's name.

Our surname is Jones, so that takes a lot of names out of the picture. (Thomas, anyone?)

Any ideas for boys names (or indeed girls names in case you come up with one we haven't thought of yet?

[SilkStalkings]

Edward (Eddy, Ned, Ted etc)
Sebastian (Seb, Bas, Basti)
Christian (Chris, Kit)

[CinnabarRed]

Thanks for the idea SS. I really Sebastian. And you've brought Christopher to mind with your suggestion of Christian. What do you think of Nicolas?

[GibberingGinger]

Alexander (Alex, Sandy, Zander)
Patrick (Pat, Rick, Paddy) - actually I like PAtrick but not the nicknames
William (Bill, Will, Liam)

I'm sure I'll come up with lots more

[cath476]

James (Jamie, Jim, Jimmy)
Joseph (Joe, Joey)

[belgo]

Frederick
Fred Ed Rick

Gilbert
Gil and Bertie

[CinnabarRed]

Alex and James are DS1 and DS2!

[GibberingGinger]

Ooh, My DS1 is James Alexander. DS2 is Douglas. A bit old fashioned for a lot of people but I think Doug is really manly. Also like Dougie - though not Doogie so much.

[MelinaM]

Andrew (Andy, Andre, Drew, Dandie/y)
Arthur (Art, Artie, Arto, Artus)
Charles (Charlie, Chas)
Christopher (Chris, Kit, Christoph, Christo)
Daniel (Dan, Danny)
Henry (Harry, Hal, Hank)
Jonathan (John, Johnny)
Leonard (Leo, Leon, Lenny, Len)
Montgomery/Montague (Monty)
Percival (Percy, Perce)
Robert (Rob, Robbie, Bobby, Bob, Bertie, Bert)
Theodore (Theo, Teddy, Ted)

[Janoschi]

David? Dave, Davy, Taffy...

Michael? Mike, Mick, Mickey...

Patrick? Pat, Paddy, Patch...

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Matthew?

Charles?

Oliver?

Indiana?

Anthony?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Dominic?

[Italiangreyhound]

Love Dominic - shortens to Nic or Dom.

[Whelk]

Theodore? Teddy, Ted or Theo.

[CinnabarRed]

David, Matthew, Jonathon and Anthony, although perfectly lovely in themselves, are all out because either DP or I work with people of those names.

I'm loving Dominic - all the advantages of Nicolas but with more flexibility!

I like Michael and Patrick, but not their shortened forms.

A lot of the others are already taken by friends' babies.

I think it's got to be Dominic or Sebastian.

[nikki1978]

Catherine (Katherine) for a girl, lots of names - Katie, Kat, Kathy, Kath etc

[twolittlemonkeys]

Elizabeth would be my favourite for a girl too (before even reading your post) and Edward for a boy as there are lots of lovely NNs (Ned, Ted, Ed, Eddie, Teddy etc) but doesn't sound too formal if you decide not to shorten it after all.

[Ilovemyscrumples]

My wee bro is Nicolas (spelt this way too) and it was never shortened until he became a teenager. He is now Nic to most people but Nicolas for anything official. I like it, I don't know any other Nicolas' except him of either spelling.

[Fredfred]

Oh yes, use Dominic or Sebastian. They are my two favorite boys names. I have never got to use them as I only have DDs so far!!

[ShowOfHands]

Ooh I like Sebastian. I like Patrick too but only because I like nickname Patch so much. With Alex and James, William would be nice (Billy, Bill, Will etc).

I like Josephine for similar reasons. It abbreviates to Jo, Josie, Phin, Posy etc. Lovely, versatile name.

[CinnabarRed]

DP doesn't like Sebastian or Dominic because he thinks they're "too posh". (He's a bit of an inverted snob - MILs family are very middle class, but he conveniently forgets to mention this and instead focusses on the fact that FIL comes from mining stock.)

However, he does like Nicolas (either spelling), Daniel, Edward and Benjamin so at least we've got some common ground!

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[shushpenfold]

I have a Charles and he is Charlie, Chuck, Chas, CJ (fits with the middle name!) and just plain Charles!

[LineOnTheLeftOneCrossEach]

My BIL is Nicholas. He's getting married in a couple of weeks. We still call him NickyNooNoo. Brilliantly versatile.

[oohlaalaa]

Sorry, slight hijack. We like the name William for our son, as it is a family name, and will be after a much loved grandfather.

I never thought of Liam as a possible nn.

Has anybody ever come across Liam as a nickname for William?

[monkeysmum79]

my brother is Joshua Jones he's been call... Josh, Joe, Joey and JJ. Love them all!

[burntsienna]

Has anybody ever come across Liam as a nickname for William?

Of course - Liam is derived from William. It has become popular in recent years as a stand-alone name, but it has always been a variant of William.