Consider wisely. I speak from experience...

[Georgie83]

My married name is Georgina Ophelia Cunliffe which, on the surface doesn't seem too bad but please consider:
VARIATIONS
Georgina, Georgie, George, Gee, Gina, Geen, ... Strangely, very few people actually call me Georgina, which I prefer!
NICKNAMES
I'm a redhead so I also get Georginger and Orangina. When I married and my friends heard my new name I became Ophelia C*ntlips! Which had thankfully started to wear off after 7 years!
ACRONYMS
My middle name's Ophelia, which I NEVER used because and my initials before I married were G.O.D. but I am now G.O.C. (which also stands for 'General Optical Council' and I'm an Optometrist!)

I know it's impossible to predict the future but PLEASE be considerate of all variations of a name. Believe me, there will always be one you've not thought of!

[rockinhippy]

& did it really harm you in any way???

[Georgie83]

A child's name is very closely linked to it's identity. My parents were never firm with people about sticking to a particular variation and I therefore had some difficulty with identity as a youngster. I developed some unusual behaviours and created a different persona for each of the names I was called: Georgina was quiet and polite, Georgie was cheeky and excitable, George was strong and independant, Gina was sassy and argumentative.... this all lasted several years and I was referred to several child therapists.

I have no issues with this any longer and have found my own identity independant of my name. But I'm sure it caused my parents considerable worry and heartache whilst I was like this.

So in answer to your question: No, but it caused unneccessary hardship during my childhood that could have been avoided.

[HappyWifeandMum]

I am always mindful of things like this when considering names for my children.

That was pretty vicious of your friends. Some names seem to invite ridicule, but I would say they definitely stretched that a bit far!

I DO recall quite clearly however being in a shop and having the lady in line in front of me refuse to say her last name! She would only do so after spelling it aloud... "H-u-n-s-u-c-k-e-r...HUNSUCKER." Think I might have considered changing that one if I were her!!

[evamummy]

ANY name can be made fun of (e.g. William gets called Willy, Ellie gets called Smellie Ellie etc). It normally does children no harm .

[evamummy]

And my initials are MAD (Melanie Anne Dxxx) - again, this has done me no harm.

[rockinhippy]

My own christian name can be shortened to form the dialect word for toilet, for the area I was born & grew up, so you can imagine the nicknames - it didn't do me any harm either

okay I didn't like my name as a kid, but I was a tomboy & it was too girly anyway, so I shortened it too a much more common name - in short I too had variations of my own name used in different situations, I didn't end up with any split personality issue

& even now I use my full name for work, & any other officialdom, hospital etc etc & an abbreviation amongst family & friends

its quite handy actually, as its pretty easy to work out who is on the phone & whether or not I actually want to speak to them at any given time

I'm sorry you had the issues you did OP, that can't have been easy for you, or your family, but I'm sorry IMHO you are using your parents choice of name as a scapegoat to hang your own issues on & blame them for.

As has already been said, kids being kids, they will find something in ANY name, or characteristic to pick on you for, if they are that way inclinded - thats just LIFE

[MsChanandlerBong]

I think most peoples naming choices will be influenced by their experiences of their own name.

For example, my name is a straight-forward two syllable name which has no easy nn or shortened version, which I resented growing up. Hence I tend to be drawn to names with a choice of variations when thinking about names for my future offspring.

I love love love Georgina btw - it is currently at the top of my shortlist as I tend to view your negatives as positives based on my experiences growing up. IE my standard 'boring' name seemed to lack personality, and whereas my peers with nn's seemed cool. Also in the years following my birth, my name shot to the top of the popularity list for ages, so there are now loads of people with name (over 10% of the people at my wedding last year had the same first name is me ) Something that none of us can foresee or control!!

And I have to confess to being a little shocked at your presumably adult friends calling you c*ntlips following your marriage. So sorry you had to put up with that.

[cory]

Not every child has a problem with variations on their name. My dd seems to thrive on them. But then she also speaks two languages at home, has double citizenship and uses a different name for herself depending on what language she is currently speaking. Also, different nickname for friends at school, for parents, grandma and little brother. Identity just means different things to different people.

[Georgie83]

Some interesting comments from you all, I appreciate your opinions on the topic:
rockinhippy I would like to correct you on one thing - 'split personality' is far from the identity issues experienced in early childhood and at all times I was aware of what I was doing. I also don't blame this entirely on my name by any means (there were many other complicated issues that were connected to my need to control my surroundings but they're not really relevant to this topic). I agree with your main point though, it's just a part of life and only serves to make us into the strong and responsible adults we have hopefully become!
MsChanandlerBong I had never considered your perspective. I suppose it does depend on your own experience entirely. My husband, who's own name is monosyllabic, is keen for us to choose longer names with more variations and perhaps this is why. My guess is it works much the same as only children that crave large families.

My intention was purely to draw attention to how some people are very influenced by their given name and how it affects their lives. As many of you have highlighted, it depends entirely on the individual. Hopefully we will all be good enough mothers to raise our children with the strength to deal with everything life throws at them and prepare them for a world that is sometimes difficult to find your place in.

[Truffkin]

Sorry you experienced this OP but glad you're ok now!

The comments around personal experience are spot on IME as I have a simple (common!) name and am very attracted by less common, more 'interesting' names now we are having our own child. My DH has a lovely name but one that is often mis-pronouned or substituted for another similar name, which has bothered him all of his life. He much prefers simple and well known names when we discuss it to avoid problems like this for our DCs.

Interesting (the debate and also to see which of us gets to make a choice!!)

[nooka]

I knew a couple of Georginas when I grew up, both were always known as Georgie, and both were very determined and a bit larger than life. I wouldn't have thought of Georgina as a tricky name to have to be honest.

I have a long and very unusual name which has a few nn possibilities but I have always called myself/been called the full name except by my very close family and childhood friends. I did have a brief desire to have funky nns as a teenager when I thought that having a nn meant that everyone liked you, but it didn't last very long. When people try and call me a shortening of my name I just tell them not to and given that I don't usually respond to being called the wrong name they usually stop pretty fast

I do agree that names are very important, but when you have your tiny scrap of a baby in front of you it's not really possible to know all of the potential possibilities ahead. To be honest looking at your OP it just sounds to me that you had very bad luck in your friends.

[issy123]

Yes and I had lots of problems being called Isabel, different spellings and piss take 'is a bell necessary on a bike'

But does it really matter no!

[belgo]

Georgie to be far your your parents they couldn't really have predicted that you were going to become an optometrist when they chose your middle name.

If all parents considered all possibilities when naming their child, all children would be called Claire and John and nothing more interesting then that.

I don't think you can blame you problems on your name. I definitely think you need new friends though.

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

I remember thinking about issues like this when we named our 4 DCs (I'm an only child who craved a large family, btw ).

I remember really sweating over initials but figured it could all change when/if the DDs got married.

I've seen many threads about not using unusual/wacky names because this ultimately will result in children being picked on, but like other people have commented (and your own name would confirm), even with a traditional/classic name you can be picked on for anything.

[valiumbandwitch]

According to yournotme.com there are four Georgina Cunliffes. so, you're not alone. I've heard worse names, OPhelia is desperate I know but nobody ever knows middle names in adulthood.

[bishboschone]

Thats weird as my name is Georgina. I am known as George by most but my family call me G, sometimes Gina.I absolutely HATE Gina and find it feels like no resemblance to me as George. MY mum chose my name so I had many choices but it has actually worked the other way . I have to remember when writing cards who I am as the if I write George, some family members have no idea who its from.