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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Alexandra but known as Alex - too boyish?

53 replies

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 12:53

After my thread of yesterday DH and I reviewed out list last night and decided out top name is Alexandra. Although her full name would be Alexandra we would call her Alex. What do people think of Alex for a girl? Is it too boyish? Will it be confusing at school? Is Alex very popular for boys and will she have 3 in her class and then be the only girl???

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MrsMattie · 16/09/2008 12:54

Love it! Love both Alexandra and Alex.

OrmIrian · 16/09/2008 12:54

No. It's lovely. And I speak as the mum of an Alexander who is always Alex. I think it's a good name for either sex.

PoorOldEnid · 16/09/2008 12:54

dd2s friend alexandra gets called lexi which I really dislike personally

PoorOldEnid · 16/09/2008 12:55

and at my dds school you get called your full given name whatever shortenings the parenst make

DeJaVous · 16/09/2008 12:56

I really like Alex/Alexandra for a girl, but TBH I don't think it goes too well with Anna (or am I mixing you up with someone else?)

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 12:56

She would NOT be Lexi or Lex, she would be Alex.

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PoorOldEnid · 16/09/2008 12:56

lol thats what you think

laughalot · 16/09/2008 12:57

I love that name for a girl but my dh ex girlfriend was called that so couldnt really call my dd that .

Katisha · 16/09/2008 12:57

I think it's nice, Actually I have a friend with this name but she spells it Alix for some reason - I suppose it could differentiate her from the male version.

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 12:57

You don't think it goes with Anna! I thought it was nice - Anna and Alex. Anna and Alexandra - both classic.

Oh nooooo - why does it not go with Anna????

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OrmIrian · 16/09/2008 12:58

I deon't like Lexi much either. Reminds me of the woman in Monarch of the Glen or whatever that tosh was called. she used to wind me up. Also bossy chil in dS#2's class.

Katisha · 16/09/2008 12:58

It does. Rather Russian.

hoxtonchick · 16/09/2008 12:58

it works for me!

Fimbo · 16/09/2008 13:02

I think I am agreeing with Dejavous tbh

But it is your baby, your name, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Romy7 · 16/09/2008 13:02

school did me a list of invitees for dd2's birthday party including 1 x alex, who i confess i automatically included on the boy's party bag list.
fortunately, alex's mum spoke to me at school with alex by her side - petite, blonde, fluffy, very girly, very definitely female, alex, two days before the party. i love alex, but don't be pissed off by all the other numpties like me who assume the 'obvious' and get it oh so wrong...

however, in the 'anna and alexandra/ alex' combo, i'd always call her by her full name, as 'anna and alex' would lead me even further down the 'it's a rother and sister' path lol... sad but true.

KateF · 16/09/2008 13:06

My little goddaughter is an Alexandra-known-as-Alex. I confess I do prefer the full name but so far no one seems to consider it a "boys name". If it worries you could you shorten to Alexa or Allie?

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 13:08

Fimbo and Dejavous - can I ask for more info on why you do not think it goes with Anna?

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Fimbo · 16/09/2008 13:11

To be blunt, it sounds like sister and brother. But as I said it's your choice, nothing to do with what I think.

DeJaVous · 16/09/2008 13:11

I really don't think it matters what anyone else thinks of your name choices. As long as you and DH are happy all is well.

But, you did ask, so here goes... Definitely both neutral, classic names, but different types of neutral, classic IMO. I would tend to pair Anna with names like Alice, Kate, Louise/Louisa, Lucy or Caroline. Alexandra I would put more with Georgina, Elizabeth or Olivia.

I am funny about names though...

piratecat · 16/09/2008 13:12

I would just call her Alexa, not Alexandra, to be shortened.

BlueChampagne · 16/09/2008 13:14

In Scotland Alexander/ra is contracted to Sandy, if that helps.

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 13:29

Sandy is sweet but I actually quite like the name Alex for a girl. I know it is our choice blah blah blah but I am interested in whether everyone will assume Alex is a boy.

I have just been checking out the top 100 names for 2007. For girls Alexandra was 98 and Lexia was 93 so its not too common. For boys Alexander was 23 and Alex 56 so there are likely to be quite a few boy Alexes about.

Hmmmm.

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norkmaiden · 16/09/2008 13:32

I would assume a boy fwiw

(like someone else I prefer Alice, not that you asked of course!)

whatshallicallDD2 · 16/09/2008 13:33

I like Alice but not Ali or Al and given I tend to unconciously shorten names even when striving not to...

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DeJaVous · 16/09/2008 13:39

I surely Al and Ali are shortenings of Alison. Do you really think it would be shortened? I've never heard of an Alice being shortened.

I like Alex. People might assume she's a boy, but people often assume my DD is a boy because she (almost) never wears pink and is still a baby. Balls to them I say

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