Full name or nickname on birthcert?

[Tuschinski]

I've always been of the mind to put a more formal version of a name on a birthcert but have noticed it has become very common now to use nicknames only.
Problem is the 2 front runners for the baby I am expecting are Eppie for a girl and Rudy for a boy and I'm not keen on the long versions.
Would you just use the NNs?

[Magalyxyz]

Full name.

It just makes sense to leave the child with the options later in life. Who knows when there will be a beer or a margarine called Rudy or Eppie. That's just an example.

i think diarmuid gavin's (gardener guy) named his daughter Eppie.

[5DollarShake]

I am a firm believer in full names on birth certs. Why take away the choice?

[Hedwig3]

I am one of the rare people that dislikes putting a name on the cert that you don't intend to use.

A nickname is just for occasional use otherwise it becomes their name.

Some people like to think that their child will have options when an adult but I don't think they would want to suddenly change their name to something else. Sometimes this seems to be quite a different name too.

Each to their own, do what feels right to you.

[Magalyxyz]

I suppose it depends on the name. If somebody was agonising over whether to put Eliza or Elizabeth on the bc I would say flip a coin. But I have on occasion on this board advised somebody who wanted to call their dd Phoenix to think about Phoebe Beatrix on the bc. Obviously they totally ignored me as is their prerogative!! But I think that your whole life is a long period of time and what sounds quirky, cool, confident and individual in one decade can sound jaded, tarnished, overused, problematic ..... in another decade.

[Tuschinski]

If someone were calling their child, say Beth, I would say definitely to put Elizabeth on a birth cert. It's just I can't see anyone wanting to use Euphemia or Hephzibah for anything, at the same time I don't think Eppie looks right on a CV.
Yes Diarmuid Gavin has a daughter called Eppie it's the only time I've heard it other than in Silas Marner in School.

[wickedfairy]

Definitely the full name.

We put a @long@ version of our sons name on his birth cert, even though we intended on always using the shorter/nickname version.

Fast-forward three years and we use the full name more now - the shortened version is more popular than it was when we named him and somehow, he now suits the longer version.

At least if you do it that way, you always have the choice.....

The CV point is also a good one, you want them to sound as professional as they can on a CV - not just a nickname!

[diplodoris]

I'd vote for full names.

[jellybeans]

Short name on birth cert. I did with DS, no regrets. I have long name but never used it. Register what will be preferred name.

[DastardlyandSmugly]

DD is called a short-form of Euphemia. I ummed and ahhed about what to put on BC and went for the short form in the end. I would never have used Euphemia and I love her name so much.

[mintyfresh]

We registered DS's shortened name on birth certificate and then I spent sleepless nights thinking he should have a full name so I changed it! Only problem is that we just don't use his full name but when we started school everything was already named with his full name including peg, water bottle etc!

I like the idea that he can choose when he's older as his shortened name is quite unusual!

[plonker]

Hmm, I think it very much depends on whether you like the longer version or not.

If you don't, why give your child a name that you don't like just so that you can use the shortened version? That makes no sense to me.

[nooka]

I think that Rudy is fine as a given name (and Rudolf probably not very kind), but Eppie is not. It just sounds very much like a nn, and for a little girl at that (although being someone who really enjoyed Silas Marner I think it very sweet). If you don't like Hephzibah, what about other names with "ep" in them - Epona, Epiphany, or at a pinch Josephine, Persephone or Stephanie?

[thumbwitch]

I didn't even know there was such a name as Eppie and can't say I like it - but that's not your problem. What is it short for in your mind? (my immediate thought was Epponnee, from Kath & Kim)

Rudy - fine. No problem

Eppie - no, find a long name that works for it - nooka has some good ideas.

[gillybean2]

What is Eppie short for? All I can think if when I see that is eppie pen...?? Sorry.

As to your query, I think it really does depend on the name. If you want to call your child something and will never call them the long version then go for that. Because you are picking the short version as their name.
If however you only intend to use it as a nickname and intend for the full version to be used at school, when they have a job etc then put the full version.

[Tuschinski]

Eppie is short for Euphemia or Hephzibah which I think sound like diseases. I agree with the other posters though that it is too much like a child's nickname to go on a birthcert.
Stephaine is really pushing it I think but I do really like the name so I'd consider it, thanks.
I have seen Rudy as a shortened version of Reuben on this site, though I can't see it myself, more like Ruby. Much, much nicer name than Rudolph or Rudyard though, hmmmmm

[notso]

I went to school with an Eppie, full name Euphemia but she has only ever been Eppie, but as Euphemia was on the birth cert thats what her parents put on the school forms although they'd put 'known as Eppie' thats what was in the register at school and , there was always a new Teacher or supply teacher who called her Euphemia and Eppie hated that.
She's 30 and a Doctor and still Eppie never Euphemia.

[thumbwitch]

Tushcinski - What do you think of Effie instead of Eppie? That might go better with Stephanie, for e.g.
There was an Effie in a story book I loved when I was a child - about a fairy changeling, I think.

[bigbluebump]

Definately the full name imo, so:

Rudolph/Rudyard = Rudy
Euphemia = Effie/Eppie

You CAN still use the nicknames but why take away your children's options regarding their name.

[meadowlarks]

I think if you don't intend ever to use the full name or actively dislike it, why bother? I really don't like Edward but I love Teddy/Ted, for example.

[LostArtofKeepingASecret]

My cousins are called Nicki and Rikki. (They are not brothers though - that would be too much). It was (quite) sweet when they were little, but I'm sure now that they are a carpenter and a lawyer, they would prefer the option of Nicholas and Richard.

Beware, what sounds sweet now may not in 20 years time. Go with the full name.

[Tuschinski]

I like Effie too and yes definitely a better option for Stephanie, just sounds a bit too like Effin' (or is that just an Irish curse?)

Totally agree with leaving the child with options of a more more formal name just not sure even a lawyer would want to use Euphemia.

[nooka]

I think if Eppie is considered a nn for Euphemia then why not for Stephanie? In any case you can call your baby whatever nn you like - I know a few children with nns that only have a passing resemblance to their "real" names. Once they get a bit older many children will grow out of their baby nn and choose something else (or their friends do) and then often on adulthood change again. Which is why I think it's good to have a name with many options.

[Kathleen123]

I like full names. Possibly in the childs future career a nick name will not suit.

Also if they dont like a nickname then they may be able to change it such as instead of Effie could you Steffi. Or instead of Sandy (for Alexander) could use Alex.

• Kate.

[Kathleen123]

I think Rody is short for ROdolph rather than Rudolph, or Roderick!

I would call a boy Rhodri (a great Welsh name), and shorten it to Rody.

Effie. I'd probably go for Elspeth, and shorten to Eppie or Effie.