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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not like nicknames as full names?

210 replies

newuser9632794 · 18/05/2024 01:17

Some (secondary school aged) children in my family have nicknames as full names and as they grow older I feel the names suiting them less and less.

Some of the names,

Melly
Stevie
Bobby
Ali
Ricky

AIBU to think that naming children nicknames doesn't age well and that full names on the birth certificates are more fitting?

OP posts:
FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 08:11

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 18/05/2024 08:01

Where was this lesson taught repeatedly then? Do you come from a family heavily invested in the court system?

I think I've lived a pretty varied live but no one has ever said this to me

Show quote history

Who mentioned family? 🤣🤣 You seem to have this image that I was sat down and made to repeat it over again until I could pass a test in it...."Now what's our Family moto?" 🤣🤣

The best learning is done in pubs, in chats with friends, with random people on buses, in church, in waiting rooms, mixing with the great and varied general public. And once you've heard the same thing 3 times from different folk, then in my book that's "I was always taught".

🙄🙄

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 18/05/2024 08:01

FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 07:29

I never mentioned school. All the best learning is done outside the classroom.

Show quote history

Where was this lesson taught repeatedly then? Do you come from a family heavily invested in the court system?

I think I've lived a pretty varied live but no one has ever said this to me

Takeoutyourhen · 18/05/2024 07:57

I like a name that can be used in different ways that the individual sees fit throughout stages of their life: baby, primary school, secondary and beyond, adulthood, elderly…
If someone didn’t like being called Teddy, they’d perhaps opt for a middle name (and risk upsetting their parents!)

FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 07:29

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 18/05/2024 07:22

What a weird thing to be taught, what kind of school and in what lesson was that covered and why would it need to be taught repeatedly?

Show quote history

I never mentioned school. All the best learning is done outside the classroom.

BarcardiWithGadaffia · 18/05/2024 07:22

FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 02:06

I was always taught that you should have a full name which will sound decent being read out in court. If you're a barrister it will make you sound like you deserve to be in such a position. If you're the criminal it will make you sound like you don't deserve to be in such a position.

Full names don't ever have to be used in everyday life. But they're good to have.

What a weird thing to be taught, what kind of school and in what lesson was that covered and why would it need to be taught repeatedly?

Evaka · 18/05/2024 07:18

FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 02:06

I was always taught that you should have a full name which will sound decent being read out in court. If you're a barrister it will make you sound like you deserve to be in such a position. If you're the criminal it will make you sound like you don't deserve to be in such a position.

Full names don't ever have to be used in everyday life. But they're good to have.

Decent according to whom?

AffableApple · 18/05/2024 07:09

SwingTheMonkey · 18/05/2024 06:57

Or Harry…

Show quote history

Or Harriet (diminutive of Henrietta)

Withswitch · 18/05/2024 07:05

Melly = Melanie

Zanatdy · 18/05/2024 07:02

I prefer longer names for BC’s personally, though I don’t shorten any of my children’s names bar the eldest and that was a cutesy Nick name that he outgrew (his godmother still calls him that). He goes by mid middle name now as he doesn’t like that some people can’t pronounce the NH sound. I call him by his birth name and so does other family as he’s never asked us not too, and I always refer to him as a nickname that came from DS2 not being able to pronounce his name, ds2 and dd still call him that name. Younger two names don’t shorten naturally

labracadabras · 18/05/2024 07:01

Reugny · 18/05/2024 06:15

YANBU Lots of people simply don't consider the power of names.

One of my friends has a diminutive name.

Since he was a teen he's been asked what is his "proper" name is when completing forms, applying for jobs, actually getting jobs, etc.

He doesn't have children but has made it clear to everyone that giving a child a diminutive name, particularly if a name that is very fashionable at the time, is going to cause them hassle later on.

Oddly his siblings haven't given their children diminutive names and neither have any of his friends who have asked him about his name...

My sibling called their daughter Kate, every date she is asked what is it short for, what’s your proper name, is that with a C or a K etc

but I guess it’s a conversation starter

SwingTheMonkey · 18/05/2024 06:57

MiddleParking · 18/05/2024 06:47

OP do you object to Jack?

Or Harry…

MiddleParking · 18/05/2024 06:47

OP do you object to Jack?

CelesteCunningham · 18/05/2024 06:46

I personally would put the longer name on the birth cert but YABVU as loads of people don't any more and do their names won't stand out among their peers at all.

Tukmgru · 18/05/2024 06:46

I know it’s not on there but there are 500 kids called Teddy in every play group I go to and I wince every time I hear it. I can only imagine that many a Teddy will go by Ed when they’re older to escape the cutesiness and be taken seriously.

MiddleParking · 18/05/2024 06:44

FarmGirl78 · 18/05/2024 02:06

I was always taught that you should have a full name which will sound decent being read out in court. If you're a barrister it will make you sound like you deserve to be in such a position. If you're the criminal it will make you sound like you don't deserve to be in such a position.

Full names don't ever have to be used in everyday life. But they're good to have.

If you’re the barrister why would you give a shit? Also pretty sure Roberts and Johns still get convicted of crimes.

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 18/05/2024 06:41

Melly can be Mel
Stevie can be Steve
Bobby can be Bob
Ali can be Al if a boy, Ali is a perfectly acceptable girls name
Ricky can be Rick

SantaBarbaraMonica · 18/05/2024 06:40

They’re just names.

My first kid I put the full name on birth cert and the hassle it causes is unreal. Booking flights. Registered name at dr.’s etc. Regret doing it.

FrogsWormsandCaterpillars · 18/05/2024 06:40

Because they like the name? I have 3 DC. The first one has a name I never planned to shorten but it’s naturally happened. My middle one has a shortened version of a name and that’s what’s on her birth certificate,(The shortened version not the long name) no one has ever asked me what her “proper” name is.
My youngest has a name that could easily have many nicknames but we always use her full name, in fact I call her first name/middle name a lot even though it’s not double barrelled.

wickerpram · 18/05/2024 06:36

I get what you're saying BUT it doesn't bother, offend or upset me and certainly isnt something I would start a thread on mumsnet over.

fuckssaaaaake · 18/05/2024 06:30

I've just never really cared about other peoples names enough. So many people do, guess it's an interesting subject

Gillyyy · 18/05/2024 06:22

I think you have to take into account how much naming trends have changed. If you called your son Teddy now he would be in the same year as Kit, Hunter, Tilly, Freddie, Ronnie, Hattie, Luna, Milo - these will be the same people he’ll be up against for jobs. He would sound more different/out of place being called Richard or Robert. I recently went to a baby group and there was a baby called John which just seemed so strange now!

Reugny · 18/05/2024 06:15

YANBU Lots of people simply don't consider the power of names.

One of my friends has a diminutive name.

Since he was a teen he's been asked what is his "proper" name is when completing forms, applying for jobs, actually getting jobs, etc.

He doesn't have children but has made it clear to everyone that giving a child a diminutive name, particularly if a name that is very fashionable at the time, is going to cause them hassle later on.

Oddly his siblings haven't given their children diminutive names and neither have any of his friends who have asked him about his name...

Einwegflasche · 18/05/2024 06:05

I can't say they're my favourite names but I'd take that over made up/alternative spelling/nobody knows how to spell/say!

AhBiscuits · 18/05/2024 06:02

My son is called Leo, which I know is a name in its own right, but I actually wanted Leonardo on his birth certificate. DH vetoed 😄