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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use Jacob if I don't like Jake

95 replies

blipblopblip · 02/11/2024 12:03

Baby boy born over a week ago and we still can't decide on a name, names I liked were Arthur ,Sebastian and Hugo but we couldn't have due to various reasons. We've both said we like Jacob but I really hate Jake as a nickname. Can I call him Jacob without the nickname Jake ending up being used?
Other suggestions welcome

OP posts:
Mamai100 · 02/11/2024 14:32

How are so many people not knowing that Jake is short for Jacob?
.
To me it's like not knowing Chris is short for Christopher or Josh for Joshua. Or maybe people don't know this either!

Ageisjustanumb3r · 02/11/2024 14:30

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 02/11/2024 12:12

My elder son is called Jacob, everyone calls him Jacob. ☺️

Same here

loobylou10 · 02/11/2024 14:29

I have A Jacob. He is Jake to everyone!

NoCarbsForMe · 02/11/2024 14:27

I think you can't control some nick names and that is one of them.

Claysta · 02/11/2024 14:27

I have a Jacob (14) and none of his friends call him Jake.

mondaytosunday · 02/11/2024 14:20

You can call him Jacob. You can possibly control what other people call him for a bit. But he himself might like Jake, and if that's what they start calling him at school it's a lost cause!

MumonabikeE5 · 02/11/2024 14:11

NeckolasCage · 02/11/2024 14:00

Not sure that’s the answer OP is looking for!! Kuba here would make me think of an XL Bully more than a child 😳

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Not sure why you think it’s a name for grotesque violent dogs, but I guess we all have different cultural connections, the Jacob’s in my family are polish

Downtoyou · 02/11/2024 14:05

NeckolasCage · 02/11/2024 13:58

Sorry this is nonsense - I know four Jakes and they are all Jacob! It’s the short form, 100%

I know one Jacob who is Jacob.

Honestly never heard of anyone being given the name Jake on the birth certificate - it would be like putting Bob on there 🤣

OP if you hate Jake, don’t do it. How about Jonah or Jonas?

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My son was called Jake and Jake on his birth certificate. Jake is a name in its own right. Why would you put Jacob if you were never going to use it, doesn't make sense.

Notreat · 02/11/2024 14:01

You can control what he is called when he's a baby and small child but once he is older you can't control what his friends call him or he decides to call himself. But that is true for all names

NeckolasCage · 02/11/2024 14:00

MumonabikeE5 · 02/11/2024 13:42

Kuba is the polish shortening of Jacob .
Coby
Coba
are other alternatives

If your child is introduced as Jacob they’ll end up as Jake or Jakey in Uk, but if you introduce him as Kuba etc,
then that will be the name
only later they will realise Jacob is his name.

but is you think he’ll be Jacob, always Jacob I think you are on a loosing battle.

Not sure that’s the answer OP is looking for!! Kuba here would make me think of an XL Bully more than a child 😳

Rainbowdottie · 02/11/2024 13:59

Never heard of Jacob being shortened to Jake and I'm a (retired) teacher! I've known Jacobs and Jakes but never a Jacob to Jake...in my experience it's always Jay. I like Jacob, I like Jay....Jake not so much

NeckolasCage · 02/11/2024 13:58

nomorehocuspocus · 02/11/2024 12:05

The only people I know called Jake are named Jake. I didn't know people would shorten Jacob to Jake anyway.

Jay would be more likely I'd have thought.

Sorry this is nonsense - I know four Jakes and they are all Jacob! It’s the short form, 100%

I know one Jacob who is Jacob.

Honestly never heard of anyone being given the name Jake on the birth certificate - it would be like putting Bob on there 🤣

OP if you hate Jake, don’t do it. How about Jonah or Jonas?

Heartofglass12345 · 02/11/2024 13:58

My sons name is Ellis and even his teachers etc shorten it to 'El' which I hate but have no control over 😆 as long as he doesn't mind that's all that matters

Ontobetterthings · 02/11/2024 13:56

My son is called Jacob. He gets called Jake constantly. You can't control what friends call them at school

coffeesaveslives · 02/11/2024 13:56

If you really hate Jake then I'd be looking for a different name - you can't control what nicknames are used down the line.

Newuser75 · 02/11/2024 13:53

I know a Jacob. He gets called Jacob. Never Jake.

MumonabikeE5 · 02/11/2024 13:42

Kuba is the polish shortening of Jacob .
Coby
Coba
are other alternatives

If your child is introduced as Jacob they’ll end up as Jake or Jakey in Uk, but if you introduce him as Kuba etc,
then that will be the name
only later they will realise Jacob is his name.

but is you think he’ll be Jacob, always Jacob I think you are on a loosing battle.

LittleMousewithcloggson · 02/11/2024 13:41

Know 2 Jacob’s - one called Jay and the other Jax
a Hugo called Hugh
A Sebastian called Sebby
An Arthur called Art

Almost every name runs a risk of being shortened or a nickname given
DD has 2 friends called Polly and Molly
They go by Polls and Mimi!
Even a Mary we know goes by Ri

Just choose a name you like and call him by it
Ultimately he will decide how he wants to be known

Greyrocked · 02/11/2024 13:36

You can and you might even be able to nag persuade family not to shorten it, but accept your son may well feel differently. It’s highly likely you will have a teenage Jake. If that’s a problem maybe choose another name.

Halvana · 02/11/2024 13:34

I wouldn't risk it unless you can accept him choosing Jake when he is older. It comes round quicker than you think!

Mjmum10 · 02/11/2024 13:33

I called my son Jacob, I don't call him Jake. He's still very young, under one so if we shorten his name it's Jakey. No one calls him Jake. I know an older Jacob, he just gets called his full name. It's definitely personal preference, if you don't shorten it others tend to follow suit I've found

getmeavodka · 02/11/2024 13:31

My son is Jacob and is 24 now. Noone has ever called him Jake.

Hankunamatata · 02/11/2024 13:28

Jacob is lovely. I know loads boys who haven't shortened their name

SarahAndQuack · 02/11/2024 13:27

I have a daughter whose name has a common shortening I dislike; she's 7 now and no one uses it. I do think it depends how much you hate it though - for me, I don't care if DD ends up choosing to use it later on, but I wouldn't have liked people deciding to call her that as a baby. If you hate 'Jake' so much you'll cringe every time his 17-year-old mates call him that, then no, choose something else!

LetThereBeLove · 02/11/2024 13:18

DDs name was shortened to Becky (which I hate) as soon as she started school.
I never call her by this nickname and you can call your boy Jacob (a lovely name!)