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Baby names

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

Original poster

Proper Names v Nicknames

35 replies

jaffacakehips · 11/01/2012 21:55

I really love the name Kit for a boy, not Christopher or Christan but just plain Kit.

My concern is it's not a proper name in it's own right. Like Harry, Archie or Charlie.

I don't want to give him a name which may harm any future chances he may have (a long way off I know Grin) I know a few small boys called Jesse, Milo or Woody but no adults, so unable to judge.

IYO do you think nicknames as full names hold children back..? Or is just a load of total fucking bollocks! Hmm Confused

N.B - Disclaimer: Using above names as an examples don't have an issues with these names Smile

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danceswithyarn · 12/01/2012 02:56

Officially I'm a Jennifer but always intended to be Jennie. Nowadays jen more often than not. Options are goodSmile

KatieMiddleton · 12/01/2012 02:23

Those examples you give aren't "proper" names either.

My dh has one of the "proper" names you've listed is always called it but his official name is the full version. It is completely not him. When we got married and the registrar called him by the full version I and the two witnesses got the giggles.

When we had ds we decided to just call him the diminutive version because we didn't really like the long name. So he's just Joe and it's perfect.

PercyFilth · 12/01/2012 01:52

I was only given a nn of a longer, classic name, and have always resented it. I don't like my name, it's monosyllabic and abrupt, and if I'd been given the longer name I'd have had the options of several other nns, plus of course the full version.

JestersHat · 11/01/2012 23:41

I think it's nice to have the choice of the longer version or the nickname. It's nice to have the distinction between the long formal name and the more informal nickname or "diminutive".

PuggyMum · 11/01/2012 23:04

I know a Kit. Aged about 28. He was a client of mine so I saw all his official docs :)

poorbuthappy · 11/01/2012 22:48

I know a Kitt.
Just Kitt.
Lovely boy.

lockets · 11/01/2012 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
jaffacakehips · 11/01/2012 22:04

Mopsy you make as pre normal, grr a very good point Smile

OP posts:
mopsyflopsy · 11/01/2012 22:02

And I certainly wouldn't want to be called Woody (erection!)....

mopsyflopsy · 11/01/2012 22:01

Everyone will have a different opinion on this.

Personally I'd rather be an Eleanor (and use Ellie as nickname) or an Alfred (with Alfie as nickname) because it gives me MORE options. Why remove those options before birth?