how many ellie's do you know...is it common? can you chose your childs nickname?

This is what put me off using Elodie. I love the name but don't like Ellie. I think you can correct people initially but once the child has a preference of their own, the NN of choice is out of your hands.

I should have added, they mostly do have various longer names, every thing from Eleanor, To Elise & Elouise, but the NN is very common

Is there not another part of the chosen name you could chose as a NN ??

I'm afraid, around here Ellie, Ella, Elle are 2 a penny, its been very common for years, also where my family live its exceptionally common too - especially Ellie & Ella

I know quite a few, but they are Eilidh's rather than Ellie but people tend to pronounce it the same, personally I don't like the name Ellie, it is a bit Keighley/Kylie to me, Elle is fine as is Ella.

I'm 22wks preg and like the name Ellie but I would prefer a more unusual name but DP wouldn't boo

I know 3 Ellies, ranging from age 5 to 12, but I think 2 of them are Ella and one is Ellen. There is also an Ella who doesn't appear to ever be called Ellie!

Your DD's friends will call her whatever pops into their heads (my DD calls her friend Megan Eggy, so I'm sure her mum would be thrilled )

If your DD prefers another name she can correct them, but I don't think its up to you to stop them adding an 'ie' to her name.

I bet it's a really pretty name. I have a long name, and no shortening of it has ever stuck, fortunately. I can understand children shortening a name, but adults really should be able to manage to call her what you call her.

Really want to know what it is

There are A LOT of little Ellies, Ellas and Elles in our area - all three are very popular, but Elle is probably the least widely used.

Why do you need to shorten her name (to such a common one)?

Do you need a nickname for her?

In DD's class there are several Ellie's and we know of 3 Ella's under 5. It is one of the most popular girls names around here.

I really like Nell too if you are looking for something a bit less popular or Elsa/Ellen.

DS's name has only one possible nn - I chose it for that reason (and I like the name, of course!). However we still call him by his bump nn... Am sure that once he goes to school, other boys will prob call him by a nn related to our surname, which his dad also got (and still hates to this day). Don't think you can choose!

Yes Edith you might be right. Oh well, too late now

Mamatonic again, I'll PM you!

We call DS1 a nickname, but pretty much no-one other than family uses it. Strangers decided on his nickname and now that is how he introduces himself. I only rarely use it, by accident because I'm not terribly fond of it.

I know two Ellie's in real life aged 26 & 20 but I think it's becoming more popular now.

I think if you want a certain nickname to be used, you have to use it and introduce her by the nickname to other people otherwise they might call her by her full name or make up another nickname.

Hearts: if you had called her by the preferred nn, I bet it would have stuck. If there is no family nn, then yes I agree you have to live with what turns up.

We decided on nn for our DD's when we chose their names once the could speak they chose their own nn. They will correct anyone who tried to shorten it to anything except their version.

Bloody heck, not 'rigours' but 'to your' throws iPhone up wall

I disagree, the name you are called by your DM when you are tiny will always hold a particular resonance. And the exposure to it in the early years will make it a pretty firm part of their identity. (Unless siblings put their oar in, which can lead to odd results - eg Weasel for Louise).

And although children might play with their names, it doesn't really happen much until they are quite a bit older.

Oh Hearts, I feel for you! I am incredibly curious as rigour DDs name and the NNs used

NO you absolutely CANNOT choose or even influence a nickname!

I made this mistake with DD1. I love her full name, and I love one of the NN's that goes with it, but cannot stand the other regular nickname. And now that she is in Year 3, just guess what everyone - including the teacher, including herself - calls her. I thought I had it covered when she was still going by her full name in Reception but no, Year 1 came along and she immediately became NN2. I am slowly getting used to hearing others use it but will never use it myself for her. Ever.

I think you can dictate her nn used by family and your friends but I think her friends will call her whatever they and she wants- maybe not so much as a child but certainly when she's older.

In my dd school year 1 has; 3 Ellas, 1 Elise, 2 Ellies no Elle (yet) - don't get me started on Evie, Eva and Ava. She has a very good friend out of school called Nell which I think is pretty and more unusual.

What about Stella? or Ellen?

Sorry but I think Nell sounds awful!