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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls names - no abbreviations!

64 replies

Winter123 · 03/08/2013 14:13

Any suggestions for girls names that can't be abbreviated?! I really like Isabella but hate the idea of people abbreviating it to Izzie. DH and I have people abbreviate our names all the time and hate it!

At the minute we also like Alice (praying no one calls them Ali) and Imogen.

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Mrsindecision · 04/08/2013 01:42

Please excuse any duplicates:
Ava
Mia
Erin
Skye
Sara
Tara
Cara
Zara
Iris
Isis
Ivy
Thea
Mary
Siân
Iona
Ada
Cora
Nora
Nell
Fleur
Cleo
Naya
Fern
Joy

PattieOfurniture · 04/08/2013 01:21

Brooke

formicadinosaur · 04/08/2013 00:55

Tess

Barbeasty · 03/08/2013 20:21

But if they don't shorten it, they'll lengthen it.

DD is Ruth. Known pretty widely as Ruthy.

We've had better luck with DS. He's Anthony, but I don't want it shortened yet. Because we call him Anthony every time, it's only slightly PA SIL who shortens it (named after FIL who was known as Tony)

Go with a name you like, accept that some people will change any name, and ignore/ correct them.

Queazy · 03/08/2013 20:17

How about:

Joy
Anne
Amelie
Bo
Martha
Maisie
Erin

xx

Original poster
Winter123 · 03/08/2013 16:44

Yes, I think that's what I think GoodtoBetter Smile

OP posts:
GoodtoBetter · 03/08/2013 16:29

But people will shorten or create pet names whatever you choose, so you might as well pick something you love.

Original poster
Winter123 · 03/08/2013 16:08

GoodtoBetter I know this isn't an issue for most, it's just something DH and I don't like. It's not the most important thing in the world, would have just been a 'nice to have'. I get that for some its a sign of affection and they aren't dong it to be mean! (my family abbreviate my name and I don't mind it too much, Shock just hate it when others do)

Think I've learnt that there isn't a way of getting around this abbreviation business!

OP posts:
WeAll · 03/08/2013 15:59

Cora?

GoodtoBetter · 03/08/2013 15:59

You can't stop people shortening names, and I don't really understand the fuss either ad it'd almost always done affectionately. Choose a name you love, like Isabella and then just be firm about correcting people who shorten it.

GlaikitFizzog · 03/08/2013 15:51

Blythe
Fay
Gwen
Eve
Kay
Wren
Tara
Lara
Kara

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 03/08/2013 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 03/08/2013 15:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Turniptwirl · 03/08/2013 15:48

Ann
Joy
Hope
Rose
Belle

I know an Imee too, Imogen can definitely be shortened

Tbh people will shorten anything. My parents chose my name so it couldn't be shortened and it generally wasn't when I was a child but it is now I'm an adult.

My mums family all have long names that are never shortened within the family but that are by everyone else who knows them. You may just have to put up with what other people call your dd and use her full name yourself

MortifiedAdams · 03/08/2013 15:48

Aurora

Clargo55 · 03/08/2013 15:47

Faith is lovely OP.

WhispersOfWickedness · 03/08/2013 15:36

Rosa Smile someone tried to call her Rosie once but her 3yo big brother soon corrected them Blush

Original poster
Winter123 · 03/08/2013 15:29

I am very adamant that I won't have my name abbreviated and I get the 'oh, aren't you very precious' look... Angry

We love Alice, Faith and Imogen (although the Immie abbreviation has come to light) and love Ethan and Harry for a boy. I suppose, I will just have to suffer the looks when I say I don't like abbreviations!

I suppose we love the above names that much we will just to have to insist on no abbreviations and have to suffer the judgmental looks! And then if DC want to abbreviate then that's absolutely their choice.

OP posts:
millymae · 03/08/2013 15:17

No suggestions from me I'm afraid. Both OH and I have names that could easily be shortened but rarely are because both sets of parents apparently made it clear from the off that there were to be no abbreviations. Nowadays OH doesn't care about the odd occasion his name gets shortened but I definitely do and will always let people know that I prefer to be called my full name. When our dc's were born we tried very hard (unsuccessfully as it's happened) to pick names that couldn't be abbreviated but it seems that even names with 3 or 4 letters can be shortened - think 'E' for Eve and 'Em' for Emma. Imogen is a really pretty name but the two in dd's year at a school are known as Im and Immy. I think what I'm trying to say is that if you really like a name you start as you mean to go on and make it clear that that is what you want her to be called. When she's small you will be her voice and can always correct those who try to shorten it. She can do that herself if she feels strongly about it when she gets older or do as my dc's have done and been happy with the shortened 'name' friends have chosen for them. Alice is lovely by the way and Ali as an abbreviated version really isn't that bad in the general scheme of things.

Bowlersarm · 03/08/2013 15:15

OP, I think the problem is that any name with more than one syllable has the potential to be shortened (lazily) to the first syllable only.

Would it be an option to go for a longer name with an abbreviation that you like and could use ie in your example Isabella could be 'Belle' rather than 'izzie'. Are there are any names you like and could consider that route?

RugBugs · 03/08/2013 15:14

We thought we'd found one in Melissa but no!
DPs family call her lissa and he calls her Mel C.
DD2 is due in 10 days and we've embraced it this time, her name can be shortened to at least two names.

Original poster
Winter123 · 03/08/2013 15:04

longtallsally it certainly isn't me wanting to control DDtobe. If I'm entirely honest (and ever so slightly snobby) it's the lazy abbreviations I hate
Sophie =Soph
Emma= Em
Amy= Aim
Laura=Lau

I wouldn't mind if they chose to abbreviate their name if its what they preferred, it's just something DH and I don't like.

Thanks, MrsBungle Smile

OP posts:
MrsBungle · 03/08/2013 14:59

Faith is lovely, I can't see how you'd shorten that.

Longtallsally · 03/08/2013 14:59

Hmm - be careful. My mum did this, but I resented it growing up as I saw it as a sign of her wanting to control me and who I was. She went for Joy and was furious when my first boyfriend dropped the y and called me Jo. I think that most people will find abbreviations - or extensions - if they want to. It's up to your daughter (and you) to object if you don't like someone abbreviating your name. Just remind them of what you are called, and explain that you really don't like the alternatives!

Original poster
Winter123 · 03/08/2013 14:57

bowlersarm that did make me laugh!

sirzy Harry was one of our boy names!

I can see so many ways to abbreviate some names that have been suggested. I realise some people don't mind their names being abbreviated I personally hate it when people do it to me.

OP posts: