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Nearly full term, chosen a name, but wobbling about likely nicknames

32 replies

HorryIsUpduffed · 11/10/2013 22:07

36+5 with DS3, settled on a name at around 25w.

With his being a third boy we have used a lot of names already and talked ourselves out of a lot of names along the way - our backups for DS2 now feel like awful dreadful names that nobody should inflict on a child Grin

Consequently our shortlist this time was very very short and although we're both happy with the chosen name, it isn't The Name in the way that DS1's name was easily chosen and indisputably The Name. We also had this problem, though to a lesser extent, with DS2.

Our position therefore is that we have A Name for this unborn child, which we like and which goes with DS1 and DS2's name and our surname and isn't a known serial killer, etc etc.

But... the most usual shortening of the name itself isn't one I particularly like. There's nothing wrong with it, I just don't think I'd use it myself.

DS2 has a similar normal shortening that I don't use, but other people (notably the in-laws) do. It doesn't bother me precisely but AFAIC it isn't really his name. Pre-school don't use it because they have another child with the shortening and it helps to tell them apart!

In both cases it's the equivalent of my calling him Charles but the obvious shortening is Charlie.

Reassure me that this doesn't matter, or warn me that it will BURN ME UP FOREVER and I need to go back to the drawing board. Please?

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nooka · 13/10/2013 22:17

I don't think that Edward/Eddie is equivalent to Charles/Charlie because Charlie is really the only (mainstream) nn for Charles, whereas Edward has quite a few options, and I don't think that Eddie is even the most used.

I can only think of Eddie Izzard and Eddie from Bottom off hand. The Edwards I know are Edward, Ted, Ned and Ed.

HorryIsUpduffed · 13/10/2013 17:14

Mentioned it to DH who looked at me like I am completely mad who said he really doesn't think it's a problem.

There is literally no other name though, now. The only reason for thinking it would be better to be expecting a girl at this point is that then at least I would have had an easier job naming her Grin

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Rosencrantz · 13/10/2013 16:39

Doesn't have to be Eddie! Just Ed!

LauraChant · 13/10/2013 08:02

I also know a little Edward who is only ever Edward, he is 4.

The only little Eddie I know has Eddie on his birth certificate.

I don't think it is inevitable.

Jojay · 12/10/2013 23:29

I have an Edward mostly known as Ed - he's five.

As much as you can drum it in to people that he's Edward, what you can't legislate against is the face that he may prefer to be known as Eddie later on.

He probably won't if he's grown up as Edward, but he might.

Ikeameatballs · 12/10/2013 23:24

I used Edward as a middle name rather than a first name because I really didn't want to risk Eddie (though I would have been happy with Ted).

I sometimes regret not going with it as a first name. I feel your pain!

Mellowandfruitful · 12/10/2013 23:19

I also only know young Eds. Can you live with Ed?

RueDeWakening · 12/10/2013 23:12

I have an Edward, he is always called by his full name. Nobody has shortened it (yet), I just always introduce him as Edward and that seems to stop it.

Although if you ask him, he will tell you that his name is Eduardo. I have no idea where he got it from DH, I'm looking at you

Bue · 12/10/2013 23:08

My DH is Edward and absolutely no one calls him Eddie. I tried to for a bit but he got very angry with me Grin. He switched over to Ed at university but his family and everyone he grew up with calls him Edward.

Bowlersarm · 12/10/2013 17:31

I know a lot of teenage Edwards (on account of the fact I have three teen DSes and Edward was clearly a popular name 14ish years ago). Be assured none of them are Eddies, Ed yes, but Eddie no.

Is Ed ok?

If it isn't I think you need to rethink, as it's just using the first syllable of his name, nog changing anything at all, and possibly inevitable.

HorryIsUpduffed · 12/10/2013 17:24

We already have a Bear, although that's not what his birth certificate says.

I'm going to think.

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sausageandorangepickle · 12/10/2013 17:14

The Edwards I know are Ted and Bear (also Bear Grylls) so Eddie is not inevitable. Or he might end up with a totally unrelated nickname anyway!

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 12/10/2013 11:41

You will end up with a nickname - tis rare for such a long name not to be shortened unless the child themselves really doesn't want it to be and you can't predict that. It is horrible as a child for your parents to keep correcting your friends (I'm emotionlly scared for life!! Grin).

I think, if you really, really don't like Eddie - you'll need to think again, especially when you don't want to use a nickname yourself (to steer people towards) and anyway, kids at school will use what they/the person likes.

Up - yes, but he's only 9 at the moment Grin

TobyLerone · 12/10/2013 11:36

I know an Edward who has never been called Ed(die). He has always been Edward or Wardy.

badtime · 12/10/2013 11:33

I've never met an Eddie who is under 50 y.o. - they are always Ed or Ned.

UpTheFRIGGinDuff · 12/10/2013 09:45

FWIW my nephew is Harrison, he's 9 now and has never,ever been Harry,or any shortening in fact,always Harrison.
His parents made it clear from the start that his name was Harrison and everyone else followed suit.

sonniebonnie · 12/10/2013 07:27

As in a woody in your trousersBlush?

Caip · 12/10/2013 06:44

Love Woody as a nn for Edward!

looki · 12/10/2013 01:49

The Edwards I know are Eds too. Do you like Ed though? If not, i think you may be in trouble.......

ShowOfBloodyStumps · 12/10/2013 00:29

The Edwards I know are Ed, Ned and Bear.

Tikkamasala · 12/10/2013 00:21

Oh Edward is lovely and I don't think Eddie would necessarily become the default, so wouldn't worry!

HorryIsUpduffed · 11/10/2013 22:27

We can't/wouldn't use Ted because of a nickname for DS1 that is completely unrelated to his actual given name and the mere mention of Ned has DH drawling "Flanders" Hmm

So it really is Edward, Woody Grin or Eddie.

Woody. Now that weirdly I do like, knob jokes notwithstanding.

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Diamondcassis · 11/10/2013 22:26

All Edwards I know are called Ed (no Eddies), is that as bad? Think may be inevitable but you can still always call him Edward

bundaberg · 11/10/2013 22:26

we found with DS2 that no-one shortened his name at all. we always used his full name and so everyone else did.
as he got older we did start to use a short version, and after a while close friends and family started to occasionally use it too, but mostly they still use the full version,

i think if you always use Edward then others will too. And if they shorten it then tell them that isn't his name!

beingsuper · 11/10/2013 22:26

Oh cross posted. Well I know someone with an Edward who is ALWAYS called Edward. Have never ever ever heard anyone call him Eddie. So tis possible.

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