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Baby names

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

Original poster

What names to give Tess as a nickname?

57 replies

NighteyesLovesGingerbread · 26/06/2015 13:29

I absolutely love the nickname Tess but struggling to find a longer name that I love for it.

We cant use Teresa as its my cousin's name. We like Therese (with accents that I cant do on here!!) but not sure.

Our other DC have 3 or 4 syllable names so we cant just use Tess, it wouldn't fit at all.

any ideas??

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GemmeFatale · 26/06/2015 16:07

FFS, if you only want Tess to be a family pet name call her whatever proper name you want and use Tess separately.

But agree with PP, your children will probably go by nicknames or short names with others as they grow up. They might even use diminutives that aren't your preferred choices. Or they might ask you to stop using the pet names as they get older.

CordeliaFrost · 26/06/2015 16:03

Tess most certainly can be a short form of Elisabeth.

catwithflowers · 26/06/2015 15:58

Esther is beautiful and could be shortened to Tess Smile

fruminousbandersnatch · 26/06/2015 15:55

"I have further expanded to explain that nicknames are only used within the family for the other DC."

How on earth would you control what people outside of the family call her?!

Sophronia · 26/06/2015 15:52

Tesni? It's a Welsh name.

I also know of a Beatrice nn Tess, might be a bit of a stretch though?

Contessa
Theodosia
Thessaly/Tessaly
Tirzah/Thirza
Temperance
Thomasina/Thomasin
Tamsin
Hester

DrJacoby · 26/06/2015 15:50

I have a DCs set along the lines of Araminta, Theodore, and Bob! They're individual people, not a Dr Seuss book.

Original poster
NighteyesLovesGingerbread · 26/06/2015 15:43

For heavens sake - I have said several times now that using Tess alone is not an option!

I have further expanded to explain that nicknames are only used within the family for the other DC.

and that we have a single syllable surname.

Yet still plenty of 'just call her Tess'.

could you seriously imaging a sibling set along the lines of 'Araminta, Theodore, Jemima and Bob' - because that is the level of difference between my existing DC names and the name Tess.

Hadnt thought of Vanessa, will mention that to DH.

I do like Anastasia but worried about 50 shades reference?

OP posts:
DrJacoby · 26/06/2015 15:12

Unless you're going to start a family band (like the Partridge Family) you don't need matchy names. Just call her Tess. If she's going to be known as Tess anyway then it's pointless naming her something long.

Quasilulu · 26/06/2015 15:08

Vanessa Ness?

NewLeafExpat · 26/06/2015 14:49

Contessa?

NewLeafExpat · 26/06/2015 14:46

Tesia?

SkodaLabia · 26/06/2015 14:40

Theodora?

florascotia · 26/06/2015 14:35

Tess and Tessa are both short forms of Theresa. What about Anastasia? Nastassja? Thomasina?

I think there is Welsh name, Tesni ; Welsh mumsnetters will know better.

BikeRunSki · 26/06/2015 14:20

Anastasia?

reuset · 26/06/2015 14:15

After the obvious Theresa. Esther, Estella, Contessa (maybe ignore that one)

Original poster
NighteyesLovesGingerbread · 26/06/2015 14:03

not a fan of deliberately using the middle name like that - fine if the child choses to do that when they are older but it seems daft to start out like that to me.

and personally I do feel sibling names should belong together. the other DC names don't alliterate, they don't sound anything alike, but they do have a similar flow and feel to them. plus our dc are only called by nicknames by the immediate family, they are known by their full names otherwise.

Tessa just doesn't feel like a full name to me, it sounds like a nickname.

OP posts:
FenellaFellorick · 26/06/2015 13:57

If your other children have longer names, then Tessa would fit beautifully.

Variation in length and sound of names between siblings sounds lovely, imo.

otherwise you end up with darren, daryl and dennis. Grin

It's nice when names of siblings are very different I think. They don't have to sound like a set and you shouldn't rule out a name you love because you think it has to match.

Therein2tics · 26/06/2015 13:56

What about middle name Tess and use another name as "official" first name?
I haven't done this but have whole set of relatives who do this.

ThursdayLast · 26/06/2015 13:54

I think if I ever have a daughter I'm just going to call her Elizabeth then she can choose her own name!

Original poster
NighteyesLovesGingerbread · 26/06/2015 13:52

as I said in the OP, our other DC have longer names, it would sound daft to just use Tess. plus we have a one syllable surname. it just doesn't work.

ooh, if it can come from Elizabeth that has potential!

OP posts:
CordeliaFrost · 26/06/2015 13:48

Thessaly

ThursdayLast · 26/06/2015 13:46

I thought it came from Elizabeth

Heels99 · 26/06/2015 13:41

Just Tessa surely

Theresa isn't a nice name avoid that

SkodaLabia · 26/06/2015 13:40

Although of course it's still nicer than Elizabeth.

TommyandGina · 26/06/2015 13:40

Natasha?