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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do you know any Joseph's who aren't Joe???

59 replies

Tollygunge · 20/02/2016 09:12

Just that really. I adore the name Joseph but hate it's abbreviated form. Joseph is (for me) one of the purest biblical names and Joe is just a bit... Meh. Can I risk naming a child Joseph or is it inevitable he will be a Joe?

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JudgeJudySheindlin · 20/02/2016 23:33

I know Josephs & Joes. It generally stems from what the parents choose for their son to be known by. The next obstacle is the teenage years when they like to find their own identity. I wanted to be known by the name of Linda for about a year. Not that this has anything to do with Joseph, but you get my driftWink

Haffdonga · 20/02/2016 22:11

I know two. Both of their parents insist they are only ever called Joseph. They are known as Joseph by teachers and all the parent' adult friends and family.

But all their school friends call them Joe. I think Joe is inevitable I'm afraid

TaraBoxBrain · 20/02/2016 22:06

I know two Josephs, both children. I don't know any Joes.

DramaAlpaca · 20/02/2016 21:18

I know one who is always called Joseph, never Joe.

I love Joseph, but like the OP I'm not keen on Joe, so one of my DSes got Joseph as a middle name so it wouldn't ever be shortened.

MissCalamity · 20/02/2016 21:10

My Joseph will always be Joseph to me. He is now 6 & will occasionally say his name is Joe, also his younger sister says Joe as it's easier for her.
Lovely name, go for it! Grin

mydogeatsnutstoo · 20/02/2016 14:01

I know one age 5 who is always Joseph - nicer than Joe IMO. My DP is known by the full version of his name which is almost always shortened usually - his mum just made it clear from the start that was his name and not the shortened version so it can be done.

dementedma · 20/02/2016 13:53

Don't give up on it if you like it. We just always said that Joseph was Joseph, and not Joe and people got used to it. It's a lovely name.

kaymondo · 20/02/2016 13:43

I think most people are led by the parents. I have three friends with sons called Jacob. Two of them shorten to Jake/jackey - the other doesn't. I would never call the third child anything other than Jacob as that is clearly what his parents want.

Obviously you can't control what peers will call him when he gets into school (especially secondary) - but he can! It's his name and should be able to say, actually it's Jospeh not Joe. I wouldn't worry so much that other people call him Joe as the fact that he himself may decide he prefers it.

TheFormidableMrsC · 20/02/2016 13:32

ThroughThickAndThin, yes I definitely agree...but you can make a stand about it. I think it's a shame to not have a name you love just because somebody might shorten it. I rarely get anybody shortening my Joseph's name these days fortunately Smile

Helenluvsrob · 20/02/2016 13:27

Call him Joseph. You can regulate nicknames until he decides for himself and then, what ever the name you are in his hands - which is quite right.

My dd has a name with a cutesy "ie" nickname that we weren't keen on. She was called it a bit a nursery but from school age she's just said " that's not my name " and that's been fine, she's called by her " proper name. Think grace / Gracie ( but not!).

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/02/2016 13:21

I think names like Joseph, daniel, William, Benjamin are easier to shorten MrsC because it's simply just using the first syllable of their name. Names like Rebecca have to be thought through to shorten because the whole name changes. I think anyway.

TheFormidableMrsC · 20/02/2016 13:18

Why is Joseph out Tollygunge? I have a friend called Rebecca...she just wants to be called Rebecca and quickly corrects anybody who calls her Becca or Becky...I always tell anybody who tries to shorten my son's name that they mustn't...or he does! If you love it, have it and make sure everybody knows you wish it to stay "intact" Smile

Original poster
Tollygunge · 20/02/2016 13:05

Ah, Joseph's out I think then. I really really love it though. Dang. Maybe Art instead not Arthur.

OP posts:
Headmelt · 20/02/2016 13:01

My friend and his Dad are both Joseph. Everyone calls the dad Joe and my friend Joe Joe. He is always correcting people but they still do it.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/02/2016 12:59

All the ones I know are Joe. Even the DS of my best friend who is devastated about it. It's a pain, I call him Joe to him, but refer to him as Joseph when Im with her!

KatieT12 · 20/02/2016 12:55

I know 1, but all the others are Joe...

Sophronia · 20/02/2016 10:58

I know one who goes by Joss

MarshaBrady · 20/02/2016 10:49

Yes

GloopyGhoul · 20/02/2016 10:48

Aaron is nice, but fgs please don't name your child Fox!

GloopyGhoul · 20/02/2016 10:47

I went to Uni with a Seph. Was a much twattier nickname than Joe!

dementedma · 20/02/2016 10:18

Stick with Joseph, tollyGrin

Original poster
Tollygunge · 20/02/2016 10:11

Really can't agree on anything else. I also really like Fox but suspect that's a bit of a name to carry off and poor kid may well not thank me for it! The other option is Aaron (because I can't get away with Elvis) or Clement (Clem)

OP posts:
MamaYoyo · 20/02/2016 10:08

My DH. Although he is known to his closest friends by a short version of his middle name.

TheFormidableMrsC · 20/02/2016 09:48

Acunningruse...I wonder if that scary Mum is me Wink

My DS is a Joseph and it is not abbreviated. Even he corrects people. I would prefer it to remain thus, but I imagine it will change as he gets older.

dontcryitsonlyajoke · 20/02/2016 09:44

My son's Best friend is 8 and always Joseph even to his friends.