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Baby names

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

Original poster

Can I have an Amelia, NN Amy?

38 replies

user1470335762 · 14/08/2016 13:58

Is it too far or a stretch, I like NNs to be more of a shortening, instead of something like Milly/Millie, where it's an actual nickname.

Thanks!

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SpidersFromMars · 16/08/2016 09:36

Amy is fine as a short form of Amelia. The longer name for the birth certificate and for most of the time.

raisedbyguineapigs · 16/08/2016 08:30

I only thought of it as a nickname because of Amelia Pond Tardis. IIRC Amelia went from no 15 or something on the mist popular names to no 1 in the year after she appeared, so not sure if its actually a nickname or its something invented for Doctor Who that is now an established shortening. Amy in Little Women was Amy. Either way, I like both. Name her what you like.

NappingRabbit · 16/08/2016 08:21

Amelia on Grey's Anatomy was nicknamed Amy. A bit of a stretch but could work if you love both names.

Eminybob · 16/08/2016 06:35

Okay, an occasional nickname, as opposed to a permanent one.

Some people go by thier nickname, are introduced as it etc, and rarely use thier full name. Others just get shortened when someone can't be bothered saying thier full name.

blinkowl · 16/08/2016 06:29

"it's just a shortening for ease, if needed".

That's the definition of a nickname, surely?!

Eminybob · 16/08/2016 06:23

I know a mum who shortens her Amelia's name to Ams when she's addressing her. It's not a nickname, she is known by everyone as Amelia, it's just a shortening for ease, if needed. I'm an Emma, always Emma, but often get Em just for ease from certain people.
So I know what you are saying when you say you are looking for a shortening, rather than a nickname.

Saying that though, DS is William and I always assumed we'd use Will, but no, never, we always use his full name. Although I have heard his nursery key worker call him Will. Which is fine.

unicornthong · 16/08/2016 06:11

This is weird...

I'm Amy on my BC but my mum has always called me Amelia Hmm, she picked it up from the bloody goose from Aristocats and has never stopped. It's since evolved into Meelie, which she actually writes in birthday and Christmas cards to me Shock

So I'm an Amy who is always lengthened to Amelia when it isn't even my name Grin

MrsHardy1 · 14/08/2016 21:38

Amy is an acceptable NN for Amelia. My NN is Mealy and it isn't much shorter/easier

Haffdonga · 14/08/2016 21:31

I know more than one Amy -short-for-Amelia. It's lovely.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/08/2016 21:19

Amelia NN Amy is absolutely fine. I like it.

AliMonkey · 14/08/2016 21:16

DD has an Amelia in her class who is always known as Amy. Perfectly OK. Even though my DD is also Amy!

We deliberately chose short names for our DC that couldn't be shortened - but then they just ended up with longer nicknames instead -but I still like the fact that the names they are called in "official" things are also the names they are normally called.

Pemba · 14/08/2016 20:51

Amy in Little Women was just Amy, definitely.

Crunchymum · 14/08/2016 20:32

Don't be so greedy Grin

Seriously though nickname should develop organically.

Pick the name you prefer and a NN will develop. Don't be too contrived about it.

FlysInDreams · 14/08/2016 16:58

I was going to use Amelia/Amy for our DTD2 but then we ended up using Amelia as her middle name.

nemno · 14/08/2016 16:48

Never occurred to me that Amy wasn't a NN for Amelia, certainly is for the 2 adults I know. The one child I know called Amelia has NN Milly.

GlacindaTheTroll · 14/08/2016 16:37

It's 4 syllables: same as Georgiana, Alexandra, Persephone etc. Having a shortening to 2 syllables is pretty routine for names that long.

But I do think this one is currently very Whovian.

Tardis
AndNowItsSeven · 14/08/2016 16:26

Grin you are being ridiculous Amelia is not a long name to say! Just pick a name Amelia or Amy.

MrsHulk · 14/08/2016 16:23

There's an Amelia shepherd on grays anatomy who is known as amy. It's an established nickname for Amelia.

Some of the replies on here are oddly hostile!

PotteringAlong · 14/08/2016 16:06

I probably won't constantly want to say Amelia

It's 6 letters long! 6 letters! It's not going to take hours out of your day to address her by name...

squoosh · 14/08/2016 15:04

'Whilst Amy is a legitimate name in its own right, it gives your daughter options in the future'

Why would someone called Amy need options? It's hardly a name that would cause problems.

pieceofpurplesky · 14/08/2016 14:56

I know an Amelia who has the nickname Melie

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 14/08/2016 14:53

Wasn't Amy in Little Women actually an Amelia....

Personally I find naming a child Amelia but shortening it to Amy fine. Whilst Amy is a legitimate name in its own right, it gives your daughter options in the future - like going with Amelia.

PurpleDaisies · 14/08/2016 14:47

Anyway, thanks for saying its fine.

It's fine to call her whatever you want. Friends call their son something very distinctive that's totally unrelated to his actual name.

I do find the contortions people on this board go through to find a shortening/nickname that will just evolve naturally when the baby is born really strange.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 14/08/2016 14:43

If she's going to be known as Amy. Why not just use Amy. Surely the Amelia Emilia obsession is over now. You'd think they were the only names in existence.
There's hardly any little Amys about bow a days. It's definitely due a revival

Original poster
user1470335762 · 14/08/2016 14:38

I know that, that's why I want her as an Amelia. I wouldn't care if she doesn't want a NN or wants to be known as Milly/Millie when she can decide, but while she is younger, I probably won't constantly want to say Amelia, as its 4 syllables so I was just looking for a shorter part of the name that would work as more of a shortening than a NN Confused that's all...

Anyway, thanks for saying its fine.

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