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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alexandra shortened?

90 replies

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy · 29/05/2018 22:17

We have a baby Alexandra, we love the name and it really suits her

Inevitably friends and relatives are calling her Alex already but I quite like Ally instead (if it must be shortened!)

Would love to know which you prefer?

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MollyHuaCha · 29/05/2018 22:47

Definitely Sasha.

WildCherryBlossom · 29/05/2018 22:46

If you like Ally be firm. I use an abbreviation of my name which isn't necessarily the first one that springs to mind. People usually get it right once they have been told. One of my children has a slightly odd nickname based on his name and absolutely everybody uses it.

(I would use Sasha for Alexandra personally - I love it!)

Redact · 29/05/2018 22:42

What about Alexa? Ally is nice too

squagmire · 29/05/2018 22:41

I was at school with a Xa (pronounced Zaah) which I think is lovely.

CAAKE · 29/05/2018 22:38

I know a little girls whose Alexandra is shortened to Ale. I think it's v pretty.

ajandjjmum · 29/05/2018 22:31

My Alexandra has always been Alex, but over the years different people have created their own nn for her. DS has always called her Ali, and at work she's know as Al. She announced recently that she would have liked us to use Lexi as a nn, but I think we're a little too far down the road for that now!

Jj2431 · 29/05/2018 22:30

Don't like Alex but love Ally

Original poster
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy · 29/05/2018 22:30

Thank you, just need to convince DH now! He likes her full name and so do I but if it must be shortened we might as well try to steer it as PPs have said

OP posts:
Arriettyborrower · 29/05/2018 22:25

Ally is lovely, I get Al from a very few people which makes me think I’m a throwback from a Paul Simon song.

Go with Ally now to set a precedent, I am known Alex which i like now but I HATED it growing up!

Joeybee · 29/05/2018 22:24

I'd prefer Lexi tbh to eight.
Not a big fan of Alex but I think it's inevitable that she'll be called that by most people.
Ally is a nice nickname though. If you introduce baby and use that nickname it'll catch on with friends and family. However I'd say acquaintances will naturally shorten it to Alex.

ColinsVeryJolly · 29/05/2018 22:21

Ally or Lex but not Alex

RedDwarves · 29/05/2018 22:21

Not a fan of either, but that's why I wouldn't use Alexandra as a first name.

I like Sasha as a nn, but it's too contrived in the UK etc.

I think you'll have a very hard time getting people to call her Ally when Alex is the default shortening for Alexandra (like Liz/Lizzy for Elizabeth or Maddie for Madeleine).

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 29/05/2018 22:21

Ally is nicer, I know an Alexandra shortened to Aly. But most of the Alexandras I know are either Alex, Lex, or Zsa.

PetulantPolecat · 29/05/2018 22:20

Ra-ra.

Because you can’t control what people will do with your name Grin

AllyMcBeagle · 29/05/2018 22:18

I like Ally Wink

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