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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help - we cannot name our baby

68 replies

Sranso · 18/12/2018 13:44

Hi mumsnet! All I seem to post about on here is our struggles with naming our baby, but these forums are always good for some sage advice.

We know we're having a girl and DW is now 37wks so we're entering the end game . I'm looking for any advice on how we can break the deadlock - drawing straws or an elaborate voting system for example!

One of the main issues is that a lot of the names we can agree on, we either can't agree on a short or long form. We like Charlotte, but DW doesn't like Lottie and I don't like Charlie. We like Isobel, but DW doesn't like Isy/Izzy and I don't like Bel. We both like Edie, but DW doesn't want to put Edith on birth certificate, but I would want to. You get the picture!

Any advice gratefully received.

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Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 16:39

And there's been some very good ones!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 16:39

Again though, I'm not talking about just shortening, I'm talking about derivatives.

Like James becomes Jim, Elizabeth becomes Liz or Betty and Katherine becomes Katie. Not simply knocking some letters off like Em or Char.

Like I said on my OP though, I was looking for ideas on how to be decisive, new ways to find compromise rather than debate on nicknames/derivatives/shortenings!!

OP posts:
Flamingosnbears · 18/12/2018 16:37

Collette
Elisa
Isobel (is fine as it is)

gggggogogo · 18/12/2018 16:17

@tryinganewname

Emma can be Em
I love the name Thea though.

But honestly people will mess with any name. My DS has a one syllable name, think like Finn and so many people lengthen it to Finny, it's just friendly nature. I don't mind it on him but I personally hate people assuming they can shorten my name similar to Gemma to Gem.

Plus I've worked with people with short names and they get called their names initial like Todd becomes T

OP Charlotte could be Char, if you could cope with that?

Or Anna or Alice is nice?

Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 16:04

@NotyourMummynotyourmilk gawd bless ya Grin

OP posts:
NotyourMummynotyourmilk · 18/12/2018 15:56

A nickname normally bears little relation to a name. Like Andrew being called Andy but his nickname is ‘Six pint Smith’. OP has said many times he is not trying to invent a nickname for his DD he knows her name will however be shortenedHmm

Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 15:51

Not a nickname, no.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 18/12/2018 15:30

So,
You are both trying to pick a name AND a nickname that you both agree on.
And you haven't even met her yet or know what she looks like!

Thats a tall order.

tryinganewname · 18/12/2018 15:04

Why not a short name that has no nickname or longer names?

Emma
Faye
Thea (this is DD's name, you could argue that it's short for other names but it is a standalone)
Poppy
Daisy

My friends DD is Edith. NN is Edie and both suit her perfectly well, friend uses both interchangeably.

SleepingStandingUp · 18/12/2018 14:56

I think you just keep going until you find one or can compromise.
So DH likes one name, I'm not keen but like it with an extra letter. DH will take the letter if he can insist of no double letters in the middle. I'm OK as long as a certain letter is y not i etc.
We'll end up with different nicknames until DD states a preference.

I'm not actually pregnant...

NotyourMummynotyourmilk · 18/12/2018 14:50

I love Eunice and shortened to Una.

AnOtherNomdePlume · 18/12/2018 14:47

X posting!

AnOtherNomdePlume · 18/12/2018 14:47

If you want a full name officially but will likely shorten any long name,
One solution is to pick short names with limited derivatives.

Anna
Cora
Fern
Jean
Fay
Fleur
Mary (could go for May or Molly / Polly as a traditional derivatives though! That would be three entries on the list..)

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 18/12/2018 14:43

x post with bestsquirrel Smile

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 18/12/2018 14:43

Can you not go for something that is very difficult to shorten, to cut down the variables? Nicknames, obviously, are out of everyone's control. Grin

A few thoughts:
Marnie
Stella
Pearl
Lola
Honor
Margot
Cora
Nina
Zoe
Miriam
Petra
Flora

bestsquirrelinthewholehole · 18/12/2018 14:40

Or choose one syllable names you can't shorten, or names that don't shorten.

Hope
Grace
Ivy (suppose you could shorten to vee)
Faith (Faye)
Aria
Luna (lulu)
Ana
Anais
Bethany (Beth)
Margot
Nancy (nan)
Nina
Mai
Quinn
Noelle (Elle) (Ellie)
Joy

Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 14:32

@AssassinatedBeauty I think so yes, unless it's something that has longevity as a name in its own right or that we can both agree on the use of a long form for.

OP posts:
Cleo29 · 18/12/2018 14:31

What about Meredith? With Edie as the shortened name.

Cleo

TheLovelyOtherDinosaur · 18/12/2018 14:30

Astoria nn Stori

AssassinatedBeauty · 18/12/2018 14:29

So you are ruling out all names that are, or you feel you would treat, as a short version or derivative of another name?

AnOtherNomdePlume · 18/12/2018 14:28

Write down the full name and derivative. If you don't like both it's off the list.

For the purposes of your lists Name = Name + Derivative.

You are wasting effort on these derivatives you don't agree on.

ReggieKrayDoYouKnowMyName · 18/12/2018 14:23

Just a few off the top of my head....

Olivia nn Livvy

Esther nn Essie

Victoria nn Vicky

Jennifer nn Jenny/Jenna/Jen

Juliet nn Jules

Elizabeth nn Beth or Libby or Lizzy

Felicity nn Fliss

Eden nn Edie

Beatrice nn Bea

Margaret nn Peggy

Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 14:23

Also, as I said above, I don't consider that a nickname, it's a shortening or derivative of their name. Going by our DD1, we know we will want to do this. So I'm not asking for debate on that as such, but more tips/experience of ending a really tortuous process!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sranso · 18/12/2018 14:21

@ZebraKid71 -I feared it would be back to the lists Sad

@tinty, I like the Elodie idea actually.

@AssassinatedBeauty because it's a derivative as mentioned above.

OP posts:
LegoPiecesEverywhere · 18/12/2018 14:21

Eden nn Edie

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