Dp wants Nicholas I want Nico. Who's right?

I've always been called by the shortened version of my name. The only time I use the long version is for official stuff like bank accounts etc.

And if people see my long version they normally ask what I prefer to be called.

My youngest has only ever been called by the shortened version of his name too, most people don't even realise it's not his proper name. When he started school they asked what he'd prefer and labelled all his stuff with the shortened version and taught him that when he was learning to write his name.

Love Nico

I have two who go by a shorter version of their first name. It wasn't a problem at school or anywhere else, although one has chosen for themself that they would rather school know them as full name, so that may be an issue if you really dislike Nicholas (I didn't mind either way).

I don't think Nico is cool at all, if anything it's a bit try-hard. .
Nicolas or Nicholas is classic and gives both you and your DS several options.
His mates will probably call him Nick anyway.

Nicolas on birth certificate but shorten it to nico but he can have the choice when he’s older.

What's the problem with using both? It's extremely standard, even the norm to have an agreed shortening of a longer 'formal' name.
e,g, She's called Elizabeth to be known as Bess/Lizzy/ Betty etc
His name is Henry but we're calling him Harry.

My name is one such, so is ds's. It's never been a problem. At school we were always known as the shortened form, the long form is on passports and certificates.

I have a child with a full name on bc, and has always been known as a short version of this.
I am known by my middle name.
The first has yet to cause an issue. Mine causes confusion when a new secretary at work needs to book my travel, as they cant "find" me on the system, but other than that is ok. I wouldnt do it to my child tho.

I'd love to hear people's experiences of having a long name on their child's birth certificate and then calling them 'officially' by the other, preferred name..

I haven't done that as a parent, but I was that child. It never caused my any problems as a child, teachers always called me by the short name but my full name was on the records. It's occasionally caused me problems as an adult because the long and short forms begin with a different letter (which won't be a problem in your case), so in the days when cheques were used more, I would occasionally be given a cheque with the wrong initial on it and have to explain at the bank (they were usually OK about it - one bank clerk said it happened all the time but usually with men called Tony!)

FWIW, I think I prefer the idea of Nic(h)olas on the birth certificate and Nico for short, so long as you don't mind if he chooses to be known by his full name or a different short form when he's older and can make up his own mind. I don't think it would be fair to give a child a long versatile name and then insist they must use the short form of your choice all their life. I don't think many people would mispronounce Nico - it's a name I've been aware of most of my life and I expect most people have too.

Yes if you're going to give your child a cool/unusual name, do it properly...and go all in. Otherwise call him Harry or something normal.

(I don't mean that in a harsh way by the way! I just mean that Nico is really cool whereas Nicholas very much isn't. I can imagine a child being a bit fed up about Nicholas being his full name, especially when everyone calls him Nico anyway!)

You're right that Nicholas IS a totally different name. If you want to call him Nico just call him Nico! It's much nicer than Nicholas anyway. Nicholas will probably be the embarrassing long name that he cringes at when teachers on the first day of school read it out on the register. It's that sort of name.

Hold out for Nico. Nicholas is a completely different name. I like Nico, it sounds Italian.

How likely is your dh to call him Nicholas if it’s on the birth certificate on the basis that it’s also his name and that while you can use a nickname (no pun intended) and have decided what it is he is equally allowed to call him by his full name?

It’s tricky when there is no right or wrong and everybody’s choices hold equal value but ultimately someone is going to be upset if the other one gets their way....

Nicolas nn Nico

Nicholas! You can call him Nico for short, or Nick.

Ps I know a Nico, his full name is Nicola, he's Italian.

Nicholas, nico is a shortening (eg for Nicola in Italy) full names give options when youngsters are grown

I think they're different names.

For some reason the alternative that comes to mind is Lucas.

I have a Nicolas. He likes to be called Nicolas. Hates nick or nico. Hates it ever more when I call him knickers.

Nico is a cool name. Very cool.

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Nicolo?

Well it would be a good compromise to have Nicolas on BC but known as Nico, then you're both happy. It also gives DC options.

Hi Cassandra, he is still little, but yes everyone calls him Nico, including preschool. He knows his full name is Nicholas, thats what he is called when we go to doctor for example, but not a problem at all and he can have options later in life. I for example hate my name and there is no way to shorten it.