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Baby names

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

Original poster

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

134 replies

CassandrasCastle · 14/09/2019 15:39

We both really like the name Nico, and it works in several languages which is important to us. However, my dp thinks the baby should be called Nicholas then tell people to call him Nico... He thinks people with longer names are more multi faceted or something 🤔
ANYWAY. Nicholas and call him Nico - or just Nico?

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kingat · 14/09/2019 21:15

That's my son's name!:) we went for Nicholas and call him Nico. We are very happy with our choice 5 years later. Nicholas exits in so many languages and its an old well known name.

museumum · 14/09/2019 20:52

I like nico but would register Nicolas (no h). It makes nico more natural but gives him other options as a formal adult name.

LarkDescending · 14/09/2019 20:49

Nicholas. Love it.

LynetteScavo · 14/09/2019 20:35

Nicholas on BC, but Nico in RL

But then I love both names.

Hecateh · 14/09/2019 20:23

Nicolas - called Nico

He will know himself by whatever you call him and that will carry forward - unless you always call him the long name and then it will be shortened anyway - but not necessarily your preferred way.

I'm one of 7 and Mum didn't want any of our names shortened. She tried to pick names that wouldn't shorten - but that's not easy. The only one whose is shortened all the time is Stephen is Steve. Even my sister Margaret always gets the full name (anyone who dare shorten it is ignored Grin)

I would have loved my name shortened but it's not an easy one. I've got round it in that friends I have met online (and seen in real life) call me Hec. I love it!

NicoAndTheNiners · 14/09/2019 19:45

Well I would obviously say Nico!

//-//

RainOrSun · 14/09/2019 19:35

I'm a "full names on the birth cert" sort of person, but would go with Nico.
I think you can still go to Nick from it, but not as sure about Nicholas to Nico. But yes to Nicolas (no h) if you are doing that.

Frith2013 · 14/09/2019 19:04

I can’t think of Nicholas without thinking of one my dad’s jokes - copper bottom.

Nico is fine.

Tubbyinthehottub · 14/09/2019 19:02

I know a Nico. Everybody knows how to pronounce it and I'm pretty sure his birth certificate name is Nicolas. It's a good name.

NoLeopard · 14/09/2019 18:48

Spell it Nicolas instead of Nicholas then you have a perfect compromise with the short version already there in front of you.

StrictlyComeMarie · 14/09/2019 18:48

Oh god Nicholas

TheCanterburyWhales · 14/09/2019 18:47

Nico is the nickname for Nicola in Italy.
I worked with a Nico in the UK. He was a Nicholas but had decided his own nickname (which is what will happen anyway) he pronounced it Nikko not Neeko.

I prefer Nicholas, and imagine the child himself will begin as Nicky and grow up as Nick.

Nico sounds forced in the UK. Even with Italian heritage because then it would be Nicola on the bc.

PenguinsRabbits · 14/09/2019 18:43

Nicholas

MrsMaiselsMuff · 14/09/2019 18:38

I'm not overly keen on Nicholas, but Nico is a child's name, not many men would suit it.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/09/2019 18:37

Nicholas

SabineSchmetterling · 14/09/2019 18:36

Nico isn’t a diminutive, it’s a name in its own right.

WitsEnding · 14/09/2019 18:33

Nicholas. Don't force him to use a diminutive as an adult. Nicknames are used when people are trying to put you down, whether it's Jezza or BoJo or Sweetie.

TillyTheTiger · 14/09/2019 18:26

I love Nico, and would pronounce it Neeco not Nicko.
If our imminent DC2 is a boy it will be Dominic so I'm hoping to get away with using Nico as a nickname (as I don't like Dom). If it was down to me I'd just use Nico as the full name but DH gets casting vote on DC2 as I chose DS1's name.

MitziK · 14/09/2019 18:26

He'll just as likely grow up to prefer being called Nick in either case.

But I'd go with Nicholas.

user1493494961 · 14/09/2019 18:26

He might end up as a 56 year old Geography teacher.

MonstranceClock · 14/09/2019 18:23

Nico is a name in it’s own Right so would be weird to name him something different.
And don’t worry about a few thick people who can’t figure the name out. I’m sure you won’t meet many.

Cbeebiesrehab · 14/09/2019 18:21

I find Nicolas a bit dated. Really like Nico. I don’t think Nico is cutesy or nicknamey but a name in its own right so I don’t think it needs a BC name.

Newearringsplease · 14/09/2019 18:19

There's a school near me that's shortened to nico but pronounced niko is an awful first name

DramaAlpaca · 14/09/2019 18:15

Nico is great, but absolutely Nicholas or Nicolas on the birth certificate.

user1493494961 · 14/09/2019 18:11

Nicholas, lovely name and more options.