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Baby names

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

Original poster

Girls name that can't be obviously shortened

83 replies

NoNameIdeas · 31/07/2020 09:24

Due baby 2 in November and looking for girls names that can't be automatically shortened, although fully aware they'll still probably end up with a nickname! We have a little boy called Henry already.
So far we like Erin and Verity.

Thanks for any suggestions!

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sashh · 31/07/2020 13:21

Another who thinks short names get lengthened and anything that doesn't have a conventional shortening are usually assigned something with a Z.

Many years ago I knew a Darren whose parents picked it as not being able to shorten, by the time he was 7 he was Daz.

The only name I've come across that was never shortened was 'TJ'.

Timmytoo · 31/07/2020 13:08

Skye, Belle, Nina, Kay, May, Summer, Bertha, Mabel, River, Joy, Hope, Sita, Avery, Morgan, Tina

Blueroses99 · 31/07/2020 13:07

Not the point of the thread but I think Erin sounds too close to Henry linguistically.
Eh-rin
Hen-ri
Could get confusing if you’re calling out for one or other and both (or more likely in my experience, neither) respond.

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 13:00

Erin will be Ez.
Steve will be Ste
Ian will be E
Sally will be Sal
Clare will be Clary.

bluemoon2468 · 31/07/2020 12:58

So many of the names I've seen suggested on here are names of people I know, whose names are always shortened. I know a:

Sally who is Sal
Zoe who is Zo
Ellen who is El

Some that are trickier to alter: Clara, Cara, Cora, Ada, Ava, Niamh, May, Iris.

But tbh I wouldnt get too hung up on it... in my experience nicknames will come about regardless. I know a mum who named her kids Mark and Joy in the hope that she'd chosen names that wouldn't be nicknamed - when they were little, Mark became Markie and Joy became Joy-Joy, and as a teenager Mark is known to his friends by his surname, and Joy is known as J 😆

NavyBerry · 31/07/2020 12:28

Verity will become Vera I'm afraid

Onestepup · 31/07/2020 12:26

Alice
Molly
Ruby
Stella
Cara
Seren
June
Lena
Lily
Olive

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 12:25

Lydia - Lyd/Lyds
Grace - Gracie
Joy - Joycie?
Fern/Fearne - Ferny, Ferniture
Ava - Aves
Eva - Eves
Olive - Ollie
Phoebe - Phoebs
...

Acunningruse · 31/07/2020 12:21

Lydia
Grace
Joy
Fern/Fearne
Ava
Eva
Olive

RuthW · 31/07/2020 12:19

I have a name that can't be shortened. I've never forgiven my parents either.

carryme · 31/07/2020 12:06

I love

Ada
And Ava

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 11:59

Only, not on my*

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 11:58

I am guilty of the lengthening thing...usually a bit tongue in cheek and on my with very good friends Blush.

One of my closest friends is called Claire and I call her Clarabella for example. She does the same to me, so it's fine, but yes, I've done it.

I also know a Fran who I call Frannington or sometimes Frannington Bear Blush. It's honestly not as annoying as it sounds in the context of our friendship. Honest! She calls me awful things too.

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 11:55

A short name will get lengthened.

Ann
Jill
Kim
Kay
Dee
Lynne

daisypond · 31/07/2020 11:51

Niamh
Hannah
Fern
May
Ellen

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 10:30

Alice
Emma
Kate
Joy
Hope
Blythe
Pearl
Anna
Claire (I know tonnes of these and not one has ever had it shortened - if you are desperate for one which can't be shortened, I'd choose this)
Saoirse
Sorcha
Ella
Grace (doesn't get shortened, but you might get Gracie)
Clara
Rose

TeaMeBasil · 31/07/2020 10:08

I have a name that impossible to shorten (like Kay for example) ...and I still got lots of people lengthening it in order to find a nickname! 😂

Topseyt · 31/07/2020 10:05

I'd say don't get too hung up on this. My parents did and it caused endless tension. It didn't work either.

Short names can be shortened still further. I have a fairly short name which is hard to shorten further but am often called by my initial.

My sister's name has a number of shortenings and caused my parents so much unnecessary angst. She liked the shortenings but they would try to forbid any and would pointedly correct all of her friends when they heard them address her.

Oddly enough, my parents have never been known by the full versions of their names, only shortened ones. So the unwritten rule in our house was that only they were allowed to shorten their names.

That is why when we were naming our babies we chose names where we liked the regular full and shortened versions. Far more options that way.

EspressoPatronum · 31/07/2020 10:04

Cara
Clara
Linn
Stella

WinWinnieTheWay · 31/07/2020 09:59

Annie
Kate
Kaye
Faye
Rose

Cbeebiesrehab · 31/07/2020 09:57

I know a Verity who gets called Vez. Erin is much harder to shorten though I would say.

Faye
Joy
Kate
Beth
Fia
Thea
Iris
Cleo

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 31/07/2020 09:39

Jane
Eve
Laura
Maya
Zara

Agree with pp though, EVERYTHING can be shortened. Both my father and my FIL have very old fashioned “posh” names picked by their parents as unshortenable. Both their wives call them by the first letter of their names.

OhhhPeee · 31/07/2020 09:38

I know 2 Lucys that go by Loose most of the time. I also know a Clare that we all call Clare-bear. I know several people that go by their middle name. Names will evolve and take on a life of their own no matter what!

I chose short names for my own DC and so far they’re used the way I intended but as soon as they start school I’m sure that’ll change. Although my friend’s daughter is Elizabeth and has got to the age of 8 still using the full thing.

Nic165 · 31/07/2020 09:37

Eva, Ava, Mia, Grace

Monkeytapper · 31/07/2020 09:35

Heidi

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