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Baby names

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

Original poster

Fae - can it be a nickname?

65 replies

MoonlightMagic · 01/03/2021 14:16

Looking for name that you can plausibly use nickname Fae out of it.

I have thought of Rafaela, Freya, Faelan, Faerie/Faery/Fairy & Phoebe
Fairy and it's variants are big no to be in terms of usability, while Faelan is boys name in Ireland, meaning wolf and I feel iffy about this. Phoebe is name I like, but not that much, while Rafaela is pronounced Rafa-ella, instead of Raf-ella.
I do like Freya nn Fae, but I obviously need no nickname for Freya

what bothers me about Fae is that, based on pronunciation, it's barely three sounds - F-A-Y or maybe F-A, depending on accents... so I'm debating about Fae's usability.
I do not like Fay or Faye.

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Edenember · 01/03/2021 14:28

Faela?

PatNextDoor · 01/03/2021 14:26

Faeces?

(Sorry. But maybe something to bear in mind. Kids and their marker pens can be cruel)

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 14:25

Phaedra or Faith?

womaninatightspot · 01/03/2021 14:24

I know a Bonnie Fae so named because she had beautiful slighly pointy ears when she was born.

monkeycat · 01/03/2021 14:23

Fae is totally reasonable to use on it's own . It is really pretty.

Another name that Fae can be a diminutive of is Euphemia but that isn't everyone's taste.

littlemisslozza · 01/03/2021 14:23

Fae is the same as Fay and Faye isn't it?! Just a different spelling.

Kanaloa · 01/03/2021 14:23

Fae/Fay/Faye is fine alone. I definitely don’t think it’s a nickname for Phoebe; I don’t get why people try to pull names out of a totally different name. Just name your child the name you actually like.

Original poster
MoonlightMagic · 01/03/2021 14:23

@Bimblybomeyelash

From my perspective I fail to see how you can like Fae but not Faye? I’m going to need more of an explanation as to how Fae is pronounced differently, or why it is important that it is spelt Fae and why Fae is better than Fay!
it's pronounced the same, but when I see both names, I like Fae better based on spelling.
OP posts:
PenelopePeanut · 01/03/2021 14:23

I knew a Freya nn Fay by friends at primary school

NoGoodPunsLeft · 01/03/2021 14:22

Why get tied up in knots to find a name which can be shortened to a nickname you like Hmm just use the nickname!

MiddleClassProblem · 01/03/2021 14:22

Anything can be a nickname. It doesn’t even have to correlate to the name but normally there’s a reason for it, not sure if there’s any problem if there’s not.

Original poster
MoonlightMagic · 01/03/2021 14:22

reason why I look for alternatives is because I feel Fae is too short.

OP posts:
Bimblybomeyelash · 01/03/2021 14:21

From my perspective I fail to see how you can like Fae but not Faye? I’m going to need more of an explanation as to how Fae is pronounced differently, or why it is important that it is spelt Fae and why Fae is better than Fay!

ofwarren · 01/03/2021 14:21

Why can't you just use Fae? It's a name in its own right.
www.babycenter.com/baby-names-fae-81845.htm

bonfireheart · 01/03/2021 14:18

How is it pronounced?
How is it different to Fay or Faye?

If you like Fae, why not name her Fae?