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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alexander or Alex

29 replies

Roseability18 · 18/03/2021 21:28

DH and I both like Alex for a boy, but he thinks we should put this on the birth certificate whereas I’m more inclined to go for Alexander. What are peoples thoughts on this in general? He says if we are going to call him Alex it’s silly to have a longer name that he never uses, plus it may get shortened to Sandy or Xander, neither of which we are keen on. I get this, but still feel Alex seems a bit incomplete or something!
We don’t know gender of baby so this may be a moot point!

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ShutUpAlex · 19/03/2021 19:10

My fiancée is an Alex. Alexander when he’s in trouble.

Yennefer19 · 19/03/2021 19:07

Going against the grain but I would go with just Alex. If you’re never going to use Alexander I just can’t see the point in putting that on the BC especially when you don’t like the other nn’s that can come from the longer version.

I don’t know if it’s just where I live but Xander does seem to be getting more popular so it could easily end up being used if your Alex wants to be known as that.

Original poster
Roseability18 · 19/03/2021 19:01

Interesting, I hadn’t really thought about the full name being useful to indicate gender!
Always liked Alexa for a girl but the Amazon friend has ruined that now...

OP posts:
partyatthepalace · 19/03/2021 14:04

Definitely Alexander - it's a great name, it's nice for him to have the full name option - and there is also the fact that Alex is gender neutral - there may well be times he wants to indicate that he's a bloke automatically.

Sandy is rare outside Scotland, Xander is rare full stop - and calling him Alex won't stop nns like Al/Ally/Lex/Alec anyways.

Alexandra is nice too...

Original poster
Roseability18 · 19/03/2021 10:50

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! General feeling seems to be for Alexander so I feel more justified pushing for that!

OP posts:
EmilyEmmabob · 19/03/2021 01:39

Another Alexander here too! I always use his full name (on his birth certificate) but he has introduced himself to everyone as Alex since he was old enough to. People generally check if it's Alexander/Alex, I've never been asked about another variation. We have met a few Zanders but they've always been introduced to us as such rather than it being a name chosen by others.

Use Alexander because it will give you and him more options in the future.

cantthinkofauniquename · 19/03/2021 01:07

I'm another with an Alexander who goes by Alex unless he's in trouble. I absolutely love both the long and short names. It's a family name for us - my granddad and dad are both Alec/Alex and my brother is Ali (Alasdair).

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/03/2021 01:00

Alexander definitely. It's a lovely, classic name and is unlikely to date (has stayed in the UK top 100 boys names for more than a century - Alex hasn't).

Alex isn't my taste (because I know too many of them of both sexes, so I find it a little dull), but it is still the default nn in E & W for Alexander - I think he's really unlikely to get called the other nn's (Xan/Lex/Xander/Sandy etc) unless he wants to when older.

whiteroseredrose · 18/03/2021 22:41

I'd also go for the long version. It gives more choice when he's older.

Rockhopper81 · 18/03/2021 22:33

I have a cousin named Alexander, family have only ever called him Alex (from when he was a baby really). I use the shortened version of my name 100% of the time, but I'm still glad I have the full length version as my legal name.

I would always go for the full version of a name - the option is there when they're older if they want the long version, but you can still use the shortened name from day 1 too.

Tambourina · 18/03/2021 22:32

Alexander every time

jessstan2 · 18/03/2021 22:29

Alexander; call him Alex or Lex or Ali for short if you want, he will get that at school anyway but do give him the full name.

stellarfox · 18/03/2021 22:26

Alexander is much more handsome as a full name IMO

LalalaLa20 · 18/03/2021 22:17

I have an Alex and I was keen on the name Alex enough without wanting Alexander as full name.
He goes by Al or Ali mostly I forget his name is actually Alex 😂

Tinty · 18/03/2021 22:13

Cool friend of my son”s at College goes by the name Lex. His actual name is Alexander.

LadyGAgain · 18/03/2021 22:06

Alexander is a fabulous name. Shortened to Alex. No way would it be shortened to Sandy in 2021 unless you/he wants it to!

Luckingfovely · 18/03/2021 22:05

I'd go Alexander - it gives him more options in the future. Why deny him that?

GreenandPinkFlowers · 18/03/2021 22:04

If he's going to be known as Alex, that's what I would put on his birth certificate. It's fine on it's own as a name, I know several.

ethelredonagoodday · 18/03/2021 21:58

Also got an Alexander. Mainly goes by Alex although also sometimes Al, and v occasionally Xander. Never Sandy, although I have known two adult Sandys.

Quercus3 · 18/03/2021 21:57

I think either is fine, if he's only ever going to be known as Alex I'd probably just put Alex on the birth certificate. Alexander gives him more options if he doesn't like Alex.

Froglette16 · 18/03/2021 21:40

I’m Alexandra. Named after my grandfather Alexander. He was known as Alec. I’m known as Alex, Al, Allie or Alexandra (when I’m naughty!). Go for the longer name on the birth certificate and shorten it to Alex for daily life! Great choice of name. 😘

Melroses · 18/03/2021 21:39

Def Alexander.

Gives more scope for different variations if he gets pissed off with being called Alex, or if half the class at school is called Alex.

It is a name that appears in lots of different languages so very flexible.

RickiTarr · 18/03/2021 21:38

& for a girl, Alix is a complete name.

Thesearmsofmine · 18/03/2021 21:37

Alexander, I have one too, he goes by Alex(unless he is being told off Grin).

DramaAlpaca · 18/03/2021 21:36

I'd go with Alexander on the birth certificate myself.