"Nicknames" as first names

Both my niece and my ds have shortened version of names as we didn't like the long version, neither do they now they are older and perfectly happy with there names as is
Re: jack i thought it was also a nickname for James?
So many nicknames etc are names in there own rights now
Best to pick something you like , if a child grows up to hate their name they can change it and they could hate a long version and all its nicknames too

i think in a lot of cases it makes perfect sense to have a full name on the BC- eg Christopher is always going to end up shortened to Chris, Thomas to Tom and so on.

But often you get on mumsnet ones that are such a stretch ‘Emily nn Lily’ was one the other week. If you like Lily just use Lily, rather than basically give your child 2 completely separate names that will probably cause more confusion and annoyance over their lifetime than be of any benefit.

I much prefer the full name. Putting a shorter version on the bc always makes me think of that bit in So Long and Thanks for All the Fish:

“He was rather disappointed to discover her name was Fenny. It was a rather silly, dispiriting name, such as an unlovely maiden aunt might vote herself if she couldn’t sustain the name Fenella properly.”

(Of course she doesn’t call herself Fenny and her name isn’t Fenella.)

Putting a diminutive form on the bc always just seems like a lack of imagination to me- your child isn’t always going to be a newborn and later on might prefer the option of a name with a bit more gravitas. The comparison with one syllable traditional names (John or whatever) doesn’t work as these names already have gravitas.

For me it really depends on the nickname. Something like Liz or Bill or Kath on the birth certificate would be weird. Some nicknames are just too informal to be full names. But I wouldn't bat an eyelid at Molly or Maisie or Freddie, for example, since they have become established as names in their own right. They're not my personal style, but they're acceptable names. Lots of names that are now regarded as standalone names actually started off as nicknames. Nobody would find it strange to meet someone who is just called Tina or Rita rather than Christina or Margarita.

My parents gave me a longer name and then exclusively called me by a shorter name that isn't a direct shortening and honestly I hate it.

It was confusing when I was young as official names are on registers in school, but my friends still used the short name, different teachers would use the long name or the short name and it was always confusing for other people. I couldn't spell the long one or say it well and it was weird to be suddenly called by a different name.

in any new situation where your name would be on a list, which is suprisingly often, I either had to ask people to change it or remember to call me the other name. Or just go along with the long name, which I don't instinctively answer to, so I accidentally ignore people.

I worked for a company with standard autogenerated email addresses which they couldnt change and came with my long official name on. But as an adult I have alway introduced myself as my short name and then when collegues try to email me, with the standard format, it doesn't work.

Work ID badges have had the long name on which some people read insted of asking your name, so I get called the wrong name or people don't know who I am.

As a teenager I got into an accident that left me unconsious without ID on me, and I was with people who only knew me by the short name that I go by, the hospital couldn't find my records or contact my parents until I came around which was a few hours later.

Honestly its just such a waste of time, just call your kids by the name that you will call them and will be on their records, especially if its not something obvious like Will from William.

I’m with you OP.

I had a long name which a. I hated with a passion and b. was always shortened anyway so seemed pointless! Changed it to the shortened version by deed poll about ten years ago and I’m much happier, although it helps that it’s a fairly commonly used name by itself.

I chose long names for my dds, and go by the short versions day to day.

I HATE my own name. It can't be shortened. I really wish my parents had given me name with options. Instead, I'm stuck with a name I hate.

So that's why I chose long names with options for my kids. I might like calling my daughter Lottie, but she might go by Charlotte or Charlie when she's older (this is not dd's actual name!).

Our parents deliberately chose names that couldn't be shortened.

Then we all got nicknames anyway. Shorter ones! Still used to this day.

My name can't be shortened or lengthened and I have subconsciously done the same with dd's name. I'm not sure what will happen with the one currently cooking but I prefer a full name as opposed to a diminutive. Just my personal preference.

Haha.

sorry the name snobbery on here riles me

then in the next breath the same posters are trying to flaunt their ‘liberal’ and ‘open mindedness’ on other threads

names are the last bastion of blatant classism on here

The only place it’s a big deal is on mumsnet, which is riddled with misplaced middle class neuroses. There is an urban myth on here that unless you call your daughter Charlotte or Emily, she could never be a high court judge (although as far as I’m aware, none of the Charlottes or Emily’s born to Mumsnetters have ever been high court judges).

call your child what you like as long as it isn’t Fish’n’Chips or Eureka-Starz it will be fine

You can shorten my name down however I won't answer to it. I hate being called my nickname version.

Mum always calls me now and back growing up the proper name. I just don't answer to it as it's not me.

I am called a nickname and always hated it and wished I had the option of the longer Version. Also everyone I meet or speak to assumes I am called the longer version

I know a Debbie (born in the 1970s) who wishes she had been Deborah on her birth cert.

I have a short name and people still adapt it - or when I was a school, come up with something completely different. One advantage of using the long form is that Katherine can choose to be Kathy or Kat if there is already a Katie in her class - or she has a preference or fancies a change!

My childs full name has gained some popularity. There are two popular nicknames that I guess are, in more recent years names in there own right, from this full name.

I put the full name on the BC because the full name sounded better with a second name rather than the nickname we actually call them since birth.

My child will have a choice what to call themselves as they may not want to have the the nickname as their sole choice when they are older.

I gave my DD a “long” name - and I’m glad I did! I went off the diminutive we had chosen….and she really likes being able to use different formats in different situations (eg she’s Elizabeth at school but Beth to her friends and Bethy at home).

*I have a long name which has several common diminutives.
I really like the fact that I am called different things, depending on my relationship with people, and that I can be more formal or less formal as I want to.
Over different decades, I've leaned more towards different diminutives and as I've got older I am much more likely to use my full name.

Based on my own preferences for my own name, I'd want to give any dc the same options.*
This. My name is one of the queen names, used to hate it as a child and was always known as a shortened version but I've grown to like it. Also my close friends call me a very shortened version, my dad called me a derivitive that no one else ever has, I love that I can be so many different versions of my name.

My DS has a long name which has 2 diminutives. He has been known by both at different times. He is now 25.
He can tell how long he has known someone by which name they use.

He uses the full version himself, for work now.

Two of me and my husband's kids have the diminutive name as their proper name. They are not cute or young - perfectly fine for an adult as a child.
An old boyfriend was 'Jimmy' but felt that didn't sound grown up enough when he became a lawyer so went back to James. But I don't think people would name their child 'Jimmy' (or Billy, Willy or Chuck etc) on the birth certificate. But some names are fine in their more shortened version as their proper name.

I gave my son the longer name on his birth certificate but much prefer the shortened version. I wouldn't have used the short version as it looks a bit informal and he has the choice which he uses,

I also go by my very shortened version but wouldn't want that as my legal name.

Just to add another dimension, three of my four family members have their used name as a middle name. Apparently it flowed better. Possibly more of a thing in my parents' generation as it's a right pain in everyday admin.

@nildesparandum I wonder if my DD has the same name!!

Also an 80s US singer

I have a granddaughter whose full, proper name is a shortened version of what could be called a classical timeless name.She was named after a character in a soap opera who was always called by the short version. Must admit to not liking it very much, but have got used to it now she is grown up.