Change baby’s ‘nickname’ name to its longer form

I have a full name that can be shortened and that's just the way I like it. Longer name for work, shorter name for play 🤣

Good on you for not listening to the snobs on here

The op asked for honest opinions. Why are people whose opinions you don't agree with 'snobs' ?

Good on you for not listening to the snobs on here 🖤

I don't get this- if a Charles wants to be known as Charlie he can- so why would a Charlie not be able to be known as Charles if he wants?

You honestly don't see the difference between shortening a traditional name and lengthening a name?

If your official name is Charlie and you apply for say a new job as Charles then no background checks can be done using Charles as that's not your name.

My DD is the nickname version, think Penny for Penelope, and sometimes regret not going for the full version but both me and her dad have longer names on our birth certificate but have never gone by then and we both hate our full names. It’s so hard to get it right as you never know how your future child would feel

Oh do me a favour with the crap about having a long name so you have a choice. I have a nickname as a first name and at no point in nearly 50 years have I wished I had a full version of my name, because, you know, it’s not my name and neither have I ever had any desire whatsoever to call myself anything other than the name I was given. To add, I have also been perfectly successful in my career and I’m taken seriously because I am good at my job, my name is irrelevant

All six of my children have names that would be called “nicknames “on here. They are not nicknames, they are diminutives of longer names.
I chose the names because I liked the short versions.

Being named Bill, not William has caused one son no problems, embarrassment, hardships or career difficulties at all.

His nickname is Bandit, he lost an arm in a farm accident when he came home his sister said he was like a one armed bandit machine, it stuck.

The others have similar names, some have nicknames which they’ve acquired over the years

Although I did think that the guy who went by 'BJ' should perhaps have used his longer name, if he had one 😆

I wouldn't worry tbh. I've worked with loads of senior people in very responsible roles with major global companies (and loads of lawyers as that was mentioned upthread!).

Off the top of my head I can think of an Alfie, a Billy, both an Andy (m) and an Andi (f), an Eddie, a Lou, a Benji... you get the idea. I have no idea whether they had longer version of their names but that was what they were called day to day.

I do wonder if many of the people who say the stuff about 'not being the name of a high court judge' etc have actually worked in these kinds of roles? Everything is getting less and less formal. I can't remember the last time I saw someone in a suit for example, and nobody would bat an eye at a 'shortened' name.

I don't get this- if a Charles wants to be known as Charlie he can- so why would a Charlie not be able to be known as Charles if he wants?
The options are still there its not like there is a rule that you can only make your name shorter and younger sounding but you can't make it longer or more formal.

I pondered the same thing when naming my son and decided to give him the full version of his name but we always call him by the nickname version (which is a proper name in its own right anyway, and actually more common than the full version) or other nicknames so he doesn't actually quite believe that his name really is the full version but I like that he has more options in the future (plus the full version gave more nickname options)

I'd firmly vote for changing it so he has an easy choice if he wants it. Makes no difference to the day to day right now, but leaves him options in future.

I agree with this. You can still call him by his 'nickname', but give him the option of a more traditional name for when he's older.

I have a shortened name I go by, but I’m glad I have a more serious longer name in my email address and for introductions to clients/ suppliers, as I think it helps me be taken more seriously. I don’t think men have the same problem.

I think it definitely looks more professional to be introduced as Edward than, say, Teddie! Or as Oliver instead of Ollie!

Should I have the courage of my convictions and keep the name we chose for him and love, or should I give him options for when he’s older?!

Why would you deny your son the options? I'd definitely give him the original proper version of his nickname.

Personally I wouldn't call my child a nickname name, but each to their own. There are tonnes of them out there, so I certainly don't think they'll feel odd one out. But I do think some nickname names are limiting, and especially on boys it's hard to imagine some of the really cutesy ones on a fully grown man. I think I would try to find a longer name I preferred to maybe the most standard one, for example if Archie I don't like Archibald but would use Archer, for Teddy I prefer Theodore to Edward, or might just go straight Ted on the BC.

I think it’s completely fine to leave it. Personalities determine names and not vice versa. I love Herbie and it’s probably my top contender for a boys name at the moment but I don’t warm to Herbert at all and wouldn’t use it.

I don’t know if that’s your name or similar but I think it’s fine to be a full name. Language changes and evolves over time, lots of names we think of as full names now were originally derivatives of longer biblical names for example.

He can always change it by deed poll when he’s older if he wants - it’s not difficult (lots of admin, but not hard). A friend of mine was officially Toby but changed to Tobias in his early twenties to give him more clout in his very conservative profession.

I know adults with names like Mikey, Freddie, Tommy, Jimmy, Bobby, Alfie, Nicky, Joe etc as their "full" names. I don't think it's a problem really.

I’ve been told DD’s name is a nickname yet it’s been a name in its own right since the 16th century. The more traditional formal name has multiple Nickname options and one is a name I’d never use as it’s the name of my tragically deceased family member who died age 16. We therefore chose not to put Catherine on the birth certificate and Dd is down as the name she’s known as - Kitty. I think it’s best to form your own opinion and stop caring about what other people think.

I grew up with the nickname version of my name until my early 20’s, at school I never used the long version of my name, didn’t like it, no one else used it.
in my mid twenties I changed to the long, more formal version. I hate it if people use the nickname form now. I like that I have a more formal name, I want to be taken seriously as I am serious- about my career etc.
my goddaughter also has a nickname type name, no longer version, she is early twenties and very cross with her parents for giving her a ‘kids’ name.
But each to their own, I also know people who also use a shortened version and much prefer it!

I think you are right, he will grow up amongst a tribe of Alfies, Freddies, Charlies etc, and even if some of those have a longer official name, it will sound like an adult name by then.

if you had a girl I’d be more cautious. I have a shortened name I go by, but I’m glad I have a more serious longer name in my email address and for introductions to clients/ suppliers, as I think it helps me be taken more seriously. I don’t think men have the same problem.

I have a name with a very common short form. I was know by the short form until I was in my early 20s. Before I got married, I decided my short name didn't work with my new surname (which I was very happy to adopt), so when I moved to a new part of the country, I started using the full name. 25 years later, I am firmly a 'full name' not a 'short name'. I am so glad I had the choice. I'm much happier with my proper/full name. Obviously my parents still call me the short version, as do people I knew way back when, but everyone else knows me by my full name.

I'd firmly vote for changing it so he has an easy choice if he wants it. Makes no difference to the day to day right now, but leaves him options in future.