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Baby names

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

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Original poster

So why do people choose a "proper" name...

93 replies

3andnomore · 15/02/2008 23:52

only to shorten it at Birth?
What is it about calling a Baby Amilai but never using the name, but using Millie, or Benjamin but always calling them Ben...
I mean, why then not just call them Millie or Ben?
Surely if that is the name you want to call your child...
Obviously I do realise that nicknames can evolve through the childs life, but this whole "premeditated" giving it a long (proper) name and nicknaming it at birht something else is sort of , erm....pointless...and kind of really annoying? (I do realise that might jsut be me, lol...that gets annoyed, I mean...but I ratehr encounter a "chavvily" named child but it's actually the name, then a Ben really called Benjamin

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preggersagain · 16/02/2008 13:49

we have a Millie although her birth certificate states Amelia, just as i am an Ollie but my birth certificate states Olivia.

PS when i collected my mbe (yes it's true ) i was VERY glad of the offical name!

In Wales its even weirder- most people use their middle names instead of their forenames!!

Pollyanna · 16/02/2008 13:43

but 3andnomore, lots of people call themselves their full name when they are grown up (me for instance) and weren't known by that name at all when they were little.

Sometimes you don't intend to call your child the nickname version of the name, but others do and it sticks (ds for instance).

I must admit I do have a dilemma about Tom and Joe (am pg with dc5 and trying to think of a name) - I really like these shortenings, but don't like Thomas and Joseph. But I still couldn't christen my child Tom or Joe.

littlelapin · 16/02/2008 13:43

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scorpio1 · 16/02/2008 13:41

I'm having a little girl in 8 weeks and am naming her Millie.

I don't like Amelie, Amelia etc, just Millie. I think that when she is older, many of her peers will also have 'short' names. My boys have short names too - Reilly and Jamie.

FWIW my name is Stephanie and IMO its too formal and long, everyone calls me Steff.

dontwanttogetoutofbed · 16/02/2008 13:38

my dd1 has a short name. i am often asked if it is short for something. it isnt.

Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 13:34

like Megan is forinstance a completely official name now, no one would really think that a Megan is actually a Margaret on her Birth cirtificate, but say a Maggy people would straight away assume the child has a "real" name, if that makes sense...am not explaining myself good, lol...

Btw. I really don't care what people do, lol...it's just, to me it seems weird to give your child one name but never to actually call the child by it...just a personal opinion

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littlelapin · 16/02/2008 13:31

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Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 13:21

lapin, looks like lots of names are already an official version of a official name.

Bossy, btw, am not keen on very many shortened names, neither....still think it's silly to call your child Amelia, which is a absolute beautyful name and whilst will sound great for an adult it is also ever so cute for a little girl...so, why then call the child tehn Millie all the time...etc....

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preggersagain · 16/02/2008 13:13

i have to admit i always ask what the name is short for when custonmers show off their babies- "ooh Archie- Lovely- is it short for Archibald??" at which point most look blank and walk off. Best one was a Harry- i asked if it was officially Henry- they both looked at me as if i was bonkers and said "why would it be, it sounds nothing like it"

Flamesparrow · 16/02/2008 13:06

Psycho!!!

I really don't see Max as a doctor now Unless it is a running round lots doctor in A&E or summat... although they tend to stroll very slowly

Psychomum5 · 16/02/2008 12:58

well, I always wanted Max for my son, which we do have, but his full name is Maxwell, as I decided that Dr Maxwell sounded like a good strong name and he would prefer it to just plain old Max.......

I sound awful don't I, deciding on his career just for a name and how it sounds, but he was born on my brothers' b/day, who is a doctor, so I thought that he may follow him.......(well, hormones dictated so anyway).

of course, had he NOT come on said day, he would have been stuck with plain old Max.....

littlelapin · 16/02/2008 12:58

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Flamesparrow · 16/02/2008 12:56

Not read the whole thread, I know lots of people say it is so they have an adult/official sounding name as an adult.

I'm very much one for calling the child what you plan to call it. If you like the name Sam, call him Sam, not Samuel etc.

A name is a name, they evolve over time, I don't see what difference it makes if we are going to have a generation of Doctor Ellie and Alfie rather than Eleanor and Alfred. The quealifications makes the person, not the name

DarthVader · 16/02/2008 12:54

Agree with bossykate - but overall folk should be able to do what they want about naming their own child and I can't see why other people waste so much time having opinions on the subject, surely there are more worthwhile or interesting concerns?

littlelapin · 16/02/2008 12:49

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bossykate · 16/02/2008 12:46

i am of completely the opposite opinion. it makes my teeth itch when children are "officially" given shortened names, e.g. charlie instead of charles, alfie instead of alfred, and don't even get me started on jack

littlelapin · 16/02/2008 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamaG · 16/02/2008 12:12

DS has a shortened version of a "proper" name, I didn't give him teh proper name as I don't like it, its very differnt to teh s hortened name and I didn't want to have him spend all his life saying "its X actually"

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 16/02/2008 12:03

Both DP and I have names that can be (and are) shortened. Our parents use our full names, but friends use different forms of our names.

My name is Samantha, but my best friend and dp both call me Sammy and I love this term of affection from them. However if anyone else was to use it I would probably vomit

I like having an adaptable name.

AdamRomANTic · 16/02/2008 12:03

"calling people by contractions" - is that naming your DCs Oooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!! and IWannaEpiduuuuuuuuuuraaaaaaaaaaalllll"?

Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 11:56

"calling people by contractions"- what do you mean by that [dim emoticon]

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RedFraggle · 16/02/2008 11:49

I think full name on paper-work and then use shortened name as you wish when they are babies. At least then they have the option when they are older.
I personally hate the current trend for calling people by contractions. But that's only my opinion!

Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 11:38

berolina, that is why my Kids have middlenames...I only have 1 first name and I hated that....so, my poor children are lumbered with 3 first names -first name personal choice and the middlenames are names from loved ones.

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Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 11:37

23 balloons, wasn't picking on Ben/Benjamin, indeed it's one of the names that I think sounds lovely either way, and obviously with your Ben/Benjamin it was the natural developement of name shortening, rather then you calling him Benjamin, but then only ever calling him Ben, iykwim

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Original poster

3andnomore · 16/02/2008 11:35

Oh dear got all fighty there for a moment.

I think it must be more a british/english language thing....it doesn't seem to exist like this in germany, maybe that is why I feel it's odd....I mena, of course in germany people have nicknames, lol, but they are a matter of developement, rather then, oh lets call our child Rebecca so we can call her Becky...!

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