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

I know a child who is just Ben, short for nothing. He doesn't even have a middle name, and somehow I find it quite sad that he has so little name ikywim. I do like Ben, though.

My parents did as described in the OP. I am universally known by Short Name but use Proper Name professionally, e.g. for publications, and am quite glad to have it.

Ds has a proper name we use his propername but do call him "H" at times .. I have a short name and always wanted to be able to have a nickname.. so wanted DS to be able to choose if he wants to be called by his prorper name or a shortened version which he may grow out of as an adult... my cousin is named Candice so as a kid it was "Candy" which is an adult limits people taking you serious.. are there any doctors named Candy? Lawyers? though maybe a fastfood clerk or a hooker.. no offence to hookers or fast food workers.

its all about choice.. but it becomes thier choice in the end. My dad is named Peter, his dad was too, my dad refused to answer to anything but his proper name, as he loathed "Pete" or "Petey"

Also, some people call their dc a name to honour a relative etc, but prefer the shortened version. I think that that is a nice thing to do.

My ds has a proper name which I shorten sometimes. It is a nickname. Still use his full name alot too though. I like the flexibility...

What I want to know is why people call your child a nickname that is NOT EVEN a shortened version of their name.

For example, ds1 is called by some 'Gerry' My mother started it and it spread.

Like the plague or something.

His name is not Gerald. His name doesn't even have a 'G' in it. Or an 'e'. or an 'l'. or a 'd'. No 'y' either and only 1 r. doesn't rhyme with gerry or gerald. ends in a 'th'.....

Tell me what THAT'S about, go on.....!!!!!!!!!!!!

I prefer to have a longer name with diminutives, I have a love affair with names and like the flexibility of longer names, often providing, a large number of options. Mind you, not all long names, provide a large number of options, but some are fantastic, such as Elizabeth or Margaret, both have a huge number of pet forms.
I agree with little lapin that it is nice to have a 'little' name for small children and to allow them a more grown-up or 'cool' option when they are bigger. My little boy is Alfred and I'm sure he will become 'Al' when he is in secondary - we call him little Alf and Alfie.
I am glad I don't have an abbreviated name, because I know I would find it boring - but that's me. Some short forms of names stand better than others e.g. I would find it funny to meet someone called 'Ed' and then discover that it wasn't short for something. On the other hand, I think Archie stands alone quite well, and Archibald might be a bit too trendy for a lot of people (including me).

Is being called old fashioned an insult?

i always think i am getting told off if someone uses my full name

i actually find it weird that [people dont call me zippi i have got so used to it even my normal shortened name seems a bit alien

Sorry I wasn't around at 2.00 am when it all kicked off, but I meant distinguished in they can tell them apart. I just think that people should think long term before choosing a name, they're all cute when they're babies, but a grown up with a cutesy name might not be taken seriously and don't you want your children to have a choice? You see a name written down and most of the time you have a personality in mind to match it. It can be a good or bad thing, but it's just what happens. I think naming your child is a serious responsiblity and fashion shouldn't really come into it too much.

i have a good friend who is a rather well respected local business woman- she dreads going to functions and being introduced as 'Charlie' it makes her feel like 4yo, and constantly says she would like a proper name to fall back on- an often uses Charlotte

you really called her maisy rae?
wow.

I can't understand why people get so bothered about this tbh. I don't care what other people call their children, but I personally prefer to register my children the full/traditional name. So I have a Charles, and an Alexandra - neither are necessarily called that at the moment, but may be in the future.

I really like Kitty for a girl but we would definitely have her official name has Katharine then she can choose when she is older.

I have a Benjamin and fully intended for him to be called Benjamin NOT BEN. However when he started school his teacher insisted on changing it to Ben and of course when he discovered how much easier it was to write Ben than Benjamin he started to use Ben himself. People who knew him before he started school still refer to him as Benjamin. Now his teacher a few years later has decided to use Benjamin again but unfortunately it is too late as he is now Ben. I don't think I called him Ben once ever for the first 4 years - so stop picking on Benjamins .

What a wanky OP. Why do you care?

I wanted my dd to be able to have a choice when she's older. I like her full name (Matilda) and do use it sometimes, but at the moment, she is mainly Tilly. Perhaps she'll feel its a but "childish" when she's older and will want to use her full name. Or perhaps, if Matilda is going to become such a popular name as everyone suggests, if there are more than one in a class, she can be a Tilly, or Mattie, or Tildy or other variations. Not something you can do with Jack....

It is so that when the child is naughty they can use the full proper name to call that child and said child will know instantly they are "in trouble"

I agree that it's nice for them to have the choice when they are older. My sister is called Amelia, we called her Millie when she was little. Now she is 13 she prefers Amelia for school but Mili for close friends and family. similarly my 18 mth old ds is called Solomon. We call him Solly but when he is older he can have the option of Solomon, Solly or Sol, I shall let him decide.

my son is a benjamin but everyone else has shortened it to ben(hes just turned 4).funny thing though that his best friend calls him benjamin to

NENuff - Not agitated, just a bit sickened really - why is that you think it's OK to be snotty about what strangers do with their DC's name? It's only the 1st,most important & fairly imutable gift that you give your darling. And you don't like it? Oh, well then, now you mention it, should I not call her Buble or Vespa? And if her sainted Italian grandmother was called Vespa would that make it alright with you? It matters to you how?
If it's Jai or Jye or WTF?

And I don't give a shiny one how your children are educated; that wasn't the point, not was the relative 'thickness' of Mums.

You've not responded to my previous points, but I do find your po facedness (guessing not a real phrase)fairly revolting.

Not quite sure what you are agitated about Bendi.
FWIW my children are state educated.
Not sure that not knowing how you are going to spell your child's name within an hour or so of delivery equates with being "thick" either!
Matter of choice surely?

Your 'name is neverenough & you like old fashioned names'; just what does that mean?

Who should sink so low as whom?

You say uneducated, I say state educated -whats your point? The Mums I'm talking about are the common garden variety - not neccesarily as thick as you imply, but I'm loving your indignation - puh-lease continue!

What happened to an opinion being just that is when it appears to stamp on other people - "call me old fashioned" roughly equates, in my neck of the woods to "don't think me rude" or "no offense, but". No?

Oh goodness bendi......we should all sink so low!
So, because you work with uneducated people, I should let my standards go? Puh-lease!
What happened to an opinion being acceptable as just that-my opinion?
My name is neverenough and I like old-fashioned names!