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Baby names

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

Original poster

Classic boy names with sweet nicknames?

107 replies

Nellynoo182 · 04/08/2023 07:47

Looking for a boy name for baby no2 to go with my DS1 Harry! We like classic and timeless names but I would really like something we can shorten/ derive an affectionate nickname from.

I need to go armed as my DH is a teacher and is a nightmare choosing names with as he associates them with every naughty child he’s ever met! 🤣

So far I’ve got:

James - Jimmy/ JJ (he likes this one but I’m not so keen)
Frederick - Freddie (I like Freddie but not Frederick)
Edward or Theo - Ted/ Teddy

Any suggestions? Thank you!

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PresentPrincess1 · 28/08/2023 23:33

Josiah - Joe or Si

SusieT78 · 08/08/2023 17:10

My son is a Matthew, his mates and teachers etc call him Matty but I call him Hewi (from the end of his name!)

Mumto6ac · 08/08/2023 16:20

Why don’t you just call him Freddie if you like the name? Can be shortened to Fred.
Albert - Bert/ Albie
Alfred - Alf/ Alfie
Charles - Charlie/ Chas

AuntMarch · 07/08/2023 19:38

Chattermax · 07/08/2023 18:45

On a day out yesterday (somewhere very middle class) I heard someone talking to their toddler Richard / Richie and I swooned a bit - classic, but I bet your DH hasn't taught any for a long time.

I thought every Richard was my age or older, there were almost as many of them as there were Laura's!

I love how names reappear though

CurlewKate · 07/08/2023 18:52

Just to warn you-one of the reasons my ds is called Patrick is the list of lovely shortenings I had- but from the age of about 5 he refused to answer to any of them. He is still Patrick all the time except at football, where he is Pat. Which I hate!

Chattermax · 07/08/2023 18:45

On a day out yesterday (somewhere very middle class) I heard someone talking to their toddler Richard / Richie and I swooned a bit - classic, but I bet your DH hasn't taught any for a long time.

Amimaimia · 07/08/2023 13:16

We have a Jonah, and get so many compliments on it for being classic but a bit unusual. Could still use J or JJ as a nickname if you like that! (Or Jo?)

AuntMarch · 06/08/2023 22:39

Also know a couple of Oscars that are Ozzy and a Benjamin that is Jam.

I chose one of the names elsewhere in the thread because I liked that it could be shortened, or not. I've never called him the shortened version but my brother does, and I expect he will become a version of it at school too. My brother himself has a "longer name" but was always one shortened version at home, and became another at school. My son calls him the full version of his name in return (which has only ever been used previously if he was in trouble)! My son was calling him that at 3 years, don't even know how he knew it.

Original poster
Nellynoo182 · 06/08/2023 22:19

Wow so many I hadn’t thought of! Thank you everyone got a few we both love now. A good list for people who do like names that can be shortened! Xxx

OP posts:
fullbloom87 · 06/08/2023 22:14

Some of these names sound like pet names or girls name. Why would you make your son Casper then shorten it to caz? Caz is short for Caroline I thought.

Treesinmygarden · 06/08/2023 21:21

Bucksmamma · 06/08/2023 19:15

I have a Freddie (I don’t like Frederick either but it’s either Freddie or Fred in our household) and a Joshua Josh or JJ.

We also considered

Samuel Sam Sammy
Finley Finn
Luke Lucas Luca
Henry Harry

He loved Connor which I vetoed as didn’t have an endearment and I loved Gabriel Gabe but he said it was ‘too biblical’ 🙄

Connor could be Con or Norrie?

You could use Freddie and shorten it to Fred? A small Fred would be cool!

Jem123456789 · 06/08/2023 21:19

My son is Louie. Everyone calls him Lou. It’s an old name but timeless. I still love it and more importantly so does he!

Walker1178 · 06/08/2023 21:09

I’ve got a James, he’s affectionately called Jamesey most of the time though, his Dad uses Jimbo.

I like Rafferty or Raffy/Rafe/Raf for short

Herebemonsters · 06/08/2023 21:04

We have a Daniel who gets now Dan or Danny. He’s Daniel james so also DJ.
love all these names!

Loopylooo22 · 06/08/2023 20:08

I did the complete opposite with my kids as I really didn’t want big long names to just be called the shorter version. I have a Ben (but we would call him Ben-jammin) and a Max (who we will call Max-a-million or Maxyboy).

I have a nephew called Matthew and I started calling him Chewy (coming from a jokey Matt-chew).
A nephew called Alfie (I called him wee wotsit.. from slightly ginger hair as a baby ‘whats it all about, Alfie’).

Point being is that you don’t need to select a long name just to use the shortened version, you can call baby anything you like and give him your own spin on a nickname 😊

BreatheAndFocus · 06/08/2023 19:32

Charles - Charlie
Joseph - Joe
Francis - Frank
Robert - Bertie
Bartholemew - Tolly
Ronald - Ronnie
Stanley - Stan
Nathan - Nate
Philip - Pip
William - Billy
Gerald - Ged or Gerry

magratvonlipwig · 06/08/2023 19:25

Robert, rob, robbie, robin
David, dave, davey
Joshua, josh
Christopher, chris, Kit
Alexander, lex, Alex

RoxyRoo2011 · 06/08/2023 19:24

I have a Theodore because I wanted Teddy. Husband preferred Theo and that’s what he is.
I also liked Sebastian (Seb/Sebby) and Nathaniel (Nate).

Tootiredtothinkofacatchyusername · 06/08/2023 19:19

I've not read all the posts so sorry if this has been suggested already but my nephew is Matthew/Matty and we love it :-)

Bucksmamma · 06/08/2023 19:15

I have a Freddie (I don’t like Frederick either but it’s either Freddie or Fred in our household) and a Joshua Josh or JJ.

We also considered

Samuel Sam Sammy
Finley Finn
Luke Lucas Luca
Henry Harry

He loved Connor which I vetoed as didn’t have an endearment and I loved Gabriel Gabe but he said it was ‘too biblical’ 🙄

Changedname81 · 06/08/2023 19:11

Abraham - Bram

AuntMarch · 06/08/2023 19:04

Names I've know through work.. totally understand your husbands dilemma. I KNEW I couldn't have a Joshua 😂 but that was a long time ago, doesn't seem to be so many now.

Nathaniel - Nate or Nat
Edward - Eddie
Thomas - Tommy (also know one who was Tombo to aunts and uncles etc when little)
Jacob - Jakey
Vincent - Vinnie
Alfred - Fred/Freddie
Henderson - Sonny
Jackson - Jax
Archibald - Archie
Reginald - Reggie

Also knew a lot of Josh, Jake, Tommy, Alfie, Archie that will be probably about 13/14 now that didn't have the longer name given.

Mummy08m · 06/08/2023 19:03

Tabitha2721 · 06/08/2023 17:37

@Mummy08m i have a Percival and he’s Percy for short 🙂

Ah it's a lovely name! I love all the names of the knights of the round table.

MrsCKT · 06/08/2023 19:02

*Everyone

MrsCKT · 06/08/2023 19:02

ever is different but I love the idea of having a affectionate nickname only those close to you call you! We have a little boy and our list was:
Theodore /Teddy
Nathanial/ Nate
Axel/ Ax
Austin/ Ozzy
Jackson/Jax

we ended up with Austin and he goes by Ozzy or AT (which are his initials)

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