Why are nicknames so expected now?

I teach secondary. At that point parents have zero control over what they want to be called! That said, I never shorten a student’s name unless they specifically tell me it’s what they prefer.

I’ve noticed the opposite. I go to baby groups with Alexander, Peter, Harriet, Thomas, Benedict, Isabella, Joseph, Josephine, Elizabeth, Edward, Annabelle, Georgina, William, Matthew etc. But I went to school with, and my parents friends are Tom, Ben, Jackie, Danny, Sue, Liz, Andy, Pat, Dave, Mike, Deb, Will, Matt, Becky, Chris, Tim, Vicky, Steve, Steph, Gill and so on. I’m not sure what happens at school age, because these kids are still tiny. I don’t think asking if someone is planning on a diminutive for Charlotte is strange, because there’s two very widely used ones. I know someone who hated Charlie so used Lottie from the start to try to stop it. Another friend of mine switched to Lottie at uni because she’d always wanted to be Lottie and took the new start to do it.

I’ve got a long name & have used most of the short versions at various times (except for the cutesy ones), before going back to the whole thing as an adult. It’s fun to have the choices.

I never assume but would ask you if she always goes by Charlotte. I teach.

I think the OP is talking about how it seems as though people are trying to find a nickname to use for every single name. Some names (Jacqueline, Alexander, Theodore, Elizabeth, etc.) have always had common nicknames, but a lot of names have always just been the full name until recently.

I was having this conversation the other day with a friend who likes Teddy for a boy. Very cute for a baby, not so much as a teen and not at all for an adult. The same with Millie, Alfie, Alvie, Evie type names. Give a full name that gives them the option to shorten if they want.

I agree it’s weird OP. If you want your child to be called Millie, then just put Millie on their birth certificate. IMO nicknames are supposed to evolve naturally, I find it odd when they are forced.

Lots of people of my parents era went by shorter versions, Dave, Chris, Mick etc. lots of my grandparents age went by their middle name. I just think now people decide on it earlier.

No this has always been a thing with long names. What’s more frequent these days is just calling kids the nickname as their full name, rather than the longer version. Eg Nicky, Teddy, Alex, Lottie, Charlie as the whole first name.

I think it’s partly that horrible concept ‘cute’ which as far as I can see just translates to twee after the age of about 5.

I think it's just a current trend. These things come and go. I think in my Grandparents' era absolutely everyone went by a nickname or their middle name (often because their actual first name was the same as their Dad). Then it died out a bit and now it's back.

It can be a bit annoying if you want to use the full version of a name that is easy to shorten though because you will be fighting a losing battle.

I think it's always been a thing and if you have a longer name that might have different versions, people will ask

I think it’s just personal preference. There are still plenty of children who go by there full names. My nearly 3 year old son has a name that is often shortened but he’s only ever called his first name. People have asked me before if they can call him the shortened version and I’ve said no because nobody calls him that and he won’t answer to it. People usually just accept that answer and use his full name. Though I have had one person who ran a toddler group and kept calling my son the shortened version. My son just completely ignored him every time because he’s never been called that and has no idea that it’s supposed to be his name

I think it’s mainly the people who didn’t have a nickname/shortening as children and remember desperately wanting one. I do agree that it’s become slightly excessive. I’ve seen people suggest Annie and Millie as shortenings for Andrea and Camille. These names aren’t even cumbersome to say or particularly long. Why would they automatically need to be shortened?