ITS OK TO CALL YOUR CHILD THE "SHORT" VERSION OF A NAME - SO BOLLOCKS TO ALL YOU FARKING SNOBS WHO TURN YOUR NOSES UP!

If you post your baby names online then ask for an opinion I guess you will get one!

My own view is that it's up to the parents (of course) and they can call their kids what they like.

But to me personally, short names as proper names are just awful. I'm sorry but that is my own personal view. I like traditions when it comes to names and kids used to be given proper names on their birth certs and pet names to be used by family.

Don't get me started on 'Jack'!

I suspect this is one of many things that there are 'warring factions' about on here as in RL when it comes to parenthood.

my sis's 3 DDs are all called by diminuitive names, not the long version. Admittedly at least one of them has become a name in its own right; and another one is less common in its full version than its shortened version; but the third one is always likely to come under the assumption that it is short for the long version, and she might have people at school etc. trying to call her by the long version when they are being formal with her for whatever reason. IN itself not a problem really but confusing for the child.

bus stop sounds like someone was following the Beckhams' route of name-picking

I think it depends on the name in a way. I want to call my baby Roxie as I'm not that keen on Roxanne but it has crossed my mind that Roxie isn't exactly conservative or versatile. Names like Archie, Alfie, and even Danny and Jamie just seem so much more acceptable as they are though. I know my point probably sounds ridiculous to some people but when I think about my daughter in the working world depending on the occupation she chooses I think Roxanne Miles sounds a lot more professional than Roxie Miles yet when it comes to non professional instances Roxie is more fun and quirky nd the name I see her with. I think the names Harry and Charlie for example have become names in there own right though. A lot of names originate from others that you may not even realise, I think people should name their baby whatever they like (within reason obviously I read an article about a child being named 'bus stop' and that is just cruel.)

It's even more simple than that, tbh, choose the name you (and DP) like.

stuff ignore everyone else.

Generally speaking.

Its simple really
Choose a name where you like the full name and its diminuatives then everyone can be happy.

DH and I couldn't agree on the longer version of DS's name I wanted Benjamin he wanted Benedict, we decided he would be know as Ben anyway and so called him just that. Suits him too, he is neither a Benedict or a Benjamin - he is Ben

Long names on birth certs and short names for everyday use is the way I work.

DD1 - Jessica - we call her Jessi at home, but aske her what her name is and she is Jessica

DD2 - Rebecca - Becca at home, and she will say her name is Becca too.

DS - Daniel - we tend to stick to Daniel, but on occasion has been Danny.

Daughter has a short name because long version is gross! Why call them it if it's the short one you like?
Esp hate it when that statement is followed by "long one is for special occasions/when they're older etc... they are who they are, and it is what it is. Is it really better to have a "spare name" just in case they become a high court judge?
Son is called Jesse - we're not country and western fans, nor are we American, we just loved it - and that's how you know it's the one. It didn't matter what people said/say, we still absolutely love it.
Incidentally, my MIL did actually say "How could you call him that" AFTER the birth announcement! You're never safe from that particular brand of affection!

LOL, rebel, As is DP.
This was of course not the case when DS1 was named though.

Megs brother is a Kit.......

Can I join, can I join
Kit, Ned and Ben
(Maybe I think boys can only spell cvc words)

My niece is 14 shes a Margaret... we call her Meg. Heaven forbid you should call her Megan. "My name is Margaret Rose" is her reply!!

LadyThompson, I don't care what individuals call their children. My interest is on a grander scale

I am interested in names and their ranking (how rankings differ in different areas) what they mean, what's considered poncey, chavvy, how long it will take a name such as Margaret to come back into fashion.

I find it all fascinating, but, I have several pregnant friends and I really couldn't care less what they call their children.

My son is called Herbie, definitely not Herbert, as a lot of older people think! I do call him Herbert as a joke when he's being mischievous but he is certainly Herbie.
If we have another boy we might call him Albie as in Albert so we'll probably get asked about that all the time too!

Haha - Robbie Williams is from my area, and folk often assume he's named after him. He's not, he's named after his dad, but with a different short-form. (DH is Bob).

Couldn't call him Bobby now could I, with his dad being a...bobby (professionally speaking)?

Unknown, One of my best mates has been a Robbie Williams Superfan for way too long, totally put me off!

my ds3 has the most WONDERFUL NAME EVER!! and i mean that!

the long version of his name is DIRE and a bit of a joke

I have to admit that I do prefer the 'proper' name with a shortening, and preferably more than one. Both my daughters have got their full names to choose from and at least 3 pet names that can be derived from them, so they will find a name that suits them. For example, DD2 is KAtherine - sometimes she gets called Katherine, sometimes Katie, Kay or Kitty - different people have different nicknames for her, but I hope she will eventually choose the name she likes for herself. That's why I prefer formal names, because if you go for the shortened version, there's often very little alternatives, the child is lumbered with that name, like it or not. At least with a formal name and a shortened name, they have a choice of 2 names. But then, I am biased because I am lumbered with a bloody awful name that my mother chose, but I wouldn't dare change through deed poll, as it would offend my mother. That said, I am lucky that it is a long name that I have been able to shorten it to something reasonably decent ... so maybe I have a vested interest. But it definitely isn't a class thing for me.

VS - nowt wrong with Robbie , not so sure about Bobby, lol.

And as a Vikki, I've never had a problem with it on my CV. Having said that I've worked for the same organisation for 24 years so...

DS1 is called his full name by me, DH and FIL, we never shorten it, although others do.

DS2 is called by a shortened name, used from birth, although certain teachers insisted on using his full name or a different short-form (often the same teachers who insisted on shortening DS1's name )

DS3 is called both, depending on what mood I'm in.

I was christened shortened version of a name, with a "naff" spelling to boot, but most people assume that it's short for the full version. It isn't.

i have a cohan but we have ended up calling him co...or even worse coco!!!!

Hatrick, I love your childrens names

mamag I agree with you - but that might be the shared pg hormones and the issue of MIL. - e.g. I love the name Thomas and love the name Tom. If this baby is a boy I would prob call Tom - but would have to tell MIL he's just called Tom and that's the name we expect everybody to use - as otherwise she would just call him Tommy, as would SIL. - DS has a name with one syllabul as we wanted to choose what our son would be called by everybody and not let everybody else choose to shorten his name as they chose. let's pretend his name is max - and both SIL and MIL have called him Maxy and have had to be told, no it's just Max. His second name is William as we love the name and my step-Dad was William but sadly died before DS was born so we wanted to name him after SD. However, I could never have chosen William as a first name, as there are so many shortened versions people would choose and then our baby would end up being called a name we didn't choose. It never ceases to amaze me how people think it's an endearment when they add "y" to a name and it's ok to do so. - DS is 18mo. I saw somebody I know vaguely whom I hadn't seen for years last week and she was cooing over DS and asked what his name was and straight away she said "hiya maxy" - why why why do people do it?!!

I used to love this topic. It was my ultimate relaxation. Now, I think I have overdosed. I no longer CARE what other mums call their infants. I don't MIND whether people call them Snarglegarglemeepersneep, or Zg, Fruition-Bumholey, FB for short. I have no view. Names don't matter overly, whatever anyone says. It's all fine. They're all fine, and it doesn't matter if your cat was called it, or a serial killer, or it's chavvy or poncy or reminds someone of a disease. IT'S ALL FINE!

I dislike the names Robert, Rob and Robbie Sorry but I do.
My Dad's name was Robert, but everyone called him Bobby.
Because of this DS1 is called Bobby.
However DS2 is Alexander not Alex.
It depends if you like the full name or not.