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Baby names

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Original poster

Can you give a baby an unshortenable 3-syllable name?

41 replies

mrsrawlinson · 24/07/2009 16:31

I really love Juliet but I'm not sure it'll work while the baby's little. Same goes for Beatrice. The alternative is Anna, which I also love but am having doubts over whether it isn't a bit dull.

All two-pence-worths welcome!

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qumquat · 27/07/2009 19:04

I know plenty of people with three syllable names which aren't shortened, it's really down to the preference of the name-owner. Obviously if your future DC wants to shorten their name then it's their call, but there's no reason to expect other people to shorten it against their wishes, that's just rude imho!

Off the top of my head I know an Erica, Julia, Jennifer, Susannah, Maria, Melanie, Melody, Lydia, Myria, Andrea,
Isabel, Sophia, Abigail, Marina, Alison, Annalie, Bethany. All known by their full names.

weegiemum · 27/07/2009 11:09

My dd1 is called Katherine and we tend to pronounce it Kath-er-ine, very much 3 syllables.

All family use this , but recently friends have started calling her Kathy, at her request. I quite like it, but it is taking some getting used to!

She's 9, btw, so we have had 9 years of what we wanted!

nomorecake · 27/07/2009 10:58

and i havent heard people shorten Sabrina, erica, freya, justine, q

nomorecake · 27/07/2009 10:52

i think there are some names that you dont hear shortened i.e Nina (i know its only 2 syllables though)

piscesmoon · 27/07/2009 08:54

The problem is Vronsky that often the DC likes the short form!
How old is your DD MrsHappy? You can keep control when they are small but once they are out without you can't stop it-especially if the DC likes the short form or nickname.
I call all 3 of my DSs by their proper name, but I am in the minority.

Vronsky · 26/07/2009 20:12

This reply has been deleted

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Hulababy · 26/07/2009 20:10

There is a Beatrix in DD's school and so far it isn't shortened.

Juliet could be hortened but equally I think if you just remind people then it can stay as a full name easily. Mind you, doesn't mean your DD herself might not want to shorten it later.

I think the name Anna is lovely.

BTW - Miranda could be shortened to Mirri too

I gave DD a name I never thought could be shortened (Mollie) but it often is!

MrsHappy · 26/07/2009 19:52

My DD has a 4 syllable name and noone shortens it. A hapless health visitor once tried but I growled at her...

LynetteScavo · 25/07/2009 19:16

Well, I love Anna - it's DD's middle name, and somtimes it was her first name.

My sister is Juliet - no one ever wanted to shorten it, and it's always suited her. Every Beatrice I know is shortened to Bea.

GrendelsMum · 25/07/2009 19:05

One of my friends is called Anna. We call her 'Noush', short for 'Anoushka'

cece · 25/07/2009 12:58

I know a Caroline who everyone calls Caz! LOL

Northernlurker · 24/07/2009 20:13

Faintly - excellent Shakespearean taste you have

FaintlyMacabre · 24/07/2009 20:06

NorthernLurker- your girls' names were my top 3 girls shortlist. We had an Edward instead though.

RachieB · 24/07/2009 20:02

Anna IS a bit bland IMO and will still get shortened to An / Ann !
or teased Anna Spanner etc ! lol

No name is without rhyming / shortening though,so go with what you like and don't shorten it yourself

blowbroth · 24/07/2009 20:01

Caroline?

elvislives · 24/07/2009 19:57

Both my DDs have a 3 syllable name. When DD1 was born people told me it would be shortened but nobody shortened it until she was 15, when she then adopted the new name.

Now everyone she knew from primary and up to Y11 call her by her proper name, and everyone she's met from 6th form and later call her the short name. It's quite funny when both groups are together.

MamaVoo · 24/07/2009 19:47

I think Anna is the one least likely to end up being shortened by friends. Personally I'd be quite upset if a beautiful name like Juliette got shortened to Julie or, worse, Jules.

RustyBear · 24/07/2009 18:42

I thought DD's name, Amber, couldn't be shortened - I was wrong. She is currently generally known to her friends as Bam, which was arrived at via Bambi...

TheProfiteroleThief · 24/07/2009 18:33

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Northernlurker · 24/07/2009 18:30

Well i have a Beatrice - it's a lovely name and you can't have it so naaaaaaaaaarrrrrh!

Actually she is nearly always 'Bea'

If you want one that can't be shortened you can have dd1's name - Miranda

I'll chuck dd2's in for good measure but this can (and is ) shortened - Rosalind known as Rossy

cece · 24/07/2009 18:20

LOL. DS2 actually got a single syllable name which is now lengthened

DS1 has a 3 syllable name that we shorten

DD has a 2 syllable name that tends not to be changed (well not much)

McMummy · 24/07/2009 17:06

Alia

Original poster
mrsrawlinson · 24/07/2009 17:02

Probably best, Cece!

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 24/07/2009 17:00

You may as well just pick a name you like. Once they have it you have no control, except for what you call them. I am the only person to call my eldest by his full name-friends shorten it 2 different ways. The middle one has a name that you can't shorten so his friends use his surname! He likes it so there is nothing you can do. DS3 is called a variety of short forms, but always the full name by family (except brothers). I also know someone who called their DS Ian to avoid it and he was known as E at school. You can't win so don't even try!

Original poster
mrsrawlinson · 24/07/2009 17:00

Can't win really, can we?!

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