Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on the inevitability of nicknames, esp for longer names?

29 replies

DorotheaPlenticlew · 12/02/2010 15:48

One of our shortlist names is Penelope, which DP and I both like (so nobody tell me it is shit please, that is not what I'm asking ).

DP likes the nn Penny, but I can't seem to warm to it. Not super-keen on any of the other nns I can think of for the name, either. Should I therefore abandon Penelope on grounds that she will inevitably end up called Penny?

I am pretty sure that the answer is yes, and DP definitely thinks that if I can't learn to love Penny we shouldn't take the risk.

However, I do know some people with long names who don't shorten them and never have, and won't hear of it (one of them is called Evangeline, as posted on another current thread, which is what made me think of asking this).

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
DorotheaPlenticlew · 12/02/2010 16:07

See that's the thing, I feel confident we can call her Penelope and put our feet down about what others call her when she's tiny; but she might well grow up and decide she prefers Penny.

And then if I didn't start to like it more, I'd be one of those annoying mums who insists on using the DC's full name even though nobody else ever does and the DC doesn't even like it...

thighsmadeofcheddar, I don't hate it, I just ... dunno, it doesn't do anything for me at all. Penelope has positive associations in the form of people I admire, eg Lively, Wilton, Cruz etc. And I like the fact it's a classical name. Penny, on the other hand, just sounds a bit "generic little-girl name" to me, which is of course just my personal thing and probably because I don't know any Pennys (Pennies?). Or it makes me think of her who wuz married to Rod Stewart.

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 12/02/2010 15:57

I think you have to like the shortened versions of names. You can't control it forever. School etc.

It's a shame you don't like Penny, I think it's very pretty.

mathanxiety · 12/02/2010 15:55

What is so wrong with putting your foot down and calling your child what you want? Why do you have to accept whatever some random strangers decide your child's name is? You are the parents and you get to decide.

I have a DD with a name that could be shortened any number of ways, but I use the long name I chose for her and so does she, and so does everyone else. You really can correct people and insist on using the name you gave your own child.

shumway · 12/02/2010 15:53

Don't hear anyone calling Penelope Cruz 'Penny'.