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Baby names

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

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Original poster

There really is no name immune from being turned into a nickname, is there?

117 replies

chipmonkey · 22/03/2010 17:37

Ds2 told me today that there is a girl in his class called Olivia who gets called Oblivion.

I heard of an Amber being called Amberger.

Is no name safe?

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Habbibu · 23/03/2010 17:16

I knew a boy called Joseph. His nickname was Full Immersion. Really.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 23/03/2010 17:12

I'm a Nikki, gets shortened to 'Nik', 'Pixie' & 'Nix' and lengthened to 'Nicola' on occasion

overmydeadbody · 23/03/2010 16:50

There's always a way to change a name into an affrectionate (or not so affectionate) shortening/lengthening

DS is just called 'boy'. Very easy.

MaMight · 23/03/2010 16:41

I know a Kate who is only ever called Bob.

pranma · 23/03/2010 16:41

My ds Guy got Gay at school
dgs is Finn I cant think of a nn for that.

BranflakeGirl · 23/03/2010 16:40

pixiestix - "Queen" as in May Queen or Maybelle, Maybeline, Mayflower...?

lulabellarama - Have you never been a Katy or a Kat?

I don't like my name shortened LibbyLobster so maybe it is a Canadian thing. My only nickname came from my adorably cute nose

lulabellarama · 23/03/2010 16:30

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JeMeSouviens · 23/03/2010 16:26

The Aussies tend to lengthen a name and not very imaginatively.

A John will become Johnno, Steve - Stevo etc...

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 23/03/2010 16:21

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GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 23/03/2010 16:19

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Terpsichore · 23/03/2010 16:17

I think someone mentioned May as a name that can't be shortened.....seem to recall that in 'Lark Rise to Candleford' (Flora Thompson's wonderful book, not the naffo TV series) one of the narrator's little sisters is called May because her mother hates the local habit of calling every child by a diminutive. Everyone end up calling her 'Mayie' - it can't be shortened, so they lengthen it instead!

There's no way round it, obviously (and I speak as one who's had to endure various nicknames thanks to my fairly old-fashioned, quite unusual name)

thecoffeelady · 23/03/2010 16:17

We named dd Edith so we could shorten it to Edie, she calls herself didi, I either call her dids or little bit

dc2 (due 9/8) if its a boy is also being given a longer version of the short name that dp and I like

loubielou31 · 23/03/2010 16:12

I've always found as an adult, that friends call you by the name you introduce yourself with. This works well if you start a new job or move house and have to meet lots of new people, you can quite easily shed the high school nickname. It's much harder if you're surrounded by people who've known you for years.
I don't know what you do about people giving your children nicknames, I suppose if they like it you just have to bite your tongue.

KSal · 23/03/2010 16:10

Kay.... never had a nickname.... even if you shorten it to one letter its still the same.

me and my bro given monosyllabic names for that very reason, but my brother's name has slightly more scope for messing than mine

Rockbird · 23/03/2010 16:09

Leo would be Lee, wouldn't it?

Come to think of it, I have a friend Kay as well and she's never shortened.

CheerfulYank · 23/03/2010 16:04

I thought I was safe with Sam...but it's Sams, Sam-o, Sambone , Sammer Bammer...and Wreckin' Ball. When he's not being Honey Boy or Sweets, anyway.

SparkleandShine · 23/03/2010 15:52

You can't do much with Claire - apart from chocolatey

SPBInDisguise · 23/03/2010 15:49

a friend of mine's DP wanted to call their son J

muggglewump · 23/03/2010 15:48

Jon, not Jom.

muggglewump · 23/03/2010 15:48

I went to school with a Jom, not much you can do with that, yet he was always known as Noj (Nodge).

My brother is Jonathan and made it to his mid 30's before his name was shortened, and my Dad's name is Arthur, he's been called Bill for most of his life!

scully777 · 23/03/2010 15:47

My son's name is Leo. Not sure you can shorten that

lisbey · 23/03/2010 15:46

Ruth - I know a Ruth who's father's called her Rhubarb since she was a child.

I also know a Paul who has been universally know as Teddy (now Ted) for 40 years, since the teacher put a picture of a bear he'd painted on the wall, with his name underneath, so even though his parents picked quite well on the no nickname front, it seems unavoidable

traceface · 23/03/2010 15:37

lancelottie is your cousin The Boggy, of radio 2 fame? He's called John isn't he?

We called ours Phoebe and Lucy, thinking there would be very few shortenings, but just get Phoebs, The Phoeb, Phoebster, Fifi (I really like that!), Phoebaroo... and Lu, Luce, Lu-pot, Lubi, Lubiloo, Luce-moose...

I'm a Tracey and have only ever been called Tracey or Trace - but I wouldn't name your child Tracey - I've never liked the name!

themothershipcalling · 23/03/2010 15:34

My friends DD is an Olivia which my DD can't quite manage so she calls her Bia.... It has now spread, my Mother called me the other day to tell my she was knitting a cardie for Bia....

poppyknot · 23/03/2010 15:12

My mum called me Marmaduke. She doesn't know why.

Nickname does not really have to start with same letter as real name, although it's a good place to start.