Abbreviation of names

[HeidiHoNeighbour]

Let me start by saying this conversation was between a twenty something, a thirty something and myself 50s).

Apparently, I’m very wrong.

I think you should put the proper name on the birth certificate so the child can have a choice when they are older.
Lottie might suit your five year old but might not fit Charlotte when they are thirty.

I’m told that’s what they put on the birth certificate is their name and that’s what it’ll always be.
If they don’t like it they can just change names.

It does seem to be an age thing, I'm 46 and would put the proper name on the BC then call them by their nickname, it can be hard when you're pregnant to imagine your baby as an adult who may well not like having a cutesy name.

I agree with you OP. What if the child doesn't like the name, at least they have options, especially with a name like Elizabeth, Catherine or Charlotte. I had a friend at school called Kate. Just Kate. She hated it and wished she'd have had an option to be Katie, Kat, Kathy etc.

I'm almost 30 and have a nickname on my birth certificate. As a child/young teen I hated that people would assume and call me by the proper version but I've now spent the last 10 years wishing I had it and would definitely go by it instead. I'm at the point of considering changing it by deed poll as I hate it that much. Both my children have proper names with multiple nickname options but prefer their actual name so far.

I think it's weird to put nicknames on BC but just looking at the top 10 lists of baby names each year means it's an increasingly unpopular opinion.

I include Harry and Jack in this.

@DappledThings what is jack short for?

OP, I agree with you. Putting lottie instead of charlotte on the bc is weird and unnecessary.

nobody is wrong.
people can name their kids whatever they want, but having Lottie or Millie on birth certificate is better than naming the poor kid Velvet Submarine.

DappledThings what is jack short for?
John, traditionally.

Agree OP. Full names on birth certificate and you never have to call them that unless they're in trouble.

I know a few people who have gone down the shortened name as full name route and think it's a mistake

I've thought about this a lot recently. My child on BC has full name. Eg Christopher. But has been Kit from day one. Everyone knows as Kit, was introduced as Kit and all embroidered blankets / signs in bedroom / door name etc says 'Kit'.
I now have a weird relationship with Christopher and my child has no relationship with that name, when do I teach them to spell it etc? Do I often use and talk about the name 'Christopher' or is this something that can be introduced when they are older?! (Name is not my child's actual name!)

Some, like Jack, Max and Harry, are to all intents and purposes “proper” names these days, not nicknames. Charlie, Billy etc are going the same way. Names evolve.

It's so personal but I always think could Billee Bimbo Bear or Milleee Mai Muppet grow up to be a High Court Judge or professor of Classics at Oxford or a highly respected surgeon or scientist? I'd want to give my children every chance in life to be whatever they wanted to be when they grow up and not be influenced by their name. Maybe people are hoping their kids will grow up to be 'creatives' or media stars but you can't know that's how they'll turn out. What if they're serious academics?

I agree. Can’t stand this Archie/Alfie/Charlie/Freddie trend.

@DappledThings

DappledThings what is jack short for? John, traditionally.

How is Jack short for John? They're exactly the same length and completely different names.

@DappledThings

I agree with Harry and Jack but also
Archie
Alfie
Stevie
Bob
Max
Charlie
Liam
To name just a few!

To irks me almost as much as not actual names:
Hunter
Chase
Jackson
Tallulah

I am aware that I may just be ridiculous middle aged British woman though!

How is Jack short for John?
They're exactly the same length and completely different names.
Short for as in a nickname, not literally shorter. In the same way that Harry is a nickname from Henry, Peggy from Margaret etc.

@HeidiHoNeighbour I suspect we would get on. I'm nodding in agreement!

I'm in my 30s and agree with you. My son has James on his BC but is known as Jimmy. I'd never put Jimmy on his BC. It works for a 4 year old but I'm sure soon he'll prefer Jim or James.

But maybe they don't want to name their daughter Charlotte.

Julie, Julia and Juliane are three different names so why not Charlotte and Lottie?

@DappledThings

We would!

I actually think the opposite. So for example why put Tobias on a birth certificate if you are only ever going to call a child Toby? What's the point?

I am also not fond of a lot of the nickname-y names like Alfie, and Archie. Nor the twee girls nicknames such as Lottie, Millie. However, names, like language, do evolve and they are seen as names in their own right now, even if they might not be to my taste.

I'm also nodding in agreement with you OP about Jackson, Tallulah etc!

“ To irks me almost as much as not actual names:
Hunter
Chase
Jackson
Tallulah”

Not actual names says who? They aren’t names I’d use as a white, British, middle class, middle aged person with conservative tastes, but it’s a bit much to claim they aren’t names. Plenty of people live in a culture where Tallulah, Hunter or Chase are perfectly normal names going back generations. Not everyone has to live in the bubble of traditional British names - they’re what I used for my children but wouldn’t the world be boring if we were all the same.

For example:

nameberry.com/babyname/Tallulah

How is Jack short for John?
They're exactly the same length and completely different names.

It's more of an alternative or pet name like Polly for Margaret .

JFK was Jack to his family and I've seen it used for James, which makes sense because the French is Jacques.

What's wrong with Tallulah?

Liam is the Irish for William. It's not a nick name.