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Original poster

If my child has made it to 2.5

37 replies

morgoan · 01/10/2023 16:46

Without having their name shortened do you think this will continue? Or does make shortening tend to start at school?

He has a name which is very very commonly shortened. Think chris/Christopher, joe/Joseph, Ben/Benjamin type thing.

He's always been called by his "full"/proper name until now. Do we think it'll stay this way?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 01/10/2023 16:48

Hard to say. Does it matter? Kids tend to make names up for each other anyway. Before you know it he'll go by his surname or noodle or something

Ivebeentogeorgia · 01/10/2023 16:48

I think it tends to start at school

Original poster
morgoan · 01/10/2023 16:49

gamerchick · 01/10/2023 16:48

Hard to say. Does it matter? Kids tend to make names up for each other anyway. Before you know it he'll go by his surname or noodle or something

Ooooh no, doesn't matter at all. I chose the name based on the fact he probably will get the shortened version which I still like / don't mind. Just curious more than anything.

A GP once used the shortened version once and it sounded SO strange as I'd never heard him referred to with that name before

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thefemaleJoshLyman · 01/10/2023 16:49

We went the opposite way. Shortened until school and then he decided he wanted to use the long version.

mylittleprince · 01/10/2023 16:50

Nope, it will be at school that it changes. In fact some kids with short names have them made longer! Think Ben but gets called Benji.

Just go with it, you call them by their name and let them choose what their friends call them. Don't be that parent.

MermaidEyes · 01/10/2023 16:50

DDs didn't get shortened until secondary school when she preferred to be called by the shortened version.

Basketofbobbins · 01/10/2023 16:50

Lots of Thomas’s at our school and none of them are Tom.

Californiabound · 01/10/2023 16:51

Probably up to his preference as he gets older. Not a big deal surely.

BananaPyjamaLlama · 01/10/2023 16:51

My dd is 20 and has a name a bit like that. Sometimes people shorten it but she always corrects them as she prefers the long origonal form of her name.

Original poster
morgoan · 01/10/2023 16:51

Just to clarify. I absolutely don't mind what he chooses to go by. I was just curious more than anything. It'll sound very odd though Grin

OP posts:
Glorifried · 01/10/2023 16:52

I have two friends who shorten mine (they didn't ask and I don't mind) but no-one else does.

I did used to correct people when I was much younger though!

MolkosTeenageAngst · 01/10/2023 16:53

My brother has a name like this. In our family (parents, siblings, grandparents et ) he has always been known by his full name (eg: Joseph) and still is but all his friends at school/ uni and his wife etc all call him by a shortening (eg: Joe).

CopperLion · 01/10/2023 16:54

I think it will naturally get shortened, but that if he asks people to stick to the full version they will. Then that will stick.

is it James / Jim? :)

handmademitlove · 01/10/2023 17:11

My DS didn't get his name shortened until secondary school!

PerspiringElizabeth · 01/10/2023 17:12

I know plenty of full-name primary age kids.

LakeTiticaca · 01/10/2023 17:19

My kids tended to be called a variation on their surname, like for example "Robbie" or "Robbo" for a name like Robinson, etc
They never minded, quite liked it AFAIK 😄

toadasoda · 01/10/2023 17:20

There's an Alexander in my kids class and that's how he likes it so no one calls him Alex, which surprised me. My DD has a short name which is often used as a shorter version of a long name. People often ask her which version she prefers, they don't make assumptions. I wonder is it a trend that people are more respectful of chosen names these days?

NotFastButFurious · 01/10/2023 17:21

No! My brother was only ever known by his full name until he went to uni and then his friends started shortening it! He’s still usually his full name to family but his wife and friends use his nn.

ApolloandDaphne · 01/10/2023 17:26

Both of my DDs have names that can be shortened. It didn't happen when they were small but as soon as they went to school their names were shortened. As adults both now go by their preferred shortened name.

Quisto · 01/10/2023 17:34

It depends on your child. My Alexander was always Alexander at school, the other children used to tell any new teachers he was an Alexander too. He's in his 20s now and became an Alex a few years ago.

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 01/10/2023 17:35

In my experience boys names get shortened at school.
I know far more young adults who are Tom, Will or Ben than the longer versions.

NancyJoan · 01/10/2023 17:37

My DS is 14, and I’ve never heard his name shortened. Would be v odd!

DappledThings · 01/10/2023 17:38

Quisto · 01/10/2023 17:34

It depends on your child. My Alexander was always Alexander at school, the other children used to tell any new teachers he was an Alexander too. He's in his 20s now and became an Alex a few years ago.

My nephew is Alexander. 8 now and never been Alex. I wouldn't be surprised to hear he is Alex at some point still in the future but I agree school doesn't definitely mean shortening at all.

JustAMinutePleass · 01/10/2023 17:39

Depends on the name and the child. Family friend is Apurva. He went through primary and secondary without a single nickname. Then at uni he joined the rowing team and became Poo Boy and it stuck. He’s got a really responsible job right now and is still Poo Boy to his closest friends / family.

RedAndWhiteCarnations · 01/10/2023 17:42

In my experience, no it will be shortened at school both by other children and by teachers Wo you having a say.

I and dh/family are the only one still calling dc1 by his full name rather than the shortened version and I absolutely hate it.

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