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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why people pick a nickname for their child?

124 replies

HackerFucker22 · 02/03/2016 22:28

As in "baby is called Alexander, nn John" facetious example

I see it all the time here. You give your baby a name and any nn develop organically I'm sure?

If you want to call your child Eliza then name her that. Not Elizabeth nn Eliza.

Sorry to the poster whom I am dissing, I love Eliza and I love Elizabeth but baby only really needs one name.

OP posts:

SuperLoveFuzz · 02/03/2016 22:29

YANBU I don't get it either

megletthesecond · 02/03/2016 22:30

Yanbu. A NN should be able to develop. Don't pick it and work backwards .

ddeemummy · 02/03/2016 22:30

My friends daughter is called Millie she calls her Moo all time it really grates on me. And then heard a MAisie at school been called it. It really baffles me

Believeitornot · 02/03/2016 22:31

Yanbu!!!

For those who pick a nickname, you've just picked their name. That's it.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/03/2016 22:31

I don't agree.

I love using shortenings of longer names. My own name doesnt shorten, - very boringb- so I've made sure all my dc have that option to shorten. I love it.

Lottie2611 · 02/03/2016 22:31

It's nice to have a formal name, but also s more casual name I think.

Sirzy · 02/03/2016 22:31

Often it's because they want the child to have a 'proper' name if they want to use that when older but like the nickname for when they are younger at least.

theycallmemellojello · 02/03/2016 22:33

Well you give a baby a nickname for the same reason that you give anyone a nickname - it's a shorter more informal way to talk to them. What's not to get?

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 02/03/2016 22:34

I do the opposite - deathstare for anyone who shortens DS's name in my earshot. Is that just as odd?

I do think that nicknames should just happen. Just not to DS's name

Heatherbell1978 · 02/03/2016 22:34

This really bothers me too. I know a number on FB who have done this; latest was someone who stated her daughter was called Amelie but will be Millie. Huh? Call her Millie then.
I mean it's one thing naming a kid Benjamin or something and knowing he'll likely be shortened to Ben but when you state what the nickname will be when they're born...I really don't get it either.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/03/2016 22:34

Yanbu

"If I want x nickname what full name can I use"

That seems common across baby name boards and I find it odd.

FunkyPeacock · 02/03/2016 22:34

YABU - it's really not a difficult concept to grasp!

The only time I think it is odd is when there is no intention of the child ever being referred to by the full name under any circumstances in which case I can see your point!

I think it is nice to have options with your name and using a name with a number of different shortenings gives plenty of options to find a nn that suits the DC

PegsPigs · 02/03/2016 22:37

My daughter chose her own NN. Imagine she's called Katherine. One day as she was learning to talk she pointed to herself and said 'Katie' I checked with her CM if she'd been calling her that but she said she'd called her Katherine because that's what I called her. And I believe her. So now she's called Katie although is very happy to answer to Katherine and calls herself that too. Her sister came along when she was 2.5 and within a month she'd NN'd her (say) Penny from Penelope. So now her sister has a NN already!

arethereanyleftatall · 02/03/2016 22:38

I disagree.

I chose a nickname (more informal and cute) for my dd1 as a baby. She's got the proper full version on her birth cert as a formal option in case she becomes prime minister.

Lottie2611 · 02/03/2016 22:39

I named my son because I liked the name. My gran said he would be nicknamed Ike for short. I was 18 and horrified lol. So I 'gave' him the nickname of zac instead. He gets called zaccy doo or zac by his dad .... But mostly goes by zig or Ziggy! And that wasn't planned. As long as it's not Ike
It's kind of hard to plan a nickname before the child Id born i think- though it's a good idea

sonlypuppyfat · 02/03/2016 22:39

Not keen on nicknames. I have a name that is shortened and then some twit will add ie to it making it the same length as the name they shortened. Madness

outputgap · 02/03/2016 22:39

Ooh, but with Elizabeth there are so many potential shortenings, and you will obviously bear that in mind when you choose a name like that.

Do you try and preempt the nn that you don't like with one you do, and hope that sticks, or do you follow them around everywhere with an outstanding deathstare? It's tricky.

ollieplimsoles · 02/03/2016 22:43

We have a Penelope nn Penny. We did really like the name Penelope though, Penny just came about naturally

dynevoran · 02/03/2016 22:44

Lottie I have a ziggy too. We didn't decide this nickname when he was born but chose Ezekiel as we liked Zeke Ziggy Eze Zed and figured lots of scope to have fun with nicknames. It's generally Ziggy or Zigs.

But I didn't want to choose one and I like the name Ezekiel too and wanted him to have a more formal name for work etc when he is older....if he wants!

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 02/03/2016 22:45

To me nn are for family use - and I don't mean short versions of a long name - proper nick names

DD is called Fanny due to her flappy fancying about nature - always loses things -

DD 2 is call Crabby - rhymes with her name - goes with her nature

But their friends do not do this!!

I have a family nn - and nobody outside family has ever called me this despite hearing it!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 02/03/2016 22:45

Picture this senario Milk. Your DS says Mum, I don't want to be known as Tom anymore. I want to be Tom, (Just using that name for an example, obviously).
What are going to say to him because, it's his name. He can use any nn he wants.
It states in either the ECHR or c
Persons charter, can't remember which one. Everyone is entitled to a name and a preferred name.

Lottie2611 · 02/03/2016 22:46

Ezekiel is a great name. love it

LeanneBattersby · 02/03/2016 22:46

We did it because we're Catholic, so it was important to us to have a saint's name, but we preferred the shortened version.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/03/2016 22:51

milk my DSis has done what you're doing with my nephews. I hate it. Absolutely hate it. My nephews call themselves Alex and Ben. All their friends call them Alex and Ben. Their girlfriends call them Alex and Ben. But because my sister is my sister I have to call them Alexander and Benedict.

Except now Ive started to rebel. Pah! DSis.

YouMakeMyDreams · 02/03/2016 22:53

Only one of my dc has a name that has various nicknames the other two are both 4 letters. They all have nicknames though that have appeared over time. Dd used to get annoyed at me when she was little using hers so I stopped then when she was older and needed a username for something she picked it up and I use it a lot. I have no idea what people must think in tesco when I call out Betty and a tall willowy teenager strolls up to me (she's Beth... Just Beth)

I've never understood the I like this nickname what name will I pick. It's always seemed a bit back to front to me. What if there are no formal names you actually like that become that nickname? Do you use it anyway and never refer to it?

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