To want people to write ds1 full name (not just the shortened version)?

[runnyhabbit]

Some advice needed please. This might seem really petty, but its about ds1 name. He's called Joshua. Me and dh chose it because a:we really love it, and b:because it can be shortened and still sound like a proper name iyswim. But (and I just know this is going to sound petty) we hate it when people just write Josh on cards. I think its so lazy that they can't be bothered to write the "ua" at the end. Granted, when he was born, some people did ask us will he be a Joshua or Josh, and we did say he'll be known as Joshua, and thats what we'll call him, but this being the real world, chances are he'll get called Josh (including us)
Its got to me a bit more since Williams birth (9 days ago), so not sure if I'm being unreasonable. Any advice appreciated.

I won't allow anyone to shorten my dd's name and my name is almost im possible to shorten even though it's two syllables .

I think it's a bit cheeky if people write the shortened name but if that's what he's know as it'll be very hard to stop them, human nature being what it is.

How do you stop them chocolategirl?

My name is also two syllables, but those that don't lengthen it, shorten it to one.

I get a bit irritated with my ds name too - he is Christopher and everybody calls him Chris, I knew this would happen though, but still don't like it, it does bug me when he's called it by his teachers. However, its his birthday tomorrow, we have bought him a football shirt, and they couldn't get 11 letters on the back, so in the end we had Chris put on it.

My name is always shortened too, I much prefer my full name.

Ha, my eldest is Christopher too.

I'm afraid I think you are being unreasonable. I don't think it is laziness that makes people shorten names, just being "familiar". Ds1's name gets shortened all the time, mainly because we mostly use the shortened version. Personally I don't think it matters at all.

My ma gave me and my sibs names that couldn't be shortened, so we get them lengthen instead.

DD has long name, we call her by the shorten name - but as she gets older we seem to be moving towards her 'proper' name.

When they are older, their friends will shorten their names however they like, but I agree with you that I would find it a bit annoying if people did it to small children, uninvited. My children all have names that can be shortened but none of them make names in their own right. I think that is why people feel they can shorten Joshua to Josh, because Josh is a name in its own right.

FWIW, I saw the opposite problem the other day: ds2 is made very unhappy at school by a boy called Max. The other day at parents' evening, I saw Max's tray of work out. His tray was labelled Maximillian. I am sure that no-one calls him that - ie his parents who I know - and it did occur to me that if ds2 was a nastier sort than he is, he could take his revenge on the nasty Max quite easily......

Message withdrawn

Yes, you're being unreasonable, especially since one of the reasons you give for having chosen it is "because it can be shortened and still sound like a proper name" and because you also said "this being the real world, chances are he'll get called Josh (including us)"

And then you do it again with a William! Will, Wills, Willy, Bill, Billy... oh the list is endless!

I shorten childrens names as a term of endearment. I do not do it with children I hardly know. I mean it in an affectionate way as some names seem terribly formal when written fully, like, Alexander.

I would add that the names you've chosen are almost certainly going to be shortened. I think that's what you have to take into account when choosing a name for dc.

So yes, think you're being unreasonable.

X-posts SD, exactly!

This is normal behaviour - shortening Joshua to Josh. I think it is a mistake to get upset and stressed over this.

Congratulations on the birth of your new son BTW

URB - I tell them that I want her to be called 'chocolattegirldd' and leave it at that. Very few people have tried it on tbh but spelling it phases quite a few people. My own name is pointless to shorten as it's only 4 letters so it's never really been an issue.

An old boss had given the same name as me to her dd who was the same age as me so she often called me by her daughter's family nickname in work even though I never answered her as I never realised when she was addressing me!

My Dd's father was called by his full name by his parents when he was in trouble: otherwise it was just the first part. That can work quite well as a punishment for children, especially if they don't like the full version .

think there's nothing you can do about it

and I bet your second is constantly referred to as Will or Bill too

personally I'd be equally pissed off if people referred to DS by his full name as we only use that when he's in trouble

Lol, my brother became Markus when he was in trouble.

I managed to spell my dd's name wrong on registration! She chose her own name at 3 and has always been called that since. Ds didn't even know his registered name til he started school and even now insists on being called by his nickname. Registered names only appear on official forms. Both are bright, balanced and confident - lovely kids that I am honoured to have. What's in a name ffs?

I get really annoyed about the way people say dd's name - she's called Naomi (Omi for short), but loads of people call her Niomi, even people we know and who hear us talking to her all the time. Why??? Is Naomi so hard to say?

Redhotdiva I can see what you mean about not liking mil to shorten name. Dp and I have a special shortened name that we use between us and mil picked up on it and started using it. It just sounded weird! Nobody else does it just her, so I'm with you on that one!

Meant to say special shortened name for dd!

Could have been worse anyway - they could all have written Joshy

My name is Vickie, however people call me Vix. It is genrerally people who like me and is not down to being offensive....It's nice really. If a problem,i.e nursery or school tell them they will have no probs in correcting your concerns.

My ds is Joe, but some people call him Joseph (a name I don't particularly like). It annoys me too

Ah, but are you a Vickie, or a Victoria??