To not like nicknames as full names?

[newuser9632794]

Some (secondary school aged) children in my family have nicknames as full names and as they grow older I feel the names suiting them less and less.

Some of the names,

Melly
Stevie
Bobby
Ali
Ricky

AIBU to think that naming children nicknames doesn't age well and that full names on the birth certificates are more fitting?

@TheKeatingFive I have an opinion. The same way you have an opinion about me. Why do you care about me?

I have a Tom but Thomas on his birth certificate. He hates it when teachers etc call him Thomas

Chill your beans for Christ sake! The op was listing ‘shortened’ names and I imagine most people read ‘Melly’ and wondered what it would be short for.
posting anonymously on here is no excuse for being a dick.

Some names have evolved to where the shortened versions are used more commonly than the original versions.

What I'm referring to, though, would be someone calling their Child Tommy not Tom or Thomas.

Your opinion is about something other people do that doesn't affect you in any way. I just think that's a bit strange to care enough to take the trouble to start a thread.

As another poster pointed out, people reading your post will have those names or have kids with those names.

Your opinion is about something other people do that doesn't affect you in any way. I just think that's a bit strange to care enough to take the trouble to start a thread.

Indeed. Humans have opinions on matters that don't affect them. If we just look at your comments as an example.

As another poster pointed out, people reading your post will have those names or have kids with those names.

Ok

Kevin Bridges does a funny sketch about how, around 30, your childhood friends stop going by Jamesie, Malkie, Stevie, and become James, Marholm and Stephen

I like him. I'll give it a watch. Thank you

I would judge someone far more who felt it was acceptable to judge someone on their name. Says far more about them, than someone with a shortened name.

And that aside, when introducing yourself you introduce yourself by the name you want to be known as surely? So if you want to be called "Freddie" that's how you introduce yourself as? Not "well my birth certificate says Frederick but I prefer Freddie"

It's likely you will never know what someone's birth certificate states. I've been to 2 funerals recently, one a family member of my partners, who I only learned their formal name, as they had been known as something else their entire life.

Depending on the job for which Teddy is applying, Richard or Robert might well be much less out of place.

I don't mind diminutives. The only problem I can see is teachers (or other officials) insisting that the child's name must be the long version. ("No, your name can't be Penny, it must be Penelope" -insinuating that the child is too stupid to know their own name)

Each to their own I have known people with nicknames names but it's their registered name
Ricky
Rich
Libby
Lizzie
Billy
Tom
Kate
Sam
Donnie

It's class isn't it. Having a longer name is a signifier of understanding of tradition, a certain kind of level of education and familiarity with old money, the culture of elites, etc etc. I guess I think it's bollocks but I want my children to have the option to look as if they know as many of the codes and cultures of power as possible, in case it helps them achieve more social power. And if they don't need it, great.

For that reason I'd never give a child a shortened name or miss out middle names.

There's also a subtle power in walking away from it, but only in the prescribed way and only with names from one layer, which have been posh diminutives for ages. So being a very posh girl called Daisy as a Christian name is OK but being called Ellie might not be.

Harry being the case in point. Plebs might think Harry is a real name. Prince Harry's name is Henry.

Just about acceptable these days... Polly, Molly, Daisy, Jack, Sam.

Tom, Milly, any of the diminutives of Robert, Edward, Nicholas, William - nopes.

Newly in fashion names- Luna, Harper, Milo - ok, weirdly!

My daughter has a 'proper' name on the birth certificate, and a day-to-day nickname. Her nickname is cute now while she's only little but I wouldn’t ever want her to be embarrassed at a later date. I think it's shortsighted not to give the child an option at a later date to go by either name...

I have a name which is frequently used as a shortened version of another name. People assume the longer name is my actual name.

I had issues in school of teachers calling me the long name. I had to ignore them and then point out they were not calling me, my name is xxx not yyyyyyyyy. I thought they were speaking to the girl called yyyyyyy (I went to school with numerous yyyyyyyy's).

I was discussing a contract over the phone & the woman said I need your full name, this is a legal contract. I replied that IS my full name. The "oh" after I said that was somewhat huffy. I think she had already put in what she assumed was my "full" name.

Also there are several spellings of how my name sounds.

It can be annoying. I do not like my name. I detest my middle name (an old but never popular one) so going with that was never an option.

I must say I prefer the full names. Lots of little boys around called Teddy just now now, which is cute for a baby but why not Edward,? It's a good strong name and at least little Teddy will have a choice as he grows older.
My mother never liked names that could be shortened and named all of us with names that were difficult to shorten ( given the choice I would have been named Cleopatra 😅) my best friend was called Victoria, known as Vicky but my mother always called her Victoria. 40 years later we bumped into her in town and my mum said ",oh hello Vicky"
I nearly fainted with shock🤣🤣

I’m with you, use the full name and shorten it from birth if you like, but the full name gives the child options

I really agree, it drives me potty.

Over the years I've congratulated new parents and then I find out that this poor child has a diminutive name as his full name.

I've always bitten my tongue, it's not my place obviously.

But why do this to a child?

What sort of message does it give professionally. He can be called the shortened name in everyday life, just give him a proper name to begin with!

These parents are naming a cute baby, they aren't thinking about 30 years time when a qualified professional might want a proper name.

Oooohhhhh. Nice to finally be able to share my frustrations.

My mum used my full name as a marker of how mad she was and how much trouble I was in. I still think “oh shit” if she uses my full name now even though I’m married with two kids 😅

What sort of message does it give professionally. He can be called the shortened name in everyday life, just give him a proper name to begin with!

I really don't understand this comment. There is absolutely zero issue with people being called Ali, Ricky or Bobby in a professional environment.

Exactly! I don't get it either.

Mines called Tommy, with some of the solicitors names I see every day I'm not worried about it

My mother's name was Toni (born during the war). No middle name .

She used to tell me how her headteacher insisted on calling her Antonia even though that wasn't her christened name

Yes. Was said as Melly in the days of stardom. Shows the wide range of names covered!

Not sure i'd have wanted a nickname type name on the birth certificate for our two, but they are all into full age long ago.