To clarify what Nicknames are?

[StMarieforme]

A nick name is something someone acquires in life because of a personality trait, or characteristic. Ie Spud (cos his head is shaped like a potato), Doughnut (because he was asked to go on a snack run for 3 people and came back with 24 doughnuts) etc etc.

If you give your child a name that can be shortened, it's a derivative or shortened name. Not a nick name. IE name them William, shortened to Will, Bill, Billy. Elizabeth shortened to Liz, Beth, Libby.

Drives me insane!

See me same time next week re Staycations!!

You're right.

However not something I personally have energy to have a strong emotional reaction too. Seem to save all of those for my husband and children 😅

You're NBU in my opinon. It seems a common misconception.
Although my favourite was the MNetter who was going to call her DS something like "David" but wanted his nickname to be "Ace".

Why is it idiotic?

Why’s that idiotic? It would be idiotic and nonsensical to register them with a nickname, yes. A derivative doesn’t have to officially be the long version unless you’re the first person EVER to be called the long version, otherwise what is it derived from? But if we’re talking Libby/Elizabeth, no big deal.

I agree with you 100% OP.

DS and DD both go by short forms of their given names (except when trouble wit me obviously) but they are NOT nicknames. DD is “Titch” to some people (special people that are allowed by her) because of her diminutive stature.

As for “staycation” don’t get me started! Some people would basically say I haven’t had a “vacation” or holiday in years because I nearly always HOLIDAY in this beautiful country. A “staycation” is based in Your own home and having days out - even just a picnic in your local park. Staying in a caravan, tent or holiday rental cottage in the U.K. (or your home country) is a HOLIDAY, NOT a staycation.

Do you really mean “derivative” and not “diminutive”?

But what if your name is Mary but your family calls you Billy? That's not down to a personality trait or characteristic. Nor is it a shortening of their name. What would you call that instead? Polite words only please 😬

Some of us don’t christen our children at all! Gasp!

Heathen!!

throws holy water around

And here I am having survived 44 years of my life with a diminutive name and not having been christened.

when I was at primary school I was told my name wasn't really my name because I hadn't been christened !

Well in that case “Billy” is a nickname. A bit like Lady Carys Grey-Thompson - better known as Tanni as her older sister called her “tiny” when she was born.

Nicknames are also a vital part of social interaction and position within a group. For example every docker on Bristol 3 corporation owed docks had a nickname, some were a bit cruel or blunt but it fixed that person as part of a unique gang.
I've had 3 nicknames that have stuck more than a few weeks, they helped establish myself as part of distinct groups and every one knew me that way.
unfortunately they can also be spiteful and used to belittle people...shorty, fatty, big, etc
the shortening of a name or as in the past Jack used for a John, are not them

Sometimes diminutive names become very common though as full names. Like Natalie and Natasha

I’ve given people nicknames they don’t even know about! Like Mrs Goggins opposite me who’s the resident curtain twitcher who intercepts peoples parcels from the delivery drivers by rushing out and telling them that the recipients are away even when they aren’t so we all have to knock on her door to retrieve them 😂

you’re right of course op, I have nicknames for my dc that are nothing to do with their first given names but I couldn’t get worked up about people saying they have a nickname which is just a shortened version of their given name.

cf Top Gun!

I am completely on the same page! 😁

Derived from = derivative.
Diminutive works as well, though usually refers to extremely small.

That would indeed be a nick name. I'm referring to people that say " call her Mavis, nn May".

@Berga you have a really small name? 😊

😱😱😱

You're correct, shortened names aren't nicknames, they are diminutives, but it's not a hill I'd die on personally.

Well neither am I, just musing online in a Sunday evening!

But word meanings aren’t set in stone and if enough people are using nicknames to mean diminutives, then nickname captures a second meaning as well.