Nathaniel - is it too long?

[soon2be4]

Baby boy due in 4 weeks. Love love love Nathaniel but worried its just bit too long. Dont mind shortening to Nate but dislike Nat. But just dont think Nate is as lovely as Nathaniel. Anyone know of any Nathaniels that are known by their full name? Also is it a bit weird to use such a long name when our other children have very short names? Will the poor little thing be struggling when he has to learn to write such a long (lovely) name?? Thanks.

I don't know any. At least he won't have to embroider it on his PE bag as we had too!
My friend Beverley took forever.

I don't know any Nathaniels but agree its a lovely name- don't think too long at all (only 3 syllables to say like loads of names). As long as you don't hate the shortenings it shouldnt be a problem.. i'd say go for it

I love Nathaniel, but the lack of a nickname that I like would probably put me off using it. That's just me though!
Don't like Nat because I live in an area where people don't pronounce Ts..

I really don't think it's a problem having a long name (although I remember my friend Christopher not being able to fit his name on a SATs paper ).

His friends will probably shorten it though, so I think if you dislike some nicknames you should choose one you like and use it (even occasionally) hopefully that will become his preferred nickname and he'll let his friends know that's what he prefers.

What about Nathan or Nath?

I know a Nathaniel, he's lovely, and has a short Welsh surname.

Everyone calls him Nat though. I like Nat, I think of Nat King Cole.

I like Nathaniel and know two, both shortened, one to Nat and one to Nate. A also know of a Nathaniel in my son's school who is and always has been just Nathaniel. I don't think it's an issue at all tbh.

I know 2 Nathaniels... one known as Nate other by full time or occasionally shortened to 'thaniel, tis a lovely lovely name

I know a boy called Nathaniel he was know to everyone as 'Fanny' on 'Naff'. I like the name.

DS2 (10 weeks old) is Nathaniel, currently known by full name but probably eventually Nate.

I have to warn you that since we had him I've met 3 others under 6 months - having never come across any before. Think it might be on the up!

lovely name - DH and I debated it for a long time - he wanted nathan, I wanted Nathaniel. As it was we've had 2 dd's so hasn't been an issue !!

I have a long name with many obvious shortenings and have always been known by my long name. It can definitely work.

I think you always meet children of the same name as yours - particularly if you don't think its common. DD2 has a classic but outside of top 100 type name - we've met loads since she's been born and 1 who lives a road away born 2 days before her and will prob go to same pre=school and school !!

I personally think it is too long. 3-4 sylabelle names are just so likely to get shortened and too long! If you like the shortenings then go for it. One of mine has a long name and we rarely use it as it's just too long!! I learned then lesson and gave my others either 1 or 2 sylabelle names!! What about using it as a middle name or just Nathan.

Jellybean - my name is 4 syllables and has never been shortened.

That said, both my dd's have 4 letter, 2 syllable names so maybe subconsciously it is a problem !!!!!

Both mine have four syllable names but they both use shortened versions of their names.

I like Nathaniel and love Nate.

Nathaniel was very nearly my ds name - I love it :)
I also like both the abbreviations Nat and Nate and would probably have gone for Nate as a nn if we'd have called ds Nathaniel.

Lovely name, I know two one is shortened to Nath and the other Natty.

Nathaniel is very nice. However, it WILL be inevitably shortened by his peers, so if there is a shortening you don't like, make sure you use the one you prefer or you'll end up with Nat instead of Nate.

My dd2 has a 4 syllable name with loads of nn options but everyone always calls her her full name. She can shorten it later in life if she wants to.

I love the name. If this blob is a boy, he's going to be Nathanael (Biblical spelling). We'd use the full blown name, as I hate Nathan, don't really like Nat, love Nate but it rhymes with our surname.

Btw, I knwo a 13 yo Nathanael, not shortened

I have a nearly 2yo Nathaniel known as Nate ( don't like Nat or Nathan) - Although I love it I hardly ever use his full name (unless he's really naughty!) but figure he will have a lovely name to use when he's older should he wish (plus it will look great on business cards :) )

I prefer Nathan with Nate for short

I love it.It's much too nice to be shortened.

I love it. Also love Nate. (Have to confess to a bit of a crush on the sexy undertaker in Six Feet Under) Was my preferred choice for ds, but dh less keen, so he's got it as his second name. Still slightly regret it, as it seems much less popular than his first name.

All though my pregnancy I wanted to call DS Nathaniel, just think it's the most lovely name.

My mum had a hissy fit when I told her my idea and pretty much 100% of people I said to agreed with her

In the end the negativity I'd heard put me off a bit. However, the thing that put me off most was the idea of it being shortened to Nat or Nate - I personally don't like those nicknames.

So, DS has Nathaniel for a middle name instead of a first name :)

My DS is Nathaniel and known as Nate. We are not keen on Nat either but as we've never called him Nat nobody else has either.

Well I have a Nathaniel here but we all call him Nathan. He is starting to refer to himself as Nathaniel now, but not the "Nathaniel Sweetchunks Cuddler Bean" which is what I call him! Ha ha.

I love that name (Obviously). It's a strong name.

I know a Nathaniel and he is Nathaniel not Nate or Nat so it is possible I think it is a lovely name too