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Original poster

Long versions of Leo - name change

25 replies

Fourleaf · 15/10/2010 09:15

Hi all,

We have a DS named Leo. We've been thinking that we'd quite like him to have a long version of his name (and change it on birth cert before he's 1 year).
So, honest opinions please (and suggestions welcome!):

Leonard
Leopold
Leonello
Leomaris
Leander

Leonardo is out - DP vetoed.

TIA :)

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bundlebelly · 15/10/2010 09:19

Nice names, I especially like Leonello, Leonard would probably be more likely to be shortened to Len in future life.

What are your reasons for wanting to change now? Leo is a gorgeous name and can stand on it's own two feet!

3WiseMumsies · 15/10/2010 09:21

Out of those I'd go for Leander.

Ragwort · 15/10/2010 09:22

Leo is a lovely name - but really interested in why you would want to change it on his birth certificate. My DS has a classic 'nickname' as his real name, on birth certificate, used in christening etc. Some people refer to him by the more 'formal', full name occasionally, it doesn't bother us or him. Unless you are being fraudulent you can use any name you want - I have never been known as the name shown on my birth certificate (surname) and it has never proved a problem getting a passport/marriage/divorceGrin/re-marriage/visa etc.

flowerybeanbag · 15/10/2010 09:25

I don't think of Leo as a nickname so wouldn't change his birth certificate. It's not like Dave, Steve or Ed or something.

Original poster
Fourleaf · 15/10/2010 09:26

Actually have just looked at the legal stuff (should've done this before Blush)... looks like, as he was baptised Leo, I'd have to prove the long name was in regular use before 12 months. Does anyone know what this actually means? Like at the doctors or something?

We love Leo and it's definitely a name in it's own right. We just started to think a longer name would go better with our surname... we'd still call him Leo in everyday life. But we may not be able to change it very easily now.

OP posts:
bundlebelly · 15/10/2010 09:31

Don't worry about it. Lots of faffing, and you'll still call him Leo anyway. Which is a fab name choice.
Has he got a middle name? Maybe you could add in a nice long one of them if you felt like it.
Balthazar
Christopher
Raphaelo
Alexander
?

serenity · 15/10/2010 10:04

Leonidas is the long form I know, and is what I use for a middle name if we had a DS3.

Original poster
Fourleaf · 15/10/2010 10:12

Oooh I like Leonidas! Would sound great with our surname :) BUT bundlebelly I think you're right... probably more hastle than it's worth.
But would still like to know how easy/hard it is to change at this stage. Time on my hands - Leonidas asleep in his cot Grin

OP posts:
chickentwizzler · 15/10/2010 10:30

I like Leonard best.

jellybeans · 15/10/2010 12:09

I don't like any and prefer just Leo. It is fine as a name in it's own right. It is a shortened version and not just a nickname such as Daz, Shaz, Vik etc. One of my boys has the shortened form of a name and it's no problem in fact it is more common according to the statistics. So many babies are Alfie, Freddie etc that it will be the norm when they are older to have a pet/shortened form anyway.

tammytoby · 15/10/2010 12:13

I like Leonidas and Leander best. While Leo is nice, giving him a longer version gives him MORE options later on, so you've got nothing to lose, have you?

BalloonSlayer · 15/10/2010 12:16

What about a name that ends in a -leo or -lio.

Can't think of any apart from Malvolio but you get my drift.

bisybackson · 15/10/2010 12:18

Isn't Leander a girl's name? I definitley used to know a female Leander. And it would shorten to Lea not Leo, I guess.

tammytoby · 15/10/2010 12:51

Leander is a very popular boys name in Germany.

yellowflowers · 15/10/2010 12:54

I like Leonard but think it would naturally be shortened to Lenny.

meadowlarks · 15/10/2010 16:56

Leofric? It's Anglo-Saxon.

Fel1x · 15/10/2010 17:05

Leon?

BuntyPenfold · 15/10/2010 17:55

Leo is great as it is.

RockBat · 15/10/2010 18:10

I think it would have to be Leonard, any of the others are stretching it a bit and sound silly. And, as you're calling him Leo I can't see any reason why people would suddenly call him Len.

Having said that though, Leo is a fab name and perfect on its own. It's one of the few that doesn't need a bigger name behind it. I'd leave it as it is tbh.

Rhubarbgarden · 15/10/2010 18:53

How about Leoline?

Spookberries · 15/10/2010 19:37

I think it's more hassle than it's worth, personally. If he grows up being known as '(plug in name), but called Leo', he's very unlikely to going to want to use a longer version as an adult as Leo is a strong, acceptable name in its own right.

If you were calling him Georgie, Tommy, etc. then I could see your point.

maryz · 15/10/2010 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AmelieMay · 16/10/2010 23:45

Leon

stleger · 16/10/2010 23:53

I know a lovely Leonard - never shortened - and dh's mate has a Leo, and is a cool guitar player.

telsa · 17/10/2010 12:32

But Leonard is pronounced Lennard nn Len, - so I think it should be Leonides, Leonid, or Leonitus. I like Leopold best - reminds me of Bloom in Ulysses.

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