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Original poster

Like Jeremy but not NN Jerry - would you still choose it?

30 replies

whizzylala · 10/12/2010 07:08

DH and I are seriously struggling to agree on names for DS2. We chose DD and DS1 without any difficulty at all, their names were chosen before 12 week scans and were right straight away. Not so this time. Our tastes seem to have divulged massively!
Anyway we both like Jeremy but DH says he will be nn Jerry which i HATE, I would go with Jem as a nn which DS doesn't like..... AAAAhhhhhh!Should we just try and find another name?
If we do find one we both like DH decides against it within 24hours, it is SO frustrating. We still have ages but as we were so prepared before it feels strange. P.S I am up against his choices of names such as Bernard, Bertram, Percy, Cuthbert, Alan.....
Thanks!
Whiz.

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countrybump · 10/12/2010 07:13

I love the name Jeremy, and this was our choice for DC2 - but she turned out to be DD!

I say 'choice', but we may not have ended up going with it, for exactly the reason you describe - I didn't like Jerry! But, we had no others that we could agree on. I also hate the name Jez, which I was worried might get used as well.

You could just agree that within your family you will always call him his full name - Jeremy, and accept that whatever his nn becomes outside of that will be OK?

SylvanianFamily · 10/12/2010 07:18

I know a jeremy nn Jay. Which is more modern anyway

PfftTheMagicDragon · 10/12/2010 07:19

Well, you can make the decision that you will always call him Jeremy, but at some point his friends will shorten his name and you will have no control over that. So it depends on how much you hate Jerry. I would imagine thought that children are more likely to go with Jez but you never know.

What about Julian?

SandStorm · 10/12/2010 07:38

There's no reason for a name to be shortened. You just make sure you always use Jeremy and be consistent in correcting people who try to shorten it. I know many Victorias, Williams, Thomases who aren't Vicky, Will, Tom, etc.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 10/12/2010 11:25

I know a Jeremy and he is Jeremy. Nobody has ever tried to shorten it. I also know another who is called Jezzanoknob, he doesn't mind.

GandalfyCarawak · 10/12/2010 11:28

Jeremy Kyle.
Jeremy Vine.
Jeremy Clarkson.

Are you sure about this? :o

If you are, I don't think it needs to be shortened. Though I think Jay is lovely.

Hedwig3 · 10/12/2010 11:30

I have grown up with a couple of Jeremys and never considered or came across the nn Jerry.

They were Jez amd Jerm! Xmas Grin

bisybackson · 10/12/2010 11:30

You can try not to shorten it but may find that his friends do it anyway. Alternative nn for Jeremy is Jem - slightly old-fashioned but nice and avoids Jerry.

Having said which, I swore blind my DD's name would never be shortened to its obvious nn. All her friends at school have shortened it and even I use the nn occasionally - it just suits her!

5GoldenFimbos · 10/12/2010 11:31

I know a couple of grown up Jeremy's always shortened to Jez.

How about Peter or George?

Highlandgirl · 10/12/2010 11:32

I also know a Jeremy called Jaz and another called Jem...! Big hunky boys too!

KatyMac · 10/12/2010 11:33

Or Remy

activate · 10/12/2010 11:34

Never know Jerry as a NN for Jeremy - it's Gerry for Gerald isn't it?

I've also never known anyone shorten Jeremy to anything but Jez (which is equally foul)

Spidermama · 10/12/2010 11:37

I like Jerry but dislike Jeremy. In fact in our school Jeremy was a derogatory noun for a a posh git. ie 'He was a bit of a Jeremy'.

Jem is OK but if your dh doesn't like it I reckon you're going to have to look for another name.

ShoppingDays · 10/12/2010 12:50

Most Jeremys I've met were not called Jerry.

Prefer Jerome or even Jeremiah though.

Valinor · 10/12/2010 13:22

I only know 1 Jeremy and he's known as Jimmy.

minipie · 10/12/2010 13:35

All the Jeremys I have known (3) have been called Jez. Never heard of a Jerry under 45 (or outside America).

Jem would be sweet for a small boy.

Bue · 10/12/2010 13:48

I've never known a Jeremy nn'ed Jerry. I'd say this is a non issue.

mimimomma · 10/12/2010 14:00

I've never heard of a Jeremy nn'ed Jerry either....always Jez/Jezza/Jezzy, which IMO are far worse than Jerry.

nannynobblystockingnobs · 10/12/2010 14:02

I know a lovely Jeremy who was always been known as Jay. Go for it! Great name. :)

yellowflowers · 10/12/2010 14:37

So hard to know what nicknames will be though - they may end up calling him speccy, or ginger, or Bob or whatever - so go with what you like.

Original poster
whizzylala · 10/12/2010 18:32

Great news that no one thinks it is an obvious nn - DH thought it was definitely. We both like this one hence the serious consideration. Don't like jerome, jeremiah, or peter. Love George but DH vetoed.
Have thought of the famous Jeremy's but doesn't really bother me to be honest, I think it is cute for a grubby little school boy but equally sensible for a man which is one of the reasons I am keen.
Thanks for opinions, was a bit scared of posting on this board!!
Whiz.

OP posts:
neolara · 10/12/2010 18:37

I have a Jem. I'm often asked if it is short for Jeremy. (It isn't).

ShoppingDays · 10/12/2010 18:40

TBH I think it's a bit of a slimy kind of name... it makes me think of a rather unpleasant smooth operator. Jeremy Clarkson, Jeremy Beadle and so on. Apologies to any nice Jeremys out there!

CountBapula · 10/12/2010 18:42

Jem is the boy in To Kill a Mockingbird - lovely. The Jeremys I know are nn Jez or Jezzor.

said · 10/12/2010 18:42

I think Jerry is probably the best option if you name your child Jeremy. I see it as a Nigel/Colin name. Jez is horrid. Have heard Jem (twee) and Jerm (bit try-hard cool?)