Love the name but it's a nn. What to do?

[snownutty]

In a quandary. Have previously argued debated the case that nn's are just that and should not be used on a birth certificate. Eg can't name DD Ellie must be Eleanor with Ellie as nn. (Not the name just an example)

Big debates with DH.

Now love a name which is a nn but hate all the names this could be a nn of. What do I do? Might be a moot point as I'm only 3 months gone but I'm actually worried because if I use it I'll forever be thinking that it's not a proper name.

HELP

Not keen on 'A' names but always liked Alice. Might be able to live with Alissia or even Alicia.

Would either of them work?

If it's any help, I'm Alexandra and I have never ever been called that, always the nickname, since the day I was born. I don't use Alexandra for any official stuff either. It's just a name on my birth certificate. But, I have to say, I kind of like "owning" the name Alexandra, even though I've never used it.

I don't see why you can't call your daughter, say, Miranda, and still give her the nn Lexi. My Dad's name is Neil. Everyone calls him Jeff.

I like Lexi and Alexa. I would worry about 'Sexi Lexi' though. I would just use Lexi. there is something abit weird with a nn having a different letter than your long name. Is Robert/Bob Smith ~ R Smith or B Smith for example. Short forms are fine such as Sam, Ben, Jack, Zac, pretty much just as many parents chose them as the long forms. It's only names like Shaz/Daz/Alfie etc that are cutesy/too informal. Lexi is fine though.

Alexandra's much nicer than Felicity.

Ah just go for it. You can always give her a "proper" middle name if you want to give her a choice. FWIW I think Lexi could still be a High Court Judge etc. etc. if she wanted to be.

I know I will be shot down in flames for saying this but it's Friday and I've already had a glass of wine so here goes...

My sons name is a nickname and I went through the same quandry. I don't like the formal version of his name, nor do I believe he would ever want to use it, so we have stuck with his name (the nn) on his birth certificate too. When I was fretting about this two things were pointed out to me which I tend to agree with...

In 20 years our children will be part of a generation where nicknames without formal names will be part of the norm. It will be a generation of Charlies, Millies, Alfies and Evies and what seems awkward or cutesy to us now just won't be by the time they are adults. Whilst I agree that having the option of both might be more flexible I don't believe our children will see it as necessary, particularly if you don't like the longform name in question.

Secondly, and this is where I know I'll be in the minority, I don't believe that the lack of a formal name will in any way hold your child back for the future, or hinder them from becoming say a Judge, Politician or CEO. Willie Walsh, Tony Blair, Archie Norman, Nick Clegg have all done very nicely. Yes, I'm sure they may have called themselves Anthony, William and Archibald on their CVs but the fact remains that it's their nicknames which they use, and we're quite comfortable with it. Whilst we may from time to time question their ability to do their job it's unlikely to be because they called themselves Willie not William. I would imagine the name Cherie may have got pretty short shrift on the name boards but Cherie Booth/Blair clearly doesn't let that bother her as she chooses to use it professionally over Theresa (which is her formal name).

Lexi, to me, stands up as a name in it's own right. I see it as Jake is to Jacob. A name that derived from another but which is perfectly acceptable independent of that. If you love it go for it. I'll look out for a Lexi ruling the world in years to come and hope she's yours!

Muddled You cover a lot of the same stuff as my DH and maybe seeing it written down makes a stronger argument for the nn/proper name debate.

Or maybe it's because of your last comment.
How lovely you are. Almost brought a tear to my eye

That is a great post, muddled. Have more wine to celebrate your loveliness.:)

Lovely Post Muddled and I agree with everything you said. I too have children with nn on their BC. Funnily I have always seen the more formal name as their name it just isn't on their BC and will call them the formal name when they are in trouble lol The older they have got the more they use the formal name when introducing themselves in situations when needed.

Basically I am saying that I & my kids see the formal name as their nn and will use both.

Alexis is a strong possibility I'd say, my friend is called Alexis her nn had always been Lexi or Lex! I'd steer clear of Alexa because of the Chung link! Tis a dilemma indeed!

Here are a few more possibilities, some rather unusual options that I'd never heard of:

Alexiah
Alexiana
Lexia
Lexina
Lexine
Lexya

Isn't Steven & Alex Gerrard's daughter called Lexie? ..and Amanda Holden too I believe! Good luck xx

Oooo I like Lexya.

Muddled, that is indeed a very lovely post.

I've never been held back having a nn on my bc, at least I don't think I have . But then I think my name is a name in its own right now.

Ellies/Lexis/Alfies are going to be the new Peggys/Mikes/Katies/Harrys.

Unfortunately fruity lexia is some kind of cheap alcoholic drink. Don't do it.

^...off the list that comes

Just go for Lexi.

DS has taught me I do all sorts of things as a parent I never thought I'd do, and judged others for doing! It's part of parenthood IMO.

To me Lexi is the sort of name a teenager gives herself to look cool (like my dn calling himself Chazza). I'm sorry but I really think it lacks credibility. Plus I think it is nice to have some flexibility, names that are already nicknames really cut down the options for your child.

How about Angelica, Letitia, Millicent, Felicia, Alicia or Electra as other non obvious alternates (some of them are a bit of stretch!)?

I went to school with a very posh lexie. I dont think it was short for anything.

I think it is fine for a name it it's own right so if you like it go for it.

I've always thought children need formal names. But i'm changing my tune too. I think it really depends on the name itself, some stand up better than others, and personally I think Lexi is fine. A future ds of mine will be Gus, and I think Augustus is too poncey for words so I wouldn't subject him to that.

The girl's name Lexie \lex-

xie\ is pronounced LEK-see. It is of Greek origin. Short form of Alexis and Alexandra (Greek) "man's defender".

Lexie has 9 variant forms: Lexa, Lexandra, Lexann, Lexi, Lexia, Lexina, Lexine, Lexus and Lexya.

Baby names that sound like Lexie are Lexy and Lakecia.

Lexie is a somewhat common first name for women (#3029 out of 4276) but an uncommon last name for both men and women. (1990 U.S. Census)

Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl name Lexie.

Compare Lexie with its variant forms and related girl names.

Lexie is a lovely name. Don't worry about it being a nickname, personally I don't think it sounds like that at all. Also there is no need for a "formal" name. A name is a name.

Having slept on it (again!) I can't bring myself to just use Lexi(e).

I will, however, give serious thought to Alicia/Allissa and maybe even Alexis (seems quite harsh sounding still but might grow).

Thank you all for your opinions - you have helped.

Also, Rhubarb what about Angus rather than Augustus?

I'm glad my post made you smile snownutty. I know it went on for ages (which this one no doubt will too) but I wanted to properly explain my thoughts in case it helped. I very nearly didn't pick the name I loved for my second son because like you I worried about the nicknames for names dilemma. I am now genuinely so glad I thought about everything above and just went for it. Bizarrely the only place I ever feel slightly uncomfortable having chosen a shortened name is on here as in general the popular view is for formal names on birth certificates. In RL no-one has ever asked whether my son is actually anything other than the name we've picked.

I think it is rare to find names that jump off the page and stick with us so if you've found one don't let worries about traditions, popularity or the future automatically disuade you. Some people will love your choice others will loathe it, what's important is that it makes you happy. In my (sometimes slightly sleep deprived) opinion all of us just want to get this naming business right and our views will always be skewed by the decisions we ourselves have made. If we picked a formal name then we tell ourselves it's best to give our child options, those of us who chose shortened names justify it as I have above. If we pick a name outside the top 100 we argue that it's better for a child to be unique and not one of 3 in a class, if we opt for something in the top 20 we maintain that it's best for a child to have a regular name and fit in and that obscure choices are ripe for future bullying. In truth we all want to feel that the name we choose is the very best of names (at least I know I do) and that neither we or our DCs will end up regretting it. How will we ever know? Well I figure we just need to lurk on these boards for another 30 years till our DDs or DSs start posting and see what they've got to say then!

Good luck with it all. I say if this is a punk bundle, and Lexi is a name you and your DH love, then have faith in the fact that you are making a great choice for her, worry not and go for it x

Sorry snownutty, just realised you'd already posted back this morning. Now you know why I'm Muddled Mum x

I like Lexie as a name - and Kiwi has given some lovely name options there.

Please don't be put off by what everyone else thinks - working for a govt agency names are being removed from applications anyway to help the whole diversity/equality thing and having an unusual first name myself it provides an ice breaker when networking!

I personally like Lottie but again am stuck bcause DP says it's not a proper name but I don't like Charlotte (well I do but too many friends called it) and the only other option I can think of it Carlotta!