The long and short of it

[ItsMeYourCathy]

Must confess to not having gone through all the topics on the thread ...
what does everyone think about the 'having a long name on the birth certifictae and using a short name in everyday life' thing?

I'm 26 weeks PG with a boy and we have loved the name Nate for years - but I think he should get Nathaniel on his birth certificate in case he grows up into a very serious career and would prefer a longer name.

I'm a teacher ina boys' school and I haven't come across any Nates - yet...

What do you think?

Good idea. Nate is very American imo.

More and more people seem to be putting short names on the BC but I am a traditionalist and would always use a full name on the BC and then the child has a choice.

I'm with SSS - don't mess with names - use shortened versions if you like, but stick with the original on the BC.

LOL at MrsvWoolf - brilliant!

Long name on BC gives them options - on the off chance they may become a high court judge or something.

I like Nathan better than Nathaniel.

My DH has Nathanael as his middle name, and has always been known as Nat. I've taught a bunch of Nathans (no comment) and it's those who find their names shortened to Nate.

As a teacher, it is nice to be able to bust out a long name when they're misbehaving! Much as my mother would with me!

**disregard any of my name comments, as I say, I'm a teacher, and therefore associate 99% of names with 'trying' children teenagers!

Nathaniel - love the name

My DD has a full name on her birth certificate, but has never been known by this name. We added her shortened name on the birth certificate as a 'known as' name. Then you can have bank accounts etc in the name which you use. That was the only problem we had, eg receiving cheques made out to the short name.
Love both Nathaniel and Nate. Good Luck.

dd has a long name, and we call her by her short name. It caused a bit of confusion at school at first, but not much.

she has just decided she does not want to be short name any more, but long name. (age4) hmm.

I think it's a good idea, and think both Nathaniel and Nate are lovely. If DC2 is a girl we think she'll be Elizabeth on the bc but known as Beth...and I think it's nice for them to have the flexibility of choice when they are older, if they want it!

I would go with the long name on the birth certificate and I think Nathaniel is gorgeous too so that may be why

I would just use Nate if you are going to use that all the time. I like Nathan as well though. I don't really like using a long name on the BC if you never use it. I have one myself, as does DH, and we never use the long forms. Even doctors these days are as likely to be Chris or Ted/Bill/Tom as the long forms. Sometimes having 'choices' is annoying!!!

Nate is lovely but too casual, I'd go with Nathaniel as well.

Nathaniel, Nathan and Nate all good names, I think.

I´d go with Nathaniel.

It´s a lovely name-don´t shorten it

Nathaniel is a top name. We call our 11 year old Nathaniel Natty or Nat for now.