Don't want to use 'proper' name on birth certificate/passport

[Newmummytobe79]

Hi all,

Could well be a non worry if we have a girl but seen as we don't know the sex it's an issue we need to consider. We?ve struggled so much with both girls and boys names and have finally picked two we like! We?re not telling anyone as I can?t face someone putting us off the names and having to start the search all over again! The only thing we can?t agree on now is, if we have a boy ? I don?t want the ?full? version of the name on the birth certificate whereas husband does.

A few examples of what I mean (but not ours!)

Archie ? Archibald
Alfie ? Alfred
Artie ? Arthur

I just couldn?t stand it if baby was introduced as Archibald/Alfred etc ? when I?d want baby to be known as Archie/Alfie. Therefore I want the shortened version on the birth certificate ? husband strongly disagrees.

If I?m honest I do think it?s better to put the full name on birth certificates/passport etc and would most definitely want the this with the girls name we?ve picked ? but I just don?t like the full version of the boys name!

Any thoughts?

Thanks

When ds started nursery and school we were asked what name we wanted him known by. He has the long form on his passport and birth certificate but I only use it when I'm telling him off!

I think short names on BC's are fine!! My dd is Nell and I had no intention of calling her Eleanor or Helena etc, simply cos I don't much like them. What's the point?? Why use a fuller version just for the sake of it?

What's the name?

TBH, if your DH is strongly in favour of having the full name on the birth certificate I would go with it. Its not as if you ever have to use it so it really won't make a huge difference to you (and I'd say this were it the other way round too, with you in favour and your DH against)

theagedparent - I'm really sorry but I'm not brave enough to put the name on here! :)

What about husbands want? Do I cave in for the sake of peace or fight for the shortened version to be used at all times, even on birth certificate?

x

If you go with the full version on the certificate and use the short one day to day, you both get the name you want.

SoupDragon ? you are so good at compromise! I think I may ? but I?ll just have to make sure he doesn?t use the full name when announcing baby! :)

Likely to be a girl now! hahaha!

How bizarre to call your child a name that you connot stand to see on their official documentation. My advice would be - don't use the name!

Full name. It will be the child's name, not yours, and he deserves to have options.

I speak as someone who was given a one-syllable nickname instead of a long proper name with several possible short versions (think Elizabeth, Catherine, that sort of name). Didn't even get a second name. Never forgave my parents for it.

I think full name and give them the option.

I think you should put the full name ,as I have, on the birth certicate

then because you call them the shortened version always it just happens that they are alwasy called that
I registered dd2 as her full name when she went to school but even the head teaher calls her by what everyine has always called

I'd go for full name on the BC.

We have done this with one of ours. The long name is on the BC but we use the short name - as does everyone who knows us.

Hello - we've just done this very thing today.

I'd say just be extremely careful how you announce him or her - only say the name you want him or her to be called day-to-day, else you will have people using the long name.

It matters so, so little what's on the birth certificate: that's between you, the registrar and later, your child - no-one else need know, really.

We've chosen long name + middle name on birth certificate and short name for everything else. It's not the most common diminutive, but, shouldn't cause too many problems, and she'll have a choice in later life. (It's Katherine to Kitty.)

My sister has always been referred to as her 'nn'. But has a longer version on her BC. She hates it. With a passion! And it is something that continually bothers her.

I am currently pregnant, and she has begged me not to inflict the same fate on my child. So to put her oar in, I would strongly recommend only using the proper name on the birth certificate if you are happy with the proper name too. Even if everyone calls them by the 'nn', they will still have issues at the doctors, dentists, getting a passport, each time they start a new job, whenever having to provide official ID etc.

Oh, I'm only good at compromise when it doesn't involve me

If it was me, I would put the full name on the birth certificate. Names are easily shortened afterwards.

"Even if everyone calls them by the 'nn', they will still have issues at the doctors, dentists, getting a passport, each time they start a new job, whenever having to provide official ID etc"

That's simply not true though. I'm known by my middle name and it has never been a problem, only a minor pain if someone else books, for example, a holiday.

Oh, with your sister's issue Mrs CB, you are just as likely to get the opposite scenario where the child hates the given NN and would prefer the long version (Or would prefer to be Beth rather than Lizzie or Elizabeth). You can't win when naming a child, you can only do your best :)

DS has 2 full names, plus a double surname. Not only do we not use his first name, but we usually drop his first surname too. The school and sports clubs etc only use his common name;

ie full official name on BC; Rasheed Oliver Kahn Johnson
common name; Olly Johnson

I have a long name on my birth cert but have been known by a short form all my life. Caused no end of problems with plane tickets being booked in short name and passport in official name, birthday cheques made out to one initial whereas bank account has "official" initials.

My husband also is known by the short form of his name but it's less of a change (and same initial) so has had fewer problems.

I would only go for a nn that has the same initial as the long name or dispense with the long one altogether.

Definately the full name. Gives them the option later. People will assume the full name anyway. I have a friend called charlie. People assume he is charles although he isnt.

I'm very curious as to what the name is. Please tell us, OP!

Where have you been?
"Nicknames" on birth certificates are now far more common than the "full" names!
Archies are rarely Archibalds