Short versions of Alasdair?

[rattling]

After making a long list of names, then whittling it to a short list when I finally met my son just over 2 years ago now he became Alasdair which had never been on any list. So I didn't weigh up all the shortenings and nickname possibilities as I did with the names that were under consideration.

He seems to be an Ally/Ali when I do use a short version - but as you can see I'm having issues with a spelling. Actually I'd probably go for Alli if it wasn't a slimming product. Are there any other short versions that I can try out to see if they suit before his friends take the decision away from me. (I do know they probably still will - but I've got a few years before he can demand I call him what he chooses).

I like a longer name as it generally has more options on shortening - does this really only have one?

Alasdair is the Gaelic version of Alexander. You could use diminutives of that?

Alex?
Xander?
Sandy
Lex?
Really?

Al

It might be a version of Alexander but it isn't Alexander so nicknames like Xander and Sandy are silly. Seamus is James but I wouldn't use Shay as a nn for James.

Having said that, he's your child, you can call him Ben for short if you like. But Ally is the best spelling. Alli is a bit too Dannii Minogue.

How about Allie?

You could still use Alex, even though Alasdair isn't quite the same as Alexander.

Allie works best imo.

I really wouldn't use Alexander based nicknames for Alasdair - to me they are completely different names. You might as well call him Tom as a nickname.

And you don't NEED to shorten his name, you know. I know several Alexanders, Olivers, Quentins, even a Theodore whose names don't get shortened.

I have an ally as Ali to me suggests exotic middle eastern not blond milk pale Brit! Al also a possibility, an I have heard of( but never met) a dair/ dare.

Dare

Most of the Alasdairs or Alastairs I know get Al. Or Al Pal..... which means I've probably just outed myself. I also know one who gets "dair" as a nn.

The Alistairs/ Alisters get Ali.

I think both Ally and Alli look wrong as the original name doesn't have a double L.

Thanks for all the responses - most of which which I agree with. We need a short version mainly for ridiculous reasons (it came about because we couldn't fit his name on a cake!). Alexander based names sound a bit odd - I think Sandy might work, but that just is an old man's name to me.

However, I LIKE Dair. DH will be appalled if I try it, but that adds to it's charm. I suspect he'll end up as an Al or Ally amongst friends - still with the spelling issue unresolved.

Ali looks best imo

I've got one of those (spelt the same way too!). He's become Ali by default, tho I would have gone with Ally. I quite often call him Ally Bally (like the nursery rhyme) but can't see that lasting (he's only 9 months atm).

I like Dar (pronounced Daar). I knew an Alasdair with that nn. Sorry to be parochial, but Dar needs to pronounced with a Scottish accent though.

I like Dar even more! Especially as Dair sounds a bit sarcastic when used at a child who turns round to carefully climb down any drop above a couple of inches!

I have the required Scottish accent, DH is more Cockney - but with his love of pirates would probably use the DaHaar pronounciation . No don't worry, he will be sticking with the full name, he disapproves of shortenings.

I love MN - I've been asking this of friends and family for weeks, with no solutions.

Asda? :o

Ade

Asda

I prefer Dar to Dare too as the latter sounds like a verb (to dare someone). But Al is nice too.

Sandy is actually a fairly common nickname for Alasdair where I live. Usually Ali or Ally though. Either spelling is fine. Or Al.

I love it. One of my favourite traditional names. Personally I wouldn't shorten it at all.

Asda just isn't funny - it's what his twin brother calls him. Another good reason for an easy short version.

Alasdair or Alastair is at the moment our name for any future DS. Would most likely shorten to Al.

I call my Alistair by his full name most of the time, but when I use a nn, it's Ali. I've heard of people using Ace as a nn for it too though.

Ace? Cool!

My 'baby' brother is Alasdair. I always call him by his lovely full name, but he calls himself Ally (as in Ally McCoist I think?). My parents always thought he could be Sandy for short (it never took off).

We also had a range of names for him as a small child that I am happy to pass on for others to use - in particular Alasdump, Alasdumpy Monkey. He still answers to Dumpy now in his mid twenties