Do we not have more baby boys called Kit because people don't like Christopher?

[persephoneplum]

So DH and I have decided against Kit for our baby boy - mainly because of the downer feeling of using Christopher which we don't love and do not wish anyone to call him at any point in his life. It's a family name which we will joyfully use in the middle, but not as a first name, no matter how much we love the nickname Kit.

He will get people looking at his license and calling him Christopher, phone calls in official capacities where people will ask for Christopher and we just can't bear the thought of it - so Kit is out.

I'm a little upset actually, but we have a wonderful first name we're both happy with and has the cool vibe we're looking for.

I'm just wondering how many of you had a close call with using Kit, but backed out because you didn't want to use Kit as a full name, nor did you want to use Christopher. I always notice the extreme popularity of Kit here on the forums, but rarely hear of anyone actually using the name. Is this the reason?

[persephoneplum]

Oh ok then - maybe you can explain the existence of Kit Carson (born 1809)? Yeah, such a 'now' name. Really, doesn't everyone know that almost nothing is new? It's just new to us.

www.behindthename.com/name/kit

[Takver]

persephone, I really wouldn't worry too much about the full name thing. I'm a Katharine on my birth cert. Parents intended nn Kitty though actually called me another variant in practice. I have never, ever, found that people call me Katharine. If I fill in forms (eg job applications) I put Katharine (nickname) Surname - job done.

I love Kit, and also Kester and Christy, basically all the shortenings for Christopher bar Chris. I'd go for it if I were you!

The other solution would be to call him Frederick Christopher X and use Kit in day to day life, plenty of people use their middle names in practice. Then the 'passport' option would be one you like.

[Chandon]

Haha, my husband is calld Christopher but everyone calls him Mike ( random) even his parents, it somehow developed that way.

He does not feel depressed by people calling him Christopher, like the silly examples in the OP, ie people looking at his license ( how often does that happen?! In a day?).

For goodness sake, just do what you want. Less than 1% of one's life is abot dealing with officials, it is a non issue.

[persephoneplum]

You do have a great point there Takver and anecdotal evidence is very valuable :) Will put these ideas to DH.

[persephoneplum]

Chandon - I am regularly addressed by my formal name in a variety of settings. Makes me squirm. DH too. We like having a formal name for certain uses but we don't much like being addressed by them several times a week.

What seem like silly reasons to you, might be based on real life experience of my own. It is absolutely incredible how judgemental people can get. I'm truly surprised and don't at all apologise nor back down from my personal reasons, which have nothing to do with what you might think.

[SurreyWithAFringeOnTop]

My brother is called Richard John after my father who is a Richard but has always always been called John. I think if you want to call your son Kit, then I would do as Takver says.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

We never considered either as they wouldn't go with the surname, but I prefer giving the long/formal version rather than shortened versions as official names. I quite like Kit but it's definitely not our style.

We had to rule out Catherine for DD because I hate Kat as a NN, which was a shame.

I didn't know that Kit was short for Christopher until about 15 years ago when there was a player called Kit in the football team I support. We were at a match and every time he got the ball the woman behind us yelled out "Come on Christopher", which puzzled me. Then at half time someone nudged me and said that's Kit X's mum behind you, and the penny dropped. She clearly didn't pref Kit.

[janey68]

Christopher is a beautiful name, far nicer than kit , which makes me think of a box of airfix. Sorry that's not much help!

[HoratiaWinwood]

AThing - by that logic we would all call our children Kylie and Adrian. Some names are used a lot forever (James, Catherine) and some have peaks of popularity (Sarah, Michael).

[AThingInYourLife]

That's not at all the logic of what I said.

It is stupid to pick a name because it is fashionable.

There are lots of reasons to prefer a name, and trends will come into it because they affect perception.

But to consciously pick a name a person will have for life because it is "now" is daft.

[VickyU]

Having exactly this dilemma. I really don't like Christopher and Christian, although lovely, seems a weird name for two atheists to give their child and I just can't think of a sensible alternative. My Mum just suggested Atticus which I think is stretching it a bit but thought I'd throw it out there...

[persephoneplum]

TheSecondComing - Not at all arsey about my choice, just about the cock-sure assumptions people make... oh and lack of knowledge about the name they are commenting on :)

So someone assumes Kit is a newish 'now' name and that try-hard hipster parents would only choose it to be perceived as edgy... well that right there is a whole lotta assumptions based on an erroneous one. It's the insulting tone used - I came in here genuinely curious in a statistical sense, about people who came close to choosing Kit, but didn't, and what their reasons were.

So that makes me a try-hard w$%ker who should just put Kit on the birth certificate and shut up about it. Honestly, if those people were face to face with me, no such rudeness would take place. I really do try to keep my decorum on forums, but others have no such clue about how to treat human beings online. And no clue about truly great discussion about names.

Thanks to those who really did provide some great input and either did understand or tried to. It's appreciated :)

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I quite like Atticus, wasn't sure when I first came across it (there's one at the DC's school) but it has grown on me.

[persephoneplum]

Now I really look at it, Atticus goes really well with the surname... will add and put to DH :)

[CarriMarie]

My son is friends with a Kit, his real name is Kristian.

[t0lk13n]

My youngest is Christopher...my baby, but he will be 18 in less than three weeks! I love the name. He decided to call himself Chris. Call your child whatever you want and just correct them when people say is that short for Christopher etc

[BinarySolo]

I have never heard any christophers having kit as a nickname. Probably gives my age away, but it really makes me think of Knightrider.

[FantasticMax]

I think Christopher is a lovely name, not so keen on Kit. To me Kit is more of a feminine name.

If you like it though you should use it, seems a shame not to if it's a name you've loved for decades. Christian is also nice.

[ZooAnimals]

'Oh ok then - maybe you can explain the existence of Kit Carson (born 1809)? Yeah, such a 'now' name'

erm.....when someone says it's a 'now' name they don't mean it was invented 6 months ago, they mean it is going through a surge in popularity. Lily and Alfie are very 'now' names, I don't think anyone believes they haven't been used before!

You're very defensive about negative comments about Kit, telling people they should be nice about your name choice etc. Maybe have a look about what you said about Christopher in your OP;

'mainly because of the downer feeling of using Christopher which we don't love and do not wish anyone to call him at any point in his life.'

'in official capacities where people will ask for Christopher and we just can't bear the thought of it'

Not exactly kind to the mothers of Christopher there were you! So awful you can't bear the thought of someone at passport control calling him Christopher!

[Rhubarbgarden]

I like both Christopher and Kit. I might have had Christopher on my shortlist if we didn't have a close family member called this.

I believe Jamie Theakston has a son called Kit.

[persephoneplum]

zooanimlas - and then I went on to say that I think it's a handsome name for a middle name and never said WHY I don't like it for a first name.

It's perfectly ok form on a forum, to say one doesn't like a name and can't ever envisage using it, without making rampant, insulting assumptions about people who use that name - at no point, have I ever done this about the name Christopher. The two things are rather different don't you see?

It's my father's name for pete's sake - I very much have a fondness for it, but do not wish my son to be addressed as such. My prerogative - I can both not wish him to be addressed by Christopher, yet find it quite handsome all at the same time. Humans are contradictory like that - sue me for being defensive.

It's ok, choice is made (not Kit, not Christopher). Can someone close this damn thread?