Nicknames

[Purplelooby]

I don't understand deciding on a name and then a nickname when a baby is still a bump. Isn't a nickname something that grows with somebody? It seems odd to me to name a child a name that you don't actually intend to use and then to choose a 'cool' or 'cute' alternative to refer to them. Can a nickname be chosen before they are born?

Don't get me wrong, my son has TONS of nicknames (and he's only 12 months), including different ones from his grandparents, Aunties and Uncles, but they have just grown with him over time and honestly, if anybody else refered to him by one of these names, it would really annoy me. Although not as much as when people call him 'mate', which makes me want to do a little vomit.

Discuss.

I think that people don't understand that they will have no control over a nickname- they can use one and hope that the DC sticks to it- but it is totally up to the DC once they are old enough. e.g you can name Charlotte, call Lottie but end up with Charlie.

I think that people don't understand that they will have no control over a nickname- they can use one and hope that the DC sticks to it- but it is totally up to the DC once they are old enough. e.g you can name Charlotte, call Lottie but end up with Charlie.

Sorry - don't know why it posted twice.

I think you have to consider obvious nicknames when you choose a name, because if you like one but hate another you might have to mark your territory a bit or go for a different name altogether (e.g. we liked Christopher nn Kit but not Chris and Elizabeth nn Betsy but not Lizzy).

But yes as a general rule nicknames should be organic. You couldn't guess my DCs' names from their nicknames.

I think there is a difference between a nickname and shortened version of a name though. You don't call your child by their full name (first, middle and surname) you call them by just a bit of it, usually the first bit. There is no difference between that and using Thomas on the bc, but deciding to call him Tommy from day 1. Naming him Thomas, but deciding in advance he will be known as Spud or Squirt or something i.e. a nickname is weird though.

Yeah the common nicknames are interesting, such as Charles being Charlie, Thomas being Tom. I've heard some really wacky ones on here recently though. But I guess that even if you don't like the common nn of a name it's sort of tough, because they'll get called it anyway.

I think that you just have to allow for the fact that it might not work out the way you want e.g I know a James who was Jamie from birth, his parents intended him to always be Jamie,but from 8 yrs he insisted on James. My eldest has a long name, it is shortened by all, therefore the next has a name you can't shorten at all so all his friends use a completely different name and he likes it!
When you choose a name allow for all possibilities. I love the name Edward but dislike all shortened forms so didn't use it. Even had I liked Ted I might have had to go with Ed if that is what he preferred.

I always wonder about that too, any nicknames I've known have always come from surnames - I went to school with about 4 Soupys - surname was Campbell. Even now at 40, one of them will always be Soupy

The best nickname thread ever on here was from someone who said 'I want to call my daughter Pie, what can that be a nickname for?'

PIE

Holy mother of fuck.