Is Imogen always shortened?

[looki]

I like this name but have spent the morning going over all threads and two things struck me. One is that a LOT of people seem to have called their daughter this or it's on their short list (which in itself isn't a bad thing as it is a pretty name). The second thing bothers me an awful lot. Every time someone said 'I have an Imogen' and 'I know an Imogen' they follow it by saying 'she is known as (insert nickname Immy, Midge, Mog, Gin, Imo , and countless others.

The thing is I absolutely detest each and every one of these nicknames. To my ears they are so ugly.

Personally I don't know anyone with this name (apart from the ex BB contest who I don't actually 'know') so my questions are:

Is this name always shortened?
Am I quite mad to consider it when I despise the common nicknames?
Finally I pronounce it Image-in but it seems to have various other pronunciations such as 'I mo gen', 'Im O Jen' Im Uh Gen' etc

Which is the correct one?

I have an imogen who is always an imogen. I also hate the nn.s
She is im o jen, image-in would be very odd but, bizarely what people from the continent often try to call her as imogen is rarely used outside of the UK.

I know an Im o gen too. She is always Imi.

Imo gen although she's known as Idge!!!!

Oops I just re read my post after reading your reply - I also say Im O Jen but meant to say on another post/thread it's pronounced as Image In' ...

Have other people tried to shorten it? How do you correct them (kindly)?

fwiw, I think the imogen naming bulge has past.
That daft Imogen Thomas woman having a fling with a footballer provided a nice cut off date for all the Imogen's I know - they're all over 3.

noone tries to shorten it.

I don't have an Imogen ( though it was on our short list had dc2 been another girl)
I'm with you in detesting the nn, and would only have wanted to use the full name

However, ime once children get older they will pick up the shortened version of your name whatever... Hence I wouldn't pick a name where I really loathed the nn which are likely to result. I think they need to be acceptable even if they're not what you'd ideally want.

Isobel was on our short list too, and we agreed that Bel or Bella would have been ok as nn but we would have hated Issy which seems to be quite a common nn. Just as well dc2 was a boy!

apostrophe alert - arrrgggh

All the ones I know shorten it.

I think if you really detest the nicknames for a name it might not be the right one.

we know 6 ranging in age from 3 to 50odd.
none of them shorten it but i think one of the teenagers had a bash at various nns for a while before going back to the full name.

Agree with Shores. If you detest the nn I'd stay well clear of the name because it will get shortened at some point. My adam doesn't like my shortened version but I'm barely known by anything else.

i do understand where you are coming from -
we rejected isobel for fear of a 'dizzy izzy'
and constance to avoid 'connie'
i didnt know any shortened imogens and it hasn't been an issue for us though

Every name gets shortened by someone, doesn't mean that everyone has to shorten it, just continue to use the long name you prefer but accept that others will call your DCs whatever derivation they fancy whether your dc like it or not!

I answer to about 4 different versions of my name but only like one of them!

I know 2 Imogen's not shortened

My simple rule with names is, if I don't like the nn('s) then the full name is out.

I love Florence but can't stand Flo etc, so it's out.

Imogen is a great name, but they are all called Immy.

Immy I think is lovely.

Niece is an Imogen, and close friend daughter is Imogen.

Both are always shortened to Imi or Ims.

Sorry but don't use it if you can't bear the shortenings.

I know several and none are shortened, and all are image-in. You obviously need to love where I do.

I know 3. 2 adults who never shorten it and 1 child (8yo) who the family call Immy.

Imo-gen.