Cass? For a boy?

[devoncreamtea]

Just read this on another thread, quite liking! However, wouldn't go for Cassius as don't like so much....After staring for hundreds of years so far at names lists, I feel like everything sounds weird - what are your thoughts on Cass (no long name), for a boy?

Can I ask why those who hate nicknames as names think that? In my family there are loads of people who are known by a shortened version of their name and HATE the longer version and view it as a real embarrassment. Two have even changed it formally. Why give a name you don't like as much just for the sake of having a "proper" name if you never intend to use it? Isn't it just a hassle having to remember which version you put on which form and having to correct people "actually I prefer Cass" or whatever? Has always puzzled me but seems to be a very common view on mumsnet.

lurker because there are certain situations where it is more appropriate to have the formality of a full name. Nickname-names convey informality and in many cases youth, which can come across as inappropriately cutesy. Giving a full name gives a person the choice between the full form or a diminutive. Imagine if you relatives had been given nicknames, hated them, and changed formally to the full form? It would be much harder to do than the other way around.

Not everyone's opinion, I appreciate, but it is mine.

Fair enough. I guess I feel the same about some nicknames if they actually do sound cutesy. Not sure Cass does though, or plenty of others that adults are commonly called. Of course anyone might hate and want to change their name but generally speaking you get used to what you are actually called. It's having an extra little-used formal name that you might hate that I worry about.

I instantly thought of Cass Pennant too

totally agree Ham. also a name may sound great on a child but not so good on an adult when formality is required.

at least with most formal traditional names they can be shortened if wanted by the person.

I like Cass - it's the name my dad's name is shortened to (although everyone spells it Kass).

I have a baby Caspian, often shortened to Cass. Love the name!

Mmmmmm Castiel. God's holy tax accountant. Sorry, what was the question?

Caspian is my new favourite name.

Cassidy?

I like Cass, no longer form needed.

I'm unconvinced by the argument that having a longer form is necessary for formal situations. Nick Clegg, Ed Milliband and Alex Salmond are leading political parties under their nicknames (I assume). That's pretty formal. Sometimes it seems the only people to use the longer version are your parents and the passport office.

Cass is a bit flowery for me. Know an arabic boy called Qais which I like.

I love Cass.

How can anyone think the one syllable name 'Cass' is flowery?