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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Can we use this nickname?

27 replies

runningandjumping · 08/10/2014 14:07

DD (2) is called Alexandra. We don't really use a nickname for her, but she can;t pronounce her long name and calls herself Lily. Her older siblings have picked it up and call her Lily too. I quite like the nickname, it suits her well (although imho it't too "frilly" for a full name). I'm quite tempted to let the children use the nickname, but would it be too strange to call her another name - will she and everyone else be confused at the end?

OP posts:

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Only1scoop · 08/10/2014 14:08

Ah it's a lovely nn.

ChippingInLatteLover · 08/10/2014 14:09

No, it'll be fine, if you like it.

You will spend your whole life saying 'Her name is Alexandra, but she's called Lily - yes I know :)'

What about Lexi instead?

Thurlow · 08/10/2014 14:09

If everyone's starting to call her that then sure, use it as a nickname. Kids are cleverer than you think and they know they have different names; DD is the same age and has the same name and will variously call herself both the short version and the long version.

Vitalstatistix · 08/10/2014 14:10

Course you can.
You can call her whatever you like.

At least it's a name.

I call mine all sorts

Bowlersarm · 08/10/2014 14:11

I think it's fine. That's often how nicknames evolve.

spideysenses · 08/10/2014 14:14

My dd calls my ds beau, it's nothing like his real name but he answers to it l always wonder where it came from...

squoosh · 08/10/2014 14:15

Of course. This is how nicknames occur, they're not always logical to people outside the family but that doesn't matter a jot.

moxon · 08/10/2014 14:17

But yes. Mostly the point about nn is they can't be forced. They just happen.

ChippingInLatteLover · 08/10/2014 14:20

Yes, they 'happen' and no 'they don't have to make sense out of the house' IF they are just for the family at home, but if you intend to use them for nursery/school/wider family etc then it pays to think about them.

Lily to Lexi would be easy to change. Just tell the older ones and the wee one will pick it up soon enough.

Wellwellwell3holesintheground · 08/10/2014 14:22

DS2 is called Arthur. DD and DS1 call him Boffy. I don't know why either.

MeDented · 08/10/2014 14:24

or make it 'Leli' which sounds like the second syllable of her name with a Li on the end and is probably what your daughter is actually saying. Very cute and obviously a nn rather than a totally different name.

Legionofboom · 08/10/2014 14:28

I think it's fine to let Lily evolve if you are happy for her to be known as Lily.

If you want her to be known as Alexandra I wouldn't let Lily become established as her name.

I have known a few people who are known almost exclusively by nicknames that began in their early childhood and stuck. Their 'real name' has never been used to the point that they do not really associate themselves with it.

minkah · 08/10/2014 14:32

Lily is much much nicer than Lexie.

Alexandra at DS school is called 'Allie' by the other children.

evertonmint · 08/10/2014 14:34

My 4yo dd has a nickname which is not directly taken from her full name but is a proper name (so not a pet name for home - she also has one of those!). We have always used both interchangeably. She just tells everyone whichever she's in the mood for - so might say "my name is Alexandra but it's also Lily" or just use whichever one she prefers on the day when asked. It's usually the nickname, but sometimes the full name.

Most people she sees regularly know both and use both interchangeably.

I have another friend whose DD only ever knew she was called Lily, not Alexandra as well. It was a bit tricky in formal situations (drs, nursery, school) but is fine now she's older and can use both. She is only ever known as Lily.

devoncreamtea · 08/10/2014 15:01

The best kind of nn's just happen - Lily is a fab one!

My daughter's name is Bess and she has become 'Bear' for no reason at all - it suits her!

grufallosfriend · 08/10/2014 15:37

Cute nickname, but bear in mind once she starts school/nursery it helps if the initial of her nickname is the same as her full name (A) when it comes to naming things etc.

squeak2392 · 09/10/2014 00:55

Nah, it's fine. I couldn't pronounce my brother's name when I was little (coincidentally, Alex) and to this day I call him something else. A bit different, because he doesn't use it himself. But everyone in the family knew who I meant and I knew what his real name was. If I went to his classroom to ask for him (never did, cos that would be weird, but you get the idea) I'd have asked for Alex.

You can carry on calling her Alexandra and let the kids call her Lily and then by the time she starts school she should know what her actual name is.

fizzymittens · 09/10/2014 21:52

Lily is lovely and as it has evolved all by itself I don't see why you would change it. Please God don't change it to the hideous 'Lexi'.

Minorchristmascrisis · 09/10/2014 21:56

Ds' nickname is Moo! His name is Max and we always called him Maxi Moo and the Moo part stuck! Disclaimer: we don't actually use this nickname outside of the house, particularly now that he is a strapping teenager!

fizzymittens · 09/10/2014 22:02

devoncreamtea you win my prize for both loveliest name and loveliest nickname! Bess and Bear are just fab.

jamtoast12 · 09/10/2014 22:12

Sorry I think I'd find that odd. Shorten it by all means, even give her a random nickname like moo above. But lily is an actual name - a completely different one with no link to her current one.

littlesupersparks · 09/10/2014 22:14

Lellie is a cute alternative - but whatever sticks just go with it - who cares!

HouseAtreides · 09/10/2014 22:44

I call DS Peepatron!
(That's Peep-a-tron, not Pee- Patron)

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 10/10/2014 02:12

It seems like she has renamed herself already, op. Nothing wrong with that. I knew of a girl named Laura who was known as Poppy, even by her teachers.

devoncreamtea · 10/10/2014 15:22

Ahh - thank you fizzy! Do feel free to steal - there aren't enough Bess' about!

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