Charlie or Matthew?

[RudyTuesday]

Me and DH only like two boy's names - Charlie and Matthew. So when our son arrived last week and I was lying in the recovery room we decided to go with Charlie Matthew.

However I'm finding myself tripping over the name when I talk to him or refer to him. Just doesn't seem to be sinking in. DH says the same.

Am now wondering if we should flip the name. Feel ludicrous cos we told everyone.

Has anyone else had similar problems getting used to a name?

Could you change it to Charles Matthew and use Charlie as a nickname, or Matthew Charles?

I prefer Matthew.

If you aren't sure after a week, I would try calling him Matthew instead, to see if it fells "right."

I think all newborns sound strange with a big grown up name. It took me ages to get used to it with mine.

But if Matthew feels more natural, go with that. Other people will adapt quickly.

I'm still not used to DC3's name and he's 11mo. I use a nickname. Everyone else is totally cool with it, though, and there isn't anything else better.

Give it time.

You can of course call him Matthew without changing the birth certificate. A friend did so recently - two names, thought she'd use the first but uses a shortening of the second, so equivalent to Matt in your situation.

Newborns don't suit any names!

We haven't registered the birth yet so Charlie hasn't been made official. My decisiveness is making me feel sick! Seems like such a big decision

^ indecision not decisiveness!

Matthew... every day.

We originally moved away from Matthew as we don't like associated nicknames - matt, matty.

I've never been one for using nicknames as proper names i.e. 'Charlie', 'Alfie', 'Harry'. It would need to be Charles Matthew or Matthew Charles for me, then use Charlie as a nickname (because that's what it is). But I prefer the name Matthew Charles. Flows better.

I'd say register it as Matthew Charles, and call him Charlie for a while. If it still doesn't work in fortnight, start calling him Matthew. :)

Charlie

Matthew

BTW we were umming and ah-img btw two names so tried both for a few days, then finally picked one, called DC it for a day, still felt a bit odd, tried the other one and it worked perfectly. Can't imagine it otherwise now.

Just to add don't worry too much about Matthew being shortened to Matt. I have a Matthew who is 9 we only call him Matthew as he prefers that. All his friends refer to him as Matthew too with the occasional Math thrown in. They have no idea that Matt and Matty are short for Matthew.

My DS1 (now 17) is Matthew. I always loved the name, when I was pregnant I was adamant that I hated "Mattie" and "Matt" - within a day of delivery he was Mattie and I loved it and still do.

Matthew by a mile.
Charlie should be Charles, too many ie names, Alfie, Archie, Freddie, etc etc.
Matthew Charles is nicest.

Matthew.

I have a Charlie and had I known there'd be so many I would have called him something else. I now know 6 Charlie's born in the same year

Matthew is lovely, it doesn't have to be shortened, at least not until he goes to high school.

I have a Matthew - and his name is definitely not shortened to Matt by anyone.

Matthew.

Matthew. But I'm biased!

Mine is def a Matthew at home but has been Matt at school for a couple of years now. I don't mind it and even use it myself sometimes.

Matthew

I have a Matthew, he has grown into his name (though at only 3 he has more growing to do!), I think he'll always be Matthew to us but I fully expect that he will be Matt to his mates as he grows. Go with what feels natural op, sometimes it takes a while for their names to seem theirs. And congratulations on your new arrival