Charles or Charlie on birth certificate ?

[BoichallH]

One of the names we really like is Charlie but my husband is insisting he should be Charles on the birth certificate. I love Charlie but don't like Charles really. What are your thoughts, should I have the full name on the birth certificate or choose another name entirely ?

Are you ever going to call him Charles?

I'd find it odd to have a BC for a child named Charles if I never called my child that. I would feel distinct dissonance, I think.

Whether that would lead me to put Charlie on the BC or to pick another name, I'm not sure.

Charles for sure! Nicknames on birth certificates make me twitch.

I didn't like Samuel but couldn't bear to put just Sam on the bc. So Samuel he is, though he's almost never called that. I like it now. :) Same as my Maggie, who is "really" Margaret.

I have a friend who has a Charlie who is just that. I told her I wish she hasn't told me. I was joking kind of :o

Charles.

Charles on the bc.

using NN on the birth certificate is so limiting. You might want to call him Charlie - he might prefer Chas/Charles.

FWIW my sister has always been called lizzy/Liz - but for Lizzy to have been on the bc would have been just odd IMO

Charles - without a doubt.

Charles on the bc

I'd use the full name Charles on the bc. And I wouldn't name my child Charlie if I didn't like Charles as to me they're the same name.

Charles def on BC - how is he going to know he's in trouble if he doesnt have a full name for you to use!!

I knew i was in trouble when my mum used my bc name (think Rebecca!/ Becky)

Charles for sure! Nicknames on birth certificates make me twitch

But why does it make you twitch - surely you never see anyone else's birth certificate?

My DS is called 'Charlie' and his BC says 'Charlie'. One or two people insist on calling him Charles - doesn't bother me or him. He can always call himself Charles - or anything else for that matter - if he wants to.

Charles, for sure.

I think the current fashion for cutesy nicknames (Charlie, Archie, Alfie, Evie, Poppy etc) may soon end with such names starting to sound dated/old fashioned. Charles, however, is a classic name that gives your son more options imo.

Stop Ragwort! Stahhhhp! :o

I have no idea, I just cannot countenance it. I heard of someone called just Billy once and it made me shudder. I don't even know him! I have a problem.

I am okay with Jack not John on a BC but I think that's it.

Charles on the BC. I have a very short name that doesn't allow much flexibility for change, or affectionate nick names. I really envied people with names they could adapt. We gave one of our dcs a longish name (think something like Gwendoline) and used a diminutive for the first 12 months that we really really liked, eg 'Gwen' - but it became really clear that she just was not a 'Gwen', the name ever suited her, though we loved it as a name. So she got called the full name until she went to school when she and her friends came up with a totally different shortened version that is totally right for her. Give him the option.

I think you can put whatever name you want on the bc. If you don't like Charles don't put it down, why on earth would you name your son a name you don't like!

I'd use Charles. Why not give him the option of his own nickname, perhaps Charlie, perhaps Chas or Chuck?

Agree that if you don't like Charles, I'd reconsider and find a name you love.

It's the High Court judge thing. He needs a name he can put on the application form. (I know that's not how it's done, but you know what I mean)

I know lots of Charlies/Billies/Mikes who became Charles/William/Michael once they started getting serious about their careers.

I'd probably put Charles on the birth cert purely because when you're angry bellowing 'CHARLES' will sounds much more ferocious than 'CHARLIE'. You can even channel the Queen, I'm sure her Charles pisses her off all the time.

The name Charles has suddenly started to look really weird.

If in doubt, always go for the option with most flexibility.

Charles!

I don't like it either, really. But maybe he will, and will really thank you for giving him the option. Or maybe he'll always be Charlie and it won't matter at all.

I don't understand a BC name when it will never be used. If you like Charlie then just register him as that.

If you use Charles, please don't make the mistake I did and only use it when they're in trouble! That's the reason DS hates his bc name!

In the future, there are going to be an awful lot of High Court Judges, if MN is anything to go by!

There will be more High Court judges than all the other professions combined. And not one of them will be called Poppy, no siree, because a High Court judge called Poppy would never be taken seriously enough. Apparently.

I'm putting a reminder in my phone for February 2065 to remind me to check the first names of all UK High Court judges.

Personally I find Charlie a little cutey and would definately give him the full name option.