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Baby names

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

does this nick name work?

78 replies

BeautifulStars93 · 27/05/2015 20:12

Lottie for Violet?
The accent where im from pronounces it more like vio-lot rather than vio-let.
Opinions?

OP posts:
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BeautifulStars93 · 27/05/2015 20:47

Like I said. Where I am from we pronouncei it Vio Lot so Lottie obvipusly comes from that.
There are lots of names where the nickname isnt so obvious.

OP posts:
frolickingpanda · 27/05/2015 20:47

Ettie? or Etta, even. But not Lottie. As pp said it's an established nn, and I would assume it was short for Charlotte also.

Agree it seems a bit "forced".

BeautifulStars93 · 27/05/2015 20:48

We knew shed get Izzy and Belles. Belly has just happened.

OP posts:
ginmakesitallok · 27/05/2015 20:48

My dds are "big stinks" and "little stinks" - funnily enough we didn't plan them along with their real names. Pick a name you like, nicknames will come naturally.

BeautifulStars93 · 27/05/2015 20:49

I wouldnt mind if people presumed she was Charlotte (thats actually a contendor)

OP posts:
Caff2 · 27/05/2015 20:49

VioLot? Really? I have no idea where you could live that that name has lot in it.

SylvaniansAtEase · 27/05/2015 20:49

I think what people are trying to say is - nicknames may be many things, but one thing they're NOT is controllable.

So, if you like Violet but are trying to come up with a cutesy nickname because you understandably think 'Vi' is horrible - then don't call her Violet.

I am utterly bemused by the sudden popularity of this name. It's grim, and Vi is even grimmer. I had an Aunt Vi (always Vi). Her white hair was yellow round the temples from the fag smoke always curling upwards Grin

If you call her Violet, she will PROBABLY get called Vi. She might even call herself Vi. You might get Lottie to catch on, but people will think it's short for Charlotte because that is the full name of most people called Lottie.

Lettie would work better in that it doesn't suggest Charlotte, so people will probably ask, ooh, short for what? Lettice? And you can say no, Violet.

How about Viola? Shortens more naturally to Vee, which is much nicer?

BeautifulStars93 · 27/05/2015 20:50

Yes I agree they naturally come but you still have too consider what they will be.
e.g. I wouldn't have a Georgia as at some point shed likely get George.
we usually base our names on the nickname as through school and growing up nicknames get used a lot.

OP posts:
fattymcfatfat · 27/05/2015 20:50

my DD is bumble bee or demon
DS is monster or little fatty. (his nn is linked to mine on here)

expatinscotland · 27/05/2015 20:51

So name her Lottie.

Caff2 · 27/05/2015 20:53

I think I am getting fixated on this rather than fixating on DS2's serious potential illness but really - Violet becomes Lottie?? HOW??

Lottiedoubtie · 27/05/2015 20:57

The rudeness and pretend misunderstanding of a really really common practise on this thread is astounding!

Lottie for Violet is certainly unusual OP but if you like it it's not the worst idea I've ever heard! And both names are (IMO) nice.

For the doubters- would you say the same disparaging things about those that call their children-
Katherine (katie)
Charlotte (Charlie)
Edward (Teddy)
Robert (Robbie)
Amelia (Millie)
Matilda (Tilly)

Millions of people must pre-select a nickname before birth - it doesn't mean other names won't evolve/end up being used. It also doesn't mean that there isn't a place for the full name in the childs life.

NealCaffreysHat · 27/05/2015 20:59

Nicknames kind of evolve naturally if they are not a direct diminutive of the name. I loved the name Catherine for my first dd but for reasons dislike Cath and Cathy so named her Caitlin at aged 9 she through choice became Cat, I could have used Catherine. My youngest is nicknamed Bobinogs which is very very loosely based on her name. I think pp's are trying to say if you like Lottie call her that if you call her Violet you can't control what nickname comes from that.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 27/05/2015 21:00

Lottie it isn't pretend misunderstanding at all. I genuinely didn't know people pre selected nicknames before birth. I understand someone discounting a name because they hate the likely nickname (eg not calling your child Jonathan if you hate Jonny as there's a strong likelihood people will call him that) but no, I didn't know people said 'can I use this nickname if I call them x'

Lottiedoubtie · 27/05/2015 21:01

You can't obviously have exclusivity on nicknames/control what she calls herself/her friends at school use.

But you emphatically CAN call a baby Lottie in your own home and put Violet on the birth certificate- who's going to stop you?

The argument is whether you should or not- and really, in that, it's a matter for personal choice.

Lottiedoubtie · 27/05/2015 21:03

Really? You've never ever had a friend introduce their new baby to you and say 'this is Matilda, Tilly for short?' (or similar with other names)

I had a baby 9 months ago and I would say 50-80% of people we've met have done that. I find it hard to believe people who've been around children have never ever come across it.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 27/05/2015 21:05

No, never that I can recall. Babies have always been introduced as their names. I've got an 18 month old and know quite a lot of babies/children!

Haffdonga · 27/05/2015 21:05

Misunderstanding of nickname.

Most people think a nickname is a funny or affectionate 'pet' name that becomes commonly used by family or friends without planning (Squidge, Pickle, Princess, Lofty, Smiffy etc). Lottie as a a nickname, no.

OP thinks a nickname is an abbreviation for a longer name chosen by parents (Teddy for Edward, Tilly for Ottilie etc). Lottie as a short name for whatsoever the OP wants, why the hell not?

(I know a baby Fiona, parents announced she is to be known as Nonny. A baby Lolly (short for Honour Confused, an Amelia shortened to Milly and a Milly short for Emily plus an Amelia shortened to Amy.) Choose whatever name you damn well like OP,

But Vio -lot - I've really never heard it pronounced like that in any accent. Are you sure that's what it sounds like?

reuset · 27/05/2015 21:08

It works in similar way you get Polly and Molly from Mary. So why the hell not. Lettie would seem more natural, but...

Lottiedoubtie · 27/05/2015 21:09

Worlds perhaps it's regional then and I apologise for accusing you of being disingenuous. It is really common where I live and I did it myself so I find it a bit Confused that you've literally never heard of children having a given name.

Haff I think you've probably got it.

IggyStrop · 27/05/2015 21:11

"Really? You've never ever had a friend introduce their new baby to you and say 'this is Matilda, Tilly for short?' (or similar with other names)"

Nope. And I'm right in the middle of my baby years. Friends have recently given birth to Milly, Tilly, Rosie and Frankie. No show of "this is Francis, nn Frankie".

IggyStrop · 27/05/2015 21:14

But when all's said and done it really doesn't matter what we think, OP. You're brave posting in baby names, I was too scared.

TandemFlux · 27/05/2015 21:23

I think it fine actually not a huge jump from Violet to Lettie to Lottie.

I always found it odd how Margaret could be shortened to Meg or Peggy.

SuburbanRhonda · 27/05/2015 22:48

Ok, I'll stick my neck out.

I think it's pretentious and controlling to give a baby two names, one for the birth certificate and one for everyday use. I think nicknames should be left to evolve.

TandemFlux · 27/05/2015 22:56

Names do evolve often. At the same time it's easy to plan for Samuel to be called Sam, Daniel to be called Dan etc

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