Can I shorten this name to Kit?

[MacaroonMama]

DS3 is called Cornelius. It suits him, though was bottom of our list until he popped out and just looked like a Cornelius. Plus my Grandma is Irish so she is delighted.

Shortening it is tricky though. Obviously not Corny! Don't like Neil/Neal. Kit has nothing to do with anything, I know, but is a lovely shortening. At the moment we call him Cornelius or baby or whatever but I imagine at school something shorter will emerge.

Is Kit a bit daft or reasonable given the alternatives?

Thanks all

[MacaroonMama]

Thanks so much for the messages! I feel very relieved that many of you 'get' my thing about nicknames sometimes coming out of nowhere - had never even questioned Christopher/Kit but yes, they are not an obvious pair!

I know it is a fairly unusual name and old-fashioned - for the first few days (he is five months now) we didn't tell anyone, and just tried it out on him to see if it worked! I loved Gabriel and Raphael but they just didn't fit.

Our other two boys have a bit of a C19th US feel to them, so wanted something that would fit in a bit. But also - he does look like a Cornelius! He really does! Four syllables is maybe too much for primary school though. I like some of the suggestions, Linus best, but that is DS1's middle name. I like Con said in an Irish accent but my family are Brummies and it doesn't sound quite as nice then!

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate them.

I might wait and see what he gets called.

[BretonTop]

Kit isn't always a nn; I know of one who is just Kit on his birth certificate.

How old is your Cornelius? Call him what you look OP he's your baby!

[GoEasyJulia]

Con is the usual here. Also have heard Neilus. Or maybe you could use Neil?

[jennasmith951]

I would suggest Cory as well - sounds really cute. The name Cornelius itself is lovely as well! But Kit - not a huge fan of it.

[Numberoneisgone]

Con is the typically shortening in Ireland and I really love it.

[NikiSaintPhalle]

In Ireland it's not a far out name. It's an old man name having a mini-revival, rather like Bertie and Archie and the like in England.

[LadyStarkOfWinterfell]

I meant it's a far out name! So they shouldn't betray that choice by calling him something completely different.

[Gummibaers]

"When you picked cornelius you were making a statement and now you have to stick by it"

What statement was she making? She chose a fantastic name she loves! Does that mean she can't consider different nicknames?

[cecinestpasunepipe]

I had a much-loved cat called Cornelius. We called him Corny for short, but I don't think that would translate to a human little boy!

[MaisieDotes]

Anyone called Cornelius is known as Con in Ireland, as PPs have said.

[PuppyMonkey]

"When you picked cornelius you were making a statement and now you have to stick by it"

Who made you the Baby Name police, Lady Stark?

[Gummibaers]

Cornelius is a great name!

You can shorten to any nickname, why don't you see what name sticks once he starts nursery/school?

Cory is a girls name to my ears, though.

[Haffdonga]

Use whatever shortening you like as a name. It doesn't have to share sounds.

I know (different generations) an Honora shortened to Lulu, a Geoffrey known by everyone in the world as Robby and a Nina whose real name is Constanza. (In each case the parents announced their baby's formal name as X, but to be known as Y.)

If you like Kit and you want a Cornelius for special occasions then go for it. It's your choice, not the rest of the world.

[SueDunome]

ds's friend is called Cornelius; he's known as Corn.

[user1467101855]

Kit is as much like Cornelius as it is like Christopher!

[HedgeSchool]

Con (more usually Conn) is a normal, perfectly nice Irish male name, though. No connotations of con man at all. More medieval high king of Ireland, whose descendants gave their name to Connacht, or Conn O'Neill, created Earl of Tyrone by Henry VIII etc, also commonly short form of Connor/Conor.

[TyrionLannistersShadow]

Kit is a gorgeous name but nothing like Cornelius. Like others have said in Ireland Cornelius is usually Con or occasionally Connie .

[user1465823522]

Irish Corneliuses are generally called Con.

this was going to be my comment

[BathshebaDarkstone]

In a baby names book I had, it said that the diminutive of Cornelius is Neily. Not helpful.

[nectarini1983]

Corey means willy round here!
Con sounds horrible, like Con man.

I think I'd just see how it evolves in time and call him the (long) name you chose for him.

[Artandco]

Linus?

[user1467101855]

You can call your child whatever you like. Ds2 is called Kit by almost everyone, because his baby nickname was kitten (he sort of miaowed rather than cried!) and it stuck, and he likes it.

You can get Peggy or Daisy from Margaret, Maud from Matilda, Jack from John, and lets face it, what has Kit really got to do with Christopher anyway?

[BigGreenOlives]

Neil - well known but not everywhere

[HedgeSchool]

Another frequent Irish shortening of Cornelius in my neck of the woods is 'Nailus'. Which I doubt you'll go for.

[SanityClause]

I knew someone called Cornelius who was always known as Kenny. I don't really like it, but you might?