Nicknames / shortened versions of Alexander

[sunhat88]

What are all the nicknames / shortened versions of the name Alexander that people know? Might use a 'J' middle name so could use AJ as an option.

Alex
Alec
AJ (my DS1 is AJ as our surname starts with that letter)
Zander/Xander
Zandy
Sandy
Lex
Lexie

Sacha
Alex
Xander
Al
Ali

Also interested to know... do people pick a shortened version ahead of time to encourage family and friends to use it or would you reccomend trying a few out at the time and seeing what sticks? I'm fully prepared for them to choose their own when they are old enough!

Alex
Alec
Leccy (Mind you people might ask. Where's his twin Gaz
Sander
Zander
Sandy

Our Alexander quickly became Alex and then Al as an adult.

Ds2 born in October is Alexander we picked it as loved the name but he's always Alex now

I know a couple who had an Alexander and immediately called him Xander. I called him that too, (of course), but it somehow felt a bit forced if I'm honest. Recently the couple have started referring to him as Alexander, so I do too.

Haha Leccy and Gaz

Our Alexander gets called Alex, Al, AllyBo, Lex, Lexy. They all just evolved after he was born! Alex and Al are most common. My FIL is an Alexander but always get called Sandy (Scottish).

I would think it varies. Some give their child a long name but use a shortened one all the time or often early one. Some parents always use long version until a nn arises from school. I personally wouldn't be telling others what nn to use unless they asked. I would just use the one I chose.

Yeah, Xander feels like it may feel a bit forced. I can see that.

My Alexander is always Alexander. He'll politely correct people who shorten it to Alex (or anything else).

As a superman fan I've tried to encourage Lex but he's not having it.

I wouldn't bother choosing a nickname for them, just see what happens naturally.

I think Russian Alexanders are always / almost always Sacha - there are "official" nicknames.

Alec is my favourite, also...

Ali
Alex
Lex
Sander
Sandy
Xander
Zander
Xan
Zan
Andy

Yeah. I have a friend that gets all angry when someone shortens their babies name in the 'wrong' way. Would take far too much energy to insist on the nickname everyone is to use. I guess grandparents are likely to always use the full name and the rest can just evolve in time. My dad always called me something different to anyone else but I kinda liked that.

My Alexander is also an Alex. I prefer the full name and was disappointed that it got shortened so quickly by family but he likes it. I also like Xander but agree it does feel a bit forced. We also sometimes call him Alexei and Alexandros but just for fun! Actually quite like Alexei though ( Alexei Sayle?)

Yes, I like Lex too.

Alexei is a good one

Ally, Alex, Exi, Zander, Zand, Lander, Sandy

I'll wait and see what he becomes!

I do prefer the full name to Alex and prefer some of the other nicknames but will see what happens naturallly.

Thanks for all the ideas. I like the fact there's lots of options with this name but the full name itself is also great.

It's interesting a few have said about Xander feeling forced. I do sometimes use that as a nickname as it rolls off the tongue more easily when you have to bellow at them to Get Down or Stop That.

We somehow got to Panda from Alexander which then led to Bear, which is now his normal nickname at home.

DS1 calls our Alexander Lexl. I used to call him my little Lexigon. But he is Alex for everyday.

I think you try out names and settle on one as a family then that ends up being what you introduce the child as to new people. That then ends up being what everyone calls them. Unless they're rude and make up their own versions!

Lol, I can see some people in our lives making up their own versions but yes, what you introduce them as will make a big difference to something sticking.

I once came across an Alexander at a toddler group who went by the interesting nickname of Eck. He was only a baby so that was a nn that his parents had chosen, rather than his peers.