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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Am I the only one who hates shortenings?

96 replies

Celestia26 · 25/07/2017 18:00

I know this is a strange thing to post but does anyone else hate shortenings or nicknames? It seems to be a popular subject and I'm always seeing threads such as 'I like this nickname but don't like the longer name, what else can I use as a bc name?'. I don't really get this. I feel like you should name your child a name you like, not just one that you can derive a likable nickname from? I personally gave my children names that cannot be shortened, simply because I like the name and that's what I have called them. For example: 'I like Kit, but don't like Christopher, what else can I use?' I don't get it!!! Am I alone? Surely if you like a name, you should use it without needing a 'Sunday best' name. Sometimes these nicknames bear little resemblance to their birth certificate counterpart!

OP posts:

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Bumpitup44 · 26/07/2017 19:45

And yes it is a known shortening just not a very common one :)

Jooni · 26/07/2017 19:48

No, you're right that I do not know you at all and I'm sure that you're a perfectly lovely person. I'm not trying to attack you personally.

It is a bit unfair on you that I've latched into this thread in particular to go off on one about these "I don't understand..." posts. There are plenty of worse ones out there. But yes, I do find threads like these disingenuous and self-indulgent. Not you as a person - as you say, I don't know you at all - but this type of post.

Alicia called Lolly, James William called William... who cares? And as for why people choose those names - well, surely it's because they want to, they like them, and it's a free country?

squoosh · 26/07/2017 19:49

I particularly do not want my son's name (Alexander) shortened and eve,n more particularly do not want it shortened to Alex.

Poor old Alexander is probably 25.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 26/07/2017 20:10

I don't think that does make your point though. You still haven't explained why you care??

BendydickCuminsnatch · 26/07/2017 20:11

Bump I know an Elizabeth known as Buffy too! And my son is always introduced as his shortening so no-one knows his full name unless they're told. No big deal!

bigmouthstrikesagain · 26/07/2017 20:24

I am struggling with the idea that some shortening are "fine" and some not.

As the progenitor of a child with a not fine shortening, though we use y not ie. I can state that we chose the long name as it is beautiful and may be preferred when dd1 is an adult, but use the shortened version with a y because it is the name of one of my late father's favourite singers. As he was not around it was a nice tribute. I have two other children with two syllable names but apparently dd2 name is a nickname for Mary or Dorothy historically.

kittytom · 26/07/2017 20:26

I loved the long and short version of my DD's name for different reasons. It was only a few days before she was born that I realised one was a shortening of the other. So I used both and she gets called both.

Original poster

Celestia26 · 26/07/2017 20:27

Bendydick...Maybe it's an irrational dislike, I don't know. Maybe I can't even explain it. Did anything ever rub you the wrong way and you couldn't explain why? Maybe it's just because it's something I'm not used to, who knows. Anyway, in future I'll refrain from posting threads on here, I didn't realise I had to unpick my reasoning for everything. Sometimes you just like things, and sometimes you don't. Tomorrow there will probably be another thread on here called "I don't understand people who hate nicknames", and I'll be OK with that.

Jooni, thanks for the apology, I appreciate it. I am actually a really nice person ☺

OP posts:

BillBrysonsBeard · 26/07/2017 20:31

I don't get it either.. I have an Alfie and Charlie because I love the names, never even thought about putting a longer one down.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 26/07/2017 20:38

No, I can pretty much always identify why I feel a certain way. Especially if something bothers me enough to start a discussion thread about it. But then, I am pretty ace

BendydickCuminsnatch · 26/07/2017 20:40

Sorry, that was awfully flippant. It's just alarming to me that you seen so very wound up about this, when you don't even know why? Maybe you should think about why it bothers you, or just let it goooooo. People are different.

Original poster

Celestia26 · 26/07/2017 20:41

And modest it seems 😂 😂 😂. Didn't realise identifying feelings was a prerequisite for posting on a Mumsnet thread. We should get them to put it on their rules and regulations just so everyone is clear on the matter.

OP posts:

Original poster

Celestia26 · 26/07/2017 20:45

Cross posting...Yes a little flippant. I'm not as wound up about it as it may appear. It's just something that struck me as interesting after seeing so many posts and threads constantly giving importance to shortenings and nicknames. I honestly didn't think I was going to have to explain myself so much! It was supposed to be a casual lighthearted and interested post, not something to cause contention.

OP posts:

Jooni · 26/07/2017 20:45

Haha I'm sure you are, really.

At least we can all agree that we're all wonderful!

Queenofthedrivensnow · 26/07/2017 20:47

I don't like girls names that are shortened to boys names. Toni, Terri - for my children - obviously other people can call their kids whatever they want.
One kid name can't be shortened - the other one everyone said would get called Ellie but it's never happened.

My niece is called Isabelle. We call her Isabelle - shock horror.

dementedma · 26/07/2017 20:56

The dds both use short versions of their names and alwyas have done
Ds is Joseph because we love the name. Not Joe. Not Joey. When teachers at school call him Joe he says politely "my name is Joseph" . So no shortening. His big sisters do sometimes affectionately call him Fofers or Fofie from when he was very tiny and couldn't pronounce his name and used to say he was called "Fofuf"

Argeles · 26/07/2017 21:06

I'm totally with you op.

I can't stand shortening of names, unless the owner of that name wants to shorten it.

When my DH and I like a name, we always see if it can be obviously shortened, and if it rhymes with anything horrible or stupid. If the name fails at either of these, it's usually off our list straightaway!!!

The problem now is that we both really like a boys name, and it's the only one we can agree on, but it can be shortened in 2 different ways. We can't seem to scribble this one off of our list, but keep on saying that the likelihood of his name being shortened by others is very high. I think if I heard anyone doing so, I'd rip their arm off and whack them with the wet end.

Topseyt · 26/07/2017 21:32

I have a name that cannot easily be shortened, so I don't and just go by the full version. Nicknames? Well, DH and I have nicknames for each other that have nothing to do with our actual names.

All of my DDs shorten their names. Their names have nice long and short forms. It isn't an issue.

My parents were very against name shortening. My sister has a name which can be shortened, but if anyone did then my parents would pull them up sharply on it straight away.

It was double standards really as my parents have always shortened their own names. In fact, I have never heard either of them being called by the full version. They just shrug if it is pointed out.

Buntysoven · 27/07/2017 01:00

I have a name which is easily shortened and due to my dm's strength of will it never has been! I chuckle when I hear nns are inevitable. They are not abd I have never felt the shortened version has anything to do with me.

MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 27/07/2017 10:54

Both mine have, and are called, by traditional names. I like the unshortened version but l also made sure I liked the shortened ones too. There are many derivations of both but none are used at the mo.

We have family nick names which are nothing to do with their names.

They may even have other nick names when older that their mates make up.

dementedma · 27/07/2017 19:00

argeles if you love the name, use it and just correct people who shorten it. As I said my ds is Joseph and my brother is Richard - neither accept shortenings. DS has a friend called Samuel.No way would he ever be Sam. People get used to it.

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