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Nicknames!

21 replies

DC2018 · 16/08/2018 22:44

So I've decided it's either Henry or Elias but the clincher is in the nicknames.
I HATE Harry and Hen as a nickname for Henry. Would probably enforce Ray as a pet name instead. Is this reasonable or should I just go with Elias as I do quite like Eli as a nickname.x

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DramaAlpaca · 16/08/2018 22:52

I'm not really seeing Ray as a nickname for Henry, it's too much of a stretch.

I really like Hal as a nickname for Henry.

SuperstarDJ · 16/08/2018 22:57

Why do you need to have a nickname? Henry isnt a long name & Ray is a bit of a stretch.

kettleonplease · 16/08/2018 23:01

Elias a much nicer name imo, go with that if you prefer Eli!

DC2018 · 16/08/2018 23:07

Eek I really don't like Hal either! What are the chances he will get a nickname do you think? Henry is a short name lol
I do love Elias but OH prefers Henry and his middle name with be OH name, Arkadiusz (he is polish). Elias Arkadiusz is a bit of a tongue twisted x

OP posts:
Cindie943811A · 16/08/2018 23:08

I, too, like Hal as a nickname for Henry

AtticaRose · 17/08/2018 08:39

It's not inevitable that a Henry would need a nickname. Definitely doesn't need one from you.

But... It's also going to be partly his decision, not yours. And the decision of his friends. They could come up with all sorts of nonsense - something based on his last name or initials, Haz, Henny, Henz... I don't know.

For what it's worth, he'll be likely to know some Harrys, so I think he's unlikely to use that as a nickname if you don't.

Fireba11 · 17/08/2018 08:51

My cousin had a Henry who is now 18 and AFAIK has always just been called Henry - no nn

Nicola345 · 17/08/2018 08:51

How about Hank as a nickname for henry?

Nixen · 17/08/2018 08:55

I’m laughing at Ray being a ‘stretch’ as my dad has always been Ray, as a nickname for Henry!

17caterpillars1mouse · 17/08/2018 09:01

Isnt Hank a well known nn for Henry.

Love Elias nn Eli and it's alot less common

RedDwarves · 17/08/2018 09:08

Ray is too contrived.

Harry, Hank and Hal are the traditional shortenings of Henry. Ray is short for Raymond and similar names.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 17/08/2018 09:16

I don't get this obsession with choosing a name that has to have the right nn.

All mine have nn that have nothing to do with their actual names. One of their nn is hamster. The real name is nothing remotely rodent like Grin

pilates · 17/08/2018 09:28

Not getting the connection with Henry and Ray either. I know a Henry whose nickname is just H.

pipilangstrumpf · 17/08/2018 09:30

What is it with the obsession to 'find' a nickname for a short name like Henry or Elias?! They are so easy to say as they are, and your nickname doesn't need to be connected to your actual name.

StarfishSandwich · 17/08/2018 09:33

All my friends called Henry have just been ‘Henry’. I even know a Henrietta who goes by Henri so it’s definitely short enough in its own right!

pouraglasshalffull · 17/08/2018 13:29

I know someone called Henry, he just gets called H by everyone including his own family! I sometimes think just single letters are endearing for nicknames such as G or H etc. I don't think you'll be able to avoid him getting called Hen or Harry by friends when he gets older unfortunately

Realistically Elias will get called El by friends when he eventually gets to school age. I don't think he would get called Eli because the pronunciations between the name and nickname are different, but you can call him whatever you want to! I just think when he gets to the age of getting nicknames from friends it'd be El

Icklepup · 17/08/2018 13:32

Elias

BackforGood · 17/08/2018 13:36

IME, what you think their name will be shortened too, isn't what ends up happening. All my dc have names that have a regular, expected shortening - say think David in to Dave - and none of them are ever called that 'expected' nn.

lastnamefirstfirstnamelast · 17/08/2018 13:40

My friends name is Henry and everyone has called Henners for years...

NicknameMustbeBetween4and30Cha · 17/08/2018 13:48

I only know two Henrys, and they're both called Henry. It doesn't seem like a name that needs a nickname to me.

foxtiger · 17/08/2018 14:26

I agree, Nickname. Harry used to be considered a familiar form of Henry, but now that it is so popular in its own right, I think everyone would assume that a little boy introduced as Henry was meant to stay Henry.

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