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Original poster

Am I alone in hating this trend?

168 replies

Jossina · 23/04/2019 21:27

Am I the only person who doesn't like the trend of giving children a nickname as their proper name? For instance Tom instead of Thomas or Billy instead of William, Kate instead of Katharine. Aren't these children going to spend the rest of their lives saying, over and over and over, "No, it's just ___. Not short for anything." ?

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fruitbrewhaha · 23/04/2019 21:28

Yeah, I'm not keen either. But names do evolve over time.

MollyYouInDangerGirl · 23/04/2019 21:28

I have a friend who has one of the above "nicknames" you mentioned as their full name, and they were born in the mid-late 80s so it's not exactly just a recent trend

funmummy48 · 23/04/2019 21:29

I think it's fine. I didn't do it for any of mine but can't see a problem with it.

DramaAlpaca · 23/04/2019 21:32

I'm not mad on it either, but each to their own.

It's better than the other modern trend of cutesy names.

Cuppaand2biscuits · 23/04/2019 21:33

I also don't think it's a recent trend. I know a Ben, Kate, Frankie (female- not Francesca), Charlie (female- not Charlotte)
All of which have the 'shortened', nickname version on their birth certificates, all born in the 1980's.

DramaAlpaca · 23/04/2019 21:33

It's not something I'd do, but each to their own.

It's way better than that other current trend of cutesy names.

DramaAlpaca · 23/04/2019 21:34

Oops, got an error message & thought the first one hadn't posted Blush

PlatypusLeague · 23/04/2019 21:39

I know someone who had this sort of name, born in the early 70s. Only one person though. Everyone else was full name on the register but many were known by a nickname.

Thinking of the older nicknames like Milly, Polly, Nancy, Jack, Jim, Charlie etc. would these always have had "full" versions behind them?

EL8888 · 23/04/2019 21:40

But what’s the point of giving them a name when you are only going to used the shortened version of it? To me it seems pointless

Patienceisvirtuous · 23/04/2019 21:43

My DS is Theo, not Theodore because we weren’t fussed on the latter.

Some names are strong enough to stand alone.

I think Kate probably qualifies, but not Tom or Billy... just my opinion though :)

Dhalandchips · 23/04/2019 21:44

I'm nearly 50 with one of those names. Never bothered me.

ReginaPhalange89 · 23/04/2019 21:44

I actually much prefer some "nicknames" to the "proper version" .
Will or Liam is 100% nicer than William, just my opinion of course. And I wouldn't really consider them nicknames since they're officially on the birth certificate.

I'd much rather use a name like that on the BC than give an "official name" that I don't plan to use or particularly like . Like for example I love the name Kate but really dislike Katherine so I'd never put it on a birth certificate if I only intended to call her Kate.

MamaDane · 23/04/2019 21:48

I'm more bothered by all of the -ie/y names, while a name like Kate instead of Katherine doesn't bother me, I dislike Freddie, Albie, Alfie and such.

HopeMatters · 23/04/2019 22:02

I have an 12 year old Kate and I don't think anyone has ever, ever asked if it's short for Katherine. Quite surprised now that I think about it, but I genuinely don't ever remember anyone mentioning it.

Bumblebeesmum · 23/04/2019 22:05

I used to hate them but tbh every single generation has trends & I think we forget that they won’t spend their whole life explaining anything that’s common in their generation

Fatted · 23/04/2019 22:08

I never actually knew Kate was short for anything until my 30s. Blush Grew up with lots of Kate's at school who were born in the 80s.

Although I personally get annoyed with the name Harrison. I always assume people wanted their child to be called Harry but didn't realise what it was a nickname for.

Puffinhead · 23/04/2019 22:11

My DD is named after her deceased Grandmother. I guess it was a gesture of remembrance though I do think it’s a beautiful name albeit slightly old fashioned. We use a ‘nickname/shortened version that we love and we got to choose for ourselves IYSWIM.

Puffinhead · 23/04/2019 22:14

Oh, sorry I think I misread your OP. I know what you mean now Blush

BelulahBlanca · 23/04/2019 22:14

I knew a Jenny that was not short for Jennifer- she must be in her 30s now.

Calixtine · 23/04/2019 22:41

I wouldn’t assume Kate was short for anything.

I don’t mind this trend unless (as pps have mentioned) it’s a really cutesy or informal nickname like Flossie, Dolly, Buddy or Ace.

Kate, Beth, Pippa, Tom, Max, Nate, etc. stand alone perfectly well, IMO.

FromDespairToHere · 23/04/2019 22:42

My mum's dad and my dad's mum were called Harry (not Harold or Henry) and Kate (not Katherine) and were born in the 1900s and 1910s respectively so it's really not a new thing!

How militant do you want to be about it? All Jacks should be John? All Betties or Beths should be Elizabeth? All Mollies should be Mary?

cheesenpickles · 23/04/2019 22:44

I had a boss who would had awkward discounted CVs with nicknames on as people not being formal enough. They looked a bit "oh shit" when I said that may be their actual birth certificate names.

cheesenpickles · 23/04/2019 22:44

*always

MillicentMartha · 23/04/2019 22:45

Charlie, nice name, suits child and middle aged taxi driver/rugby player etc.
Charles, horrible name, suits ageing prince.

Why would you call a DC Charles rather than Charlie if you agreed with above?

lordofthefries · 23/04/2019 22:47

My DS has a ‘nickname name’. I didn’t see the point of putting a name on the BC that he wouldn’t ever use.