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

Dp wants Nicholas I want Nico. Who's right?

134 replies

CassandrasCastle · 14/09/2019 15:39

We both really like the name Nico, and it works in several languages which is important to us. However, my dp thinks the baby should be called Nicholas then tell people to call him Nico... He thinks people with longer names are more multi faceted or something 🤔
ANYWAY. Nicholas and call him Nico - or just Nico?

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Tubbyinthehottub · 14/09/2019 19:02

I know a Nico. Everybody knows how to pronounce it and I'm pretty sure his birth certificate name is Nicolas. It's a good name.

Frith2013 · 14/09/2019 19:04

I can’t think of Nicholas without thinking of one my dad’s jokes - copper bottom.

Nico is fine.

RainOrSun · 14/09/2019 19:35

I'm a "full names on the birth cert" sort of person, but would go with Nico.
I think you can still go to Nick from it, but not as sure about Nicholas to Nico. But yes to Nicolas (no h) if you are doing that.

NicoAndTheNiners · 14/09/2019 19:45

Well I would obviously say Nico!

//-//

Hecateh · 14/09/2019 20:23

Nicolas - called Nico

He will know himself by whatever you call him and that will carry forward - unless you always call him the long name and then it will be shortened anyway - but not necessarily your preferred way.

I'm one of 7 and Mum didn't want any of our names shortened. She tried to pick names that wouldn't shorten - but that's not easy. The only one whose is shortened all the time is Stephen is Steve. Even my sister Margaret always gets the full name (anyone who dare shorten it is ignored Grin)

I would have loved my name shortened but it's not an easy one. I've got round it in that friends I have met online (and seen in real life) call me Hec. I love it!

LynetteScavo · 14/09/2019 20:35

Nicholas on BC, but Nico in RL

But then I love both names.

LarkDescending · 14/09/2019 20:49

Nicholas. Love it.

museumum · 14/09/2019 20:52

I like nico but would register Nicolas (no h). It makes nico more natural but gives him other options as a formal adult name.

kingat · 14/09/2019 21:15

That's my son's name!:) we went for Nicholas and call him Nico. We are very happy with our choice 5 years later. Nicholas exits in so many languages and its an old well known name.

CassandrasCastle · 14/09/2019 22:14

Thanks all! Aaargh! I just want his name to be Nico - to me Nicolas/Nicholas is a completely different name. I'd love to hear people's experiences of having a long name on their child's birth certificate and then calling them 'officially' by the other, preffered name..

OP posts:
CassandrasCastle · 14/09/2019 22:16

Oh, @15kingat! Does everyone call him Nico quite easily, if that's the right term?
DP is a bit older than me, and likes names in the vein of Nicholas 😌

OP posts:
kingat · 14/09/2019 23:07

Hi Cassandra, he is still little, but yes everyone calls him Nico, including preschool. He knows his full name is Nicholas, thats what he is called when we go to doctor for example, but not a problem at all and he can have options later in life. I for example hate my name and there is no way to shorten it.

user1493494961 · 14/09/2019 23:18

Well it would be a good compromise to have Nicolas on BC but known as Nico, then you're both happy. It also gives DC options.

joblotbubble · 14/09/2019 23:21

Nicolo?

OhMsBeliever · 14/09/2019 23:27

Nico is a cool name. Very cool.

||-//

Boohooyouho · 14/09/2019 23:27

I have a Nicolas. He likes to be called Nicolas. Hates nick or nico. Hates it ever more when I call him knickers.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/09/2019 23:36

I think they're different names.

For some reason the alternative that comes to mind is Lucas.

stucknoue · 14/09/2019 23:37

Nicholas, nico is a shortening (eg for Nicola in Italy) full names give options when youngsters are grown

stucknoue · 14/09/2019 23:41

Ps I know a Nico, his full name is Nicola, he's Italian.

Rachelover60 · 15/09/2019 00:20

Nicholas! You can call him Nico for short, or Nick.

123Dancewithme · 15/09/2019 00:52

Nicolas nn Nico

wibbletooth · 15/09/2019 01:35

How likely is your dh to call him Nicholas if it’s on the birth certificate on the basis that it’s also his name and that while you can use a nickname (no pun intended) and have decided what it is he is equally allowed to call him by his full name?

It’s tricky when there is no right or wrong and everybody’s choices hold equal value but ultimately someone is going to be upset if the other one gets their way....

Pol16 · 15/09/2019 05:12

Hold out for Nico. Nicholas is a completely different name. I like Nico, it sounds Italian.

Icantthinkofanynewnames · 15/09/2019 09:58

You're right that Nicholas IS a totally different name. If you want to call him Nico just call him Nico! It's much nicer than Nicholas anyway. Nicholas will probably be the embarrassing long name that he cringes at when teachers on the first day of school read it out on the register. It's that sort of name.

Icantthinkofanynewnames · 15/09/2019 09:59

(I don't mean that in a harsh way by the way! I just mean that Nico is really cool whereas Nicholas very much isn't. I can imagine a child being a bit fed up about Nicholas being his full name, especially when everyone calls him Nico anyway!)