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Baby names

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

Rebecca "Ruby"?

40 replies

itmsylifeitsnowornever · 26/01/2020 17:58

Can Ruby work as a nickname for Rebecca?

We are expecting baby number 4. We like longer names that can be shortened. I adore Rebecca but dislike Becky or Bex.

We already have Annabelle "Annie", Matilda "Maddie" and Beatrice "Trixie"

OP posts:
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Janaih · 26/01/2020 18:00

Just call her Ruby then?

SundayMorningSun · 26/01/2020 18:00

You can use whatever nickname you like. It doesn't even have to be related to the name, surely.

Batqueen · 26/01/2020 18:00

The Rebecca’s I know are both Becca

Scrunchy95 · 26/01/2020 18:01

Ruby is not short for Rebecca but you could use

Beth, Bes or Betsie if you don’t like those too.

TheVanguardSix · 26/01/2020 18:01

My niece Rebecca is a Ruby. Less so now that she's in her late 20s. Grin But we always called her Ruby growing up.

Apolloanddaphne · 26/01/2020 18:04

My Rebecca is known as Becca.

TheVanguardSix · 26/01/2020 18:04

Beth, Bes or Betsie That's so wide off the mark.
Those are nicknames for Elizabeth.

Go with Ruby OP. It's fine.

ItsARaveDave · 26/01/2020 18:56

Nope, absolutely not a nickname for Rebecca.

bridgetreilly · 26/01/2020 18:58

It can be a family or pet name. It's not a natural shortened form.

I would just call her Ruby if that's what you want to call her.

dementedpixie · 26/01/2020 18:58

Just call her Ruby if that's what you like. I think its weird to choose names for their nickname.

DramaAlpaca · 26/01/2020 19:00

I've heard of a Rebecca being called Rebbie, which is along the same lines as Ruby. Ruby is nicer, though.

Tinty · 26/01/2020 19:04

Ruby is not a nickname for Rebecca. But then Maddie is not a nickname for Matilda. So you obviously aren’t worried either way. So just call her Rebecca then call her Ruby as her pet name.

mummyof2ds · 26/01/2020 19:05

Just call her Rebecca and ruby for her middle name

Biancadelrioisback · 26/01/2020 19:06

My name's Rebecca and I've never heard of Ruby as a shorter version.

Bluewater1 · 26/01/2020 19:06

I think Ruby would not work as a nickname for Rebecca. I think Becca is lovely though as a shortened version

Vaper1 · 26/01/2020 19:22

I know a Rebecca, goes by Rea

BlueWonder · 26/01/2020 19:22

Your other DC names are all less popular than Ruby. It''s a lovely name but every class or sports team my daughter is in has at least three girls called Ruby. They all go by initials as well or another nickname based on surname to distinguish them.

glasgow357 · 26/01/2020 19:25

No

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 26/01/2020 19:48

Rebecca has a lot of pet names so if Buffy can be one, I dont see why not Ruby. Rubina is also a long version of Ruby.

You could also pair any Ru starting first name with any B starting middle name. Like Ruth Bianca for example.

I personally think it's a stretch. Why don't you just use Ruby and do the nickname Rubes or something? Ruby is gorgeous as a first name without reaching for something you'll like less just to use it as a nickname.

Poppydaisies · 26/01/2020 20:07

Ruby is a name in its own right. If you like it, call her Ruby.

Rebecca is a totally different name. It has no 'u' in it so Ruby would not be a natural shortening. Rebs, Beccy or Becca would.

Astronica · 27/01/2020 03:44

You can use anything you want as a nickname - despite what people may say there aren't actually any laws or rules about this, just history and traditions of usage. I think it's fine though unexpected, and love both Rebecca and Ruby. I also think Beth, Bess, Betsy are fine for Rebecca nicknames too, even though traditionally used for Elizabeth. And at the risk of sending the name rule people into apoplexies of horror, I think anything beginning with R or B might work too, eg Bobbie, Biddy, Reggie, Belle, Birdie.

Biancadelrioisback · 27/01/2020 08:25

Rebecca has a lot of pet names so if Buffy can be one, I dont see why not Ruby

Buffy is short for Elizabeth, not Rebecca...

user1493494961 · 27/01/2020 11:30

Another one who can't understand why you don't just choose Ruby. I know 3 Rebecca's (all adult) and they all shorten to Becca.

17caterpillars1mouse · 27/01/2020 11:34

The only way I think it could work is if her mn was Ruby. Rebecca Ruby sounds nice. I like Becca as a nn is that an option.

As an aside I much prefer Rebecca to Ruby

Foldinthecheese · 27/01/2020 11:39

I know a Rebecca who is sometimes called Reba.

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