Names that can be shortened

[lastonetime]

DD is Elizabeth which we shorten to Ellie

DH jokes a nice short name if she wants to be a surf teacher and boss name if she wants to take over the world!

We are expecting DC 2 and want a formal name again that has a cute short version

DH is very picky so I expect it to take along time for us to agree on anything but eager to get some inspiration!

We don't know the gender just yet either so up any suggestions

Katherine nn Kate

Sorry posted to soon

Lilian nn lily
Evelyn nn Evie

Alexander nn Alex
Christopher nn kit
Fredrick nn Freddie

Josephine - josie
Isabella - Bella

Thanks @Vanannabananna

Three of those are already close family names (mine, FIL and our only nephew) but exactly the kind of thing we are after!

Matilda- tilly
Charlotte- lottie
Jennifer- Jennie
Penelope- penny
Harriet- Hattie
Francesca- Frankie

Your family obviously have good taste 😁. My DD is a kate so that’s why it was top of the list.

Boys:

Christopher nn Kit ;already suggested)
Wilf(red) nn Wilf
Barnaby nn Barns or Barney
Nathan/Nathaniel nn Nate
Rafferty nn Raffy
Sidney nn Sid
Casper nn Cas
Jasper nn Jas
Chester nn ches
Otis nn Ottie or Oat

Elliot or Elijah nn Eli
Or Ellis nn Eli

Gabriella-Bree

Girls

Imogen Loads of nn options
Edith nn Edie
Margaret nn Maggie or Peggie
Clementine nn Clemmie
Roxanne/Roxanna/Rosanne nn Roxy etc
Delilah nn Lilah
Ottilie n Ottie
Jemima nn Jem or Mima
Holly
Mabel Nn May

Elizabeth is the ultimate name for NNs. There must be about 12 or more recognised diminutives. It’s great that it gives them choice later. You’ll struggle to find another one with so many short forms TBH.

Catherine
Alexander
William
Edward
Isabelle
Francesca
Leonard
Alexandra

Penelope (Nellie Penny)
I like PPs suggestion of Katherine (Kate)
Charlotte Lottie
Dorothea Dottie Thea
Beatrix. Beatie Trixie
Bridget Bridie.
Samantha Sammy.
Harriet Harriet. Ettie
Teresa Tess
Florence. Florrie. FLossie. Renie.
MatildA Tilly. Mattie.

Harold Harry
P atrick Paddy
James Jimmy Jay
Nicholas Nick
Michael Mike
Vincent Vinnie
Douglas Dougie
Richard. Richie. Ricky.
Stanley Stan
William. Billy Will
Charles ChArlie

Sorry should have listed them with possible diminutives.

Catherine (Cathy, Kate, Cat, Cath)
Alexander (Alex, Alec, Al, Xander, Sasha)
William (Will, Bill, Billy, Liam, Gil)
Edward (Ted, Ed, Eddie, Teddy)
Isabelle (Izzy, Belle, Bella)
Francesca (Fran, Franny, Frances, Chesca)
Leonard (Leon, Leo, Len, Lenny)
Alexandra (Ally, Alex, Alix, Zandra, Shura, Sandy)

Also Matilda or Mathilda (Tilly, Mattie, Tilda, Hilda (!) or Millie)

Madeline
Cassandra
Jessica
Annabel
Victoria
Genevieve
Clemency
Rosemary
Theodora
Lucinda

Sebastian
Albert
Alfred
Wilfred
Theodore
Dominic
Thomas

Most names can be shortened!

How about

Jessica (Jess)
Alexandra (Alex)
Susannah (Susie)

Dominic (Dom)
Quentin (Quinn)
Maximilian (Max)

Henry nickname Harry or Hal

@Lavenderblues I know what you mean about all names being shortened, i guess I mean almost baby shortened versions maybe?

Like I could see a Matilda being Tilly, but I couldn't imagine calling a 6 month old Dominic Dom,

Not sure if I'm being very clear in what I mean

Why don’t you just use the short version? Or am I missing something?

Alex- for either boy or girl!

Theodora or Theodore. Thea or Theo.

@Onetwothreeeee we just wanted something that's was a more of a name in itself than a short version of a name,

the three of us all have names that are longer and then our "Nickname" is still a name in its own right, so we can use either.
I'm not keen on the idea of just shorter version of the same name eg Emma to Em

@Epmama I do love Theodora/Theodore/Theo but I don't think my DP does unfortunately

My name is Rebecca and can obviously be shortened to Becky, Becks, Becca etc

I'm a Becky. I don't like it, but it fits your criteria!!

Some of mine are more diminutives than shortenings:

Sarah (Sally, Sadie)
Margaret (Peggy, Meg, Mags, Daisy, Maisie)
Mary (Molly, Polly)
Ann (Nancy, Anya, Annie)
Helen (Nellie)
Winifred (Winnie, Fred)
Henrietta (Hattie, Hennie, Henry, Hal)

Edward (Ned, Ted, Ed)
John (Jack, Jay)
Albert (Albie, Al, Bert, Bertie)
Jacob (Jake)
Alfred (Freddy, Alfie)
Philip (Pip, Lip, Phil)