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Baby names

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

Names you wouldn’t shorten - girls

81 replies

JollyGiraffe12 · 28/02/2020 20:26

I have a name which is always open to various nicknames and I find it irritating. As such, I am after a name for my daughter where you wouldn’t typically feel the need to shorten it. Can anyone think of any?

OP posts:
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LadyMonicaBaddingham · 29/02/2020 10:32

Lola

myplateisfullenoughthanks · 29/02/2020 10:41

I have a Hannah no-one shortens it but there are family nicknames.

Also we have an Esme and she has a nana nickname too

Canklesforankles · 29/02/2020 10:44

Blythe

Kuponut · 29/02/2020 10:48

Of ones that have been suggested...
I know an Erin who gets shortened to 'Rin
Faye... I went through an unfortunate teenage phase of answering to "F"
I was bloody desperate for a short nickname form of the name and my mates obliged!

Basically if it's going to happen - it will!

lljkk · 29/02/2020 10:51

If it's not shortened it's gonna get lengthened.

Ann becomes Annie, Wendy becomes Wazza, Kate becomes Kay, Kerri becomes Kerr-Bear f (Claire becomes Claire-Bear, or Clary) (etc). And that's before they decide they don't like their first name but will go by their middle name that has 7 nns you never intended.

But what do I know. I like nicknames.

Canklesforankles · 29/02/2020 11:14

I think it is difficult to control. A Nel I know gets called Nellie Noodle Grin

PlantPotting · 29/02/2020 11:26

Have any of these helped @JollyGiraffe12

JollyGiraffe12 · 29/02/2020 13:35

Thanks @PlantPottingyes front runners are now Cora, Clara and Anna! Thanks again all Smile

OP posts:
mistermagpie · 29/02/2020 13:50

My daughter is Iris, I can't think of a shortening.

My name has several shortenings and I hate it, so chose my kids names so they couldn't obviously be shortened.

trinklesminkle · 29/02/2020 13:55

Scarlett

Shylo · 29/02/2020 13:57

My mum wanted a name for me that couldn’t be shortened and that’s how I ended up Sarah ..... and it’s what I’ve always been called ..... not overly fashionable nowadays though lol

labyrinth · 29/02/2020 14:11

Brooke

CountFosco · 29/02/2020 20:11

I'm the kind of person who shortens names and I can find a short version of most of the names on here!

I never understand why people are like this. Call people the name they tell you to call them unless you are very very close friends. Or, for children, the name the parents tell you unless you are blood in which case it's fine to have a special name that just you use. DSis has a family NN that only we are allowed to use, her friends use a different NN. MIL (and SIL) use special NN that only they use, that is wonderful and special. But random people? Use the name you are fucking told to use.

OP, there are inconsiderate people who will use nicknames when they are not wanted whatever they are told. They should be ignored. But I work with people who are always called Catherine or Jonathan or Rebecca or Robert. If you insist on a name most people aren't dicks and will use the name you tell them.

Doyoumind · 29/02/2020 22:44

It was me who said that, Count. I'm talking about people who are close to me, not people I work with or who are just acquaintances, for example. I wouldn't call someone something they didn't like. It's more of an affectionate thing but my point is there are few names that truly can't be shortened and many of those mentioned are ones I have regularly (and with permission) heard shortened or have shortened myself.

ChubbyMummy12 · 29/02/2020 22:57

Scarlett

SE13Mummy · 29/02/2020 23:15

I can't think of many girls names that don't have nicknames associated with them. Thinking of DD1's friends (aged 15-17 mostly), only Alice isn't shortened but it would be easy to! Scarlett is often Scar, Milly is Mils, Evie is Eve, Lola is Lo, all the Beatrices are Bea, Esme is Ez, Hannah is Han, Robyn is Bob, Sophia is Sofe, Jasmine is Jaz, Imogen is Mo, Martha is Marf/s, Emelia is Meelie...

We deliberately chose names that have a number of nickname options so our DCs can choose what to go by. DD1's nickname is what she uses 'professionally' but if she wants to switch to her more formal full name as an adult, the option is there for her.

Poetryinaction · 01/03/2020 01:59

I have an Anna.
We all call her Ann or Anna.

AnotherMurkyDay · 01/03/2020 02:04

Ruth
Grace
Eve
Faith
Anne
Beth
Chloe
Claire

joffreyscoffees · 01/03/2020 02:59

DD is Thea, not aware of anyone shortening it yet. I call her 'T' sometimes but doubt anyone else would.

istheresomethingwrongwithme · 01/03/2020 06:05

Ellen

ivykaty44 · 01/03/2020 06:12

Ivy
Eddie
Eve
Rose
Jude
Jean

MrsWhisker · 01/03/2020 06:34

Pearl
Hope

cece · 01/03/2020 06:56

I have a name that can't be shortened. Sometimes it gets lengthened though!

pleasestoprainingplease · 01/03/2020 07:05

I hate that I can't shorten my name. I always wished I was called something else. One of my son's has a name he can shorten & he does himself. That's how he introduces himself to people.

Lots of lovely names have been mentioned though, but in my experience, shorter names just get lengthened.

Mummyeyes · 01/03/2020 07:15

@JollyGiraffe12 @countfosco in Birmingham where I grew up it was usual to shorten names to one syllable. Scottish people used to get particularly upset about it so I guess it's uncommon there. The shortening signified a welcome to the group. Insisting on a full name was seen as being a bit hoity-toity and distant. Conversely use of full names signified rejection and coldness. The Polish and Russian kids at school told us all names have a friendly form and a formal version eg Barbara/Basia and they felt upset if we used their formal names. I understand that and feel like I am being a bit cold when I use someone's full name.