Using the ‘less obvious’ nickname

[BadAlice]

We’ve picked a name for DD (first time I’ve typed that, weird!) and part of it is that I am very keen on one nickname over another. However, it’s not the nickname you would immediately shorten it to IYSWIM.

Imagine Tori over Vicky (Victoria), Cesca over Frankie (Francesca), Nelly over Penny (Penelope) etc.

It’s also traditionally a male name in the same vein as Teddy and Bobbie for example.

I guess I’m just looking for reassurance that this is going to work!

I know a Georgina whos always been known as George. She introduces herself as George now and everyone knows her by it. Her mum gave her the nn when she was born apparently. I didn't actually know her full name until about 5 years Into our friendship!

Oh, I missed that the shortening was a traditional male name, op.
Why is it so important to you that your daughter has what will appear to be a boys name?

I forgot Georginas - I know a Georgie named after her grandfather and a Gina.

If it's Georgina and will be George I love that.

@Thisismytimetoshine

Oh, I missed that the shortening was a traditional male name, op. Why is it so important to you that your daughter has what will appear to be a boys name?

@Thisismytimetoshine It’s not ’so important’. I just prefer it to the other shortening of the name. I won't lose sleep if she ends up going by something else.

Yes it can work, just be mindful the child may decide for themselves! We have an Elizabeth and called her Elizabeth or Libby. When she was two she called herself ELibbyBess, then dropped the ELibby and called herself Bess - we thought she was saying Beth but she was very clear correcting us! We don't mind and actually interchange all 3(!) Something we never thought we would do. She never refers to herself as Libby (although she does reply to it) so it's quite likely in the long-run that may get abandoned and she'll Elizabeth nn Bess.... a name we would have never chosen but it really suits her.

Is it Winifred? I think people would naturally go for Winnie, as opposed to Freddie but you could keep correcting them!

Do you like the more obvious shortening? If you don't, steer clear of using the full name because you may find yourself with a toddler DD who is adamant her name is the other shortening. When DH and I were naming DD1, we discounted at least one name because we couldn't agree on preferred shortenings. The name we chose has two obvious short versions. We call her one of them but also love the other. Her friends call her all sorts of things vaguely related to her full name.

I think it also depends on how left-field the shortening is. Are you talking Harriet to Harry/Hattie/Ettie, Matilda but choosing Matty over Tilly/Tilda, or Henrietta but not going for Henry/Etta/Ettie and calling her Hank? I personally think Harry or Matty would be fine whereas Hank feels like too much of a stretch.

Your baby your pick! You’ll use her name more than anyone else so will be in control until school at least and it should have bedded in by then.
I have a friend Josephine who is Effy to old friends, jo jo to family and introduces herself as Josie and uses that at work. Nn change over time. Go with your preference and enjoy your new baby.

It will work :) I have a Joseph and we just introduced him as the shortening we wanted rather than Joe. He’s 5 now and never been Joe (unless I’m saying ‘let’s go Joe’!). I think it works because we initially chose the shortening we wanted, then thought we ought to put a longer version on the birth certificate
Similarly my sister has just had a daughter, wanted a certain name, let’s say Jules (not the case). She then decided on Juliana for long name on BC. My mum was like ‘oh she’ll probably be Julie or Ana ‘in the family’’... you just have to go, ‘no, she’s Jules!’ And then if you pull people up on it they generally get the message once and for all!

@phthalo what’s the nn for Joseph that’s not Joe? I love the name Joseph but not mad about Joe and assumed that was the only nn. Thanks!

@Onekidnoclue I’ve messaged you

We have a Joseph that considered being Seph.

It can absolutely work. My daughter is known by her diminutive and it’s not the common one for her BC name (She’s Evelyn on her BC and known as Effie) Never once has she been called Evie and wouldn’t respond to it if she was as she just has no association with it. Just impose your chosen diminutive from birth.

Sep and Pepe are shortenings for Joseph found in Europe. We seem to shorten from the start of the name, so eg Joe or Chris, or Seb. In Europe you would find eg Bastien and Topher.

I'd just notify people

"Hi everyone, baby arrived last night. We have named her Roberta, but she will be known as Robbie day to day"

People here are so weird about nicknames. I have a long name to honour family members but have been know since birth as a shortened version. My name can be shortened in many ways, but my shortened version feels like my name more than the long one. Just introduce them as the short version when they are born, eg this is my daughter Billie (Wlihemina) and nobody will bat an eyelid. I like having a less formal name and then a "grown up" one for when I have my very serious hat on!

My Georgina is Genie, she is 13 (started of as Georgina and then progressed to Gene, like to think of my nan Jeanne but now I always call her Genie but her friends call her Georgina! ) My dad has somehow made his own name for her as Gina!