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Girls name that can't be obviously shortened

83 replies

NoNameIdeas · 31/07/2020 09:24

Due baby 2 in November and looking for girls names that can't be automatically shortened, although fully aware they'll still probably end up with a nickname! We have a little boy called Henry already.
So far we like Erin and Verity.

Thanks for any suggestions!

OP posts:
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MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 12:25

Lydia - Lyd/Lyds
Grace - Gracie
Joy - Joycie?
Fern/Fearne - Ferny, Ferniture
Ava - Aves
Eva - Eves
Olive - Ollie
Phoebe - Phoebs
...

Onestepup · 31/07/2020 12:26

Alice
Molly
Ruby
Stella
Cara
Seren
June
Lena
Lily
Olive

NavyBerry · 31/07/2020 12:28

Verity will become Vera I'm afraid

bluemoon2468 · 31/07/2020 12:58

So many of the names I've seen suggested on here are names of people I know, whose names are always shortened. I know a:

Sally who is Sal
Zoe who is Zo
Ellen who is El

Some that are trickier to alter: Clara, Cara, Cora, Ada, Ava, Niamh, May, Iris.

But tbh I wouldnt get too hung up on it... in my experience nicknames will come about regardless. I know a mum who named her kids Mark and Joy in the hope that she'd chosen names that wouldn't be nicknamed - when they were little, Mark became Markie and Joy became Joy-Joy, and as a teenager Mark is known to his friends by his surname, and Joy is known as J 😆

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 13:00

Erin will be Ez.
Steve will be Ste
Ian will be E
Sally will be Sal
Clare will be Clary.

Blueroses99 · 31/07/2020 13:07

Not the point of the thread but I think Erin sounds too close to Henry linguistically.
Eh-rin
Hen-ri
Could get confusing if you’re calling out for one or other and both (or more likely in my experience, neither) respond.

Timmytoo · 31/07/2020 13:08

Skye, Belle, Nina, Kay, May, Summer, Bertha, Mabel, River, Joy, Hope, Sita, Avery, Morgan, Tina

sashh · 31/07/2020 13:21

Another who thinks short names get lengthened and anything that doesn't have a conventional shortening are usually assigned something with a Z.

Many years ago I knew a Darren whose parents picked it as not being able to shorten, by the time he was 7 he was Daz.

The only name I've come across that was never shortened was 'TJ'.

user1477391263 · 31/07/2020 13:45

Short names tend to get lengthened instead---make sure you are OK with the longer forms!

I see Mary has been mentioned. My own DD gets called "Mairs" "Mairsy" "Mairsy-Pairsy" and so on. It's impossible to stop nicknaming!

user1477391263 · 31/07/2020 13:46

I think lack-of-nicknaming may be more about personality than anything else. Some people just don't suit nicknames and people gravitate towards the full name. Other people just seem to need a nickname of some sort.

Runforwine · 31/07/2020 13:51

I have a name that is very commonly shortehed, however at 42 I have never had a nickName as my mum and I always corrected anyone who called me anything other than my full name

Pamelaaaaa · 31/07/2020 13:57

Linda. Nobody shortens it. It's a horrible name yet only 4 people in my entire life have shortened it and every single other person refers to me by it in full. But don't name your child Linda because it's a shit name.

MikeUniformMike · 31/07/2020 14:00

I think Linda is pretty - doesn't it mean beautiful. I knowa Lindy and I know a Linda who doesn't like it and calls herself Lin.

Strangely, I don't like the name Lynda.

Scissor · 31/07/2020 14:04

I have a daughter with a 4 letter name who even I now call T. Once they're named you have lost all control

Thighdentitycrisis · 31/07/2020 14:09

Would have to be a one syllable name but as pp said that would get lengthened

May
Kay

For a boy Guy would work

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 31/07/2020 14:50

I'm a Lara (in my 40s) never been shortened to anything although I do have a nn used by my DH. My sister was Hannah she was called "H" or "Han". My list for names that people mostly don't shorten would include:

Lara
Lana
Fay
Joy
Kate
Cara
Annie

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 14:56

I know a Lara who gets Lars! Only among friends though tbf.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/07/2020 14:59

Jane
Sarah
Mary
Bella
Rose
Astrid
Cara
Kate
Estelle
Alice
Maia
Gala
Iris
Sadie
Ava

I have a name which is always being shortened by people, so does dh. We decided to give our DC short simple names that couldn't be easily shortened. Ds is now 23 and is known to all his friends by a name that has no resemblance to his actual name, isnt even a proper name and is twice the length of his real name.

FourPlasticRings · 31/07/2020 15:02

Lorna
Thyra
Esmé

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 15:10

Just thought of another one; Orla, oh and Isla? Eilidh? Ciara?

Quite a few Irish and Scottish ones actually

Mhairi (sp?), pronounced Va-ree
Saoirse, Sorcha (already suggested)
Ailis
Roise
Merryn

Batqueen · 31/07/2020 15:10

Names I don’t generally hear shortened or lengthened tend to be two syllables where shortenings don’t sound right but as it’s two syllables it’s long enough in its own right IYSWIM?

Amy
Alice
Ava
Cara

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 15:11

Sorry, Merryn isn't Irish or Scottish! Just added it on at the end. Think it's cornish?

netflixismysidehustle · 31/07/2020 15:28

I think that one syllable names are less likely to be shortened but people lengthen them instead. I know a Verity who is V. My son has a one syllable name and is known by the first letter of his name.

SomeWateryTart · 31/07/2020 15:36

Oh one more, Elle (pronounced El)?

Franke · 31/07/2020 15:45

Keira or however you want to spell it.

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