Using full names

[Puppypal20]

I regularly see on threads where posters tell the OP to use the full name on the bc as “it gives the child options when they are older”.

Am genuinely interested why people think this. A lot of the top baby names in recent years are all nicknames of longer names (Freddie, Charlie, Teddy, Tommy etc). Also if you wanted to give your child options surely it would be better to give them a few middle names so they could choose a name when they are older.

I just find it a bit strange to put a name down on the bc that the parents have no intention of using.

I agree op. Most of the people I know with long ‘birth certificate’ names hate them. They used to cringe at school and other official times when they’d hear “Stephanie!” called out instead of Steph or whatever. They’d say “Oh that’s what my mum calls me when I’m in trouble!”

I deliberately chose short names for my dc.

I hate the shortened versions of names as the full name. “Tim” on a birth certificate, can’t it be “Timothy”. I have a long name officially and was always the shortened version. I like my full name for legal docs and from a professional point of view.

As a teacher, I often have to match up kids with their info forms. The form often has the bc name. I know the kids by whatever they tell me, which may be the bc name, a predictable nn for the bc name, or something totally different. I can track down Libby, Betty, Eliza to Elizabeth, but for me to guess that Rose or May are using their second name, and then which of the many kids that is, is slightly more complex.
But nonetheless I defend the right of every child to name their kid Bob known as Kate and spelled Ghaat.

I know a Beatrice known as Betsy and when she went to school and they called her full name, she had no idea it was for her.

Equally I know an Edward, known as Ted and his mother wishes she hadn't used Edward on his BC. She said she cringes when she hears his full name called at the doctors etc as she much prefers Ted.

Having said that I talked myself out of naming our daughter Maggie because I wasn't keen on using Margaret on the BC.

I guess its personal preference and I can see pros and cons to both.

Shortened names are overly familiar to be used in a professional context. I guess if you’re not expecting your child to be a professional then you can give them a shortened name on their birth certificate and it won’t matter.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I hate the shortened versions of names as the full name. “Tim” on a birth certificate, can’t it be “Timothy”. I have a long name officially and was always the shortened version. I like my full name for legal docs and from a professional point of view.

I agree. It's a pet hate of mine too. I think it could potentially be limiting in the professional world when they're adults.

The thing with those names being unprofessional though, if these types are names are the most popular boys names, employers are going to find it quite difficult to not hire all these people because their names are unprofessional.

I was thinking of doing it because if you call your child (for example!) Lizzie and she grows up to hate it, if she was an Elizabeth she could feasibly ask to be known as Libby or Beth. But if her full name was Lizzie what would she do? I also know a James who was known as Jamie until he was about 10 when he decided that was babyish and has since insisted on James. I just think it gives children a bit more options for when they are not little children any more. Having said that - i really like the name Freddie but dislike Frederick (and Rick) so there's probably pros and cons for either approach!

Well yes as trends go shortened versions won’t be looked down on but are we really going to get to a stage where “steph” is on a birth certificate?

Just out of interest @WizWoz what job then would you think was appropriate for a Teddy or Freddie.

Just to follow up on the comments about it being unprofessional, I have worked in banking, retail and media so varying industries. I interview people daily in my job and I can hand on heart say, i have never dismissed a CV because they were called Charlie or Freddie instead of Charles and Frederick. That would be utterly ridiculous and as PP has started, a person has any right to go by the name they feel most comfortable with.

I just find it a bit strange to put a name down on the bc that the parents have no intention of using.

Because it's not the parents' name, it's the child's name. They will be the one to benefit from a name with lots of possible options when they are older.

My cousin has a very professional job and a 'nickname' on his BC. So its utter crap that it will hold you back!
I agree with you OP. Why name your child something you never actually plan to call them?

I have a long name but mostly go by my nickname. That nickname has itself shortened as I've got older.

I do use my official name quite a bit though and happily switch betweeen.

My son is James known to everyone as Jimmy. He is aware that both are his names. He prefers to be James at school and Jimmy at home.

But nonetheless I defend the right of every child to name their kid Bob known as Kate and spelled Ghaat.

This really made me chuckle, thank you

But surely most names get shortened even if you like/ use the long name. All my friends use nicknames
Laura- Lau
Lucy- luc
Shelley- shell

I mean it’s a term of endearment and closeness that means people don’t use your full name. However I do think naming a child and using their middle name is utterly bizarre- knew two of those people.

It depends on the name.
If the nn is an obvious one like Liz or Phil then you might as well use the full version, but really does it matter if you are a professional with a nicknamey name.

It's a bit of a PITA to have to figure out if someone's e-mail is [email protected] or elizabeth.bennet@...

If the nn starts with a different letter e.g. Matilda & Tilly or Anthony & Tony, which initial do you use? You might be Tilly Smith and get people assuming it was short for Matilda Smith and address correspondence to Ms M Smith. If you aren't Matilda it would probably go to another M Smith.

@MikeUniformMike to answer your question .... it depends what I'm doing. I use my nn initial for things where my nn is used and my full name where my full name is used.

Have two really helps with some drinking games. I'm amazed how many people don't realise my full name is what it is (I have a common full to short name situation)

@OnlyFoolsnMothers don't "bizarre" using middle names. For no reason we know every person in my family used a different name than their first name. We are Irish, but it wasn't even Irish/English versions. John known as Paul type thing.

Using the middle name as the 'first' name is a PITA, especially if it is a common middle name. A teacher or GP's receptionist or whoever can't be expected to remember that your Olivia Rose is called Rose by friends and family.

I honestly see both sides, and I certainly don't think parents should feel pressured to put a "full name" that they actively dislike on a birth certificate, just for the sake of it.

However in my own life I've appreciated the versatility of having both. I have a classic name and have gone by the traditional nickname for most of my life (let's say Katherine known as Katie, though that's not it). When I was little, everyone from my teachers to my doctor called me Katie. But as I became an adult and started working, I felt like I "grew into" Katherine a bit more, and use it professionally and in some other settings now. I don't necessarily want my boss calling me the same thing as my husband, mum and oldest friends do - there's a certain intimacy to having a nickname that I treasure, but don't want in all areas of my life (however much I may like my boss!).

And while I do have a lovely middle name I adore (so much so that it's a top two contender for this baby due in Feb), it would be totally foreign to suddenly start calling myself by that name, it's just not who I am. So the idea that someone might go by their middle name suddenly has always seemed slightly far-fetched to me (though it probably does happen!).

I don't agree with the "unprofessional" thing though; when today's generation of kids is working age, the range of names is going to be so huge and varied that I seriously doubt people will have the same prejudices they did in the past.

I have a name that can't be abbreviated and I don't have a middle name so I guess my parents must have just REALLY wanted me to be known by the one name that I have.

I find it ridiculous to put a name on a birth certificate you have no intention of using. It’s a different name. Charlie, Theo etc are names in their own right.
To the posters who genuinely believe that a name would prevent a person being successful at gaining a professional job, I’ve never heard such nonsense. My DS was recently in hospital again. His registrar is called Becky. Becky on her name badge too. I suppose I should’ve refused to let her treat my son unless she answered to Rebecca?

I prefer the formal name on the birth certificate and shortened name /nickname for everyday use.

Reasons:

• gives person more options when older
• looks more professional on job applications and passports

For a boy I like Charlie, but i wouldn't put Charlie on the birth certificate - I'd put Charles. Not that I like Charles as a name very much, but I'd prefer that than having the more informal and nickname sounding Charlie on legal documents.