Does Evelyn have to be shortened?

[munchymoo]

I've always loved this name but for those that have an Evelyn, is is inevitably shortened or has your DD stayed being an Evelyn? I guess I want to avoid her becoming an Eve/Evie as although they are lovely names they seem to be absolutely everywhere at the moment.

I'd rather just call her Evelyn but in case she decides later in life to shorten, does anyone have an Evelyn shorted to something else?

Also how do most people pronounce this - I would go with the "Ev-uh-lyn" pronunciation as opposed to "Eve-lyn" but our surname is Head and I'm not sure the latter pronunciation works? Is it too risky??

I have taught an Evelyn and she always went by her full name. There was an Evie in her class as well. No one ever called Evelyn Evie, Eve or anything else.

You don’t have to shorten it if you don’t want to- just correct people. It’s not a ridiculously long name that needs a short version. I used to compete a horse in Italy called Evelina, which I liked even more.

@munchymoo I love Evelyn it was on our list with Eleanor and Everleigh! But a colleague of mine has just named their little girl Evelyn and last weeks husband's colleague called theirs Eleanor!!!

Our thoughts were the same! I prefer the full name rather then the shortening to Evie or Ella which both people who know have done already x

No name has to be shortened , that’s not to say she won’t choose to shorten it when she’s older . I have a name that has a fairly usual alternative and I’ve never been called it by anyone .

My DD is just Evelyn (pronounced eh-ver-lin rather than eev-lin)

Its not up to you though, it's what other people do, and what she wants.

My Evelyn has always been just Ev-uh-lin and she would correct you if you said anything else (she's 12). I sometimes call her Evelina as a pet name but nothing shorter seems right for her.

I call my daughter Evelyn (pronounced Ev-ah-lyn). She preferred Evie when she was small - but these days her friends call her Aly.

(My Evelyn is 17)

Eh vay rather than eevie for short if needed but no Evelyn is fine and doesn’t need shortened

Evelyn in a lovely name but the three ways of saying it would put me off.

I say Eeeve-lyn
Then there is Ev-lyn and Ever-lyn

I have a classic name and it can be shortened but mine never has, because my DM didn’t like the shortened name.
I would check the pronunciation and use your chosen one.

My daughter is Evelyn on her BC but has been known as Effie since day one. Although her dad somehow gets away with calling her Evelyn😂 we pronounce it as Ever-Lyn.

No name "has to be shortened". However you can only prevent it for so long.
Also are you sure about Evelyn with the surname Head. Evel in Head.

I know an Ewelina and no one shortens her name. I guess she just corrects people when they try. But you have to be prepared that the child might prefer a shortening herself.

I think it depends on how you pronounce it - as "Ev- eh -lyn" is 3 syllables, people may be tempted to shorten it to Evie; "Ev- lyn" or "Eve -lyn" less so imo. However once she hits school it's probably all moot anyway as she and her friends will make the decision for you!

BTW statistically classic Eve is actually fairly uncommon in the UK (at least compared to much more popular Evie, Eva and Evelyn).

I know Evelyn as Evie

No name "has to be shortened". However you can only prevent it for so long.

This ^

There are as many "Eve - Lin "s as there are "Ev (to rhyme with Kev) - uh - lin"s . So she will always get both. Most people can remember once told, but it depends if you think that will bother you.

Just correct people if they shorten it.
I never understand why people completely change someone's name, Evie is nothing like Evelyn, they sound completely different.
It seems to be trendy now to use full names I've noticed, either that or have a shortened version of the name as their actual name (albie, archie etc)

You can do that when they are little @Heartofglass12345, but once they start school and all the other things children then teens belong to, and as adults, it is up to them what they are happy being called.

They don't sound different if you pronounce Evelyn "Eve-lin" , as many, many people do.
(In fact, for many years, I knew both an "Eve-Lin" and an "Ev-a-lin" and I never clicked it was the same name - 'Evelyn' ..... I realise I was a bit slow on the uptake)

I know two Evelyns. Neither ever shortens it.

One pronounces it Eve- lin (which I prefer) and the other is Ever-lin.

evie

No not always shortened

But the pronunciation can be Ev-ah-Lyn, Eve-Lyn or Ev-Lyn, which could get annoying. There is always Jocelyn or Roslyn??

I'm an Evelynne it's pronounced with 3 syllables, Eve - ah - lynne

My DD is Eve-Lyn. It’s never shortened because we never shorten it ourselves - I think people will take your lead. We get a lot of Ev-er-lin but a gentle correction is all you need!

I suppose if DD ever got irritated at having to correct pronunciation she could always call herself by a nickname.