Love Eliza, terrified of Ellie

[Edenember]

No offence intended to any Ellie’s or anyone who has a child named Ellie, it’s just not my taste. I was wondering how likely you think it is that Eliza would be shortened to Ellie.

Very unlikely.

“Terrified”?

If you’re terrified you should definitely go for another name. You can’t police what people shorten names to.

Why would they?

I know a lovely Eliza. People call her Eliza...

Liza not Ellie

My dd is Eliza and has never been called Ellie. The only person who shortens her name is her baby sister who calls her lala. I don't think that it's a name that typically gets shortened, and Ellie and Eliza don't seem to match up iyswim so I don't think one leads to the other

You have no control over any shortenings / nicknames your child will be given.
It could be shortened to Ellie. Or Lizzie.
Or her nickname, if she's given one, could be completely unconnected to her name and random.

I am aware of the zero control aspect, which is why I’m asking to try to gauge likelihood of this happening with a regularity that will bother me. Perhaps by hearing about other people’s experiences with their little ones named Eliza, which is helpful.

Eliza I went to school with was always Eliza, the other Eliza I know is called Lie by her friends

Hyperbole doesn't enrich language and meaning when used constantly or for no reason - terrified just because its not to your taste?

Lots of kids end up with nicknames virtually impossible to trace to their actual name once they start school. DS1 was called by an amalgamation of his and DS2's names by his friends at primary school... He didn't mind...

Sorry but I know an Eliza who is now 10 and she is Ellie. By her own choice!

The other I have known (an adult) was Liz.

Honestly, I wouldn't use the name if you hate Ellie and/or Liz.

@Insertfunnyname @AnneLovesGilbert @Twinkie01 @Findahouse21 That’s reassuring, thankyou.

Terrified?! That aside, don't take the risk. I really like Catherine but I dont like Katie. The likelihood was quite high so I just didnt pick the name.

@YoniAndGuy I think all things considered you’re probably right. Best not to put myself in that position.

@StayingHere yes, I think you’re right.

I do teach an Eliza though. She is 10 and everyone calls her Eliza.
But like I say, I wouldn't take the risk if it might annoy you in future.

@StayingHere yes, on balance I don’t think it’s worth the risk tbh. Think it’s best to choose a name that either isn’t long enough to be commonly shortened or where I like the shortened forms.

I think Eliza would get shortened to El

I wouldn't use it if you are terrified of Ellie

@BrownEyedGirl80 I think other shortened forms are more likely naturally than Ellie, but it would grate, and in the worst case if the child chose to go by Ellie by themselves and then be commonly called that by their peer group. So I think I’ve talked myself out of it, it’s just not worth the risk (however slight) when there’s a million other names I love.

@FizzyApricot yes I think you’re right.

I have an Eliza and no-one has ever shortened it to Ellie (she’s 9 now)

In fact, they’ve never shortened her name at all - it’s hardly a name that calls to be shortened? Surely? Maybe time will tell...

@moonfacebaby reassuring (great taste, btw), but I guess this has helped me work out that just the possibility is enough to bother me, and obviously the possibility is always there.

@moonfacebaby in my experience people will shorten (or even lengthen) whether you like it or not. I guess my question was around the likelihood of this specific shortening, I don’t mind Liza or even Elle.

Speaking as an adult Eliza, I have never been called Ellie. Elizabeth occasionally, Lize more often, but never Ellie. It helps that it is more popular than it was when I was a child, I was the only one in every school I went to, and could never buy tat with my name on at the seaside.

I went to school with an Eliza and it was never shortened to Ellie, AFAIK.