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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Thomas or Tommy?

75 replies

pearlypeg · 28/08/2021 09:19

Baby will have a (second) cousin Thomas, known day to day as Thomas.

Baby would be known as Tommy.

What's mumsnet's thoughts on the BC... Thomas or Tommy?

Currently Thomas is ranked 17 where we live, and Tommy is 27... so people must be doing both!

OP posts:
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SunshineCake · 28/08/2021 09:21

Definitely only Thomas.

TheNumberfaker · 28/08/2021 09:22

Thomas on the BC and then use Tommy. I don’t see what the issue is?

kazza446 · 28/08/2021 09:32

Thomas on birth certificate. Tommy as a nickname. Thomas is more classic.

LiveSimply · 28/08/2021 09:33

Thomas :) lovely name!

Lockdownbear · 28/08/2021 09:36

Thomas and use Tommy as a nickname.
Thomas is more classic and allows him to use a more grown-up Thomas / Tom in a professional setting.

Feduphairymclary · 28/08/2021 09:37

Thomas. Although if yours is anything like mine, you will end up with him being called loads of variations of Tom/Tommy/Tommo/Tombola - so don't rely on Tommy being the most used...

LizzieBet14 · 28/08/2021 09:41

Love Tom/Thomas but feel Tommy ruins a lovely name.

Ughmaybenot · 28/08/2021 09:51

Thomas. Tommy is a bit on the cutesy side, and he will likely appreciate the option of a more ‘grown up’ alternative as a teenager/adult.

campion · 28/08/2021 09:56

Thomas. I have one. Known as Tom to many outside family - his choice

Never Tommy. Ok for a baby perhaps but not after that.

pearlypeg · 28/08/2021 09:59

@campion The name would be in honour of baby's great grandfather, who was officially Thomas but never known as that, always Tommy, through adulthood and old age.

So to me totally fine to be Tommy later in life.

Prefer Tommy to Thomas and wouldn't really want baby to be known as Thomas... just not sure if he should have a more 'formal' BC name?

OP posts:
pearlypeg · 28/08/2021 10:01

@LizzieBet14 As above... Tommy would be after great grandfather, so would be keen for Tommy to be used rather than Tom or Thomas

OP posts:
Benjispruce5 · 28/08/2021 10:02

Thomas. Then he will have the choice to shorten.

trumpisagit · 28/08/2021 10:02

Put Thomas on the birth cert, then always call him Tommy. He can choose when he's older if he wishes.

RicherThanYew · 28/08/2021 10:02

I'm doing the same as you op, naming my next child (If a boy) after his great grandfather who always went by his nickname and never the full version of that name, I did wonder about the birth certificate too 🤔

ofwarren · 28/08/2021 10:02

Thomas on the birth certificate but use Tommy day to day.
It just gives him more options when he's an adult.

Benjispruce5 · 28/08/2021 10:03

Also, it will be assumed all his life that he is a Thomas. Make it easier for him.

LouiseBelchersBunnyEars · 28/08/2021 10:06

I’d go with Tommy, I was given a ‘formal’ version of my name on birth certificate, and it’s never used . Doesn’t feel like ‘my’ name.

Don’t understand the need for options on names tbh. I don’t think the ‘can you imagine a CV with this name on’ works anymore, it’s so so common for people to have so called ‘nicknames’ as given names now (I mean, by the CVs I see), so will be even more common and unremarkable in 20 years.

GintyMcGinty · 28/08/2021 10:08

Thomas is lovely. Classic.

Tommy is awful sorry.

LizzieBet14 · 28/08/2021 10:08

If it's in honour of his great Grandfather then go with Tommy. I did it with my son too.

Benjispruce5 · 28/08/2021 10:13

When I was naming my children I imagined them in all sorts of careers and wanted a name to fit in any circumstance. Ridiculous I know but I daydreamed that they may be PM or marry royalty (lighthearted so don’t laugh) and so a nickname wouldn’t do.GrinBlush

daisypond · 28/08/2021 10:17

Definitely Thomas. Call him Tommy day to day, if you like, but don’t be surprised if he changes it himself as a teen. I don’t think it’s fair to force a formal nickname on a baby.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 28/08/2021 10:20

Mine's Tommy on the bc. Also after his grandad

kickupafuss · 28/08/2021 10:25

I would put Tommy on the birth certificate if that's what he's going to be called. There's nothing to stop him calling himself Thomas later if he wants to. I'm known by my nickname and having a different name on my birth certificate just makes it complicated.

alrightfella · 28/08/2021 10:40

I put the full length name of one of my dc on the birth certificate and I regret it. It's not their name and I don't think they will ever use it. I did it because everyone said I should but wish I hadn't.

LampBookPicture · 28/08/2021 11:44

@GintyMcGinty saying "sorry" after writing something unnecessarily mean doesn't make it any better.