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Baby names

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

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Original poster

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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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 28/08/2021 14:45

Thomas on the BC. I know Tommy is trendy again now but he might appreciate having a more "formal" option for things like CV's when he's older. But other people don't even have to know about the Thomas on the BC - if you still introduce him to everyone as Tommy, then that is what he'll be known as imo.

Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark · 28/08/2021 14:49

I have a 25yr old Thomas.
Everyone calls him Tom. I love the name he was named after my Grandad.

FrownedUpon · 28/08/2021 14:51

Thomas. Not Tommy. Tommy has a certain association round here.

Imadogcalleddill · 28/08/2021 14:55

I have a Thomas. We started out calling him Thomas but it became Tom fairly quickly. He's still Tom to his family but most of his friends call him Tommy now.
I don't think it really matters what's on his BC. People can call themselves what they like anyway most of the time.

HeadlessGummyBears · 28/08/2021 15:00

Which do you like OP? They’re both equally lovely. Tommy can also be shortened to Tom, but then again Thomas gives more options?

sprinkleyumnut · 28/08/2021 15:02

Thomas. Tommy is the nickname of Thomas.

daisypond · 28/08/2021 15:03

Yes, Tom and Tommy give very different impressions to me. You could shorten Tommy to Tom, but people will assume he’s Thomas. I might assume that a Tommy will want to be Tom as a teen.

sprinkleyumnut · 28/08/2021 15:03

I wouldn't really care about second cousins and what their names are, they aren't an extremely close relation and you have the right to name your child whatever you want to.

HarrisMcCoo · 28/08/2021 15:45

@kickupafuss

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.

DH is the same. His parents gave him formal version, but nickname is used. I appreciate that they did it to honour a relative but it does cause complications....I never know whether to put down his formal name or nickname on forms!

FeedMeSantiago · 28/08/2021 16:31

I agree with IAmNot - Thomas on the BC so he has the option of Tom, Tommy or Thomas as an adult instead of just Tom and Tommy. You don't have to show friends and family the BC - just announce his arrival as 'Tommy's here'.

Even if you call him Tommy on his BC people will still call him Thomas. I'm the same age as your brother and was at school with a Tim, a Tom and a Jenny and several teachers insisted on Thomas, Timothy and Jennifer, even when Tom, Tim and Jenny explained the diminutives were on their BC. Some teachers didn't believe them and others said they should have been given the full names and carried on regardless. Tom and Jenny both said they would have preferred Thomas and Jennifer on their BC. Only Tim preferred the shorter version.

Hopefully teachers these days are a bit more respectful! However I think some people will still assume a Tom or Tommy has Thomas on their BC.

HarrisMcCoo · 28/08/2021 17:05

Jenny is also a nickname for Janet.

HarrisMcCoo · 28/08/2021 17:07

@campion

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

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

DH is a big baby anyway so Tommy suits him.

Helpmetopickone · 28/08/2021 19:14

@sprinkleyumnut

I wouldn't really care about second cousins and what their names are, they aren't an extremely close relation and you have the right to name your child whatever you want to.

This!

Even if they were first cousins, I personally would still use the name with it being a family name. Use the name you love, no one owns a name.

manhattenrain · 28/08/2021 20:38

Tommy

topcat2014 · 28/08/2021 21:51

I seem to be Thomas on my medical records though. Can't seem to get that changed..

AlmostSummer21 · 28/08/2021 22:01

We have a variety of them in our family.

I would put Thomas on his BC. But I would tell everyone you're calling him Tommy (not mentioning Thomas at all)

WimpoleHat · 28/08/2021 22:06

Thomas on the birth certificate, definitely. Call him Tommy from day 1. But I’d let him have the option of either later in life.

Givemethatknife · 28/08/2021 22:12

Thomas on the BC for sure

Tommy is cute but also babyish, if you call him Thomas, he can be Thomas, Tom, Tommy or Tam when he grows up - it isn’t likely he’ll want to be Tommy at 40.

thatsnotmyzoo · 28/08/2021 22:18

@alrightfella

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.

I did this and I regret it too! I fell down the mumsnet ideal of preferred nickname and formal full name trap and in all honestly in real life it’s just a bit annoying and ridiculous. Even at baby classes trying to explain his nickname vs full name is a headache. And his name and nickname are perfectly ‘normal’ names.

Next time, I’d just call them what I want.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 28/08/2021 22:20

thomas 100%

Lockdownbear · 28/08/2021 23:06

@Givemethatknife

Thomas on the BC for sure

Tommy is cute but also babyish, if you call him Thomas, he can be Thomas, Tom, Tommy or Tam when he grows up - it isn’t likely he’ll want to be Tommy at 40.

That's so true, I know one who is Tommy to old pals but Tom at work and on FB. I do think Tommy could be outgrown but then I also knew a Tommy who passed away at 90.

Pinkspecs · 28/08/2021 23:23

Thomas, such a lovely name.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 29/08/2021 11:55

Our Tommy is 10 now. No one has ever called him Thomas and he refuses to answer to Tom. Being called Tommy as an adult didn't do his grandad any harm he was still known as Tommy when he died in his 60s

HoldingTheDoor · 29/08/2021 11:57

Definitely Thomas.

Twizbe · 29/08/2021 12:01

Thomas for sure.

FWIW both DH and I have long names on our BCs and are mostly known by a 3 letter shortening. Never had an issue really. I set everything up in the long name and let people know I use the short one day to day.

Our son has a long name on his BC and is known by a nn. No issue for him either. He knows he is both and let's us know which one he wants to use when.

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