Ally? (nn for Alexander?)

[crabette]

I love the name Alexander for a little boy, but struggle to think of nicknames I would be ok with.

(I have an old aunt Alexandra who goes by Alex, who I really dislike! So wouldn't want Alex.) Not sure of Xander, Sandy or Sasha.

Recently heard "Ally" as a shortened form of Alexandra... which I quite liked? I know for a male, Ally is typically used for Alistair, but do you think it would be reasonable to have Ally for Alexander too?

Think I really like Ally for a little one!

Makes me think of Ally Pally

I know Ally McCoist is called Ally, but to me, Ally sounds quite feminine.

However, when the child gets to go out and about without your.....school, sports, Scouts, drama, swimming, whatever.... they will get called Alex. So if you really dislike the name Alex, I just would choose a name - any name - that is not Alexander

@ouch321 I had to google that, never heard of it! I'm in Scotland, not an issue for me.

As long as you're not put off by sharing the actual name of the current PM.
But you're right, Ally is usually Alistair.
I like Sacha as a diminutive of Alexander. Classy. Alec is another possibility but the most likely shortening is always going to be Alex / Xander.

I love the name too but DH was less keen so Ds has it as a middle name. No need to shorten it there!

I love Ally, but as you say, it’s used for Alistair.
Thinking about it, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work just as well for Alexander. Makes a nice change from Xander, which always seems a bit try hard.

I like Al and Lex.

Alastair is the Scottish version of Alexander. You can use it for either.

I think Ally is a fine shortening of Alexander. However, I would avoid the name Alexander altogether if you really dislike the name Alex, because your little Ally could easily become Alex as a teen.

Sure. Alexander and Alistair have the same origin anyway. I suppose their is also Alec.

I think it's fine, too. Never known any ( Allys that is), but love Alexander.

Al, everyone seems to know a Big Al.
I'd always assume Aly, Ally, Ali was an Alister rather than an Alexander.
Alexander, would normally end up as Alex, Alec, Sandy, Xander.

But actually if I was going to use Alexander I'd stick with it and let the nickname evolve naturally

Any name that starts with Al can be an Ally. There are no rules about only Alistairs being allowed this nickname!

I think it's a nice little name that will work equally well on a grown man as on a boy.

My brother is an Alexander. He is Alex to most people, but family call him Al or Ally. My son's friend whose full name is Alexander goes by Xand.

I know an Ally who is an Alexander.

Ally works, I think it skews slightly more feminine, like the way Al is slightly more masculine - but both work for either genders.

I adore Sacha for a boy, but if you aren't fussed then thats irrelevant.

However, if you really dislike Alex then I would avoid Alexander entirely. You can never fully remove the chance that Alex would be used and favoured by your son when he grows up.

Alistair is a dashing name and, as PP pointed out, you get Ally that way too.

My BIL is known as Ally by his friends. Alexander by his parents and Alex by his siblings.
Bear in mind you only get to choose nickname for a few years.
DS friend is known as Al

You can use whatever nn you like but you can't control other people.

Alexander and Alexandra are both very popular at the moment, so he'll find himself in groups where distinctions have to be made between them. Ally is a lot less popular now (in my generation it was common, for Alison) so it might help him avoid having to be 'Alex B'.

I'd assume Alistair for a male Ally but wouldn't be too surprised to discover an Alexander. There are certainly plenty of Alexanders know as Al. Alexander 'Boris' Johnson for example.

Alexander WILL be Alex whether you like it or not. It’s funny how parents think they can’t dictated a nickname. You absolutely can’t I’m afraid. Everyone will call him Alex becouse it’s the only normal nickname of Alexander. Ally is a nn for Alison ( a girl)
Alexander (Alex) is a great name and I wanted to use it for my son but in your case since you dislike Alex it may not be an option

I don’t like it really. Prefer Al or Alec

Ally/Ali isn't feminine! It's the normal shortening for Alasdair etc...

I think Alistair has always been a much more common name in Scotland than in England. Growing up in England, the only Allys I've known have been Alisons. As an adult I know that it's also a nn for Alistair but I don't know any. Alison isn't popular now though. Alice is but I don't hear that being shortened to Ally.

I agree with @SummaLuvin that if you hate Alex then you should avoid Alexander. It’s not fair you to want to control his name because your don’t like old Aunt Alexandra. Ally does work for Alexander, but only if your son likes it too and you won’t know that until it’s too late.

As others have said, Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic version of Alexander, and Ali or Ally or Alla are perfectly normal short forms. I know at least two within a 5 mile radius. And a 'Sandy'. And an 'Alec'.

I also know a Xander, but, like the OP, I'm not keen. Nor on 'Xan', which is occasionally used.

@cafedesreves

Ally/Ali isn't feminine! It's the normal shortening for Alasdair etc...

I'd never assume Ally, Aly, Ali wasn't an Alison through its an either or unisex sort of name.

I think if you call him Alexander, he will end up being called Alex whether you like it or not. Xander is a possibility but if you don't like either then I just wouldn't use that name.