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Original poster

Ally? (nn for Alexander?)

62 replies

crabette · 26/01/2022 23:31

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!

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Buddhabowl · 27/01/2022 12:00

I think Ally is fine, I knew an adult male Ally and I don't even know what his full name is.
Having said that he is highly likely to choose to go by Alex when he is older. If you were to choose Xander from birth then I think that would stick as it's a cool recognised boy name but I think an Ally may choose something a bit stronger sounding as they get older even if it's just Al.

334bu · 27/01/2022 12:12

In Scotland diminutives for Alexander are usually Alec, Sandy or Zander. Personally have never come across Al except for someone called Alistair.

RuthW · 27/01/2022 12:18

I know an Ali and she's an Alexandria. Don't use the name of you don't like Alex as someone will call him Alex

TrashyPanda · 27/01/2022 14:26

I think it skews slightly more feminine

Not in Scotland.

Glitterygreen · 27/01/2022 15:29

@Kanaloa

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.
Yeah agree with this.

I like Ally but it's definitely Alistair to me and unless your son actually introduces himself as Ally through school etc he will be an Alex.

Glitterygreen · 27/01/2022 15:30

OR he may end up choosing Alex for himself as well!

User48751490 · 27/01/2022 21:08

Eck. Nickname for Alexander in some parts of Scotland. Just saying.

laurenGame · 28/01/2022 02:05

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

That's the reason we're not going with Alexander, either.

Ginandplatonic · 28/01/2022 02:16

No reason you can’t call him Ally. (I have an Alasdair whom I call Ally, everyone else calls him Al or Dair).

My favourite nickname for Alexander is Alec (which is irrelevant) but I do agree with others that once he goes to school you can’t control nicknames and if you would strongly object to Alex perhaps Alexander, although lovely, is not the name for you. At least 90% of the (many) Alexanders my kids went to school with were Alex.

Vbree · 28/01/2022 02:20

My son is called Alexander, shortened to Alex. I know a girl called Ally, shortened from Alison.

RedRobin100 · 28/01/2022 05:03

I really like Ally also OP

babyboybluewithnumbertwox · 28/01/2022 09:16

My partner is Ally and his name is Alistair... for Alexander I would say Alex is the obvious nn

Hb12 · 28/01/2022 09:18

We have an Alexander, he gets called Ali, Al, Alex in the main.

Other names I have heard people use are Lex, Xander, Xandy.

Caszekey · 28/01/2022 09:21

My Nephew is Alex, he's always been an Ally. Even as a strapping six foot soldier although only from us 😂

AnnieLobeseder · 28/01/2022 09:25

DC2 is Alexandra, but we've always called them Allie. They started calling themselves Alex at secondary. But we still mostly use Als.

At one point we lived in a row of three terraced houses, and each one had an Allie/Ali in it - Alexandra, Alison and Alyssa.

But the great thing about Alexandra/er is that it can be shortened so many ways. Xander, Lex, Sascha...

Susiesue61 · 29/01/2022 12:59

@babyboybluewithnumbertwox

My partner is Ally and his name is Alistair... for Alexander I would say Alex is the obvious nn
Mine too! His mates all call him Al but those is us that knew him when we first met call him Ally. Alistair is nicer than Alexander I think
Shutupyoutart · 29/01/2022 15:38

Ally is cute for a little boy..lex is a good nn for Alexander aswell.

Blubells · 29/01/2022 16:43

Ally McBeal is all I think of

Very feminine sounding

334bu · 29/01/2022 17:01

Most people in Scotland would assume Ally was a boy.

miltonj · 29/01/2022 17:38

The Alexander it life gets called Ally by his nearest and dearest but everyone else calls him Alex. If you name your son Alexander he will 100% get called Alex by the majority of people. Maybe not while he's a baby but definitely later down the line.

User48751490 · 29/01/2022 19:50

@334bu

Most people in Scotland would assume Ally was a boy.
Exactly.
Lockdownbear · 29/01/2022 21:13

@334bu

Most people in Scotland would assume Ally was a boy.
Speak for yourself - I know as many Ally / Allison's as I do Ally / Alastair's I would always check and never assume.
Soul11Soul · 29/01/2022 21:18

In Scotland... I know more male Ally/Ali's than females. I'm Elizabeth which is similar. People just choose what they call me. I don't care. I have close friends and family who call me Liz, Lizzy, Betty, Beth and Elizabeth. When I think of my name in my head it's Elizabeth but I like all the shortened versions too and I think they say more about the people who have chosen them to call me than they do about me. Alexander is similar I'd imagine.

User48751490 · 29/01/2022 22:11

Eck is okay for Alexander. DH knows one. They used to work together.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 29/01/2022 22:19

Eck is bloody awful.