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!

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

Eck is bloody awful.

Suits some Alexanders though🤷 still classed as a nickname for Alexander in Scotland.

Alec and Sandy aren't that bad either.

Reminds me of Alex 'Big Eck' Salmond.

Only ever heard Alec Salmond called Wee Eck.

Maybe I got it the wrong way round!

I don’t like Ally at all! But. More to the point - he WILL be Alex. More than any other name, if you don’t like Alex don’t use Alexander. It’s just going to happen.

Derry is also a possibility, though the only Alexander I know of who goes by Derry is Derry Irvine.

I agree that you'll struggle to avoid Alex.

We call ours Ali - or Alex - or Alipaly or alijandro

It you hate the name Alex then don't call your kid Alexander! 🤷‍♀️

I know an adult Alexander that has always gone by Ali

I have a teen Alexander who has always been known as Ali.

We began using Alex as a nn when he was a baby but it quickly morphed in to Ali and it stuck, so when he started school he was Ali and has been ever since. No-one at school calls him Alex. I think a lot of people probably assume he's an Alistair.

@Skeumorph

I don’t like Ally at all! But. More to the point - he WILL be Alex. More than any other name, if you don’t like Alex don’t use Alexander. It’s just going to happen.

That hasn't happened with my son. He introduces himself as Ali to new people and that's what they call him.

And if you use Ally, it will make it even more special when you sing Ally Bally to him!

It’s one of my favourite nursery rhymes