"Nicknames" as first names

[Confusion101]

I often see on the baby name threads that people don't like a name because they classify it as a "nickname" or shortened version of a longer name. I was just wondering why people don't like this? Most of the names on my list are shortened versions because I don't know why we would write one name on the birth cert when we know we would call the child by another name. Just wondering so I don't regret my decision

Well feck it I may strike Eureka-Starz off my list so @Organictangerine 😜😜 love your points. God forbid someone named a child Lottie instead of Charlotte. The horror

Haha.

sorry the name snobbery on here riles me

then in the next breath the same posters are trying to flaunt their ‘liberal’ and ‘open mindedness’ on other threads

names are the last bastion of blatant classism on here

My name can't be shortened or lengthened and I have subconsciously done the same with dd's name. I'm not sure what will happen with the one currently cooking but I prefer a full name as opposed to a diminutive. Just my personal preference.

Our parents deliberately chose names that couldn't be shortened.

Then we all got nicknames anyway. Shorter ones! Still used to this day.

I chose long names for my dds, and go by the short versions day to day.

I HATE my own name. It can't be shortened. I really wish my parents had given me name with options. Instead, I'm stuck with a name I hate.

So that's why I chose long names with options for my kids. I might like calling my daughter Lottie, but she might go by Charlotte or Charlie when she's older (this is not dd's actual name!).

I’m with you OP.

I had a long name which a. I hated with a passion and b. was always shortened anyway so seemed pointless! Changed it to the shortened version by deed poll about ten years ago and I’m much happier, although it helps that it’s a fairly commonly used name by itself.

My parents gave me a longer name and then exclusively called me by a shorter name that isn't a direct shortening and honestly I hate it.

It was confusing when I was young as official names are on registers in school, but my friends still used the short name, different teachers would use the long name or the short name and it was always confusing for other people. I couldn't spell the long one or say it well and it was weird to be suddenly called by a different name.

in any new situation where your name would be on a list, which is suprisingly often, I either had to ask people to change it or remember to call me the other name. Or just go along with the long name, which I don't instinctively answer to, so I accidentally ignore people.

I worked for a company with standard autogenerated email addresses which they couldnt change and came with my long official name on. But as an adult I have alway introduced myself as my short name and then when collegues try to email me, with the standard format, it doesn't work.

Work ID badges have had the long name on which some people read insted of asking your name, so I get called the wrong name or people don't know who I am.

As a teenager I got into an accident that left me unconsious without ID on me, and I was with people who only knew me by the short name that I go by, the hospital couldn't find my records or contact my parents until I came around which was a few hours later.

Honestly its just such a waste of time, just call your kids by the name that you will call them and will be on their records, especially if its not something obvious like Will from William.

For me it really depends on the nickname. Something like Liz or Bill or Kath on the birth certificate would be weird. Some nicknames are just too informal to be full names. But I wouldn't bat an eyelid at Molly or Maisie or Freddie, for example, since they have become established as names in their own right. They're not my personal style, but they're acceptable names. Lots of names that are now regarded as standalone names actually started off as nicknames. Nobody would find it strange to meet someone who is just called Tina or Rita rather than Christina or Margarita.

I much prefer the full name. Putting a shorter version on the bc always makes me think of that bit in So Long and Thanks for All the Fish:

“He was rather disappointed to discover her name was Fenny. It was a rather silly, dispiriting name, such as an unlovely maiden aunt might vote herself if she couldn’t sustain the name Fenella properly.”

(Of course she doesn’t call herself Fenny and her name isn’t Fenella.)

Putting a diminutive form on the bc always just seems like a lack of imagination to me- your child isn’t always going to be a newborn and later on might prefer the option of a name with a bit more gravitas. The comparison with one syllable traditional names (John or whatever) doesn’t work as these names already have gravitas.

i think in a lot of cases it makes perfect sense to have a full name on the BC- eg Christopher is always going to end up shortened to Chris, Thomas to Tom and so on.

But often you get on mumsnet ones that are such a stretch ‘Emily nn Lily’ was one the other week. If you like Lily just use Lily, rather than basically give your child 2 completely separate names that will probably cause more confusion and annoyance over their lifetime than be of any benefit.

Both my niece and my ds have shortened version of names as we didn't like the long version, neither do they now they are older and perfectly happy with there names as is
Re: jack i thought it was also a nickname for James?
So many nicknames etc are names in there own rights now
Best to pick something you like , if a child grows up to hate their name they can change it and they could hate a long version and all its nicknames too

@User6761 you see I don't quite get that. The archies I've met have never been introed as Archibald. Which is pretty dreadful let's face it. Yet before the Royal baby I only associated it with older men and didn't have a cutesy or childish association at all. The name Archie I associated with a particular sort of reserved older Scottish bloke. I think it only sounds cutesy because it's now the name of babies and toddlers and was previously an older man name. I don't like mumsnet"s snobbery about what people call diminutives. In some cases it makes sense and is nice to have the long name. In others it makes no sense. Depends on if you like the longer name I suppose. My parents gave me a longer name they didn't like to fit the short name I was being called. I absolutely hate it and changed it as soon as I could as it didn't feel like me at all. If people want to be formal there is always the surname option. I can't imagine having different names for different people. I would feel strange doing that.

Putting a diminutive form on the bc always just seems like a lack of imagination to me- your child isn’t always going to be a newborn and later on might prefer the option of a name with a bit more gravitas. The comparison with one syllable traditional names (John or whatever) doesn’t work as these names already have gravitas.

ive never heard the name ‘John’ being called imaginative or full of gravitas 😂

My parents gave me a longer name they didn't like to fit the short name I was being called.

This is exactly what I'd have to do @Hadtocomment .. And the main name I want has a few potential longer names so I'd have to go looking for one almost which is why I don't think it makes sense to bother. (most of the names I like are shortened versions of longer names)

And on your Archibald v Archie point. I saw on another thread (which inspired this one) people repeatedly said "I like the name Lottie as a nickname for Charlotte" and I always wondered so how would that introduction go.... "hi I'm Lottie" "oh is that short for Charlotte" or is the person expected to say "hi I'm Charlotte but go by Lottie" or what would happen for them to give their seal of approval for the name😂😂

So far I haven't been convinced to give the longer name. I don't think it comes under the "cutie, baby" category, and will still work in adulthood and even though a few people have tried to explain it to me I still don't get the giving them options when they are older argument 🙈🙈🙈

I can honestly say I give very little thought to the names of adults that I meet. Unless it’s incredibly unusual or something it just doesn’t really register. I don’t think it has the enormous significance that some people make out, as long as it’s a recognised name just use whatever you like. The child can always change it. Or just go by their second name or a totally different name (which seems quite popular with the older generation!).

I agree, name them what you want their name to be. End of.

A middle name also gives them options, or if they hate all their names they can change it by deed poll.

Give them the name you want, not the name someone else wants.

I have a ‘shortened’ name as my first name, it suits me, it is me, neither of the long versions of my name would suit me and they would never feel like me.

I don’t get it either. I believe in naming a baby exactly what you intend to call them.

people say they worry about having a formal name available, but really they should worry about the paperwork headache they are creating for their child if that child enters a field that involves rigorous background checks.

@BungleandGeorge agree, I don't get the angst.

I also don't understand why someone called Betty can't just use Elizabeth if a situation should arise where they want a formal name.

The comparison with one syllable traditional names (John or whatever) doesn’t work as these names already have gravitas.

😆

One of mine has Tommy on the birth certificate. If he thinks it's too babyish when he's an adult he can go by Tom or even Thomas if he wanted too. So far he refuses to be called anything other than Thommy

My parents debated for a long time about a diminutive or the classic name and in the end chose the long name and I'm so glad they did. Along the lines of Kate vs Katherine.

As a child I went by one nickname, at about 10 I swapped to another nickname (the diminutive my parents had considered as the full name) and then at about 18 started using my full name. Like Katie->Kate->Katherine. Close family still use the second nickname.

There's nothing exactly wrong with the diminutive and it's not super out there, I don't think it would have really hampered my career. I just prefer my proper name and like being able to choose between them.

I would always pick the full name for the birth certificate.

I hate hate hate nicknames as names.

It just goes against the whole concept of a nickname. The point of a nickname is to verbally express affection. If you use it as their actual name it becomes pointless.

Also I love nicknames (just not on the BC) because of all the options. I never call my kids just one specific nicknames - I use different ones all the time. If my DS name was, say, Jeremy, as an exemple, I'd call him Jerry, Jay, Jer, Remy, etc. I wouldn't want to be limited to just the one nickname.

And then part of it I guess is that I just find it grating. Like looking at a text full of typos. The name just feels incomplete and wrong.

And finally, I can see no downside to using the proper name on the BC - doesn't stop you calling them Albie or Alfie or whatever everyday if you want to. So why not use the full name ?

I should clarify that this is solely my opinion /perception and I of course fully respect people's right to name their child whatever they want.

I do agree with PP who say it depends on the nickname. Eg Freddie or Kate are so well established as names I wouldn't bat an eyelid to find out they weren't called Frederick or Katherine on their BC. But I would find it strange if someone was called Andy or Lizzie rather than Andrew or Elizabeth. Which when I type it makes absolutely no sense. Perhaps with the Freddie/ Frederick thing I'm influenced by the fact that Frederick is not that nice (ditto Archie/ Archibald).