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Original poster

Change baby’s ‘nickname’ name to its longer form

59 replies

SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 16:12

I have a 5 month old DS with a name that would be considered a ‘nickname’ name. He’s officially registered as this name but part of me keeps wondering if we should have given him the traditional longer form as his ‘official’ name to give him more options when he’s older.

I guess his name would be considered as a bit ‘cutesy’ by some - fine for a baby but possibly not for a grown man. I don’t really see it like that and think by the time he is grown there will be a long list of Reggies, Montys, Alfies, etc so it will be the norm.

I also don’t particularly like the traditional name that we would give him (I don’t hate it but it’s not something I would choose!) I won’t give the name as I’m not after opinions on the actual name but it would be similar to having a ‘Teddy’ but having ‘Edward’ on the birth certificate.

Should I have the courage of my convictions and keep the name we chose for him and love, or should I give him options for when he’s older?!

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Pixiedust1234 · 22/09/2022 16:15

Keep it. He can change it later by deed poll.

Having said that both my DDs have been called by the shortened version since birth but have the long version on birth certificate. Both have said they are grateful for having the choice of which one they want.

namechangeagain123456 · 22/09/2022 16:16

Oh OP I think about this every day!!!

My baby has a 'nickname' and it never caused me concern until I started reading baby name threads on here. Now I'm worried he'll grow up and think I've given him a 'child's' name and not an adults name. My partner says I'm ridiculous and that it's fine.

TheBoxOfWhat · 22/09/2022 16:17

It isn't a nickname though is it, it is his actual name. What you are referring to is the shortened version of a name and then having a longer one on the birth certificate ie Elizabeth and Beth. Honestly just keep his name as his name. I know children who have a "Sunday" name on their birth certificate that they are never called. Then all the forms that are filled out for school etc have Name and then known as. Just keep it simple, his current name is his name.

Original poster
SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 16:17

I should also add that he has a very ‘traditional’ middle name so guess if he hates his first name he could always go by that…

OP posts:
Original poster
SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 16:20

@namechangeagain123456 I’m so glad I’m not the only one! My DH says I’m ridiculous too but I’m worried that I’m doing my son some sort of disservice 😂
I think it’s a touch of anxiety as I only really think about it when I’m feeling low etc but then I can’t get it out of my head!

OP posts:
grey12 · 22/09/2022 16:21

Teddy is too baby-ish... but Alfie is ok. It depends. Think about your son introducing himself as a doctor/lawyer/professor/olympic champion/at the dentist......

But my first instinct is don't change, especially if you don't really like the full name

B00mShakeShakeShakeTheR00m · 22/09/2022 16:23

I don't like nickname names but they'll be nothing worth mentioning when he's an adult as there will be loads of them.

namechangeagain123456 · 22/09/2022 16:23

SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 16:20

@namechangeagain123456 I’m so glad I’m not the only one! My DH says I’m ridiculous too but I’m worried that I’m doing my son some sort of disservice 😂
I think it’s a touch of anxiety as I only really think about it when I’m feeling low etc but then I can’t get it out of my head!

This is the same as me 😭 I worry that I've failed him by giving him a name that's not 'a full name' even though it's actually quite a popular name (which is something else I worry about) so it's not like it's hated by everyone.

I look at random men in the street and wonder 'would they suit this name'. It drives me crazy. But like you, I think it's more anxiety than anything.

I also shorten his name, so for example if he was teddy I call him Ted so then I worry more than I should have gave him the 'proper' name because I feel like I've gave him the 'nickname' and don't even use it. I'm hoping the responses in this thread make me feel better 🤣

mondaytosunday · 22/09/2022 16:31

Two of my kids have a nickname as their official name. Both would be fine as adults. I suppose the annoying thing is occasionally being asked 'is that short for X', and my daughter was once caught out as a new teacher called her by the longer name and she didn't respond at all and he though she was just ignoring him.
I do think there are some names that don't work for adults: Billy or Jimmy might not work for a lawyer, whereas William and James sounds more grown up for sure.

BusySittingDown · 22/09/2022 16:32

I think if you like the nickname name then just leave it! There are so many Albies, Alfies, Mollys, Millies now and they will soon be adults.

To give you the other side of the coin, I named DD2 a full name version of her nickname. She is known only by the nickname. She goes mad if anyone calls her the full version 😂. She is almost a teen so not "little".

CastleTower · 22/09/2022 17:05

If you look at the most popular names from 100+ years ago, there are loads of names like this. People tend to assume this is a recent thing, but it really isn't.

If you're asking if you should name a child Archibald, by the way, I really wouldn't. 😄

RuthW · 22/09/2022 17:23

Change it.

Original poster
SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 18:02

@namechangeagain123456 honestly I could have written your post myself 😂The CEO of a FTSE 100 company that my friend works for has the same name as my boy so I’d like to think he wouldn’t be held back by his name! And I do think there are so many ‘different’ baby names these days that in 10/20 years time no one will
even be commenting on it. But it’s still such a mind f’ck isn’t it? I wish I had my DH’s attitude to it!

@CastleTower haha don’t worry it’s
not Archibald! But I guess if a cutesy name like Archie is good enough for royalty then I don’t really have a problem 😊

OP posts:
namechangeagain123456 · 22/09/2022 18:16

SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 18:02

@namechangeagain123456 honestly I could have written your post myself 😂The CEO of a FTSE 100 company that my friend works for has the same name as my boy so I’d like to think he wouldn’t be held back by his name! And I do think there are so many ‘different’ baby names these days that in 10/20 years time no one will
even be commenting on it. But it’s still such a mind f’ck isn’t it? I wish I had my DH’s attitude to it!

@CastleTower haha don’t worry it’s
not Archibald! But I guess if a cutesy name like Archie is good enough for royalty then I don’t really have a problem 😊

I wonder if they have the same name 🤣 can I PM you and ask what your little ones called 🤣 I worry about it sooo much that I think I don't even really like his name anymore 🤦🏼‍♀️ my partner literally roles his eyes when I mention it now, every day I'm like 'maybe we should have called him (insert different name every day) instead' and he's like are you still going on about this 🤣 xx

Original poster
SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 18:19

@namechangeagain123456 yes of course!
Yep, every day I think of a different name and wonder if I should have picked that and then tell myself I’m being stupid as there’s no way I’m changing it to a completely different name now!!

OP posts:
wigywhoo · 22/09/2022 18:20

SunshineInMyPockett · 22/09/2022 16:12

I have a 5 month old DS with a name that would be considered a ‘nickname’ name. He’s officially registered as this name but part of me keeps wondering if we should have given him the traditional longer form as his ‘official’ name to give him more options when he’s older.

I guess his name would be considered as a bit ‘cutesy’ by some - fine for a baby but possibly not for a grown man. I don’t really see it like that and think by the time he is grown there will be a long list of Reggies, Montys, Alfies, etc so it will be the norm.

I also don’t particularly like the traditional name that we would give him (I don’t hate it but it’s not something I would choose!) I won’t give the name as I’m not after opinions on the actual name but it would be similar to having a ‘Teddy’ but having ‘Edward’ on the birth certificate.

Should I have the courage of my convictions and keep the name we chose for him and love, or should I give him options for when he’s older?!

Change it, he has choice then. Our son is Thomas - we still sometimes call him Tom, but he always uses Thomas.

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 22/09/2022 18:54

I think it depends how "nicknamey" his name is. For me, some names are just too nicknamey to go on the birth certificate while others are fine. Each to their own though and I wouldn't judge others, it's just, as you say, about giving him the options.
So for example, to me, Thomas and Tom are both fine on a birth certificate but Tommy should only be a nickname.
Jonathan and John are both fine, but Johnny should only be a nickname.

DreadingWinter · 22/09/2022 19:01

Change it to the proper name. Nicknames are awful. I knew someone who was a teacher and ashamed to tell people his name and went by the long version even though he was legally the nickname.

PrimroseWharf · 22/09/2022 19:03

Personally I’d change it

CookPassBabtridge · 22/09/2022 19:13

I have an Alfie and Charlie and there will be tons of them as adults.
Don't give them the longer name, that is not what you called them! The threads on here are started by middle class snooty twats so don't let them make you anxious. God we have enough to deal with in life without minutiae like this.

namechangeagain123456 · 22/09/2022 19:21

DreadingWinter · 22/09/2022 19:01

Change it to the proper name. Nicknames are awful. I knew someone who was a teacher and ashamed to tell people his name and went by the long version even though he was legally the nickname.

I know a teacher called Abbie (not Abigail) and she's never had a problem or felt ashamed!

whosaidtha · 22/09/2022 19:22

It really does depend on the name. My brother is Alfie and it's not a problem but teddy is stupid for an adult. I would probably put the longer version then he had options. He can use it or not.

SummaLuvin · 22/09/2022 21:13

There isn't right answer. "Nickname' names are very popular so your Archie (for example) will grow up with Alfie, Freddie, Charlie, and Reggie... so it will not stand out as usual and juvenile as it does to people of 25+, as there will be hundreds and hundreds of adults with these names. However, longer names gives the child the choice of their own options - Alex can only really be Alex or Al. but Alexander has lots of choices and I would value this for a child. That being said, I have a longer name with loads of options and growing up I felt it was far too long and didn't like it!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 22/09/2022 21:19

Change it

SummaLuvin · 22/09/2022 21:24

DreadingWinter · 22/09/2022 19:01

Change it to the proper name. Nicknames are awful. I knew someone who was a teacher and ashamed to tell people his name and went by the long version even though he was legally the nickname.

Advice and lived experiences are always valuable, but you can't assume your feelings apply to everyone. I know a Billy who physically cringes as being called his full name - William - as he hates it so much. The exact opposite of how you feel.

There are similar debates on this page about name popularity - some parents actively seeking very popular names as they hated standing out with an unusual name, and others who were one of 5 Hannahs and want their children to feel like they have their own identity. The problem with naming children is that they can't tell you what they want until long after the choice has been made.