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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

NN as full names

41 replies

Carleyroo · 20/06/2023 12:38

Hi! The names we loves the most are nn for more formal names. We already have a boys name but need help with girls. Names we like are Edie and Nell but need help! Thank you x

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KirstenBlest · 20/06/2023 12:43

Edie and Nell are both fine as full names.

TheMurderousGoose · 20/06/2023 12:45

It’s perfectly okay to call your kids Nell or Edie, and not bother with a longer name on the birth cert. It’s always been pretty common thing to do, despite some people thinking it’s a modern affectation.

If you did want longer names, for Nell you could go with Ellen/Cornelia/Penelope and Edie could be short for Edith/Edwina/Eden.

Mischance · 20/06/2023 12:47

One of my DDs is registered as a shortened form of Jennifer.

PuppyMonkey · 20/06/2023 12:52

Edie and Nell are lovely. No need for anything else.

Carleyroo · 20/06/2023 12:57

Thank you! For Nell would you have Nell, Nelly or Nellie? Big sister is called Romy x

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TheMurderousGoose · 20/06/2023 13:00

Carleyroo · 20/06/2023 12:57

Thank you! For Nell would you have Nell, Nelly or Nellie? Big sister is called Romy x

Definitely, just Nell. Nell is simple and pretty but Nelly is clunky.

Nell and Romy sound lovely together.

Carleyroo · 20/06/2023 13:04

TheMurderousGoose · 20/06/2023 13:00

Definitely, just Nell. Nell is simple and pretty but Nelly is clunky.

Nell and Romy sound lovely together.

Yeah I think I agree! Thank you x

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 20/06/2023 13:13

Just Nell. If you want a longer name, you could use Eleanor or Helena, but just Nell is fine. Nelly and Nellie aren't all that nice.

Fraaahnces · 20/06/2023 13:19

My DD1 is Mimi. I didn’t realize until after she was named that it was often a NN.
Lulu, Tess, Betty, Ellie, Nina, Gia, Bette, Frankie

MaggieFS · 20/06/2023 13:20

Both as fine as they are. And definitely just Nell.

misspollycat · 20/06/2023 16:24

Mischance · 20/06/2023 12:47

One of my DDs is registered as a shortened form of Jennifer.

I so wish my parents had thought to do this.

JanesBlond · 20/06/2023 16:26

Carleyroo · 20/06/2023 12:57

Thank you! For Nell would you have Nell, Nelly or Nellie? Big sister is called Romy x

Nelly the elephant? Nell if you must, but absolutely not Nelly/Nellie.

continentallentil · 20/06/2023 23:18

Nell is fine I think (not Nelly!)

Edie is a but twee so would use Edith

continentallentil · 20/06/2023 23:19

Fraaahnces · 20/06/2023 13:19

My DD1 is Mimi. I didn’t realize until after she was named that it was often a NN.
Lulu, Tess, Betty, Ellie, Nina, Gia, Bette, Frankie

Her full name is Mimi?!

jackstini · 20/06/2023 23:24

Nell is ok, but could use Fenella, Penelope or Annelie as a full name

I don't mind shortened names as full names per se, but it's nice to have another option when older

PuppyMonkey · 21/06/2023 06:43

it's nice to have another option when older

I never understand why people on MN always say this. When she’s older she can call herself whatever the heck she wants, it’s a free country - she doesn’t need to be stuck with a horrible name like Fenella. Confused

Fraaahnces · 21/06/2023 06:59

@continentallentil Sure is. She is named after my grandmother too.

KirstenBlest · 21/06/2023 08:09

Fenella is nice, but it shortens to Fen not Nell.
I suppose you could use Prunella.

PuppyMonkey · 21/06/2023 08:22

@KirstenBlest by your strange rules, Prunella will shorten to Prun.

TeenDivided · 21/06/2023 08:24

Eleanor.

KirstenBlest · 21/06/2023 09:03

@PuppyMonkey , Not Prun, Prue.
Not my strange rules at all.

ReeseWitherfork · 21/06/2023 09:06

KirstenBlest · 21/06/2023 08:09

Fenella is nice, but it shortens to Fen not Nell.
I suppose you could use Prunella.

Why couldn’t someone shorten Fenella to Nell? That’s a very bizarre rule you’ve created.

BoohooWoohoo · 21/06/2023 09:07

Nell is much better than Nelly/Nellie. Makes me think of Nelly the Elephant.
My son has a one syllable name and his nicknames are all longer versions of his name. So you could use Nelly as a nickname but I think that Nell is best as the full name.

DiaNaranja · 21/06/2023 09:09

I know a Nell who's full name is Fenella, and I love both versions. She always goes by Nell though, but it's nice to have the formal version, as Fenella is such a pretty name.

KirstenBlest · 21/06/2023 09:10

@ReeseWitherfork , I haven't created a rule. It's just how names tend to be shortened.