If you like a name but not the nicknames

[Blahblahgingerbreadlady]

Do you just get over it or just try and change the nicknames or pick a different name?

for example I like Clementine but really can’t stand clem or clemmy. I like Elowen but there are so many Ellie’s in my current child’s life! Would you just decide to go with other names because if this?

I'd choose the nickname I liked even if I didn't like the longer name much.

They're not nicknames they're shortenings. There is a difference. If you don't like a way a name it shortened then don't choose the name as it is inevitable they will end up being used.

It will be fine for the first 4 years because you can call them what you like. But when they go to school the name will get shortened by other children and it will stick. So if you really don't like the nicknames go for a different name imo.

If you don't like the shortening don't chose it.

Yep, DS is Edward, I've never really liked Eddie, he's now Eddie most of the time...

I think you have to be ok with the common shorter versions of the name you chose.

My favourite name for DD2 is her middle name because I don’t like its shortening. You can’t control if it’s used so if you really don’t like it I wouldn’t risk it.

I wouldn't yse it if you can't stand the shortening. Once you give the name to your child it is theirs to do what they want with. She might go to school and instantly get called Clemmie and love it.

My aunt was very stern that her Elizabeth would always be Elizabeth as all the short forms were awful and common.
Lizzie has been Lizzie since she was three and her mother still won't say it.

Clementine can be clementyne or clementeen.
Elowen will be said as LON and will be Ellie. I think I read on another thread that it's more like L. Owen.

Use it as a middle name instead.

I disagree with pps who are saying you need to like the shortened version of the name. Just tell people your child's name and that's the one they will.use. In my experience, children don't shorten other children's names; they just accept what they are called. I have a child whose name can be shortened but we don't use the short version. No one has ever tried to call them by the short version that we know of, plus he knows what his name is and would correct people if they used the shortening!

The DC would eventually choose. My brother became a different short version of his name in secondary school. Family still call him the version we always did, he has never asked anyone not to, but I think he would introduce himself as the "new" version.

My eldests name has 2 common nicknames. One that is okay and the one that I hate. We simply only ever called her by the long version. She is a teenager now and friends, teachers, other family all use the long version. Don't think I've ever heard anyone refer to her as the shortened name.

I hate the shortened version of DS1s name. If people use it I correct them. He hates it too. Most people use the full version though.

I'm not a massive fan of the shortened version of DS2s name either. So again, I don't use it. A handful of his friends use it, but most actually use other nicknames.

I think if you love a name then use it. Correct people who shorten it. Although you can't do that with DCs friends so much.

I've been correcting my name to it's full length all my life. It depends on what your child decides they like as they are the one who will need to correct people.

How old is your child ?

OP, no, if you really don't like the usual shortenings, then don't use the long name.

You could do it if it were something like Elizabeth and you want to use Betty or Libby and that's what they introduce themselves at from the start, but it will never work with say Benjamin if you don't like Ben or your example of Clementine whilst disliking Clem or Clemy

You'll never stop a Clementine becoming Clem, to some. It will happen and you can't control it. Even if your child hates it, she'd spend a lifetime correcting others.

I'd only choose a name if I was happy with the shortened version too.

Like the child of a poster upthread, our now adult DS began to be called a 'shortened' version of his name at secondary school, by both his friends and eventually the staff too.
(Something like Nate for Nathan.)
We have always used his full name and it would be odd for us to change that, he is Nathan to us but I notice he always introduces himself as Nate now.😔

For us it was like we called him the equivalent of Nat and he became Nate. Only my 4 year old calls him "Nathan"... I don't even know how he knows that's his name 😂

Yes, go with something else - those are such common nns you won’t be able to stop them

Cecile or Olwen might be alternatives?

Don't use stupid nicknames

@CallieQ , what would be a stupid nickname?

i thought a nickname was when you were called one name but called something else, like an Olivia Grace being known as Bunny or something

I like the LON pronunciation more than eh-low-en

Elle would be a nicer shortening imo

It puts me off the name @Blahblahgingerbreadlady . A bit like Eleanor is ok, but not when people say it as Ellen Ore, or Renee - nice said as Renay but not as Reenie, or Catherine said as Cathereen.
I searched and it said el-LOW-en. Ellie is OK but they're everywhere.

You can’t control what your child chooses to shorten their name to any more than you can can control your partner’s or next door neighbour’s names. If you can stand the most obvious diminutive for the name, then I’d avoid the name. A name is a given to the child, and it’s theirs to choose what they do with it.