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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Nicknames for baby names

29 replies

phoebepaynter27 · 03/12/2023 22:52

Hi all, I'm new here and I'm expecting my little girl in April. I have the name Willow in mind but I'm just wondering what all of you out there think about different nicknames. I don't think 'willy' is too appropriate especially as she grows up. Thanks! 😁

OP posts:

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NoTouch · 03/12/2023 22:58

It is the obvious nickname and she will be called it, hopefully affectionately, by classmates as she grows up.

It will be character building! But something to consider......

UsingChangeofName · 03/12/2023 23:03

Nicknames commonly have nothing to do with a person's actual name - they evolve due to something about the person's appearance, or character or the way they mispronounced something when they were little.

Or it can be to do with your initials, or yes, getting called something like 'tree' due to the name you've been given.

If you are talking about how a name can be shortened, well, yes, there aren't many ways for 'Willow' to go.

MaloneMeadow · 04/12/2023 00:07

I really love Willow but couldn’t bring myself to use it as I knew that it would inevitably get shorted to Willy, whether I wanted it to or not!

Strawberrycheesecake7 · 04/12/2023 00:12

She could be Will, Willa, or Billie.

scotstarstrikestwo · 04/12/2023 00:17

Not sure why people always seem to insist a child will be called a certain thing or its obvious children will be called certain things...its simply not the case as far as I can see. I called my son a name with an obvious nickname and was told he will only get called that...he never has and would give short shrift to anyone who tried.

I know of several Willows and none of them are called Willy. It's a lovely name and if you love it then you should go for it

peaceinourtime · 04/12/2023 09:09

A name that flows naturally which you find/come across over time.

EveryKneeShallBow · 04/12/2023 09:21

Agree that there’s no reason why they will be called Willy. My name has several obvious shortenings, but I’m always called by the whole thing. And anyway, my beloved guide leader when I was a child was called Miss Williams, and was always called Willy, and we all did it affectionately. We were past the age of finding that hilarious.

DuchessOfSausage · 04/12/2023 10:44

@phoebepaynter27 , you are very sensible to be considering what your DD will be called. Will or Willz would e my guess.
Regardless of what the other posters say, names do get shortened or lengthened. Maybe some have names that never ever get shortened but children do go through a phase of doing it.

PickledScrump · 04/12/2023 10:46

Willow is incredibly popular where I am, there’s several of them in my daughter’s year, they’re 12/13 now and none have ever been shortened, all get the full Willow.

HoHoHoliday · 04/12/2023 10:54

Just call her Willow! It's a lovely name, and it's short enough already, no need for a nickname. If you're desperate to shorten, Will, or Lil.
You'll find nicknames evolve naturally and don't always come from a shortened version of a name. My brother, for example, is Jonathan but known as Biff!

DuchessOfSausage · 04/12/2023 11:38

I don't think OP is desperate to shorten, @HoHoHoliday , but concerned that others might shorten it.

Parents often make a baby name for cooing their baby, but it usually gets dropped after the tiny baby stage.

If you had a baby called Lillian or Thomas, it might seem intuitive to call her/him Lily or Tommy as a tiny baby, and then revert to the full names.

ZinniaB · 04/12/2023 20:20

Willy is not a shortening of Willow, syllable wise.
I think Wil is super cool on a girl, like Wil van Gough. Lots of Dutch women in fact use Wil. But she’ll probably just be Willow! A lovely sounding name.

YourNameGoesHere · 04/12/2023 20:28

I've known tons of children called Willow. Babies, pre teens, young adults etc not one has ever been called Willy...

Nicknames of the Willow's I know are completely unrelated to their name such as Nugget, Bee, Pretzel etc.

Willow is just one of those names that doesn't get shortened and my opinion.

theduchessofspork · 04/12/2023 22:13

Billie is a nice idea, or Willa

I know you aren’t asking, but I always think Willow is nice.. as long as she’s Willowy, so if your families aren’t, that might be worth a thought

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 08/12/2023 22:18

I've never met a human called Willow who was ever addressed as Willy.

ClydeBank · 08/12/2023 22:23

I know a Willow who is also known as Low-low - quite cute

Marcipex · 08/12/2023 22:35

There was a surge of Willows around here about 12 years ago. I never heard them called anything except Willow.
Everyone was rather sorry for the boy called Willow though. His middle name is also a girls name. Hopefully he’ll eventually be called Will.

DuchessOfSausage · 09/12/2023 08:51

@Marcipex , But you don't get to hear what new parents call their baby, or what siblings and schoolfriends call a child. Some of my friends had cute little nicknames for their DC but wouldn't necessarily use them outside the home.
Something like Elliekins or Billybob.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 10/12/2023 21:37

I don’t particularly think willow will get shortened to anything.

purpledahlias · 11/12/2023 20:32

Willow and William could be teased with Willy, but most people probably won't call them that!

YourLocal · 07/02/2024 21:31

Willa, Lois , Lola, Lil, Lily!

Copasetic · 07/02/2024 21:42

Why do you want a nickname? Don't nicknames either naturally happen or not?

Flopsy145 · 07/02/2024 21:48

Lowe might be a cute alternative, or Wils.
Although tbh Willow is only 2 syllables so you may well find it doesn't get shortened at least until she's old enough to pick a nickname

DesertSnow · 07/02/2024 23:39

I wouldn't have thought it would be shortened. A nickname might come from something else but it will probably evolve naturally if so. If you love Willow, go for it! Congrats.

Enko · 07/02/2024 23:44

I know 2 teen early 20s

1 is known as Wilma or Wills

The other only ever Willow.

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