Lottie or Dottie

[mymindislikeamarshmallow]

Which one do you prefer? I don't want to use the traditional longer names Charlotte or Dorothy. Be kind, baby here (nearly 2 weeks old, she needs a name!) thanks.

Of the two, I much prefer Lottie for a full name. There’s always a lot of angst about how children must have a formal name, and while that would be my preference, there’s nothing objectively wrong with a diminutive as a full name. At the last ONS name release Rosie, Elsie, Evie, Millie, Maisie, Hallie, Lottie, Molly, Ellie, Gracie, Harry, Archie, Freddie, Charlie, Alfie, Tommy, Teddy, Albie, Reggie, Ronnie, Frankie and Bobby were all in the top hundred. These names are totally normal and will work for adults because there will be thousands of adults with this style of name when your Lottie is an adult.

She might end up disliking the informality of Lottie, or if you called her Charlotte she might wish you’d just called her Lottie as that’s all she’s known as. There’s nothing to stop a Lottie going by Charlotte professionally if she wants to. There’s no way to know how she’ll feel as an adult, and as Charlotte and Lottie are both very popular, either is probably fine. And if she really hates her name, it’s free and easy to change as an adult.

@user1477391263 lol I know it's an actual name- I also think of mine as an actual name too as it's the name I've been known as for the best part of 5 decades. But yes it's also a different name in its own right, for me it's the diminutive of Marissa coz that's how it's been used for me

Lottie on its own is fine, though I'd prefer a more formal name version, personally, if it belonged to me.

Dottie as a standalone name? Please, no. To describe someone as "dotty" means someone who is losing their marbles. You usually hear it in the context of "Mrs Barlow? She's that dotty old lady that lives down the road. The one who walks about in a dressing gown and shouts at birds".

I really wouldn't saddle a child with the name Dottie without a longer version as back-up.

Harsh, but I can't say I disagree...

Yes "dotty" is a way of saying demented/ scatty. It's well known. Would you want it as your Name?

I find them both cutesy and infantile. They also don't travel well into other languages!

I think it's a food question to ask if any of us adults would like to bel called Lottie, Dottie or even Tottie?

I wouldn't.

As I said upthread, I work with women called Katie, Millie, Sophie and Rosie and I am afraid they do sound ridiculous on grown women, especially when they are all together. I am aware that Sophie is a 'proper' name BTW, but it unfortunately gets lost in the sea of other babyish names ending in -ie
Give your baby a serious name OP, not a baby pet name

I work with people with names like Ellie, Molly and Evie. It's just trends in fashion names. I also work with a Julie, Vicky, Kelly and Tracey. Other than the names giving a rough idea of their ages, it's not an issue.

Tottie is unbelievable. It’s almost as bad as calling a girl Bimbo.

Neither. Lotta is OK.

Lottie is nice. Dottie is how I’d describe a little old lady potentially losing her marbles. ‘Ahh bless her she’s going a bit dotty now.’

Lottie is better as a standalone name, although I agree with pps saying use Charlotte on the birth certificate, which is also lovely. I think Dottie is quite cute, but that’s only a good thing for maybe the first 5 years or so?

Dottie

Dottie is cute but as a nickname. A full grown adult saying her official name is Dottie probably won’t work. So for a full name - Lottie.

The names of both my dogs! Personally I’d give them the full name so they have a choice of nicknames in future.

Which name do you prefer OP? My daughter has a marmite granny chic name, but she has the option of nn choices, rather than, being the one we gave her, being her only option.

I know you say that you are not interested in the 'proper' name being on the Bc, but, and this will upset many commenters, there are many studies showing that a name does influence future career choices, even if that name is popular when your baby is born, ie. Lottie, Evie, Ellie etc.

I think Dorothea or Dorothy nn Dottie/Dot is much nicer and fresher sounding. I don't personally like the name Charlotte or any of the nn', it's one name that grates on me.

There also seems to be loads of Charlotte/Lottie's about.

Lottie, or Lotte :) congratulations

I love Dorothy, We chose Delilah (without NN) but would use Dorothy as I love the name x

Isn't Ian another name for John?

It's a form of John, but isn't short for it. @dollybird .

Is Ian / Iain not the Gaelic form of John?

@Sugarfree23 , yes, but it isn't short for John.

i love both, probably dottie but that is also a great name for a dog,

Before inflicting Dottie on a child, the OP should at the very least go somewhere she’s not likely to meet anyone she knows, pretend it’s her name & see how people react to her saying ‘I’m dotty’.

Perfect for a Dalmatian.