Victoria/Alexandra

[idgohome]

Hi all, DH and I have just had our baby girl on the 2nd of May, she is our long awaited IVF rainbow baby and we are so delighted to have her!
Before she was born we had settled on Zara Victoria, I liked that it meant Shining Victory which feels very apt and it felt like a strong name.
Our runner up was Elena Alexandra.

Here is the issue, the more I look at baby the more I feel Victoria or even Alexandra (though less so) suit her so much better!
I hate all the nicknames for these names though, I could maybe deal with Vee or Ria and potentially Lex but Vicky/Vic/Tori, Alex/Lexi/Sandy are very much hates! I do like Vika but I don’t think that’s a natural nickname.

Do you think it is possible to use a name like Victoria or Alexandra (heavily leaning to Victoria) without it being shortened to one of the names we hate?

Are we better sticking with Zara which can’t really be shortened?
Help please!

It’s possible to avoid those nicknames, but it depends on the person with the name wanting to avoid them, and your daughter may well prefer them. You can only control what people cal her for a few years. Then it’s up to her and her friends. Personally I’d stick with Zara. The name isn’t your name; it’s your daughter’s, and she should be free to use it how she wants to, which includes the associated diminutives.

If the most intuitive nicknames are intolerable to you, then the name isn’t the right one. I know people who don’t shorten names which are frequently shortened (including a Victoria) but I also know people who’s parents insist on using their full name when the child has made it clear they they want to be called the diminutive.

I love Vika too. It's worth mentioning that it is considered a natural diminutive of Victoria/Viktoria in Eastern Europe.

That said, I love Zara Victoria.

My niece is 21 and named Victoria, she has never really had a nickname, Viv/Vivee (Vih-Vee) briefly as a toddler but from about 3 she started saying "No it is Victoria" , her boyfriend calls her V now but everyone else it is Victoria. It is a gorgeous name and if that is where your preference is you should definitely use it! Victoria Elizabeth is my nieces name but Victoria Alexandra is gorgeous too.

What about Ally as a nickname for Alexandra?

Really, if you prefer the full names then choose those. You can control who calls her what for a few years, after that it's up to her and you won't get a say !

Congratulations on your daughter, beautiful names whichever you choose!

I know a Victoria who goes by Vita, which I think is beautiful. But as said above, you don’t have to accept shortenings or nicknames. Victoria in particular is easy to say; Alexandra is slightly more of a mouthful but a really beautiful name in its long form. Would Ally be an ok short form?

I know two Andrews. That’s how they introduced themself to me so that’s what I call them. I’d never shorten it to Andy. If your daughter calls herself Victoria so will others. The issue is if she decides she wants to be known as Vikki/Vicky then you have to suck it up. Victoria Beckham seems to have avoided it.

Whichever you opt for, they're all really beautiful names, so you're winning either way!

I think Victoria is lovely and not necessarily going to get shortened. For example, Victoria Beckham.

If it's your favourite name, you should go for it, otherwise you may regret it down the line.

I do understand your reservations though. We considered Gabriella for DD but felt she's get called Gabby which we didn't want. She's now Esmée!

I don't know... obviously you could call her Victoria or Alexandra yourself but you won't be able to control what other people call her! I personally have never met a Victoria who didn't get Vic/V/ some other variation. Where I work, there's a culture of changing literally everyone's name- names get shortened (even if they're not long in the first place)... Ellie to El, Madeleine to Mads... meanwhile short names like Jane become Janie 🙈
So if you really dislike the nicknames, I would stick with Zara, it's a lovely name!

My dd has a similar name - think of Elizabeth but it's not.

It has never ever been shortened by anyone.

the one nickname she had was ( nothing at all to do with her name ) used by a school friend as a sort of term of endearment and it stuck in their group for years and dd likes it

I think Victoria is a lovely name.

Another shortening of Alexandra is Sandra.

My preference is Victoria but as always you can never control what names other people use.

I know my Dads family always gave him his formal name but to friends and work mates he used a short version

I know three Victorias and none of them get their name shortened, you'll probably be ok with that one!

Zara Victoria is lovely though, you could always leave it as it is but call her Victoria if that's what you prefer?

I honestly think you’re better off sticking with Zara - it’s a gorgeous name and can’t be shortened.

You can probably control shortenings for the primary school years but once they hit secondary school it’s out of your hands. Sure, she could probably start comp correcting everyone she meets by saying, “no it’s not Alex, it’s Alexandra” etc but I’m not sure that would creat the best first impression on all her new, cool peers!

My name is Victoria but didn't like it when I was growing up and so I shortened it to Vicky and no one calls me Victoria. I actually don't mind it now but I've been Vicky for so long. I actually don't like Vicky either but it was in my eyes preferable to Victoria at the time. Vicky is such an obvious nickname that there is a risk.

I work in a large all girls school, over the last 10 years or so there have been a few Victorias pass through, all but one went by Victoria, one went by Tor. I think kids nowadays also see Vicky/Vick/Tori as dated so don’t use them, but then I’ve also noticed it all depends on what they introduce themselves as, no one seems to shorten other people’s names for them anymore.
Alexandra tends to be Alex or Lexi a lot more.
Id use Victoria, it’s beautiful and not often shortened these days.

Alexandra is my favourite girls' name ever, but I think will inevitably be shortened to Alex... my Alexandra is, though at home we call her Ali.

Similarly, Victoria will be shortened whether you like it or not a not not necessarily to what you choose - nicknames and diminutives have a tendency to evolve, rather than be fully decided upon!

You have some lovely ideas anyway.

Just wanted to say, I love all your name combinations. There is no bad choice here, go with the one you feel most comfortable with.

All gorgeous names.

You can't 100% reliably prevent other people from shortening a name, but you can model using the long version yourself and tell anyone who asks that you prefer it. I've known several children and adults who were always called Victoria. However, I wouldn't use Victoria if you would be heartbroken if Victoria herself chose to be known by a short form when she's older. It's no fun being the kid whose own parents won't let them be known by the version they prefer.

I know a Victoria and she has always been called by her full name (or affectionately V). It really suits her and I can’t ever imagine calling her anything different. Personally I prefer Victoria to Alexandra, but I do really like the nickname Allie that a previous poster mentioned.

Victoria. You could shorten it to Vita if you wanted to.
Or something else. A nn doesn't have to be a diminutive.

i think shortenings change over time and whilst I think victorias my age almost always went by Vicky but I don’t think that would happen now.
I would either just always use Victoria in full outside the family or determine which shortening you do like and make sure to use that.
same with Alexandra. Alexandra has a lot of shortenings so work out the ones you do like and if use those they will stick - personally I think Ally, Lexa and Sasha/Sash are all nice. Or sandy as a more affectionate one if she maintains Alexandra to the outside world.

If you name her Victoria, she is highly likely to get called Vicky sometimes, but in my opinion both those options are far better than Zara (as is Alexandra).

My name is Victoria.

Growing up, my parents called me Vicky and therefore so did everyone else, but I should imagine that if they'd referred to me as Tori or Vita, so would everyone else. Most people will go along with the nn you choose.

As an adult, I've found most people call me Victoria when they meet me, until I say no it's fine, you can call me Vic. Vic is generally the nn I use now, as I have never liked Vicky due to the "icky" part! 😆

Victoria is gorgeous, Vic, Vicky, less so.. but as others have said, if you call her Victoria and she herself chooses to only be called that, then I think you’ll be fine.

I know 2 Vicky’s, who are both Victoria, but have only ever been called Vicky which was popular in the 80’s. One now has changed her name to Victoria on social media but everyone just calls her Vicky/vic..

@CharlieBoo have you asked why she's changed her name on social media? I wonder if she wants a more grown up name for work or something 🤔
Vicky is more childish to me than Vic.