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!

I love Alexandra. What do you think of the Russian diminutive for it: Sasha? I think it;s pretty.

Not keen on Victoria. But Vika is lovely (so's Vivi imo) as nns if you do go for it.

As a Victoria I have to say don’t do it to your daughter. Vic, Vicky, Vikram, Victor, sticky Vicky are all names I was called regularly growing up, none of which I had any control over. I absolutely hate my name, wouldn’t want anyone else to grow up with it. You and your daughter can say what their preferred name is, but unfortunately you can’t control what other people will call her.

I know a young Victoria, she is 17.
She never goes by anything but Victoria and she really suits it.

I don't think vicky/vic etc. will be issues anymore as there just isn't as many of them and assumed nicknames aren't really a thing as much anymore. In DSs year all the people with proper names that would have been nicknamed in my day just use the full name (Edward, Victoria, Jessica, Georgina, Matthew off the top of my head). The names that get auto nicknamed in his year are more Charles - Charlie, Oliver - Olly, Isabella - Izzy/bella, Charlotte - Charlie/Lottie. I do think it only really happens to the most common names in a generation!

Alexandra might be harder as Ally and Lexi don't feel dated so might get shortened easier.