Mostly only like ‘nicknames’ as names

[Happytimes83]

Our name list for our baby currently consists of; Effie, Callie, Immy (I don’t mind Imogen as a name out of the ones made into the longer version), also quite like Sienna though not entirely sure id actually want to use so maybe I should remove it from our list,

But I’d just prefer to name my daughter what I’d actually call them, a ‘formal’ name seems so pointless & we also want a name that’s relatively easy to spell although agree you could mix Y’s and IE’s up on to them by accident, though we don’t have issue with our sons name Charlie.

Are these names a problem as adults?

I wouldn't, personally. Longer name on bc, nickname for everyday.

As nicknames evolve naturally, you may find your Effie being called Effielump, your Calli being called fragilistic or similar...... We have some weird nicknames in our family.

Those names don’t sound good on adults. A formal name is surely the smallest thing you can give a child, but important? A nickname should be a personal, affectionate version of the person’s real name, not something HMRC call centres address you by.

I have a very short name and second what pp says about longer nicknames being attached. To me, Effie and similar sound like Victorian parlourmaids, but that’s probably because I’m old :)

I think Immy would constantly get asked if she was Imogen. But Callie and Effie are more commonly used as full names in their own right and will fit in fine with this generation of girls imo.

If the names you've chosen seem too informal, you could look at names with similar structure/sound that are traditional stand-alone names - for example:

Amy
Audrey
Bonnie
Chloe
Daphne
Emily
Esme
Heidi
Holly
Ivy
Lily
Lucy
Naomi
Phoebe
Rosalie
Ruby
Sophie
Sylvie
Zoe

'I have a very short name and second what pp says about longer nicknames being attached'

Absolutely - my first name has one syllable. My family nickname has four. 😁

My friends daughter is Callie as a full name, I know an adult with it too

Agree with this. A few more suggestions-

Seren
Stella
Calla
Flora
Elsa
Eliza
Alice
Clara
Emma

Callie is fine by itself. Immy just sounds silly and unfinished, though. Effie is borderline, though I can’t imagine you’re contemplating Euphemia.

I guess in my head I don’t see why Effie and Charlie are any different, but then maybe we were weird to call our child Charlie on the birth certificate! I seem to know adult Charlie’s, although not their actual name they only use Charlie in all settings including work, so nicknames seem to be ok in the workplace too? Maybe it’s just a weird British thing that we need to have some formal name that might never be used even as adults!

And yes we would never contemplate Euphemia, firstly spelling it will be an issue for some people and secondly we have a preference for names with only two syllables!

We also like Iona, Ada, Esme and Iris, issue with Iris is a auntie with the same name & it just feels like we are getting into super super common name territory with all of these which is basically the outcome of our first child 😂

I think Charlie has more or less become a name in its own right (see also Alfie), probably because of names like Louis and other names ending in an ‘ee’ sound. Charlie is also very similar to the kore formal version of the name.

But what is Effie short for? Euphemia or Efthymia, and while it’s deeply unfortunate that Effie Grey is chiefly remembered for (possibly ) her pubic hair and the non-consummation of her marriage, it’s not an association I’d be keen on for my daughter.

They're not nicknames - they're shortened versions of a longer name.

My son is called David - we called him Dee Dee when he was little as he couldn't say his name - that's a nickname.
If he was called Dave, that's a shortened form.

I know adults who are called Abbie, Jamie, Callie, Charlie. None of which have a "formal" name on their BC. All of them have proper jobs. I don't understand the obsession with calling someone a name you don't plan on using.

I think our attitudes to this are changing over time and once this current generation grow up it will be completely normal to use diminutives as full names and it might even seem old fashioned or a bit pretentious to have the full version (I know an adult Charles who changed his name to Charlie by deed poll because of this)

Don’t give your child a name that they always have to spell, or correct how it’s pronounced. Don’t ask me why I say that. 🙄

Iona is lovely, ❤️

Love Iona too.
I think it's nice to have options. You can have a nice name shortened to something cute whilst they are little.
When they are older and trying to get ahead in their chosen career a cutie name doesn't seem to get as much respect, believe me, I know.

I think it’s just a question of popularity I’m afraid. Charlie is very popular so people usually think it’s a stand alone name - they don’t always assume it’s short for Charles. It would be the same if you chose something like Elsie instead of Effie for example - lots of Elsie’s about so people don’t assume they are actually Elisabeth.

I guess it’s up to you whether you want to be a pioneer (if enough Effie’s and Callie’s are about people will stop asking if they are short for Ophelia/Josephine or
Caroline/Calista etc) - but it may or may not be annoying for your daughter until that happens.

I do think Charlie and Callie make an adorable sibset though! Being different sexes means the same initial shouldn’t be an issue (although if you had a third child they might feel left out 🤣).

I don't understand not wanting the longer name on the birth certificate. You call the child by their pet name, so that is how everyone will know them, but they have the option of a longer/more mature/elegant name for later in life.

Effie could be short for Elvira or Francesca (any name starting with F, really)

Callie could be Callista, Camilla, Caroline, Calliope, Calla

Immy could be Imma, Imogen, Mia, Emilia, Amelia

I have kids with 2 sylable names and they all got one sylable nicknames at school (which you have no control over) and yes, the one with a one sylable name gets called all sorts mostly 3 or 4 words and multiple syllables :)

My name is a nickname and I hate it! I've spent most of my life wishing I had the choice of the full version tbh. Nobody ever believes it's my full name and I constantly have to spell it

I don’t see what the issue is with Callie, I know several Callies who haven’t got a longer name. Immy is definitely a nickname.

I wasn't aware that Elsie is short for Elizabeth as I know quite a lot of older Elsies and that's their only name.

Would you want your child to be saddled with Euphemia on their birth certificate in order to call her Effie 😂

I guess in my head I don’t see why Effie and Charlie are any different

Because both are shortening of longer names, Charlotte and Euphemia.

My full name is 3 syllables (similarity to Isabella) and my close friends and family shorten it to Izzy, Belle, Bella. But my name is the full version and I love that I have options! At work I am known by my full name.

My name is a nickname and I hate it! I've spent most of my life wishing I had the choice of the full version tbh.

Yes, it seems short sighted of parents to forego that option?