I'm hoping to get people's view on something that has been bugging me since I named my little boy who is now 15 months old.
We named him Alfred on his birth certificate but have always called him Alfie. However, from the first day that I went out with him, I continually met dogs called Alfie in the park - we have a dog so are in the park a lot. Everyone who I meet says that they know a dog called Alfie too. Before naming him, I didn't realize how popular the name is for dogs and for some reason, it has always really bugged me.
We've recently (for the past week) been calling him Freddie at home and he's started responding to that name - as well as Alfie. We've started telling our friends and family about the gradual change and while my mum was initially supportive, she has now informed me that she doesn't think it's a good idea and that one of her friends was "deeply shocked" at the idea. She says that it's confusing for my son and his 3 year old sister. His sister does continue to call him Alfie and says that Fred is from Tabby McTat (a children's story book), although she'll occasionally call him Freddie when, for example, she's saying his name just after we've said it.
Can I please get people's view on this situation? Am I being silly transitioning his nickname to Freddie, or do you think it's okay?