So many nicknames as full names

[Gladlymaam]

So my DD is 2, lately we’ve met a lot of other kids her age, through nursery, play groups, friends of friends etc. We live in London in what would be generally classed as a very nice area, would be stereotyped as very middle class etc. I’ve also noticed a bit of a trend where most of these families are corporate dad and SAHM set ups (obviously I don’t know every single one of these child’s parents jobs so it’s a smaller sample) and what I have noticed is so many of these children have nicknames for full names.
I feel like on Mumsnet people are generally told to give their child a full name and it often comes up as “not very classy” to give them one of the nicknames as full names, or suggested that educated/ambitious parents wouldn’t pick these names (I don’t necessarily agree with this I’m just repeating a common theme I’ve seen).
So far we have met
2x Stevie (girls)
Teddy
Rudy
Ozzy
Gigi
Bea
Posy
Emmy
Bobby
Pippa

This has surprised me a little as amongst my close friends and from what I’ve seen on here it’s pretty unpopular to give your child a nickname as a full name. It’s also made me wonder why especially on here it’s seen as unclassy or a sign of being uneducated when at least in my experience the names are being used across all classes including amongst highly educated and successful individuals?
Have you noticed this trend too? Is it as prolific amongst the people you know? What are your thoughts on it?

I'm planning to give my kids longer names instead of shorter. I think picking longer names makes name stand out more compared to another diminutive name.
But obviously I have to be OK with my kid being named longer name, I have to be OK with most common nicknames and I am aware most people will try to shorten the name. I would never pick longer name if I only like diminutive and I would never pick name I hate most common short form. And I would occasionally use full name.

@Zitroneneis If the adult Stevie or Teddy doesn't like their name they can change it.

That's interesting because I much much prefer having the full version plus the diminutive. I've been called the diminutive my whole life but far prefer having a more formal version as well to pick and choose between depending on circumstances.

It's never caused me any problems - and I've jumped through many immigration hoops and piles of associated admin in different places over the years so there have been plenty of opportunities.

I'd be quite cross with my parents if they'd just given me the diminutive. I don't love my name so having the long version at least gives me options.

What’s weird about Pippa and Rudy?

I think it does depend on the name but it’s even more weird to officially name your child “Pipparella” or the full name that you don’t actually like when she is only ever going to be called Pippa.

Personally, I don't like the trend for giving children cutesy nicknames such as Teddy or Alfie, but if it's ok to give them the proper name with the option of being called the diminutive, then there's no reason why it couldn't work the other way too - an adult registered as Alfie could say that he prefers to use Alfred if he feels it fits him better.

If you’re always intending to call a kid Archie or Katy, it’s probably simpler all round to have them registered by that name so they don’t have to keep explaining at school, work etc that yes, they’re technically named Archibald or Katherine but have never been called that.

At my cousin’s wedding, almost everyone (including the bride) was genuinely surprised to learn my cousin’s name was Anthony. We had no idea his name wasn’t just Tony. My auntie (who was lovely but incredibly ditzy) said she’d only ever wanted him to be called Tony but “assumed she wasn’t allowed” to register him as Tony when he was born?!

They sound silly - Pippa sounds twee and has rude connotations in other languages, whereas Philippa is beautiful and travels well. Rudy is even worse at it sounds like a Rude-y! Again, Rudyard or Rudolph are lovely names. Why not give your children the option of a more dignified name?

They are not nicknames!! They are abbreviations. And good on those parents - giving a long name and not using it is so stupid in my opinion.

I imagine because not many parents want to give their child a name they think is horrible and they consider Teddy or Stevie to be a proper name, especially with all of the Albie's, Bertie's & Bobby's running around so it seems normal to simply use a name your child will be called anyway.

Rudolph is a dignified name?

@CraftyNavySeal , Pippa is short for Philippa.

@NannyR , It's a trend. I don't particularly like the 'cute' ones, but also can't see the point of registering an Archie as Archibald or Archer if the name isn't going to be used. I don't really like Archie and the other two are awful.

@BauhausOfEliott , I know many Tonys who are really Anthony.

@Zitroneneis , Rudy is fine. Rudyard doesn't shorten to Rudy it would shorten to Rud. Rudolph is too associated with a red-nosed reindeer.

My DD has one of the names you mentioned (Gigi) and we are likely going to use Pippa for our baby. We don’t like the full names so see no point in giving our child a full name we don’t like. You could give your child any name and they could grow up to not like it, so that’s a pretty stupid reason to give a full name. I’d personally hate to be named some of the more popular names these days and would want to change my name if they were my name. Also I really don’t think anyone will care that DD is named Gigi by the time she is old enough to have a job as name trends change all the time and our perceptions of those names change with them.

All of these “nickname” names will be the norm when this generation of children are older, it won’t be weird to be called Stevie, Bobby, Evie, Lexi etc

I personally couldn’t give a crap if someone was Theo or Teddy on a CV rather than Theodore or Billy rather than William. I don’t see the obsession with “proper names”

If a child really hates their name they can always change it when they are 18

I was given a diminutive of a name on my birth certificate and it's never made me feel I wanted the whole thing. I think only a couple of people have ever asked if it was actually the long version.

Because she might want to be known as Phillipa when she’s an adult with a career.

@No5ChalksRoad , at least people can spell Pippa.

To me it is. It’s my uncle’s name.

Rudolph or Rudyard are far more dignified than Rudy which sounds childish and like Rude-y, not a great association in English! People call their farts Rudy.

I guess we all have different associations and preferences!

I've only known 2 Rudys, both adults. Never thought 'Rude-y'.
I've never heard anyone call their farts Rudy.
Rudyard mkes me think Lake or Kipling.
Why should someone use a long name they don't even like?

But hypothetical Pippa won’t wan’t to be called Philippa if that’s not her name?

Pippa is fine on its own, she might end up as Phil if she is called Philippa!

Just to add, the sound more professional argument is not valid - like we didn’t call Tonh Blair, Anthony, or Liz Truss, Elizabeth or Joe Biden, Joseph I really find it hard to see why it makes a difference, - maybe it you’re called Tinky Winky or something it might raise an eyebrow

Do you know for sure that these are the full names, at nursery etc abbreviations may be used.

Hahaha 😄 beautifully demonstrating why Pippa might be preferred 🤭

I guarantee all the ‘they’ll never have a career!!!’ people know many successful people with diminutive names. I know full grown adults, with careers, called:
Theo - orthodontist, also see: Paphitis
Charley - teacher
Annie - lawyer
Floss - illustrator
Plum (actually a Victoria) - stylist
Also - not a dim. but falls into the ‘they’ll never have a career’ category - McKenzie - Interior designer

Most people will associate it with a certain red nose reindeer which doesn't sound very dignified at all.

Exactly, people have different preferences. Names are largely subjective.

Never heard anyone calling farts Rudy 🤣

Also Sally - ‘that’s meant to be short for Sarah!’ - dentist.

In fact I know 2 dentists called Sally, and one music teacher called Sally.

My vet is called Molly. Shall I tell her to go by Mary instead as it will look more professional.
My old doctor was Sam, how unprofessional.