Why are nicknames so expected now?

[Alltheladies]

Why are nicknames so popular now? It feels like every new baby that is being born in the 2020s is expected to have a nickname. In my experience, as soon as you announce the baby’s name, someone instantly asks what you’re going to be calling them or starts suggesting nicknames (even when you haven’t implied that you’d like to call them something else). Even many parents seem to be more interested in and focused on potential nicknames rather than the actual name.

This thread was inspired by the fact that I had someone ask me if our Charlotte is going to be a Charlie or a Lottie. When I was a child, there were many kids who exclusively went by their full names. What has caused this societal change?

I purposely gave my boys names that could be shortened. They then had the choice. Not that anyone has ever used the long version.

I have a name that can’t be shortened so I was determined that my child would have a name that could be. Ironically I hardly ever shorten it unless I’m writing it down. Her friends and work colleagues shorten it though.

This has always been a thing. My daughter is Elisabeth and there are so many options for nicknames.

Yes I don’t think it’s new at all.

The vast majority of my peers go by nicknames - Jenny (Jennifer), Becky (Rebecca), Dave, Tom, Pete, Tim etc.

Exactly the same when I look at my parents’ generation or my grandparents’. Yes of course there are some people who have only ever gone by their given name, but most have a shortened name. Edward became Ted, Alfred was Alf, James was Jimmy. There are then plenty of people I know aged 40-100 who are only known as nicknames by spouses or the very closest friends but the majority of us don’t .. eg a Margaret who is Margaret to most but “Marg” or “Marge” to her husband and sibling.

I would actually say, if anything, it’s going the other way with people calling their children nicknames as full names.

It's not new, all 4 of my Grandparents had nicknames.

I think the difference now is parents want to micro manage nicknames rather than letting them evolve naturally when kids develop their own friendships.

Nicknames have always been popular normally they just evolve naturally.
I'm in my 60s and there were many people in my class who were always known by nicknames, every Susan was either Sue or Suzie, Patricias were either Pat, Patsy or Trisha, Stephanie's were Steph, James were Jimmy or Jim, etc
My best friend and her 4 siblings were never known by their given names they all had nicknames and it was several years before I realised they weren't their real names!

My bet is Alexandra and you are now Ali Bongo.

If so, you are one of many Ali Bongos!

Yes I agree- Previously nicknames were often not just a shortened form of your full name e.g. David/Dave but were “given” to you by your friends often reflecting a personal characteristic or shared experience, for example.

My children have nicknames, but they bare no relevance to their actual names are are related to behaviours as babies and shorthand dh and I used to discuss them.

For the most part they are called by their given names.

I've no issued with nicknames, however I know a couple who absolutely hate their son being called Dan instead of Daniel.

Yes, our Dads had “names” rebated to baby traits. Both their names could be shortened but we didn’t. School friends did though and DDs didn’t mind. As they are now adults, we’ve dropped the baby trait names!

I have spent my entire life with people trying to modify my name. We only considered nickname proof names for our child.

This is literally me! Child is 7 and it’s never been shortened yet. I like that she has options though, I was very resentful that I didn’t like my name much and there was no shortenings, whereas my siblings (and parents!) had names which could be shortened if they chose (which they all did).

Second child is known almost exclusively by a shortened version, but again, he has the choice when he’s older.

I think nicknames have shears been a thing.. at least they make sense now rather than Willliam/ Billy, Richard/Dick, Henry/harry,

I really wanted a nickname but my name is short and can't be nicknamed 😢

It’s always been a thing. I went to school in the 80s; all the Davids were Dave, Richards were Rick or Rich, Elizabeth’s were Lizzie or Beth. All of my friends has nicknames given to them by their parents, and often new nicknames given to them at school!

A nickname doesn't have to be a shortening of a name.
In fact it's usually personality based.
My daughter is frequently known as "Madam Fartacus" among various other names 😁

Agreed. My boss was Robert, known as Rob (never Bob), his nickname was Farmboy, because he grew up on a farm.

I know, but I didn't have one of those either 😢

I may have to steal Madam Fartacus for my DD by the way 🤣

You are very welcome to use the name 😁

Having a Daniel and kicking up a fuss at him being called Dan is embarrassing behaviour on their part. Dan is inevitable! Parents should realise that once the name is out there in the world it's not theirs to control. They of course are free to stick to full name only, but policing the kid's friends, or football coach, or whoever, to make sure they adhere to a strict Daniel policy is pitiful 😂

I see a difference between a proper nickname - something which is given by peers, or selected by the person themselves and used by peers and family/cutesy form of a name selected by parents.

Otherwise, it is a question:
Is it better to have a "proper name" available for later usage, but being called something else; or having a name which you are actually known as, even though it wouldn't be worthy of the constitutional judge in the previous generation?