ITS OK TO CALL YOUR CHILD THE "SHORT" VERSION OF A NAME - SO BOLLOCKS TO ALL YOU FARKING SNOBS WHO TURN YOUR NOSES UP!

[MamaG]

You know who you are!

I did this with DS (as in Archie rather than Archibald - but a completely different name) and MIL in particular went ON and ON about it - the long version of DS's name sounds a tad pompous and I DON'T LIKE IT.

I don't want to hear ANYBODY on MN bleat "oh don't call him Ben, it has to be Benjamin" etc again

___

A Sainsburys check out lady took me to task telling me that she didn't approve of me having my ds1 and ds2 christened the shortened versions of their names. I said (a bit snootily), "well when they were baptised the priest had no problem whatsoever with their names".

When I looked at her badge she was called Hilda so perhaps had issues of her own...

They're called what you want them to be called - we preferred the shortened versions, end of. The only problem is when you need a longer name for when they're in trouble - I have solved this by extending their names in an Italian styleee for these occasions, a bit like: Cod - Codarina. I have an extremely short name (three letters, not shortened from anything) and my own mother used to call me "InTheseShoes Elizabeth" when I was in trouble.

I agree that it depends on the name. For dc3 for a girl we are going with Lucy and for a boy we like harry or Tom. Now if I go with Harry, that will be his name. I have had people suggest we call him Henry and just use Harry but I feel Harry has been a name in it's own right for quite while (my Grandad is just Harry) and why give your child a name you have no intention of using? But if we choose Tom, then he will be Thomas but mainly called Tom.

I think your choice on this reflects your outlook on life.

Shortened names are more casual and modern, and long names subsequently shortened are more formal and traditional.

Controversially perhaps I also think these preferences map to class(!)

My hypothesis is

Long names subsequently shortened = middle classes and royalty

Shortened names = upper & lower classes

Now, you see, my full name is Rebekah, but pretty much everyone calls me Becky (my mother named me Rebekah because she liked Becky) I actually really like Rebekah, but sadly no-one calls me it (apart from docs and dentist ) and the trouble is that everyone is so used to me being Becky, that they just couldn't call me Rebekah (are you atill with me?)

DS1 is Alex...not Alexander and I do feel that the shortening is a perfectly good name in it's own right...as is Ben, Tom, Kitty. I suppose if I were to like a name which was more a childs name in the shorter form, like Millie or Lottie, then I would use the longer version, I don't know. But saying that, if I loved the shorter version and not the longer, then I would go with that too.

Anyway at the end of the day, it doesn't matter as long as you like your childs name (which of course you always would)

Ooer, I am now middle class or royalty ...but DS1 is upper or lower class...how does that work

Well deffo not Upper class so.... you calling me rough Podrick???

People who don't do nicknames are just so BORING.

I choose names precisely because they have lots of nicknames. We use all the names (short and long versions). DS prefers the long version of his name, while DD prefers the short version. They don't mind the other variations at all, though.

I have an very common name with no obvious nicknames, but people make them up, I like this. I interpret it as an effort to be friendly.

note - I do not think lower class are rough, I come from a council estate in inner City Liverpool - I am having a laugh

Calm down OP!!
Why is it a problem???
You can call your child what the hell you like (though you may well get laffed at on here!!).
Personally I think a full name is good to go on the birth certificate, also because the full name will have a meaning, and mainly because it gives the child a choice about which to use.
But you call your kiddies whatever you like!

hey MamaG

I have two children whose names get shortened and one child whose name gets lengthened.

And they all have nicknames.

Tell your MIL to MHOB and tell her you're calling the kid Clamydia.

Personally I really don't like nick/pet names as given names. I have a long name, my family always call me by a shortening of it, but as an adult I always use the full version. I think it is nice to have choice. Also I always think it a little strange to call your child a shortened version of a name you don't actually like.

But that is my personal view. I don't go around telling other people I don't like their names (well except on Mumsnet of course!)

I really wanted to call my daughter by a shortened name (Livvy for Olivia) but we've all adopted my older daughters' early way of saying her name "Wivwa" wtf? We're idiots

We call DS the shortened version of his name

My mother went on and on about how she preferred the long version

and for some unknown reason, as I have never taken any notice of her before

I got the long version on his birth certificate

and now really wish that I hadn't

It's not his name and never will be

Is this rant inspired by the 'Bo' thread?

There's 'shortened' and there's 'blink and you miss it'.

Is the credit crunch even affecting how many letters of the alphabet we can afford?

We is named one name but we call him a shortened version of it and have done since he was a few days old. We had friends who called him another shortened version of it because they 'preferred it' ...
I was too riddled with PND to do anything about it but cry every time they visited but it was farking rude of them and one day I will have my revenge

Like I said on the other baby name thread - just call your baby what you want to call him or her and fark what anyone else says ...

'We is named'? Good grammar ghosty ...
That should read, "DS is named ..."

at ghosty's AliG impression

MamaG this will help

Now I have to disagree with you I'm afraid..

I personally think that it is best to give them the full version of the name, and then if you so wish you can shorten it yourself.

Tis then the childs choice what they want to use later in life.

I'm not that keen on my full name, in fact as my parents are no longer alive I am seldom called it, BUT I do like to be able to use if for offical stuff (maybe because I am one of those farking snobbs you referred to)...

My family call me the shortened version of my name. They didn't when I was little, but since I was a teenager they have and I hate it.

I loved leaving home, going to University and introducting myself as "weegiefullname". Everyone calls me it now - friends, family, dh, il's - everyone except my immediate family - I have asked them to, but they never seem to remember!

I am VERY VERY glad that I had the longer version available to me. My daughters both have names that can be shortened if they choose and in fact dd1 has started to use a shortened version. Ds's name can't really be shortened.

Its not as if my long name is that long - 5 letters! But I like it and want it, and if they had called me the 3 letter short version - well I suppose I might have liked it, but I much prefer my real name.

Names are chosen by parents but they belong to the child. I think giving the most amount of options is the best way to go. If you want Ben, then give Benjamin. If you want Sam, give Samantha, or Samuel. Give them the choice - they are going to have to live with it longer than you are, hopefully!

We call DS the shortened version of his long name. Since he was a baby he has always been the shortened version as that is the name we liked. However as he is getting older I am finding I am starting to call him the longer version a little bit now. So I am pleased with have given him the choice for when he is older.

As a child my dad (who is called William offically) was called Billy but as an adult is called Bill. Except when he is in trouble with my mum. Then he is called William

DS is Tom. Not Thomas. Just Tom.

I like Tom, and yet for some inexplicable reason, and not keen on Thomas. Something to do with the "as" at the end.