Is shortening of names 'inevitable'?

[Blu]

I often see consideration of short versions of names used to veto choices on this board.

But my brother, nephew and I all have names which can easliy be shortened, and commonly are. But NONE of us are called by the short versions, because we don't like them, or don't feel they fit.

I also have lots of friends, and children of friends, who are always known by a full name with no fuss.

I would never ever presume to shorten someone else's name, unless they did themselves. I have never had to make a fuss about my full name, just tell people my name, and they use it.

The ONLY people who shorten it are irritating cold callers for photocopiers or the like, who over-attempt chuminess, and they are scuppered straight away!

D you al battle to be known by a full version? or shorten other people's names on your own initiative?

I'm known by a shortened version of my name. I don't remember making a conscious decision to shorten it but when I was in my late teens it just seemed to happen. I don't mind at all - I suppose if I had then I would have said something at the time.

I would never shorten someone else's name on my own initiative, it really isn't difficult to take your cues from the other person as to how they prefer to be called. If I am introduced to someone as I will let them know I am usually called if I think they need to know... I would assume that most people who go by a shortened version of their name would do the same.

I think it is in some respects because the child's friends will often shorten it.

We do shorten our kids' names, but have noticed that we're the only ones who do.

Even though they are easily shortened no one does it yet.

It seems a little presumptious to me to shorten someone's name if they introduce themselves as something else

My name can be shortened to a whole variety of forms, and I have always been known by the full version. It was never shortened by anybody as a child (apart from my grandfather putting a random version of it in my birthday card once - bless!), but was not aware of my mum making a particular point of telling people that my name was XXXXXXXXX rather than XXXX IYSWIM.

Like TigerFeet, I would never shorten somebody's name unless I had already heard them refer to themselves as such. If somebody asks me what I prefer to be known by, I will always stress (nicely!) that it is the long version.

My DS has a name that could be shortened but if I ever hear it done I will go nuts. I didn't name him one thing to call him another. Our choice of name was not popular in our family and S-MIL stated that she would shorten it. I told her that was fine but don't expect him to respond to it as it isn't his name. I think it's rude to shorten someone's name unless they ask you to.

I have a name that can be shortened but rarely is ( except by my mother funnily enough).
My three children all have names with common shortened versions but only one actually is shortened and I think that is because we do it.

I don't think it is inevitable.
I think pre-teens are particularly inclined to mess with names but that is usually short lived and, if you prefer and use the longer versions then that will be the one to stick.

I remember posting that I didn't especially like the shortened version of my DDs name and some stroppy cow posted along the lines of 'well how stupid because it will be shortened'.
Seemed to me that she was probably frustrated at her own inability to control her own life

I will go potty if my dd's name gets shortened, it did one day by my cm's teenage daughter to "FiFi" i bit my toungue and calmly explained that i would rather my dd not be refered to as a small pink poodle thankyouverymuch and would she kindly use the name i had given to her

shes in school now and i dread hearing shortened versions (but i am bracing myself for it)

I don't think there is much you can do if your child's friends decide to shorten their name - this is pretty much what happened to me. Most of my family now call me by my shortened name as well, even my Mum if she remembers. I don't think she likes it but my shortened name is so ingrained now that if she refers to me by my full name she often gets blank looks from others as they no longer think of me as at all.

Facebook has been strange - I've recently been contacted by old school friends who knew me pre-shortening and so obviously call me by my full name. Doesn't really feel like me any more tbh - I've been for so long now.

I'm the same tigerfeet. I'm known so commonly now by my shortened name, my hubby doesn't even think of my full name as me - he has never known me as it. Of course, my mother hates my choice of name, but its my name, not hers so tough! I think one should always be mindful when naming children that once you have named your child, you no longer 'own' it - the child does, and so it is theirs to do as they please.

Dd will be one of four children in her class at school with the same name (and there's only 20 children in the class ). Two use the long version and two use the shortened version.

I'm hoping that this might mean that dd will continue to use the long version as she's never ever been called the shortened version of her name. It just wouldn't suit her!

I, on the other hand, am always known by the shortened version of my name. By the time I was 4 weeks old my parents called me the shortened version. I decided I would use the full version when I started my first job, but there was already someone there called that name, so I abandoned that idea.

when naming my DS we considered that his name may be shortened (and disliked the shortening) but went with it as we loved the full name.

We have had to point out to just a couple of people that his name is Devon and not Dev and they seem to have got the hang of it now!

In the last few weeks though DS, (just turned 2)has decided to refer to himself as Dev.

So i think we may have to grin and bear it in future

nope. My father and brother rarely used my shortened name or nickname.

It's not inevitable but you need to consider that your child might decide to shorten it when they get older so it shouldn't be something that really annoys you.

I have a 4 letter single syllable name, and everyone insists on adding "ie" on the end.

Atleast if its a long name it can't get any longer!! lol