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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Known by shortened version of a name your whole life...

45 replies

Lori73 · 07/05/2009 02:15

hi, just wondering do you know many people who are known by a shortened form of their name in every day life - ie from school days, to work days etc. Eg, only known as Thomas on the birth certificate but then always Tom at school and work etc, or only known as Elizabeth on birth certificate but known by a shortened form from then onwards. Asking because I like the shortened form of a name DH wants to name our baby, but not the long form. Thanks

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sandcastles · 07/05/2009 03:09

Any reason you can't use the shortened version anyway?

I am know as a shorter version of my full name.

Jennster · 07/05/2009 04:48

Not personally. Been wondering about this too. We both loved the name Kate, but my cousin has just had a Kate, so we figured we could christen Catherine or one of the multitude of spellings, and call her Kate. It has since been pointed out, that there are also multitude different abbreviations of Catherine.

A few years ago we loved Freddy for a boy, but couldn't bring ourselves to christen the abbreviation, or the full Frederick.

kickassangel · 07/05/2009 04:55

yep, i currently know loads, including my sister, who changed from one shorter version of her name to another that she preferred.
also know a few people who are always called by their middle name.

i love names that have some variety/choice about them, gives flexibility to let them decide when older

Blackduck · 07/05/2009 06:22

I am always called the shortened version of my name EXCEPT by my immediate family also went to school with a Jackie and can remember teacher saying you must be called Jacquline then and she said, no, it was Jackie on her Birth cert so why not just go for the short version...

TrinityIsLovingHerLittleRhino · 07/05/2009 06:34

I am known by a shortened version of the name on my birth certificate

by all, even my parents from forever
I only got my full name if was in trouble

TitsalinaBumsquash · 07/05/2009 06:48

I have always been known by the shortened version of my name snce i was a baby but my birth certificate is the longer version.

angrypixie · 07/05/2009 06:48

I'M another shortened version, but my close friends call me my preferred even shorter version. (full monty on the birth certificate)

2 of my boys have a shortened name on their birth certificate.

piscesmoon · 07/05/2009 06:49

I am only known as the shortened form but I like the fact that I have the full name and I use it in formal situations.
I know a small DD called Kitty-and that is it-not even a second name-I feel that she might have appreciated a choice when she gets older.

lockets · 07/05/2009 12:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

boodleboot · 07/05/2009 12:33

my daughter is ellie and i didn't consider calling her anything other than ellie....not eleanor or elizabeth.....i don't see the point....'hi my name is ellie but my full name is elizabeth....? i don't get it.

MrsMattie · 07/05/2009 12:35

Yes, lots of people: my sister has been known as a shortened version of her name since she was a toddler; DH since school days; my mum since childhood; my gran since birth.

throckenholt · 07/05/2009 12:36

we called 2 of ours the short version (because we didn't like the long version). Perfectly acceptable these days I think.

MarlaSinger · 07/05/2009 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tortoise · 07/05/2009 12:40

My DS2 is Zachary on his birth certificate but everyone calls him Zach.

Takver · 07/05/2009 13:19

Me too - I have used two different forms of the shortening for my full name but never, ever the full name itself.

If you called out my 'proper' first name I wouldn't even turn around.

I don't see it as an issue that I have the long version on my birth certificate - seems really usual to me . . . My mum is the same, my dad has a 'proper' name but is always known by a nickname which is part of our surname.

RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 07/05/2009 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wotulookinat · 07/05/2009 13:57

I'm known as Annie, and I hardly ever bother to tell people that my real name is Anne-Marie.

unclefluffy · 07/05/2009 13:58

I've always been known by a short form. My full name is on my birth certificate only. I like it because when people call me by my full name I know that we have never actually met. It's great for screening telesales calls too. And I quite like it for distancing purposes when I have to deal with medics. It's nice to have a name that sounds formal when you want to complain about something too! Give the baby the long form of name - you never need to use it and it gives them a choice later if they want it.

cuntish · 07/05/2009 14:00

I know a Victoria that has been Vicki since she was a dot, plus a Janet that is Jan to everyone except her Mum lol

mickeylou · 07/05/2009 14:03

if you dont really like the longer version i would personally put the shortened version on the birth certificate. if you go with the longer it will get used by teachers etc even if you dont want it to.my DS has a shortened version of a name and i am still glad i didnt go for the longer version.

what was the name you were thinking of?

mymatekate · 07/05/2009 14:14

I get called three or four versions of my name including the birth cert one (but only for official things like passport, doctors, etc). Quite like the diversity!

flowerybeanbag · 07/05/2009 14:17

My younger two brothers are both always known by shortened versions of their 'proper' names, which as far as I know are basically used for passports and other official forms only. I can't remember anyone ever calling either of them their whole name.

Takver · 07/05/2009 14:56

I'm not convinced, mickeylou - I've never known teachers (or anyone) use my full name. Ditto dd who has always used a nickname at school and everywhere else.

She does tend to tell people her full name - as in 'I'm x but my real name is xxxxx yyyyy aaaa bbbb' but they still don't use it!

flowerybeanbag · 07/05/2009 14:58

Agree with takver, no teacher ever called my brothers by their whole names.

mascaraohara · 07/05/2009 14:59

Everyone uses a shortened version of my name. Personally I hate it but I can't remember ever been called anything else so would seem unnatural to now introduce myself with the long version of my name

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