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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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NatalieJane · 07/05/2009 15:01

I have a mixture, DS1 is Thomas, never has been and likely never will be a Tom. DS2 is George, can't really shorten that at all. And DS3 is registered as Michael, but everyone (inc. things like doctors) call him Mikey.

I am not especially keen on Michael, more because he is a baby and it just seems such an "old" name somehow, but it goes the other way, I can't imagine a 50yo being called Mikey, so we used Michael so he had the choice.

maqrollelgaviero · 07/05/2009 20:22

My dh is James but from birth has been Jamie to everyone. He even told a cold caller that there was no James at our number before remembering it must be him!

He is glad to have the 'big' name though for serious complaining purposes.

philopastry · 07/05/2009 20:49

We have a Joseph but my oldest was only 19 months old when his little brother was born and couldnt say that - he called him Joe- Joe and we all ended up doing the same. He is now Joe or Joey unless in trouble when I roll out the full name (including middle name!).

My own name doesn't really shorten or have many variants and I quite like the fact his does - imagine it will be good in older life to have work name and a social name etc.

mamadoc · 07/05/2009 22:52

I really love having my shortened name for family and friends and my longer name for work and formal situations and I did the same for my daughter. I do think it is nice to have the choice.
My dsis also has a long and a short name but never uses her longer name even at work but I work in a stuffy professional environment and she is a cool arts/media person! I just think that even if you don't like the longer version maybe they will?

hellymelly · 07/05/2009 22:56

My god daughter has always been Lotte although she is Charlotte on her BC.

Kotek · 09/05/2009 03:14

my brother has been known by his shortened name his whole life (he's in his 40s) by everyone except his immediate family, and even then we usually call him the short form.

nooka · 09/05/2009 05:41

My immediate family always call me by a short version of my name, but I always used my full name at school, and then as an adult having flirted with a few other potential shortenings am now only known by the full name (except to my family). My middle sister had a nickname based on her name for most of her childhood (friends and family, although her proper name for school etc). She then decided she didn't like that and used the short version of her name, which everyone uses. Again she use the full version for formality (including professionally). My brother has only ever been known by the short version of his name, including formally (but then have you ever met a Theodore who wasn't known as Theo?). My children are known by both long and short forms - usually the short form is for people they like, and the long form by everyone else. I personally don't like it when official things (school reports, medical stuff etc come with the short forms - feels slightly like they are presuming somehow!

If you really don't like the full version then I would choose a different name, but if you just really prefer the shortening, then on the whole children call themselves whatever their parents call them (at least up to teenager time when they will call themselves whatever they like regardless of how you might feel about it!).

MrsGokWan · 09/05/2009 13:08

Nooka I know a Theodore who is knon as Ted

All my DC have names that can't be shortened but they do have 2 middle names as well so can choose to be called those if they wish.

I have a friend who is known by his middle name and always has been.

nooka · 10/05/2009 00:39

Ah yes, a few are also Ted. But very few are Theodore in full. I'd still use the full name on the BC though. I like a bit of formality

mrsjammi · 10/05/2009 00:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

jellybeans · 11/05/2009 07:24

Interesting how in the 2008 Scotland names statistics more parents are choosing shortened forms. For example, there are loads of Alfie's but only a handful of Alfreds. I think also Ben is more popular than Benjamin and Sam and Samuel both popular. Zac/Zak more popular than Zachary and Josh used alot on it's own too.

littleboyblue · 11/05/2009 07:36

A few people call me by the short version of my name. I don't like it, I prefer the long version.

Ds1 has a name that can be shortened, but I hope he never uses that version.
It just depends on what you like really. Lots of people register children called Becky, Archie, Jackie, Alfie and so on. There are some really wacky names out there these days too, so if you only like the short version, register him as that

susiey · 11/05/2009 10:10

My real name is susan and I have always used susie only time my full name is used is when its something really offivial like passports, doctors etc

both my dc have shortened versions of the ir name
dd is Annalise that we shorten to Anna but is known as both

ds is Ezekiel but is known as Zeke to everyone apart from medical professionals and passports etc

SweetGeorgiaBrown · 11/05/2009 18:55

My mums name is Jacqueline and she got so fed up with people constantly shortening her name that she gave me and my siblings names that didnt have a shortened form although people still try to make some up. Drives me mad-just use my name, its only 2 syllables!

littlelamb · 11/05/2009 18:57

I am the opposite. I have the shortened version of a classic name. The shortened version is my real name but I am constantly correcting people who call me the long version. It happens all the time. But I think some names just do get shortened (I am realising this after having a ds called Matthew- even at 11 months he gets called Matt )

popsycal · 11/05/2009 18:58

ds1 is always known by short verson

popsycal · 11/05/2009 19:02

oh so is ds3 forgot about him

Mamazon · 11/05/2009 19:04

i know loads. can't see why it would be an issue

frAKKINPannikin · 15/05/2009 19:47

Be aware baby may decide to be a rebellious teenager and announce that henceforth s/he will only be known by their full name (cough, my sister, cough).

Can you live with it if they decide to do that?

paranoidmother · 15/05/2009 20:26

I was suppose to be Abi Jo when i was born then it was changed to Abigail Joanna. The first thing I said was 'Just Abi' So ever since I've been called Abi and nothing else (apart from one godmother who calls my full name)

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