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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Calling a child by a diminutive of name/nickname

17 replies

Cortina · 29/09/2009 15:56

In other words Harry for Harrison, Jilly for Jillian, Rosie for Rosamund and similar.

Has anyone done this so that the child is known by the nickname only?

A few here have said that birth cert name is important but surely it isn't as far as school is concerned (you can state your preference)?

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MrsBadger · 29/09/2009 16:07

depends on the name

I knew a Constantinos who was known to all and sundry at home as Costas, started school and mother requested he was called Costas etc.

He was 6 before he found out his name wasn't actually Costas.

I think what family and friends call them vocally can vary but it's important they can read and write their full name and to use it on official stuff, and that includes school IMO.

Why not just call them Rosie on the birth cert?

Housemum · 29/09/2009 16:11

I know a Sam who is Sam not Samuel and a Xander who is not Alexander, but if you are not 100% sure, put the full name on the birth cert but when he/she is born just tell everyone the name you intend to use for instance register an Alexandra but tell everyone her name is Alex.

Hassled · 29/09/2009 16:12

Two of mine are known by diminutives. It's never been a problem - they've always known their proper names, although those are usually only used if I'm very very cross with them.

The official stuff is all in the proper name, but schools nearly always have a space for "Usually known as....".

bronze · 29/09/2009 16:13

I have a James who has always been Jamie. Schooled labelled everything Jamie and hes now asked them to call him James

twirlymum · 29/09/2009 16:27

Ds is Max - I'm always asked if it's short for Maximillian, Maximus or Maxwell. It's not. It's just Max.

weegiemum · 29/09/2009 16:30

I have a Katherine. I always meant to call her Kate as a nn but she always suited Katherine. Has now asked to be called Kathy, so we are doing that. I'm glad I let her make that decision, its why we chose a versatile name with lots of options.

tummytickler · 29/09/2009 16:59

I have a nearly 7 year old Elijah who has been called Eli since the minute he was born. I wanted his full name to be Eli, but dh insisted on a fuller name (a 'stronger' name) for the birth certificate.
Now Eli insists on being Eli and is very cross if you call him ELijah, but at least he has that option when he is older.
On a different note, in a weird and hormonal way I really struggled with this when he was born, I felt as though his name was not real as we were not using his 'real' name as it is on the birth certificate, and got really weird and upset about it - it was definately hormonal and a bit of general pnd, but was very odd!

BonjourIvresse · 29/09/2009 17:05

We have this. We put the nic name ibrackets on the birth announcement, and will ask her is know a that at school, but have the proper nme on the birth certificate in case he wants to become prime minister or something ;-)

BornToFolk · 29/09/2009 17:07

My sister is Katherine but has always been known as Katy. The only small problem was when she started secondary school and was called Kathy etc but she soon put them right.
It's very weird to think of her as Katherine aactually!

3LegsandNoTail · 29/09/2009 18:04

My ds is John, known as Jack to everyone, including at school. He knows his 'real' name and quite likes that he has a secret name!

jellybeans · 29/09/2009 18:11

I just used the short name (don't really see it as a nickname, I would see a nn as 'shaz or daz' rather than a shortened version) on the birth cert and am sometimes asked if it is short for one of the longer forms but it is not a problem. I didn't mind the longer form but everyone else hated it and he would always be known as the short form so we just used that. i thought also he may get teased at school for having an old fashioned 'real name' on the register as I hear alot of kids doing that.

Scottie22 · 29/09/2009 19:50

My ds is always known by his diminutive name - he is 'Laurie' short for Laurence. However, despite telling the school before he started that he was never known as Laurence, they had labelled everything with his full name which was really annoying and weird for him suddenly being called a name he didn't associate himself with. I still have to remind his teacher now and all reports have his full name on them grrrr!

tummytickler - I went through the exact same thing with ds's name (also probably hormonal!) and only called him full name on birth cert because of pressure from family!

Toffeepopple · 29/09/2009 19:52

I prefer to go with use the nickname but have the full name on the birth certificate.

Whatever you choose though, make sure you are consistent within siblings.

My friend's sons are (the equivalent of) Chris and Ted. Chris has now told the school he wants to be called by his full name, as per birth certificate, Christopher. So Ted asked what his full name, , as per birth certificate is, and it is.... Ted. He is very cross!

I think (as does mum, now) it would be better if they were Chris and Ted or Christopher and Edward on their birth certs.

LynetteScavo · 29/09/2009 19:59

DD has been known my freinds, family and nursery by her nickname (I think most people pefer her nn to her real name)

When she started school, her teachers asked what she wanted to be called, and she asked to be called by her real name. Tehy wouldn have been quite happy to use her NN, but DH always wants her real name on her pictures, ect, so it's probably best if they just used her nn.

PamsGotGreatShoes · 04/10/2009 12:13

I'm Sarah-Louise, but I've only ever been Sarah, unless I'm in serious trouble! But on all documents, school registers, and things I'm Sarah-Louise...I write Sarah-Louise on books and things...exam papers ect. I like it, because I have a long pretty name, but I can cut the mouthfull off it!

Iklboo · 04/10/2009 12:20

DS is known by the diminutive of his name. He only gets his full title if he's in trouble

FSB · 05/10/2009 14:55

we have a Cosima who is just Mimi on everything except birth certificate and passport, and will be Mimi when she goes to school. we only gave her the 'proper' name in case she wants to use it when she's older. interestingly, since she was born, only 2 people have asked what Mimi is short for... i was expecting a lot more to question it.

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