shortened names - what do you thinnk?

[hockeymum]

Just wondering what people think about naming a baby a shortened name, rather than the full name. Is it OK? or do you think its important that they have the full proper name?

Just asking because I've been struggling for boys names for db and the only ones I really like a shortened ones (which I hate the longer versions of). My two favourites are Charlie and Theo, but I hate the names Charles and Theodore which are obviously the "proper" names.

What do you think? How did you get round this?

What is your name NP? I wish I had £1 for every time people have thought my name was really the longer version. I don't care as such, but then I am a strong, stubborn sort of person who enjoys putting people right.

There's a Robbie in DD's class at nursery

lonelymum you go first

We've given our DSs names that have various shortenings but there's no way we'd not have given them the full names.

But do what you want to - your baby.

This reminds me...I need to make an appointment to register DS2's birth!

Even if Hockeymum chooses Charlie or Theo, these could still be shortened or changed. People often end up with babyish nicknames regardless of their "official" name.

My name is Catherine, I was called Caggie at home when I was younger, Catherine at school and now I'm Cath to everyone apart from my Mum. I'm known as Cath at work, even my email address and all official paperwork used my shortened name. I don't see my name being shortened as a problem, but then Cath isn't babyish. I'm not keen on Cathy though and have never been called this.

I had a friend at school called Mark, so called because his mum wanted him to be called a name that couldn't be shortened, but we called him Marky or Markymark which really annoyed her . I suppose that whatever you call your kids, there's always a chance that they will end up with a daft nickname that sticks.

IMO in 20 years time there will be more Charlies, Abbies, Ellies etc around so it won't be seen as unusual at all if someone has a shortened name.

And I think Theo is lovely

It won't exactly expose me to the world and anyone who has CATed me knows it so I don't care: Jenny.

oh i love the name Jenny. we thought of that for dd2 and ive got an Auntie Jenny. shes fab. my name is Debbie

dignity - that's the word I was looking for.
I think it is a little undignified to give your child something that is (IMHO) a child's name.
what they choose to do with the name after that is their own concern
that's just my view

Well the daft thing is that Jenny is such a common name in its own right these days, but when I was called Jenny, it was always short for Jennifer (which neither my parents then, nor I now, like). I was so often asked if my name was really Jennifer when I was a small child, that my reply became a family nickname for a time. I used to jut out my lip and growl "No, I'm just Jenny", hence JustJenny.

i was named after Debbie Reynolds. or so dad says. i dont think it makes me sound babyish or any less dignified

I am surprised that you are not asked more often though if your name is really Deborah. I was at school with quite a few Debbies who were all Christened Deborah.

I used to know a little boy called Pip... Not Philip, Pip. Ridiculous.

im honestly not. maybe its because Deborah isnt very common (please dont say Debbie is common!) i dont know anyone else called Debbie

well no I don't think Debbie is a child's name
I am surprised you didn't get asked more often though

really np? Deborah was really very common among girls my age, only slightly less common than my (very dull) name
all the Debbie's at my school were very cool girls
lots of eye make up and unsuitable boyfriends
not stereotyping or anything

Not even when you fill out a mortgage application form or a medical record or something similar? I can barely get away with flling out any reasonably serious form without being asked (as if I am still a child) if that is my full name.

thanks harpsi (i think!)

the only thing that annoys me is i keep getting asked if i have 'Done Dallas' yet

Well have you ?!

nope. i dont. when you do get asked LM, just throw them a withering look, dont say a word

Hiya,

My ds is Charlie. We never even considered Charles, there's just something about it I don;t like. I suppose Charlie is timeless, most people I know called Charles have ended up being called Charlie anyway! Perhaps if it was a name in the family it would be different? I also liked Alfie (after the kids books- not Alfie Moon!) and Archie!. But my dp didn't like them at all and the only name we could agree on was Charlie.

Charlie Joseph was on our list for DD

We both liked Oscar, too, but that is DS2's nickname (nothing like his real name), so we had to write it off. Just as well DD was a girl, really.

I liked the name Joseph for ds but he would have probably ended up having it shortened to Joe. Just thought my dp's name is Ben his mum didn't like Benjamin.

I haven't read all the posts, I like shortened names, I also like unusual names, both my kids have an unusual name which is usually shortened. If you are worried about their future profession, why don;t you have a "grown up" middle name?

In my opinion, the number criteria always has to be that you like it.

I always use the long version of ds's name (Jonathan) because thats the name I choose for him. If i wanted to call him Jon then thats what ive had named him

DS2 is Michael and when choosing it i never liked the name Mike or Micky but it seemed to long for him and he is known as Cully. Although I cant image putting 'Cully' on his birth certificate

I think you can call your children what ever you feel comfortable with.