Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Shortening boys names

37 replies

alicet · 10/07/2007 12:12

OK so sorry to post a similar thread to one I posted a month or so ago but please bear with me!

Dh and I really really struggle with boys names and are expecting ds2 in Oct. Ds1 doesn't have a middle name as we found it so tricky last time!!! Trouble is we have very differing ideas about what is a good boys name.

We have FINALLY (after many hours of 'debate') narrowed it down to Patrick (Paddy) and Adam and predictably each prefer one of the 2 choices. Trouble is we're not keen on Ads or Pat as shortened versions. Dh thinks Patrick is more likely to be shortened than Adam which I disagree with, especially as we will call him Paddy. Plus Adam has the same number of syllables so I think its just as likely to be shortened

So my question is this - which (if any) of the 2 names do you think are most likely to be shortened? I'm particulaly intereste to hear from people who have used the same names themselves or who have friends called these...

Thanksing you very much in advance!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 10/07/2007 14:33

patrick can be pat, paddy, patty.
adam can only be adam really. never known an adam to get shortened.

both nice names though...very manly.

meandmyflyingmachine · 10/07/2007 14:34

Patty?

I will be coming down hard if I hear that one...

hatrickjacqueline · 10/07/2007 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

meandmyflyingmachine · 10/07/2007 14:37

Tricky?

Gulp.

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 10/07/2007 14:38

peppermint patty!

meandmyflyingmachine · 10/07/2007 14:43

Aaargh. Now will I be able to stop myself saying that...

hatrickjacqueline · 10/07/2007 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Weasleybug · 10/07/2007 14:44

I would think Adam less likely to be shortened - my brother is an Adam and it isn't shortened.

HOwever, I have a long name, of which there is a very common shortened form. I have always been the full version and have not been called the shortened form because my parents never did and I never liked it so always corrected people. Only 2 people call me the shortened form (an Aunt of DH's and one girl from my NCT group who just don't realise people DON'T call me that !).

Its up to you (and him as he gets older) whether it gets shortened or not.

RTKangaMummy · 10/07/2007 14:58

My son and bro both have long names

DS is called shortened at school and by friends of his BUT everyone else calls him full name

My bro was called shortened by his friends and long by family BUT now as an adult everyone calls him short name and it would be weird to call him long name now

So different names can be called by different people in different places IYSWIM

Original poster

alicet · 10/07/2007 16:27

Thanks again for all your comments. Its a difficult one. Usually we prefer names that can't be shortened (hence Sam for ds1 who is not Samuel, just Sam) for precisely this reason! It just so happens that the only 2 we can agree on are these 2!

Prob is dh is convinced that Patrick / Paddy will end up being called Pat if he doesn't like Paddy when he is older. And he hates Pat - can't get Pat Butcher out of his head!!!! Have to admit to not being that keen on it but I think if we call him Paddy and that is what he is known as then thats what he will get called. Have to admit this is my fave despite that. I like Adam but prefer Paddy.

Agree with the poster who said that kids will always find a way to change someones name and theres not a lot we can do about that. Ho hum, I guess the debate between us will go on a little longer!!!!

OP posts:

Rosetip · 10/07/2007 16:56

Alicet,

I posted on your thread before.
We have now had our baby and we named him Adam, after a LOT of deliberation...two weeks after the birth, endless typed out lists, one failed visit to the Registry office only to return home etc.

I also on the whole don't like names that can be shortened and this was a big factor in our decision. Until joining Mumsnet, I had no idea that Adam could be shortened. I have to say that I have never come across an Adam known as Ad or Addy although my brother did tell me that an Adam in his office is sometimes know as Ad, but he thinks only on a rare, casual sort of basis rather than all the time.
I quite like Ads or Adsy for a little one but my feeling is that my son will be known as Adam when he gets older.

I'm still not 100% keen on his name as I really wanted Nicholas (as I like Nick!), but I think it's quite safe and sensible and I don't think he will kill us for it later.

Original poster

alicet · 10/07/2007 17:12

Congratulations Rosetip!!! Great to hear about your little boy. Where you're at with Adam is a bit how I feel but it is growing on me all the time....

OP posts:

Flip

1 2