Long name or short version?

Jazznit1984

DH and I have chosen our girl names but have a little debate going. He thinks they should have the full proper name and not the shortened version.

Examples that we love:

Charlie (Charlotte)
Lucy (Lucille)
Abby (Abigail)

I think that chances are they are never going to go by their full names. But DH thinks they should have the option. Thoughts?

Bwhitten

Lucy is probably the only name that I don't think sounds bad as a full name. Abby sounds more like a little girl name to me it doesn't grow very well.. Charlie is a boy name so I would use the full name for that too.

evaazalea

I personally would prefer to have that option so I vote longer, formal name.

Jazznit1984

Thanks ladies! I'm starting to agree ... Won't DH be so pleased. Might have to bake him congratulatory muffins lol.

diamondduck13

My opinion:

Lucy works. Abby doesn't. Charlie is a boy's name.

Cricket Bug

Bwhitten said:

Lucy is probably the only name that I don't think sounds bad as a full name. Abby sounds more like a little girl name to me it doesn't grow very well.. Charlie is a boy name so I would use the full name for that too.

I agree with all of this.

NerdyLucy

I tend to prefer the longer version as a formal name.

I do think Lucy can stand on its own, but I don't know if I like just Abby. To me, it's more of a nickname. 

If you're going to do Charlie, I would definitely name her Charlotte so she has the option of a feminine name versus a masculine name.

Helenahhandbasket

I will always differ to giving them the option.  DD is Josephine, but goes by Josie 90% of the time.

gfam23

Bwhitten said:

Lucy is probably the only name that I don't think sounds bad as a full name. Abby sounds more like a little girl name to me it doesn't grow very well.. Charlie is a boy name so I would use the full name for that too.

Agree.

mkbland

We're having this problem too. Lucy is H's favorite which I think is fine as a full name. My favorite is Margaret nn Maggie. H hates Margaret but would agree on Maggie. I'm trying to decide if Maggie can stand on its own or if we should just go with Lucy.

So to answer your question I think Lucy is great. Abby is a 6 year olds name and you should use a longer version of this. Charlie is a very cute nn for a girl but she should have a longer feminine name. If you don't like Charlotte you could use Charlene or Charlize instead.

Scarlett&Gatsby

I have a NN for a full name, and it's NBD, but of the names you listed, Lucy is the only one I like on its own.

lifeonthehill

Lucy is the only one I like as a stand alone name. Giving a full name just gives her the choice in twenty years which I think is important.

saham07

I agree with your husband

vanghej15

I agree with dh, as they grow they should have the option.

kayjay10

Bwhitten said:

Lucy is probably the only name that I don't think sounds bad as a full name. Abby sounds more like a little girl name to me it doesn't grow very well.. Charlie is a boy name so I would use the full name for that too.

This exactly.  I'm not a fan of Charlie for a girl, but I love Charlotte.  Abby is definitely a nn and I wouldn't give my child that name as a formal name.

blu-eyedwife

I agree with your husband based on personal experience.
I have a long, common, classic name.  I use Elizabeth as an example.
When I was little I went by "Lizzie" but eventually I felt that sounded too young.  So I started going by "Liz."  I was "Liz" all through school, college, grad school, etc.

However, once I got into the working world, I was really thankful to have "Elizabeth" to use. I work in a very male dominated field.  90% of my bosses/supervisors are men.  98% of the people I have to work with on a daily basis are men.  I have been called "Sweetie" on more than one occasion by people who are my "peers."  In some professions, it's hard to be taken seriously as a young woman, and a cutesy sounding name doesn't help.  I have had a number of men who have called me "Lizzie" after being introduced as "Elizabeth."  This would never happen to a man.  Can you imagine being introduced to a man named Robert and calling him Bobby off the bat? 

strawberrytree

Lucy is a standalone name (English version of Lucia, just like Mary is the English version of Maria) but I agree the others sound better with a longer name. I think if you use a name like Abby, everyone would assume her legal name was Abigail anyway. 

naflmj

I think Charlie you really should use the full name. Lucy and Abby I could go either way.

this decaf life

Proper name. I will always say proper name to give options. 

My parents wanted to call me Allie and it was cute when I was younger but I couldn't imagine being an adult with a baby right now named Allie, it just feels a bit immature. I'm sure had my name just been Allie I might have a different opinion but I love that I had the choice.

mh89

I would do Charlotte, Abigail, and Lucy. I think Lucy stands on its own well. Usually I like longer formal names, but there are always exceptions - Xander over Alexander for example.

LaurelJoy91

Bwhitten said:

Lucy is probably the only name that I don't think sounds bad as a full name. Abby sounds more like a little girl name to me it doesn't grow very well.. Charlie is a boy name so I would use the full name for that too.

I agree.

bcnoelle

I like having a proper name.  Although Lucy seems ok on it's own.

Jazznit1984

@blueyedwife your post is the exact reasoning DH wants the proper name. I have definitely changed my mind and will now be giving my child a proper name and not shortening it. Everyone's contributions have been incredibly helpful and also very honest. Thank you all!
 

sweetpeace13

Lucy can stand on its own but the others I prefer the long

JMU_Bride09

I think that both Lucy and Abby can stand alone but not Charlie; that's definitely just a nickname.

allardr

I prefer long flow-y names for girls so I agree go longer name. 

Plus now you may think you'll always use the NN but I love calling LO using her FN & MN even just a cute way of endearment for us. So with a full name you have options, choosing a nn as a full name before you've even met LO seems limiting to me.

If you like nn "maggie" and DH doesn't like Margaret how about Magdalena, Magdalen. I think "Maggie" would grow well actually too just as stand alone, as mentioned above NMS but it's not horrible. 

catahoulatte

Definitely the long name.