Team Green- second guessing our boy name

Lynnja616

Our boy name has been James Alan, but I am really, REALLY trying to avoid Jim/Jimmy and I'm starting to think it's inevitable. Which option do you like best? Alan and James are both family names. TIA.

evaazalea

James is by far my favorite and I don't see it automatically going to Jimmy.

BKD1386

I know a James that hates Jim/Jimmy.... usually goes by Jamie or James

Helenahhandbasket

Of all the James' I know only one goes by Jim/ Jimmy.  I think of that as sort of a dated NN anyway.  I think you are fine-- James Alan is a great name!

igotaprettyring

James Alan sounds really nice, so just be firm with people that his names is James, not Jimmy!

CiderWench

I'm with others, Jim/Jimmy is not inevitable. I've never known a James to go by a nickname.

Leap08

My husband's name is James and he is James. If people call him Jim, he just corrects them. Jim/Jimmy is not inevitable.

plus12012

James is on our list for a boy. We will probably call him Jamie.

Lynnja616

Thanks to all for your feedback!  I am feeling much better about it.  I have a crazy headstrong MIL who honestly I worry the most about, since FIL's name is James and he goes by Jim- I feel like she may call him Jim/Jimmy just to spite me.  Yeah, she's a real peach.  Aren't all MILs?

BLH2014

FWIW, I know two different guys named James who were never called Jim/Jimmy growing up.  In fact, if my DH didn't want to avoid naming after the one of them that he knows, I would really like to have that name on the list!

NerdyLucy

CrystalRL said:

Funny story my best friend is names Melissa. Her dad hated the nickname Missy. She had a few friends that chose to call her Missy in high school. If they called their house asking for Missy her dad would say she doesn't live here and hang up.

Growing up I had a friend named Angela that liked to go by Angie when we were kids.  If someone called for Angie, her mom would hang up on her. 

DH's grandma can be really weird about his name too.  His name is Joseph, but he tends to introduce himself informally as Joe. She gets wound up if people call him that.  He's a grown adult.  Even his own mother, the woman who named him, accepts that people may call him Joe if he introduces himself that way.  

peanutbuttermarshmallow

My brother is a James - he's never gone by Jim/Jimmy. 

In fact when he was about 8 or so my grandpa called him "Jim" and my brother looked at him and said "My name is James". So even if you MIL is bitch about it, doesn't mean it'll stick.

Jennifer2008

I love James Alan and voted for that, but I do know many James' who got nicknamed despite their parents' best efforts. Two are Jamie and three are Jim. I do have a cousin who is just James though. But if Jim would drive you bonkers, maybe one of your other picks? 

I love Allan, but feel like Alan looks strange to me (are they pronounced the same?)? I get it that it's a family name though and do think that's important. 

Tiko99

My brother is a James and has never gone by Jim or Jimmy. When he was little he went by Jamie, but when he hit middle school he changed it to James on his own. The family still calls him Jamie, but his friends and co workers call him James. I would stick with James and call him what you like.

jburdet1

I like James Alan, but I could see if MIL was like that you would hesitate. I didn't go with Anna because I could see some of the ILs calling her Annie. I went with Isla and some are calling her Eily :S

My vote would be John Alan nn Jack, but I if you like James best I would go with that and correct people.  

WestIsleFlower

I think James Alan is a great choice. He'll only be called Jim/Jimmy if he wants to. I know a James with no NN.

chloephoebecali

James. Just push the James. People will follow suit.

blue+skies

I voted for James Alan.

My BIL is a James that has gone by James his whole life. He doesn't have to correct people often, usually just older people. But when he does, he just politely says "it's James" and they nearly always catch on.

Ceridwen21

I also don't know any James' that go by Jim or Jimmy.

ObLaDi

I love James. Hate Jim/Jimmy. Love Jamie.

I would use it!