Shortened Versions of Names

maryxc1

We are finally choosing a name for DD and have one that we think we like. I have always been against having a different legal name than what you go by, just because it adds confusion and such. The first name we like is Abigail, but we would call her Abby. For those that have names like this themselves, how big of a deal is it? I am wondering about both in school and later on legal stuff, accounts, etc.

(Sorry to post and run but it is my bed time. I will see what the verdict is in the morning.)

reneamac313

We are naming our daughter a family name, Aileen, but planning on calling her Allie for short. I've never seen it be an issue with anyone and I didn't have any second thoughts about it because of that.

tropicbreeze

I have two legal first names but I only go by my first.(I guess you can call it a nickname) It has never caused any issues for me.

ryanmichael1208

I wouldn't worry....my legal name is Gabrielle, but I go by Gabby for short.

Alygohome

I don't think it would be a problem. Even in my job where people have to go by legal names on documents there is a section for "goes by" so I always read off whatever name is in goes by section and put legal names on the docs. It's really common for people to have nicknames.

t8keepr03

I don't see where it would be a problem if the nickname is a shortened version of the first name. My DD's name is Isabella but we call her Izzy. I don't see how that would be a problem because she still is going by her first name just a shortened version of it. My sister's DH legal first name is not what he goes by. He goes by his middle name which has caused some confusion and problems with legal documents like a previous poster has said.

RedGiant

I go by a nickname which is a shortened version of my legal first name. But always put my full first name on legal docs. I have twin uncles who go by their middle names, but I haven't heard any stories of them having issues with it. I don't think it would be a problem to call your kid Abby for Abigail

psychobutthead

Shortened versions of names don't cause confusion in school.

Once you child is in school and registered they will ask you on your paperwork if there is a nickname of shortened version of their name that they go by.

Dh's name is Joshua but no one calls him that. All through school he signed his papers as Josh but all official paperwork like report cards and things all had the full version.

Now what does cause confusion is if legally your child has one last name but when they start school you have them go by a different last name thats different then they're ssc or birth certificate.

One example is i know a woman who didn't go back to her maiden name after her divorce and got pregnant by her bf two different times. Both children had her ex husbands last name legally because thats what hes was at the time of birth since she wouldn't listen who the father was on the birth certificates. When they started school though she had the school list them as what their dads last name was and not what it legally was. My husband great grandmother did the same thing with his grandfather and when he graduated high school and tried to go into the military they gave him a hard time so he legally changed his last name to what he was always made to say it was.

kdhuling

Abigail is my little sister's name. We have always called her Abbie. She's not complained and to my knowledge never had issues with having a nickname and legal name.

maryxc1

Thanks ladies. It sounds like it wouldn't really be a problem. I just don't want her to have to spend her whole life dealing with it if it is a pain.

To hyjack my own post, would you spell it Abby or Abbie?

nhamic

Abby

cinderella4282

I wouldn't worry about it. 

Lots of people go by nicknames and use their full names only for legal documents.

We named our DD Amelia thinking no one would shorten it - well she gave herself the nickname Millie and now everyone calls her that. I think you are good. 

And it's a beautiful name!!

michelle142

The majority of people in my family and DH's family go by shortened/nickname versions of their legal names. As long as they use their legal name when filling out paper work, there shouldn't be an issue.

DH is James but goes by Jamie. DS is Charles, but everyone calls him Charlie. My niece is Abigail, but goes by Abby. It's pretty common.

mands1125

We are naming DD Abigail and intend on calling her Abby. My given name is actually a nickname and an uncommon spelling so it has been somewhat frustrating over the years correcting people. Therefore, we decided that she would at least have the common nickname spelling.

 

*shrugs* I am clearly biased but Abigail is a classic name and it is very common for her to be called Abby as a nickname. I don't expect it to cause any issues in her life. If she wants to be called Abigail later in life, then we will respect her wishes.

karisheep544

We are naming our daughter Abigail as well, but still haven't decided if she will be an Abby or a Gail, we will wait and see what fits. You should be totally fine paperwork wise...on the list of crazy name stuff this rank pretty damn low.

wirtlehm

I had a friend who named her baby Lizzie, not Elizabeth, Lizzie... While I think it's a really cute name I must admit I thought it was weird to name your child by a nickname... I think going w Abigail is a wonderful idea... I think it's nice to have a "professional" or "grown up" name to put on your applications...

erobbins09

I'm an Elizabeth who gets every derivative of the name in a variety of nicknames. Most call me Beth, I'm Lizzyloo to my mom, FI and I both call each other by our full first names because we both know that we prefer them.

My dad chose my name and wanted it to just be Beth and I spent middle school full of Jessicas, Nicole's, Sara(h)s, Ashley's... Multi syllabic "pretty" names with this blah monosyllabic sound. So I vowed to go by Elizabeth but half of the time I forgot.

Now I love being both an Elizabeth and a Beth. And at the end of the day I loved the variety that my name offered and I love that with options I got to have some ownership over my name identity. I've thanked my mom often for giving me a beautiful full name that gives me a pretty signature on all legal forms and accompanies all of my educational and professional accomplishments. I'm thankful my dad gave me a name that was short enough to be yelled effectively across a soccer field

So in conclusion... As a parent you get to pick the name, but at the end of the day they will always find a way to make it theirs and you will eventually even lose control of that first decision you made for them lol

jennjilljo

I go by a nick name and it never caused a problem. I like Abby for Abigail but I'm sure she'll eventually pick what she wants to be called and how she wants it spelled. I know I did.

Slightly related, DH also goes by a nickname but it's because everyone gets his name wrong. It doesn't apply to you, OP, but a reminder for every reading and choosing names: spelling rules matter. Follow the grammatical rules of your given country/region/whatever. It will help your kids in the future.

crabigator

I feel like this is a question specifically for me! I'm an Abigail who goes by Abby -- my parents always called me that and I've never used another nickname.

So I love having both names. I use Abigail of course on all official documentation, but also on some other official-y things -- it's silly, but I use it for, like, Twitter and other social networks. I like the name a lot, though I will say it doesn't feel as much like "my" name.

Abby is the name I give out socially, or, for example, to the restaurant host or coffeeshop barista.

Whenever anyone meets me first as Abigail and then gets to know me, they usually just ask if I prefer Abigail or Abby, so it's definitely not weird to other people that I have a nickname. 

I also commend you for spelling the nickname the best way. But heads up, I have been called all of the following:

Abbie

Abbey

Abi

Abbi

Abbye

Gavi (who knows.)

But I do think Abby is by far the most common spelling, so I'd go with that.

thegoodpotato

Also, I know a lot of foreign people who go by English names, but are still legally registered under their foreign names (mostly Chinese immigrants that adopt English names, but I knew a polish guy that adopted and anglicized version of his name, too). I've never known them to ever have a problem with going by one name, and having another on their legal documentation.

crabigator

@ChickenOnSunday BOO. I always say Abi should be pronounced "ah-BEE" instead of "AAH-bee" I usually get that from non-native English speakers though, who figure it's just the first few letters of my full name (which makes sense).

Also, my weird secret favorite thing is when people get chummy with me right away (I know, it's weird!) and nickname my nickname. The first time I met my husband's HS friend's husband, he called me Abs immediately, and I knew we'd be fast friends.

crabigator

ChickenOnSunday said:

crabigator said:

@ChickenOnSunday BOO. I always say Abi should be pronounced "ah-BEE" instead of "AAH-bee" I usually get that from non-native English speakers though, who figure it's just the first few letters of my full name (which makes sense).

Also, my weird secret favorite thing is when people get chummy with me right away (I know, it's weird!) and nickname my nickname. The first time I met my husband's HS friend's husband, he called me Abs immediately, and I knew we'd be fast friends.

The Abi suggestion wasn't legit. I just wanted to see how long it would take for someone to call me out. How many people gave me the side-eye but didn't say anything? Wimps!

The chicken is a BACKTRACKER, everyone!

wirtlehm

Chicken has been super proud of her bowel movements these last 2 days! It's ok, I'd be happy with even 1 legit one...