Charles or Charlie? Do I have to do CHARLES??

hoosierbaby76

I love the name Charlie, but not crazy about Charles.  Would it be too informal of me to name a boy Charlie instead?

LadyXaverian

There are some 'nicknames' that can stand alone without a formal name, but in my opinion, Charlie is not one of them. However, do you "have to" name him Charles? No, you are well within your rights to put Charlie on his birth certificate.

vilaro

Right. You don't have to DO anything.

Will it be nice for your son to have the original form of his name as an option when he gets older? Yes. Let him decide.

IrishBrideND

SarahL77:

There are some 'nicknames' that can stand alone without a formal name, but in my opinion, Charlie is not one of them. However, do you "have to" name him Charles? No, you are well within your rights to put Charlie on his birth certificate.

Ditto. You don't have to, but I personally am a fan of giving kids options. Charlie, although cute, isn't very formal or grown up. I would give him charles so he can use that at his job if he so chooses.

nicolen0618

I have two separate examples of Charles/Charlie.  I worked with a Charles.  He's a lawyer.  Everyone (including clients, and anyone else he met, knew him as Chuck).  He never went by Charles.  Ever.  But that was his full name.  Another example...  A friend of DH and I just had a boy.  Named him Charlie.  Not Charles.  Charlie.  I really like it too.

You have the right to name him whatever you want!!!  Good luck on your choice! 

IrishBrideND

nicolen0618:

I have two separate examples of Charles/Charlie.  I worked with a Charles.  He's a lawyer.  Everyone (including clients, and anyone else he met, knew him as Chuck).  He never went by Charles.  Ever.  But that was his full name.  Another example...  A friend of DH and I just had a boy.  Named him Charlie.  Not Charles.  Charlie.  I really like it too.

You have the right to name him whatever you want!!!  Good luck on your choice! 

no one is saying that the child will definitely use Charles. But IMO its nice to give him that option. I do believe parents have the right to name their child whatever they want. However, in the end, I think the child should come first (and not the parent's whims). The child is the one who has to live with the name. That being said, I don't hate charlie as a name. I just think you might as well give him options. KWIM?

nicolen0618

IrishBrideND:

nicolen0618:

I have two separate examples of Charles/Charlie.  I worked with a Charles.  He's a lawyer.  Everyone (including clients, and anyone else he met, knew him as Chuck).  He never went by Charles.  Ever.  But that was his full name.  Another example...  A friend of DH and I just had a boy.  Named him Charlie.  Not Charles.  Charlie.  I really like it too.

You have the right to name him whatever you want!!!  Good luck on your choice! 

no one is saying that the child will definitely use Charles. But IMO its nice to give him that option. I do believe parents have the right to name their child whatever they want. However, in the end, I think the child should come first (and not the parent's whims). The child is the one who has to live with the name. That being said, I don't hate charlie as a name. I just think you might as well give him options. KWIM?

Yup!  Totally know what you mean!    When I read the op, it made me think of the LO I know named Charlie.  I do like Charlie though. 

shopgirl_07

I don't see a problem with just naming him Charlie. People get too worked up about "formal" names when the fact is, most people will never use them. Charlie is a name that suits a child or an adult.

PhilsWife07

I don't like Charlie as a given name. You may not be crazy about Charles but your adult son may not be crazy about going by a nn his whole life or explaining to everyone "it's just Charlie" over and over again.

vilaro

shopgirl_07:

I don't see a problem with just naming him Charlie. People get too worked up about "formal" names when the fact is, most people will never use them. Charlie is a name that suits a child or an adult.

Sorry, but not true.

They very well can use their formal names, and do use them very often. I have a classic name that got shortened to the nn when I was younger, but in college and beyond people I met started using my full, given name when addressing me, and I so preferred it and so did they. People tell me all the time now that my given name suits me much better and I would agree with them. I love my name and really appreciate having had the option to switch back to my 'formal' name in adulthood.

weddingpuffgrrl

Think of it this way, which name do you want on his college degree? Which name do you want written on his wedding invites? Do the Supreme Court Justice test? Which sounds better?

I know a very powerful man named Edward, everyone, EVERYONE calls him "Bud", but he has the formal name Edward for when he needs it. 

katiegal

IMO, name him what you want to call him.  My name is Katie, not Katherine, just Katie.  My parents were never big on naming a child one name and calling them something else so I've always agreed with them.  We're going to name our baby exactly what we want him/her to be called.

cogbot

I typically prefer to just name a child what you will calling it.  But I really don't think Charlie suits an adult.   I would name him Charles and just call him Charlie when he is little.     

Oh,  and I LOVE Charles/Charlie.   

shopgirl_07

vilaro:

shopgirl_07:

I don't see a problem with just naming him Charlie. People get too worked up about "formal" names when the fact is, most people will never use them. Charlie is a name that suits a child or an adult.

Sorry, but not true.

They very well can use their formal names, and do use them very often. I have a classic name that got shortened to the nn when I was younger, but in college and beyond people I met started using my full, given name when addressing me, and I so preferred it and so did they. People tell me all the time now that my given name suits me much better and I would agree with them. I love my name and really appreciate having had the option to switch back to my 'formal' name in adulthood.

I still disagree with you. Look at Bill Clinton. He never went by William and it sure didn't matter much. You won't miss a "formal" name if you don't have one. Unless your given name is something ridiculous, which Charlie certainly isn't.

MommaMcG

I've had a student in my class for two years now (I'm a music teacher), and he goes by Charlie--that's all I've ever seen on his records.  So I asked him the other day if his name is really Charles, and he said no.  It has been done.

I really love Charlie, but my husband has been set on Charles for two years now!  We'll see. 

IrishBrideND

shopgirl_07:

vilaro:

shopgirl_07:

I don't see a problem with just naming him Charlie. People get too worked up about "formal" names when the fact is, most people will never use them. Charlie is a name that suits a child or an adult.

Sorry, but not true.

They very well can use their formal names, and do use them very often. I have a classic name that got shortened to the nn when I was younger, but in college and beyond people I met started using my full, given name when addressing me, and I so preferred it and so did they. People tell me all the time now that my given name suits me much better and I would agree with them. I love my name and really appreciate having had the option to switch back to my 'formal' name in adulthood.

I still disagree with you. Look at Bill Clinton. He never went by William and it sure didn't matter much. You won't miss a "formal" name if you don't have one. Unless your given name is something ridiculous, which Charlie certainly isn't.

lol you can hardly say FOR A FACT that someone won't miss having a formal name simply because Bill Clinton went by Bill.

Can I say they will miss it? Nope. But I don't see the negative of at least giving them that option just in case. The vast majority of people I know who go by a nickname, like matt, go by their formal name in business. Does everyone? Nope. In fact I know a Charlie who is very sucessful. But I don't see why some are so anti giving their kids the option. Whats the negative?

ETA: If someone REALLY wants to call him Chuck, they will regardless of his name being Charlie instead of Charles.

heck, DD's name is Catherine, but we call her Cate. When people ask her name, we simply say Cate. Even then, we get people who call her Catie. We just correct them. (I can't stand Catie/Katie). So if we had named her Cate on her birth certificate, that wouldn't have stopped people from trying to use Catie, anyway.

Birdies08

I understand wanting to give the child a formal option, but I can also really see where you're coming from, OP. I also love Charlie, and Charles is ok, but I HATE Chuck. So, I think if you're only planning on calling him Charlie and you don't really like Charles, name him Charlie. I also do think Charlie sounds appropriate on an adult.

I do agree with PP's point, though, that he'll have to spend his life explaining, "nope, just Charlie," so that's something to think about.

shopgirl_07

IrishBrideND:

shopgirl_07:

vilaro:

shopgirl_07:

I don't see a problem with just naming him Charlie. People get too worked up about "formal" names when the fact is, most people will never use them. Charlie is a name that suits a child or an adult.

Sorry, but not true.

They very well can use their formal names, and do use them very often. I have a classic name that got shortened to the nn when I was younger, but in college and beyond people I met started using my full, given name when addressing me, and I so preferred it and so did they. People tell me all the time now that my given name suits me much better and I would agree with them. I love my name and really appreciate having had the option to switch back to my 'formal' name in adulthood.

I still disagree with you. Look at Bill Clinton. He never went by William and it sure didn't matter much. You won't miss a "formal" name if you don't have one. Unless your given name is something ridiculous, which Charlie certainly isn't.

lol you can hardly say FOR A FACT that someone won't miss having a formal name simply because Bill Clinton went by Bill.

Can I say they will miss it? Nope. But I don't see the negative of at least giving them that option just in case. The vast majority of people I know who go by a nickname, like matt, go by their formal name in business. Does everyone? Nope. In fact I know a Charlie who is very sucessful. But I don't see why some are so anti giving their kids the option. Whats the negative?

ETA: If someone REALLY wants to call him Chuck, they will regardless of his name being Charlie instead of Charles.

heck, DD's name is Catherine, but we call her Cate. When people ask her name, we simply say Cate. Even then, we get people who call her Catie. We just correct them. (I can't stand Catie/Katie). So if we had named her Cate on her birth certificate, that wouldn't have stopped people from trying to use Catie, anyway.

The negative is that she doesn't like the name Charles! Listen, you can't ensure that your child will end up loving his/her name no matter what you do. But Charlie doesn't seem like a particularly risky choice. 

IrishBrideND

shopgirl_07:

The negative is that she doesn't like the name Charles! Listen, you can't ensure that your child will end up loving his/her name no matter what you do. But Charlie doesn't seem like a particularly risky choice. 

She didn't say she hated it. She just said she isn't crazy about it. I took that to mean she simply likes Charlie better. If she hates it, then I can see why she wouldn't use it.

BFab11

It's your choice, but I would definitely give the name Charles. Like PPs said, it will give him a more formal/professional option when he's older.

forensicmama

No!!! Give him the name Charles on the birth certificate. You'll never have to call him Charles, but the boy needs a professional alternative. (I'd NEVER go to a Dr. Charlie ___. What?! Is he twelve?!)

shopgirl_07

forensicmama:

No!!! Give him the name Charles on the birth certificate. You'll never have to call him Charles, but the boy needs a professional alternative. (I'd NEVER go to a Dr. Charlie ___. What?! Is he twelve?!)

Are you for real? If a doctor had the name Charlie you wouldn't go to him? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

EXL311

My nn is Dee Dee which I go by almost all the time but thank goodness I have Deirdre to fall back on for more professional reasons.  I would give your child the opportunity to have a more professional sounding name for when he grows up.

JessandJeremy

I'm not big on naming children formal names if you never plan on calling him by it. I like Sam as a name for a boy and would name him Sam, not Samuel. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  

If it were me...I would name him Charlie. 

msmerymac

I don't like using traditional nns as given names. I know someone who named her kids Jack and Charlie and I really am not in agreement with that. Some people will argue that you should name him what you will call him, but IMO, everyone will assume his name is Charles anyway. And he might prefer to go by Charles or Chuck when he gets older.

BrideBuddies

hoosierbaby76:

I love the name Charlie, but not crazy about Charles.  Would it be too informal of me to name a boy Charlie instead?

Just because YOU don't like Charles, the name's not yours.. it's his.  Think of your child when he's 50.  If he chooses to be a doctor, lawyer or President.. would it help him more to be Charles than Charlie?   I would say, Yes. 

You can name him Charles and never call him that, since Charlie is a perfectly acceptable nickname that is never questioned or ridiculed.

As the mother of a Charles, we call him both interchangably.  When he's older he can decide.  But NO to Chuck or Chaz, thank you.

EXL311

But the thing about Bill Clinton is that Bill still sounds like an adult name.  I bet he wouldn't be caught dead as an adult as Billy.  The ee sound at the end of a name tends to make it feel more childish.  So while Bill and Ed still sound like adult professional names, Billy and Eddie do not.

homediva

I agree with pp - name him Charles on his birth certificate, then call him Charlie as much as you want! He can decide when he's older, and it will be more professional and "grown up" for his wedding, degree, etc.  

Le Olive

My dad's name is Charles, and he still goes by Chuck to this day. Even on his business cards. I don't think anyone has ever called him by his given name. That being said, you can obviously do what you want, but it might be nice for your son to have the option of a more formal name if he chooses.

queenbone

I'd name him Charles simply because the nn Charlie seems to be unisex.  Charlotte seems to be gaining in popularity and I read lots of people liking the nn Charlie.  In the event that he is ever in a class with a girl who goes by Charlie he could switch back to Charles if he doesn't want to have the same name as a girl.

katiegal

My dad's name on his birth certificate is also Charles but he goes by Charlie, never Charles.  He's a successful man and has never had to use Charles.  My mother's name is Michelle and she has always gone by Shelley.  That's another reason why my parents named my sisters and I what they wanted to call us.

P.S.  We call my dad Chuck or Chaz to rile him up when we're making fun of him but he never goes by that.

JaysonandKristin

queenbone:

I'd name him Charles simply because the nn Charlie seems to be unisex.  Charlotte seems to be gaining in popularity and I read lots of people liking the nn Charlie.  In the event that he is ever in a class with a girl who goes by Charlie he could switch back to Charles if he doesn't want to have the same name as a girl.

To me, this is the ONLY argument that makes any sense.  Charlie can absolutely stand on its own.  However, because of the NN for Charlotte, it does tend to be unisex.   

Soon2BMrsN

PhilsWife07:

I don't like Charlie as a given name. You may not be crazy about Charles but your adult son may not be crazy about going by a nn his whole life or explaining to everyone "it's just Charlie" over and over again.

this!

dana1318a

I love the nn Charlie, but I actually took it off of our list because I can't stand the name Charles.  I'm personally not a fan of using nicknames as full first names, so that decided it for me.  But if you don't mind that, I think Charlie is a great name.