What's in a nickname...?

jccutie999

Hi all,

 

Okay, so my husband and I just absolutely fell in love with the name Harper for our little girl. I wasn't long before I realized her nickname would likely be Harpy. I'm sure most of your reading this with have heard of a Harpy before and we're not sure we really want her nickname to be a name with that kind of reputation. Kids can be cruel. Is this totally ridiculous of us?

Moneypenny424

No, Harpy is a horrible NN.  To me, Harper does not have a natural NN.

PiggynKermit

When we told MIL our boy name (Hendrix) her first response was "What kind of nick name can I get out of that?". IMHO nn don't always come from a shortened version of your little one's given name. Sometimes they come from a physical or personality trait. I made it through life without one and I'm fine.

Why go through naming your child the one name out of thousands that both you and your SO comb through to call your child something else?

guilletskichuk

PiggynKermit:

When we told MIL our boy name (Hendrix) her first response was "What kind of nick name can I get out of that?". IMHO nn don't always come from a shortened version of your little one's given name. Sometimes they come from a physical or personality trait. I made it through life without one and I'm fine.

Why go through naming your child the one name out of thousands that both you and your SO comb through to call your child something else?

Until I started hanging out on these boards I never thought about this ^ before...but it makes total sense.

I really like the name Harper and I never even considered "Harpy" as a nn. I don't know that many people would. And if kids come up with that, so be it. It doesn't have to stick. Kids will come up with any nn they want for another, no matter what the name. I wouldn't think so hard about it.

526SadieSadie

Nicknames don't have to be derivative of the first name, at all.  For example, she might be a really happy baby and you call her Sunny or Sunshine as a nickname.  My dad called my cousin Mariesa "Gargamel" (the character from The Smurfs) for YEARS, no particular reason.   

Or you could just call her Harper. 

AlphabetFish

Hahaha! Harpy! I hadn't even though of that, but you're right, that is the "natural" nickname for Harper.

Then it's only a matter of time until someone starts calling her "Harpies"...

BlueRidge8

A harpy is the main reason I dislike the name Harper.

radkates3000

I think that if you love the name, go with it.  A nick name will either present itself or she will plainly go by Harper.  Either way, if you're not into Harpy (which I can't blame you) just don't ever call her that!

 

mrsekins

You could use the NN Harry.... go with me on this - I have a niece named Harriet, and they call her Harry sometimes, and while it sounds like it would be sooo dumb, it's actually quite adorable and suiting.

3giraffes

I'm not a nickname fan.  I have a very unique name and have gone through my life without a nickname.  I have done the same with my DS.

magsugar13

missmarijke:

I'm not a nickname fan.  I have a very unique name and have gone through my life without a nickname.  I have done the same with my DS.

i agree none of my 3 have ever used a nn

jnjstone101108

Why not request that no one uses a nickname. My sister's name is Lacey. No nicknames have been derived from it. Now, my name is Jessica and people just automatically assume I go by Jess or Jessie. I don't and if they're annoying about it, I will request they not use it.

Sean+Lyss

My son's name is Faolan and we call him Bug, my daughter's name is Kieran and we call her Pixie. A nickname does not have to come from the given name.