Allen?

LMK613

both my dad & DH's dad have the middle name Allen, so we always thought that we would use that as a middle name for a boy...but I'm starting to really like it for a first name.  the only thing that holds me back is that i HATE the nn "Al" - do you think that if we ever used Allen as a first name it would be inevitable he would be called Al?

also...what do you think of Allen as a first name?  like? dislike? prefer as middle name?

TIA  

strawberrytree

I like it. I know two Allens (actually, one is an Allan) and neither goes by Al, so it is avoidable. This name falls into the same category as names like Martin, Stuart, and Lewis for me- last names that have a long-established history as first names and I like them as first names. Underused but recognisable.  

MarSamWhitney

Its a name that has grown on me.  I think it might be inevitable that he would be called Al though.

plunderb

My FIL is Allen.

I have never heard anyone call him Al.

bumpuser794640

Both my father and DH's father have the mn Allen (Alan).  We're planning on Allan for a boy mn for any future offspring.

I never think it's inevitable that someone will get a NN.  Call him what you want him to be called, and other people can follow suit (or not).  Don't let it bug you too much.

And obviously, I like the name Allen.

That.Just.Happened

I think it will get shortened a ton, regardless of what you do.  My name is Alexis, I have always gone by Alix, and so many people (including some of my closest friends) call me Al, esp when they are in a hurry. 

kmpls

Love it!

I have never heard it shortened.

flows912

It strikes me as more of a last name, but it's doable as a first name. Although I do think it's inevitable that someone will call him Al. My BIL has the same problem  -- it's just easier to call him Al instead of Allan (which he would prefer, but everyone always forgets).

 

EGMphoto

I think of it more as a MN, but I don't think you have to worry about people calling him Al.

I know several Allens, and no one calls them Al.

broomy

I love the name Allen as a first name. DH has a cousin named Allen (otherwise, it would be on my own short list for a boy!). I have never, ever heard anyone call him Al. Keeping the "-en" when you say the name aloud takes no extra effort whatsoever, it totally rolls off the tongue, so I don't see why anyone would feel the need to shorten the name. It's practically a one syllable name already, the second syllable is pronounced so quickly, you know? I don't think it's inevitable that he'd start going by Al, especially if you insist that family/friends stick to "Allen" when he's a kid, and he insists on "Allen" as he grows up.

BLPL101

I like it. I wouldn't think to shorten it to Al. I only people I know called Al are Alberts.

superned

My DH's name is Allen.  I can think of one friend that will call him Al sometimes, but that's it.  I have never once in my life called him "Al."

I really like it as DH's first name.  (He's Allen the III so there's no way in hell I would consider that name for my child though!)

JMU_Bride09

I know an Alan and an Allen, and my DH has an uncle named Allen...none of them go by Al or any nn. I like the name as a first or middle name.

SarahPLiz

I know several Alans, Allans and Allens and none have gone by Al, ever, that I know of. One of them now lives as a woman and goes by Alanna, but that is neither here nor there. 

annieravensfan528

I've never liked it But it's not a bad name, just NMS.

Leap08

I know two Allens and an Alan, and none of them are called Al. I like it.

mommytoconnor

My Son's middle name is Alan after my fathers middle name.  No reason to go by AL if it's his middle name.

krissyd0330

Funny, I'm in the same boat. My DH's middle name is Allen so we want to go with that for the baby's middle name if it's a boy. I love that it sounds so strong and manly, but I don't think I like it as a first name. He will most definately be called Al once he's an adult.

KearaD

As others have said, I don't think the NN Al would be a problem at all. I never even thought of it as a nickname for Allen. 

Allen was my maiden name, and I always liked it. The only problem is that there is more than one way to spell it (Allen, Alan, Allan, etc.), so your son may be correcting people on the spelling a lot. But that's not really a big deal since you're not choosing a youneek spelling.