CP: Nicknames/shortened names

austenreader85

Just curious for the general opinion.  And I guess really I mean shortened name (Robert called Bob) versus a nickname could be Squirt.  It seems that most of my IRL friends and acquaintances do not prefer them for their own children.
[Poll]

austenreader85

I obviously do (DS is Theodore called Teddy and DD is Anastasia called Annie).  I do draw the line at making a nickname just for the sake of one like when people ask what they could call Harper.

austenreader85

laurasusan:

Special snowflake?

 

I feel like some names need a shortened nickname.  DD and I met a little girl at the park the other day named Elizabetta (said with a thick Spanish accent, although the parent didn't really have an accent). I thought the name was adorable, but I was thinking "really, my 2.5 year old has to say that?"    It seemed like such a big name for such a tiny person.

 

So, I prefer to name my children what I'm going to call them. But, If I wanted to name my child a 4-5 syllable name, I think I'd come up with a nickname. 

Lol, I literally timed how long it would take someone to ask for a special snowflake!  I feel like it's a black and white issue, haha!  Either you want to call them that 4-5 syllable name and not use a nickname, use the nickname, or pick a shorter name.  So in the end a person is either for or against shortened names.  Obviously there will be some names that you might or might not prefer to shorten, but I mean generally speaking.  Would you just as soon only have Bob named Bob or is Robert as a legal name acceptable?

I do think opinions can change though.  We named DD Anastasia and before she was born I planned on mostly calling her Anastasia but shortening it to Annie as needed.  We kept the name a secret so we only called her that in private and even then it felt weird because we were trying so hard to keep a secret (btw, we probably won't do that next time because it was really hard and so much easier with DS when we didn't!).  DS is 2.5 and can say Anastasia but does better with Annie.  Well, sort of, a lot of times it comes out as Andy, lol!

kim1989

I voted no but it really depends on the name and NN. I don't think NN's should be a deciding factor at all though because the kid will decide themselves what they want to go by anyway. Then again I didn't think there would be any NN for Chloe when we chose it but my SIL loves to call her coco which I don't love

sweetpea2003

Yes, I do.  DD is Katherine but we call her Kate most of the time.  I personally love the name Kate but don't prefer it as a formal first name. 

I am okay with people who want to go by their formal names too.  My son's name can't be shortened and I like that too.

To each their own.

+ASH+

I voted no, but it really depends on the name. For instance, I love Elizabeth, but don't like any nicknames for it. Same with William. Catherine (and all spellings) I love the majority of the nicknames. 

My son's name is Christian and I never want to see it shortened (and he would correct anyone who tried). My younger son is Lucas and I don't object to him being called Luke (although only family uses the nn).  Case by case basis for me. 

Helenahhandbasket

My given name has no natural NN, so I have always felt like I missed out.

I do agree it's silly to try to force a NN (although I am gulity of it sometimes!).

We almost exclusively call DD Josie, and I will admit that her NN sold me on her full formal name.

queenbone

Helenahhandbasket:

My given name has no natural NN, so I have always felt like I missed out.

ITA since we have the same FN. I think it is nice to have options, neither DH nor I have NN options for our first names.

Both our sons have NN options and most of our names for this baby have options too. One is a 1 syllable name, but it has a diminutive version which I think counts as a NN even though it makes the name 2 syllables.

LadyXaverian

I used to be firmly in the "name your kid what you plan to call them" camp. BUT then when naming DD, we came down to naming her either Elinor (after DH's grandmother) or Nora (a shortened version, still honoring the grandmother). I fell in love with "Nora", but DH really wanted to use Elinor. Our compromise was to use Elinor with Nora as the nn. I struggled with it at first, and there are still times I wish her given name was just Nora, but our compromise was the best thing we could come up with to agree on her name.

So, I voted "yes" since I felt it hypocritical to vote any other way.

englishtearose

I think if you choose the name Matthew and want to use Matt that's just fine. My sons name has no natural NN. My DH is a Michael, but goes by Michael. I think it just depends on the person. I like a shortened names (that have a natural NN) but my DH is not a "Mike"...

Jessica Swanlake

It depends on the name. We call our littlest Evie, since Evangeline is a mighty big name for such a wee thing. I love it, but I love her given name as well.

jennipea382

I suppose it depends. Do I like longer names with nicknames, whether or not they are "natural" or something that stuck? Yes. I don't think I could name a kid a long name and never call them a nickname. Do I like nicknames as full names or nicknames for short names? Usually no. A PP mentioned this too but I hate when someone needs a nickname for every name, especially when the nickname is the same amount of syllables or longer. Exception would be a one syllable name with another syllable added to be more "cutesy", like Gracie for Grace or something. NMS but acceptable IMO.

JaysonandKristin

DD will be the first of our children to have a name long enough to use any derivatives.

We chose it because we love the name.  We don't really have any preference in terms of NNs for her -- Pru, Prudie, Prudence, P, whatever...  We use "pet names" with our kids, so it's likely she won't go by anything related to her name.

We chose a derivative for DS1, and we chose a name with no real NNs for DS2.  

I am a SS because some NNs feel fine to me.  Like Hank, Jack, etc. are used by enough men that they have become acceptable; they don't feel incomplete or juvenile.  Whereas, Jace feels wrong.