Names you won't use because of nicknames

megstriesagain · March 2009

The post below made me curious--what names do you love but have ruled out because of likely nn?

One of my favorite names for a boy is Zakai. It's Hebrew/Aramaic and means innocent or pure. It's unusual, but I don't think too crazy. Z is an awesome nickname; so is Kai. I really hate Zak. But that's what he'll be called...=.(

What are yours?

Traycee1242 · March 2009

I am SO anti-nicknames. So any name that people can't make into a nickname is what we're going for.

Yep that leaves a lot out. But I just don't understand nn. If you name your kid Isabella but call her Bella.... Just freaking name her Bella. You really think after going through life being called Bella for 22 years she's suddenly going to change it back to Isabella for "resume purposes" So, so silly.

Yuck.

*Scuzzlebutt* · March 2009

I love Catherine, but I hate the thought of having a "Cathy" one day.

erinms · March 2009

*Scuzzlebutt*:
I love Catherine, but I hate the thought of having a "Cathy" one day.

I think "Cathy" is an unlikely nickname these days, luckily!?

Smores730 · March 2009

*Scuzzlebutt*:
I love Catherine, but I hate the thought of having a "Cathy" one day.

Seriously? I'm in my 20's and would never attempt to call a Catherine Cathy because it's so dated an obscure to me. Cat, Cate, or Catie I can see.

I still maintain that it's the choice of the child if they want to be called by a nickname or not. I've had friends with nickname proof names that still came out with a nickname because they allowed for it or asked to be called that.

*Scuzzlebutt* · March 2009

I agree that "Cathy" is very dated, but it seems that every Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn that I know goes by "Cathy" (or with a K)

I don't know if kids 15-20 years from now would think "Cathy" over Cat or Kate...but I hate it enough to be afraid!

jlynnr87 · March 2009

Usually a nn won't become common for that person unless they allow people to call them that - If you and everyone around you only use Kai as a nn, I think you'll find that people won't just call him Zak.. In school teachers always asked if there was a nn you preferred, otherwise would just call you your given name, and generally students followed suit! If your child only knows one nn, they probably won't change it to another! Don't give up on Zakai just because of Zak!

tct1219 · March 2009

jlynnr87:
Usually a nn won't become common for that person unless they allow people to call them that - If you and everyone around you only use Kai as a nn, I think you'll find that people won't just call him Zak.. In school teachers always asked if there was a nn you preferred, otherwise would just call you your given name, and generally students followed suit! If your child only knows one nn, they probably won't change it to another! Don't give up on Zakai just because of Zak!

^^^ i agree ^^^

LMS05 · March 2009

I've never been a fan of nicknames. I'm trying to find nickname proof names. I don't care if I name my daughter Juliet and her friends call her JuJu or Jules or something, but I mean real nicknames (like Sam for Samantha bug me).

leah1615 · March 2009

I like Philip, but hate Phil, so I won't be using that name.

LMS05 · March 2009

leah1615:
I like Philip, but hate Phil, so I won't be using that name.

That's DH's name. I actually like Phil and never call him Phillip.?

caffinated_tulip · March 2009

I would never name a boy Alexander not because I hate Alex, but because I hate the name "Xander", it makes me think of that guy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

EXL311 · March 2009

caffinated_tulip:
I would never name a boy Alexander not because I hate Alex, but because I hate the name "Xander", it makes me think of that guy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I actually love the name Xander but not so much Alexander or Alex. One of the names I won't be using is Savannah because the only obvious nickname that comes to mind is Savy and I'm not fond of that or any other nicknames that could go with it. DH and I really like names that have good nickname potential. We plan on nicknames for our children knowing we will often call them by their nickname but also by their full first name.

skoorbnibor · March 2009

caffinated_tulip:
I would never name a boy Alexander not because I hate Alex, but because I hate the name "Xander", it makes me think of that guy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

this is exactly why I love the name Alexander!

I dont think there is a nickname proof name out there... My kid is Ethan... I have been calling him E since he was at about 18 weeks gestation... it stuck.

and you can stop using a nickname randomly. I was called Bobbi until I was about 14. I decided one day that I was Robin and informed everyone. After a few months, I was Robin and Bobbi was forgotten...

mrsjazzsinger · March 2009

Traycee1242:
If you name your kid Isabella but call her Bella.... Just freaking name her Bella. You really think after going through life being called Bella for 22 years she's suddenly going to change it back to Isabella for "resume purposes" So, so silly.

Yuck.

I totally agree with this part. My real name is Christine (actually - my mom switched from Christina to Christine just days before I was born because she didn't want people to call me Tina). However, I've been Christie from day 1 and have never felt the need to start going by Christine now that I'm almost 24 just to sound more professional. I've briefly thought about switching to Christine twice in my life - and it never worked, I just couldn't get used to it and it doesn't fit me at all - not to mention trying to get everyone that has known me for years to call me something different isn't the easiest either.

sparkman-to-be · March 2009

I like Jackson but don't like just Jack.

SoonToBeMrsTB · March 2009

I love Alexander and its also DH's middle name, but I dont want our DS to be called "Al" I dont mind Alex, but Al isnt a great nn IMO especially for a baby.?

EricaD07 · March 2009

*Scuzzlebutt*:
I still maintain that it's the choice of the child if they want to be called by a nickname or not. I've had friends with nickname proof names that still came out with a nickname because they allowed for it or asked to be called that.

lbap · March 2009

mrsjazzsinger:
Traycee1242:
If you name your kid Isabella but call her Bella.... Just freaking name her Bella. You really think after going through life being called Bella for 22 years she's suddenly going to change it back to Isabella for "resume purposes" So, so silly.

Yuck.
I totally agree with this part. My real name is Christine (actually - my mom switched from Christina to Christine just days before I was born because she didn't want people to call me Tina). However, I've been Christie from day 1 and have never felt the need to start going by Christine now that I'm almost 24 just to sound more professional. I've briefly thought about switching to Christine twice in my life - and it never worked, I just couldn't get used to it and it doesn't fit me at all - not to mention trying to get everyone that has known me for years to call me something different isn't the easiest either.

I have actually seen this happen a couple of times though. It may be rare, but it certainly happens. At the last place where I worked, in the next cube was "Patrick" - everyone at work called him Patrick. After working with him for a couple of years, it came out that he had not been called Patrick previous to working there. He was always "Pat." I think that when he initially interviewed for the job, he put his full name on his resume and then everyone just called him that and he decided to not correct them and go by Patrick at work since it was more professional.

I've also seen it when kids go off to college. That is a great opportunity to go by something different than you have always gone by, since you are entering an entirely new community of people that don't know you.

Phoebe Halliwell · March 2009

Count me in as another anti-nickname person. Like others, I just don't see the point. It's one thing to have a "pet" name that your family calls you, but I don't understand the concept of naming a child one thing if you're just going to call them by another name their entire life.

The one name I won't use because of a nn is Elisabeth. I love it, but it's bound to be shortened. And I'm on the fence about Katherine/Kathryn. I don't midn the name Kate, but if I wanted a Kate I'd just name her Kate. And I don't like Kathy at all.

mattnlinz03 · March 2009

I am also anti-nicknames. If you wanted to call them by the nickname why didn't you just give them that name in the first place. DS is Matthew and NOBODY calls him that. It drives me crazy.

The one name that I love is Catherine-after my grandmother, but I just can't do it because I don't want Katie or Kate to come from it.

Vixey529 · March 2009

I won't use Genevieve (which I've loved since childhood) because I just know people will shorten it to Jen, and DH's ex is named Jen. So yeah... I just wanted to avoid having anything unpleasant attached to the name.

cabana1 · March 2009

We were contemplating using Kenneth after DH's grandfather. But we really disliked Ken or Kenny. We intend on using his full name, Patrick, but can tolerate Pat if friends call him that. He will always be Patrick to me

vanceandlori · March 2009

We love Jillian but hate Jill.

longhorn14 · March 2009

I really love the name Oliver, but hated the nn Olly/Ollie. We ended up giving it to DS as a mn.

ArmyBride14 · March 2009

It's really up to the parents and the child if there will be nicknames. My brother has never been called anything but Anthony. We never called him anything different. People will call you what you introduce yourself as.

LMS05 · March 2009

Vixey529:
I won't use Genevieve (which I've loved since childhood) because I just know people will shorten it to Jen, and DH's ex is named Jen. So yeah... I just wanted to avoid having anything unpleasant attached to the name.

I have a good friend named Genevieve and people call her Gen all the time. Smart move on your part ?

EarsToYou · March 2009

I think the parents play a big part. My whole life my parents would correct people if they shortened Krista to Kris, or Jacob to Jake, and it became so ingrained that my brother and I do it now. With very few exceptions, no one has ever called us by a shortened name! Other than pet nn of course

thenewmrsrussell · March 2009

Audrey. The nn Aud is just too weird.

kristen230 · March 2009

Traycee1242:
I am SO anti-nicknames. So any name that people can't make into a nickname is what we're going for.
Yep that leaves a lot out. But I just don't understand nn. If you name your kid Isabella but call her Bella.... Just freaking name her Bella. You really think after going through life being called Bella for 22 years she's suddenly going to change it back to Isabella for "resume purposes" So, so silly.
Yuck.

?

This is how I feel exactly. My husbands name is John and his dads name is John. We named our son Jack not knowing its a nn for John I guess... When we told my husbands family we name him Jack they were like, "Oh so we're assuming his name is John" I was like, "what the crap? why would you assume that?" Totally weird. I think nn are so stupid. If you are going to call your child something, name him/her that!!!!!?

kristen230 · March 2009

sparkman-to-be:
I like Jackson but don't like just Jack.

?

I;m the exact opposite. Love the name Jack, absolutely hate jackson.?

DASHSKIDADDLE · March 2009

Harrison is a great name! But Harry as a nn? no thx.

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