If your DC has a 3- or 4-syllable first name...

CubbyMama · February 2009

...does he/she go by a nickname or shortened version of it?

If not, how did you manage that?

We both like Elizabeth and DH loves Elliana, but I prefer names with no "built-in nicknames" because I'm not crazy about most nn's. I figure the chances of picking a 3- or 4-syllable first name and having the child actually be CALLED that are pretty slim, no?

brightning · February 2009

The only example I have are my uncles: Raymond, Patrick and Michael. They are NOT Ray, Pat and Mike. So no, I don't think all names turn into NNs. (But I agree with you about built-in NNs and I made sure DD's name didn't have one.)

What would the NN for Elliana be? Ellie?

Have you thought about the name Leisel (sp?)? It's a NN for Elizabeth, but I think it's a nice stand-alone name.

kellnbri · February 2009

My cousin is Peter and we were never allowed to call him Pete. His brother is Anthony but we sometimes call him Ant...why thats ok I still dont know. My kids both have 3 syllable names (Timothy and Alexis) and I chose those names because I also loved the nicknames. But if you stress that you dont want them to be called a nickname then people have to respect your wishes. Though when DC grows up she might want to be called by a nickname

amygdala · February 2009

No one calls dd by a nickname. ?My mom joked when I was pg that everyone would call them "Marley & Harley", but so far that's been only her weird fantasy, LOL! ?I think that if YOU always call dc by his/her full name, others are less likely to nickname. ?Although, dh & I did toss out "Gabriel" as an option due to fear of the inevitable nn "Gabe", which we both hate, so I can understand your hesitance. ?I say go for the name you like, & correct people if they shorten it!

JWinCT · February 2009

DD's name is Cassidy and most people call her that. Though, we do call her Cass a lot of the time, even though we never really intended on calling her a NN.

Our new baby's name is going to be Alaina and we're okay with the NN Lainey if a NN starts to emerge like it did with Cassidy. (Though, DH also likes Allie for a nickname, but I prefer Lainey.)

If you call your DD by the name you want and correct people when they try to shorten it, I don't think it would be a problem. My friend's daughter's name is Gabrielle and she never wanted it shortened. Her DD's 12 years old and is still called Gabrielle.

So, it's most definitely possible to retain the full name!

HarrietNJMommy · February 2009

I HATE nicknames. We named DD#2 Elisabeth (with an "s" and not a "z") and we call her Elisabeth right now, and so does everyone else. I'm not sure what will happen when she goes to school.

DD#1 is Barbara - I hate barb, barbie or babs, so I hope that people just call her Barbara

DS is Loukas (greek spelling) - I don't like lou or luke either.

I don't know if the chances are pretty slim. It all has to do with what you call them as well. I do correct people when they say liz for elisabeth......at least for the moment.?

debbiej · February 2009

DS is Clayton and we call him both Clay and Clayton.

DD is Laurian and we DO NOT call her Laurie or anything but Laurian. If you don't introduce a NN, than the odds of one developing are pretty small. At least until they are older and may want one.

MrsCorbin · February 2009

Haha you are the opposite of me. I want all of my girls to have longer names but I only plan on them going by a nickname. DD's name is Liliana but everyone calls her Lily. If this baby is a girl she will be Aurora but will go by Rory.

momofolivia · February 2009

We call Olivia by the nicknames Livia and Livvy. I like nicknames, so I am not much help. We chose a name that we could make a nickname. My name (Robin) doesn't lend itself well to a nickname - I hate Rob - but my family calls me Robs. So I guess I always wanted a baby with a nn.

Dani123 · February 2009

DD is Madison, NN would be Madi...I dont LOVE Madi but it doesnt bother me too much.....I think a lot of people take your cues from you....We never call her Madi. Sometimes my Mom does and maybe a person here and there....but we dont. When she gets older if she prefers that then she can initiate the change but for now its Madison. Most call her Madison.

JillAly · February 2009

My friends' son is William. Not Will, not Bill...William. She made it clear from the very beginning that he was to be called William. She wasn't mean about it but she made it clear she didn't like nicknames for him. He's now 9 years old and everyone- even in school- calls him William.

I think it just comes down to the parents and the tone they set for any name.

Rose.9.6.03 · February 2009

Well, we call Evelyn "Ev" about 50% of the time. But I don't know if I would consider it a real nickname. We'd never introduce her as Ev to anyone and it's not the type of nickname that would be used in school.

mrs.officeryum · February 2009

We only call our daughter by her full name, Samantha. I have nothing against Sami or even Sam, but I will wait till she gets older to figure out what we will call her. She has several nn's though, but nothing to do with her given name. Daddy calls her Munchkin and I call her Sweetpea alot of the time, lol!!!

divakat · March 2009

My daughter's name is Alana. We often call her Lana, which I really like. Sometimes I call her Lani. But most other people call her by her full name, Alana. Since it's not a common name, I think that helps. I think it is more likely that people will shorten Elizabeth than Elliana, though. Our son is Alexander, and we do not want people calling him Alex. Since it is a more common name, though, and most other Alexanders go by Alex, people just automatically call him Alex. It's really starting to annoy me, actually. I haven't started correcting people, but I think I will, now, so they don't make it a habit.

If your DC has a 3- or 4-syllable first name...

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