A post on baby names has me wondering

robinsokj · February 2010

Would you force a nickname on your child. I think its kind of dumb. My parents always called me by my given name, then I got a couple random nicknames throughout childhood. Some of these parents get into arguments over what their child's nickname will be. How about you just call you child by their given name?

nikisnow · February 2010

No. My parents call me by a nickname of my middle name (Niki for Nicole). I didn't even know my real 1st name until I started school. It has been nothing short of confusing for people who know me. Some of my own family didn't even realize Nicole was not my real name. I have no idea why they didn't just use that as my 1st name to begin with.

leslie13510 · February 2010

I don't have a problem with calling kids by a nickname, I just think it's weird when the given name is picked just so that they can use a certain nickname. I mean if you like the nickname so much that you'd pick a name you're never going to call them by, why not just name them the nickname?

I guess it doesn't really matter though. To each their own.

two-pink-shoes · February 2010

My parents gave me 'pet names' like Annie and AJ, but I never used them as nicknames for other people.

kate930 · February 2010

I have never been called by my formal name - it's just that, a formality. My parents swear by the Supreme Court Justice Test. Is the name formal enough if we were to be Supreme Court Justices?

They wanted to name me Kate, but didn't think it was formal enough. It has never bothered me because it gives me options in my career.

At the same time, my youngest sister does not use her formal name and has been trying to change her name to just her nickname. We are the only two of 5 to have nicknames.

ETA: I think the obviousness is the difference between the two of us. Kate is obviously a nickname for Katherine, whereas she is Tessa/Teresa.

horizon1322 · February 2010

DH automatically excludes names that lend themselves easily to nicknames. I have nothing against nicknames, but if I wanted to call them something other than their given name, I would have named them that.

greenclown · February 2010

I like nicknames to be more organic. If you're going to decide on a nickname before the kid is even born and plan to always call him/her that, why not just name the kid that to start?

robinsokj · February 2010

greenclown:
I like nicknames to be more organic. If you're going to decide on a nickname before the kid is even born and plan to always call him/her that, why not just name the kid that to start?

Thats pretty much my thinking as well

SBma · February 2010

I wouldn't force one on the child (you must go by ___). Most people have nicknames, and some of them aren't related to their full names. I have no problem with that. I looked at the post and she's considering "Quadruple" (nn Dru). Quadruple? Really?

leslie13510 · February 2010

Ok, after reading that post, I can see why they're considering nn's before birth. If naming the son after the father is tradition, and they want to follow that, it makes sense to try and find a nn that will make him different from the three other Pettus's in that family.

I'm not a fan of sons named after the father, but it's a big deal to some people, and if that's the case you'd have to find some way to differentiate them.

buckin · February 2010

I'm Meh. On nicknames. I wouldn't choose a name soley for a nickname but my DH on the other hand LIKES names that have nickname options depenging on the child's personality.

Example: Samantha. If she's cute and tomboyish it can be Sammy or Sam. If she's prissy and cutesy it can just be Samantha.

He likes names that have a boyish option. Whatever. We don't include or exclude names based solely on that though.

I think nicknames are better when they are spur of the moment based on a quirk or incident. Like my cousin couldn't say my name and called me Kissduh....every now and again he still does because its OUR thing, just like me calling him Joshypoo in front of his college buddies and girlfriend at his graduation...(that wen over well. Devil )

ginifred · February 2010

kdodge423:

I've always gone by my nickname. My mom wanted me to have a more formal name as an adult, which is why my nickname is not my legal name. I have never gone by my legal name- I absolutely hated it until I was about 20. Now it's a good way to determine if the phone call is a formal or informal based on which name they use.

This is so true!

My birth name was determined by the name/nickname my parents wanted to call me. They wanted to call me Ginnie but there were sooooo many other Jenny's and Jennifers in 1982. So, Virginia was chosen.

I hated it for the longest time, but I like it now. I can always tell when a telemarketer calls.

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