Love the name, hate the nicknames

schnappycat · March 2010

DH and I are just about decided on Isabel for our girl. I know it's popular, but it honors my fave aunt, so that is important. She is such a cool woman (96 and totally feisty). However, I dislike the nicknames, namely Izzy and Belle (not sure if Elle is a normal nn, but I can tolerate that). I know we can refrain from using them and just call her Isabel, but I also know that other people will use them regardless. So I'm bummed. Now I'm trying to decide if we should nix it altogether and think of a Plan B.

WDYT?

*Scuzzlebutt* · March 2010

Don't scrap your name because of nicknames. Call her Isabel and correct anyone who tries to call her by a nickname.

krogers0905 · March 2010

If you don't use the nickname and nip in the bud early anyone who does then it shouldn't be a big problem. My brother's name is Dennis and my mom would "disown" anyone that called him Denny until they used his correct name.

ttmccoot · March 2010

*Scuzzlebutt*:
Don't scrap your name because of nicknames. Call her Isabel and correct anyone who tries to call her by a nickname.

yep. you can control it, i think.

MrsBNDO · March 2010

I think if you are adamant about constantly correcting people that attempt to shorten your child's name, they'll respect your wishes enough not to call her a nickname you don't like. However, I think once your child gets into school, there's no controlling what her classmates will call her. Then again, by that point, she'll most likely have it ingrained that her name is the full Isabel and do any necessary correcting herself.
Good luck!

MrsEricH · March 2010

When she's a baby, correct people when they call her by a nickname- and train her to do the same as she gets older. But then remember, you can't dictate what SHE will like/dislike as far as her name goes. As she gets older, she might like the nicknames Izzy or Belle... and it is HER name, afterall.

jiffy-pop · March 2010

Nicknames are not the end of the world. Just call her what you want to call her and it should catch on.

MrsGalligan · March 2010

My bf's name is Susannah and she never went by a nickname, her mom didn't want one. As she grew up she learned to correct people who tried to shorten her name. She in turn named her daughter Rebekah, and same thing. She didn't want people calling her Bekah, or Becky or anything but Rebekah.

My DD name is Elysabeth and that is what we call her. I was very adament about no Liz, Lizzy, or Beth. My fil tried to call her Lizzy several times and I'd correct him everytime. Now they all call her Elysabeth or Ellie (which I expressed as an appropriate nn, although I also expressed that I prefered her actual name)

Don't throw away your name just b/c of what people will call her. When she's older she'll correct people either way with the nn of her preference.

Delia

brookelynpaisley · March 2010

I have the same concern since I love Alison but really really dislike Ali. I think if you call Isabelle, people will call her Isabelle. However, like one PP said, you can't stop her from deciding she likes a nickname.

scubaspot · March 2010

I am in the same situation. We really like the name Madeleine but I HATE the nm Maddie. We are still going to keep it on the table and try to find a new nm.

I would keep the name Isabel and just find a new nm. I have met a few Isabels and they used the nm Isa (E- sa) and and Elle.

Tigerlillies · March 2010

I think you can control it if you start right from the beginning. And then eventually, your daughter won't let anyone call her anything other than Isabel.

skyejo · March 2010

I definitely think you can control the nicknames for the most part. If someone calls her Izzy, correct them. I think it's great that you're honoring your grandmother.

krissyh21 · March 2010

Two people have called Dillon Dill, I corrected them both and they have yet to do it again.

Of course you have no control over what your daughter will prefer later on, but now all you need to do is correct those who call her Izzy or whatever. I know plenty of people who never have gone by nicknames

MrsWindyCity · March 2010

I nixed a name for this reason (love Patrick, hate Pat). Yes, when they are little you can correct people and never use the NNs, etc. However, when they go to school and their friends start using shortened names or whatever, it's not that easy, so you just have to decide whether you are OK with it or if you really, really dislike the names. Remember, no matter what you want, your daughter may decide on her own that she prefers Belle (or whatever) to Isabel.

Mama_SAS · March 2010

ditto to all pps. However here may be one or two people in your life who refuse to listen and you'll have to accept that. I know from experience that you can correct grandma until you are blue in the face and she won't listen. Grrr.

My son doesn't acknowledge grandma's nickname and she still persists. Now it is funny to me!

steph805 · March 2010

We have 2 sons, Jayden and Gabriel and I thought that people would always call them Jay and Gabe. It happens, but very rarely. I think as long as you call her Isabel, then most people would call her the same.

shopgirl_07 · March 2010

Personally, I would never give my kid a name that I HATED the nicknames. I guess it depends on how strongly you feel about Izzy and Belle. You could use it as a middle name.

j_hope · March 2010

I can sympathize w/ you simply because DD's name is Isabel. I love just the name Isabel, and until recently that has always been what I call her. Recently though, she's been asking for me and other people to call her Belle. I do try to honor her wishes, although I do call her Isabel more than just Belle...simply because I love her full name. Other posters are right..up until now almost everyone called her Isabel minus a few pet names for her from family members, but now that she's asking...we really should respect her wishes.

Ciconrad · March 2010

DS is Joseph and I hate Joe or Joey. We refer to him as Joseph and no one has ever called him anything else. In almost 2 years, I've never had to correct anyone. If you love the name, don't scrap it, just be firm on your desire for her to be called Isabel. Just realize once she's 10+, it becomes her decision if she will let people call her something different.

redsoxbono · March 2010

I'm a middle school teacher and I've had several Isabel's and Isabella's. All of them are called by their full name. I've never had one who shortened. I love family names (especially when they are as pretty as yours). I say go for it!

TheMomDiggity · March 2010

*Scuzzlebutt*:
Don't scrap your name because of nicknames. Call her Isabel and correct anyone who tries to call her by a nickname.

I AGREE

Chrissymarie98 · March 2010

I'm going with Anthony, but hate the name Tony.

Just planning to correct everyone and hope that they follow my lead.

3littleladies · March 2010

My two year old is Isabel and she actually likes to be called Izzie. We mainly call her Isabel, but sometimes she'll refer to herself as Izzie. I think someone may have called her that once and she likes it. It really doesn't bother me. I do call her Isa (E-sa) a lot, so that's another nn that you could use. But you don't have to use a nn at all. My nephew is William. William. Not Will. Not Bill. Not Billy. People will go with what you want.

cutebride73 · March 2010

My DD is 19 years old. Her name is Elizabeth - I have always called her that and so has her entire family. I hated the nickname Liz and really didn't like Beth either. Once she was in school though - not early on closer to middle school - I started hearing kids calling her Liz. I would correct them, but I guess she liked it because it continued when she went to high school. She told her friends to call her Elizabeth in front of me and sometimes they did, but sometimes they still called her Liz - her teachers called her Liz too.

It doesn't bother me as much as it once did, although I never call her Liz and niether does any of the family. Anyone I ever meet calls her Elizabeth because that is what I tell them her name is. Although now that she is college I have no clue what her professors call her at all - lol.

Just be prepared, like others have said, that she may choose one of the nicknames you don't like when she gets older. You don't ever have to call her that though - you and the family can always call her Isabel.

soon-to-beamrs · March 2010

I had the exact same issue with this name. I love Isabel but I tend to shorten names so I knew I would end up calling her Izzy, which I don't like, so we're not using the name. Isabel isn't that long a name so I don't think it needs to be shortened. If you're not like me who shortens all names, you should be fine.

hcmamm1 · March 2010

My aunt was afraid of the same this when they named their daughter Isabela. But no one calls her Izzy. We do call her bela, but she wants to be called that

cookieinva · March 2010

Well, if you love the name I'd say go for it but be prepared for the fact that you can't control what people call your daughter forever. You can correct nicknames and set patterns and habits when she is young, but ultimately she becomes her own person and SHE will determine what people call her. Might not be an issue but she may end up preferring a nickname especially if she hears them at lot at school where you might have less influence.

Also bear in mind that while a lot of people have nicknames in elementary/middle/high school - many adults switch from their childhood nicknames back to their proper names come college or entering the real world. So even if she ends up nicknamed for some time, it's not permanent.

LiLnikkiMe · March 2010

if you like the name use it and if anyone calls her the nicknames you don't like than just correct them.

aldyn · March 2010

I have a cousin Elizabeth - the whole family calls her Elizabeth, but all of her friends call her Lizzy. You can control what you call her and you can usually control what the other adults in your life call her, but there's no way you can control what other kids call her or what she'll want to be called when she's a little older.

I wouldn't let it stop me with this name.

Want a personalized experience?

Love the name, hate the nicknames

Re: Love the name, hate the nicknames

Choose Another Board

Search Boards