Shortening names

kristisnod · September 2012

We are narrowing down our boy names (thanks for the help) and are left with Patrick, Cole, and Evan. I am okay with all three, but sometimes I lean towards Patrick. Will it automatically be shortened to Pat? I know I can't control what he will go by forever, but I don't want people to automatically start calling him Pat. To me certain names are more likely to be shortened (like Benjamin), but Patrick doesn't seem like one of those names to me. Am I weird for thinking Patrick is different for some reason?

Allycat11 · September 2012

I imagine people will try to shorten it. When he is young you absolutely can correct people. However, as you said eventually he will be able to choose to go by Pat if he wants to.

FWIW I love the name Patrick.

jlsimon56 · September 2012

Well I am a Jennifer, who prefers Jennifer. I introduce myself as Jennifer and people reply, "Hi Jen!" It's automatic. It's annoying too. I think people want to CONNECT and using a common nn is a way to do it? So I do think Patrick will be Pat. He might even prefer Pat!

TarHeels&Rebels · September 2012

DH is Matthew, not Matt. When he met my extended family for the first time, it was simple: "Oh, you go by Matthew, not Matt? Ok." The end. Sure, he has some clueless coworkers who call him Matt, but 95% of people get it right.

Colsdoll · September 2012

I am with you on not liking Pat.

However, out of all the Patrick's I've known that are my age and younger I don't know any that go by Pat - they are all Patrick.

Older Patrick's seem to go by Pat

MommaG123 · September 2012

Most of the Patricks I know go by Patrick. I don't think it will be too hard to get people to call him that.

strawberrytree · September 2012

I have taught 3 Patricks who went by Pat, but if you reinforce that you want him to be Patrick most people will call him that. As long as you are okay with the fact that might prefer to be called Pat when he's older.

guilletskichuk · September 2012

strawberrytree:
I have taught 3 Patricks who went by Pat, but if you reinforce that you want him to be Patrick most people will call him that. As long as you are okay with the fact that might prefer to be called Pat when he's older.

Yup, all of this. As long as you're okay with the fact that he may go by Pat later on.

This is exactly why I don't think I will be able to use Harrison someday. I don't care for Harry.

I prefer Cole and Evan to Patrick.

Outdoorlovinmama4 · September 2012

I have am so bias towards Evan. Cole is my next fav.

Not a big fan of Patrick. I HATE Pat for two reasons:
1) The Saturday Night Live skit with It's Pat where they could never figure out if it was a boy or girl
2) My old neighbor was named Pat (Patricia), her husband was Pat (Patrick) and they had grandchildren named Patricia (Trisha) and Patrick (Pat) and they were terrible neighbors - she was a crabby old lady who smoked 2 packs a day and clicked her dentures as she talked and her grandson was in trouble non-stop - it just has a really bad name association for me.

err395 · September 2012

I JUST made a post of this! I also really like the name Patrick, but would like to use the nn Trick!

rnbeth477 · September 2012

My dad is Robert and he has always struggled with people trying to shorten his name. People try to call him Bob, Rob, etc. He just continues to correct people and most of the time they comply...

ashbasler · September 2012

My dad's name is Patrick and so is my brother's. Dad goes by Pat and my brother is Patrick. My dad chose to go by Pat, my brother has never been called Pat. I don't necessarily think he will be called Pat.

beckymonster · September 2012

Like most of the responders, I like Patrick but don't care for Pat. I have two Aunt Pat's, so I think Pat is a girl name (not one I like, but definitely on the feminine side of androgenous). I would not name a child Patrick because the natural nickname is something that I don't like. I would consider it as a middle name.

Kaitie910 · September 2012

I think Patrick is one of those names that sounds like it should have a nickname, but it's nickname is kind of unpopular. If you call your son Patrick, and introduce him as Patrick, I think people will realize that you prefer Patrick. If he grows up and doesn't mind Pat, friends or teachers can call him that... But you're his momma! If you like Patrick, Patrick it is!

JLGY · September 2012

Patrick is a family name and people always want to shorten it to Pat, which I can't stand either. I think it would be quite difficult to change that unless you were always calling him Rick, so people knew there was another nn you use. It's a name people want to shorten. I much prefer Evan and Cole to Patrick.

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