We named both our DDs with nn in mind. Adelyn goes by Ady and Lillian goes by Lil or Lilly. This little bean we have picked out names without nn options. But I love having fun nn options for my girls, with longer more elegant full names.
I have an Alexander we call Lex. We find out Thursday what this baby is, if it's a boy it will be Samuel Dean (Sam), if it's a girl it will be Claire Elise. (I think I want to call her Clary).
Re: Full names vs. 'nicknames'
2nd daughter is the same situation.
We are having a 3rd daughter and we've settled on Kit. Not Katherine. Just Kit. I like the short, spunky 1940's type names. : )