A question about birth announcements

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
A question about birth announcements
18
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 5:31pm

We are settling into the name Margaret Elizabeth for our expected dd, but we plan on calling her Molly. We live away from most of our family and many of our close friends and plan on sending out birth announcements, but we're not sure if or how to express that the name she will be called is Molly. I was thinking something like,
"Ben and Alyson, along with big brother Will welcome Margaret Elizabeth into the family. Molly was born on XXXXday/month Xlbs. Xoz. , etc."

Would that be bizzare, confusing, etc? Any other ideas to throw out there?

DISCLAIMER: We're pretty set on this combo, so we're not really soliciting opinions on the name/nn combo, if you, say, feel that Molly isn't a nickname for Margaret, etc. I REALLY am not trying to be rude, but some people have pretty strong opinions about what nicknames are for what names, and while we know that Molly is not the most common nn for Margaret, it's the one we're planning on using (barring her birth and our subsequent decision that "she looks like she HAS TO BE a Greta" or soemthing like that, which I do not rule out.)

Anyway, I REALLY do want thoughts/ideas on the birth announcement dilemma, please! Thanks, Alyson

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 6:47pm

The only Molly I knew growing up was a Margaret, so you can use that as evidence, if you like! I think I've seen a birth announcement phrased something like this:
==============
We welcome with love
Margaret Elizabeth Smith
Molly

September 1, 2006 7 lbs. 4 oz

Ben, Alyson and Will
========================
In other words, put the nn under the full name.

I love birth announcements. There are lots of sites on-line now, so there may be examples to look at.

- Alison

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 7:39pm

we did this with our dd. It read something like this :

We are pleased to announce the birth of
Margaret Elizabeth
May 13, 2005
7 lbs 3 oz
21" long

We are thrilled to have Molly join our family

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 8:36pm

We didn't really do an announcement -- we did a New Year's letter because of the timing of our DD -- but this is the text that we used:



Margaret Elise - our latest addition arrived at 12:27 p.m. on December 22, weighing in at a dainty 8 pounds, 6 ounces, 20 ½ inches long.

becky, max and greta
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 11:52pm

Here in Australia, most people put a notice in the newspaper announcing the birth. They usually follow this format:

Xxxxx and Xxxxx, along with big brother Xxxx,
are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of

Margaret Elizabeth
"Molly"

Born on xx/xx/2005, weighing xlb xxoz
at Xxxxxxxxx Birth Centre

It's quite formal, but most people understand that the name in parentheses is the nickname and the name that the child will be known by.

Cheers,

Kez :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-1999
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 12:54am

Hi there, Alyson. I personally like:

Margaret "Molly" Elizabeth

That seems very straightforward to me. I really think that Molly is a darling nn for Margaret, but the way!

Hope this helps. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2004
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 2:25am

For my nephew, my sister used the following:

Front of announcement card: Jeffrey

Inside of card: Spencer Jeffrey S----
parents, birthdate, weight, etc.

My nephew's first name is the same as his father's, but he goes by his middle name. They used that format on his announcement so that people would understand that he was to go by Jeffrey. Of course, some people try to shorten it to Jeff, which my sister doesn't like.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-13-2004
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 7:03am

I had a friend that did this (your name & fake dates are used below):


Meet Molly


Margaret Elizabeth, Born 5/18/2005, 7lbz. 7. oz., 7:05 am.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2004
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 9:44am

I was thinking of the nickname being in "quotes" too and then I read yours and it looks good! I think when it's in quotes, it lends itself for people to realize something and they can hopefully put two and two together.

p.s. I like your Peace sign!

Shannon~Mom to Sofia born July 24, 2007 and expecting Baby #2 on 5-5-2010. 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 12:14pm

I think your original idea is pretty good - but put quotation marks around the "Molly" - that will make the people realize it's her nickname

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2003
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 12:55pm
I think soccermom73 has the best idea.

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