What is your opinion?
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What is your opinion?
| Sun, 10-17-2004 - 9:53am |
Just out of interest...
What is your opinion on nicknames?
For example, do you like names which have lots of nickname potential or do you feel that you should name a child what you will call them?
For e.g. do you like the names Elizabeth and Alexandra with lots of nns (Elly, Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Lily, etc and Alex, Lexi, Sandy, Ally, etc), or do you think you should just name the child Liz, Lily, Beth, Lexi, Elly if that's what you will call them?
I am just curious to know what you all think?
:) Elaine

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I like nn's.
I wouldn't name my child Lexi alone, though. Because it's known as a nn and not a stand-alone name, I'd like to give my child the opportunity to use the full name if she wishes. Therefore, if I liked Lexi, I'd name my child Alexandra.
However, I have known lots of Abbys who were not Abigails. Therefore, if I liked Abby, I wouldn't feel so compelled to use Abigail.
Good luck!
Also, I think nicknames can help a child "own" his or her name and make it more suited to his or her personality. So if you name your daughter an ultra-feminine, frilly name, but she turns out to be a tomboy, the name can still be something your daughter likes (so your Daniella becomes Dani, for example). Children with names out of which a variety of nns can be created can also experiment with their name. Maybe an Andrew who was Andy all through grade school suddenly sees himself as more of a Drew in middle school. I just personally love the possibilities! (though I have known plenty of "my name is Elizabeth, call me Elizabeth" types, too, which is fine and works for them -- to each their own!)
2. While Ellie (for example) may be a great family and casual name, it can cause the child problems in later life w/being taken seriously...a girl named Ellie or a boy named Billy will have to work harder to *prove* themselves then one name Elizabeth or William (for example when sending in resume's for jobs)
3. As some who has a formal name, that I rarely use, I will tell you that there are times that I am very very very glad I have the formal name. For instance when I am having problems w/a business etc, it helps to be able to call and give my *formal* name or to sign my *formal* name to a letter, instead of my nn because it makes me look more professional and serious then if I only had my nn as my formal name..
4. A name with several nn's gives the child options..just because you love the name Ellie for Elizabeth (for example)..she may not...but she will have others that she can chose from..and so isn't as likely to completely hate her name..(mom of a Jacalyn who changed from Jacki to Calyn in 7th grade)...
Edited 10/18/2004 10:13 am ET ET by daisymae19
Edited 10/18/2004 10:15 am ET ET by daisymae19
I also think it's a little bit naive to give a child a name with a common nickname (like Jonathan - Jon) and expect them to go by the long name forever. You know people will call them by the nickname and when they get older, it's really up to them what they will be called. DH and I passed on some names for our dd because we weren't big on the nn.
We actually picked a name for dd (Emily) without a typical nn, but I call her Em or Ems. I love the cute and slightly unusual nn...it gives her personality all her own. That's especially nice since she has a *very* common name.
So I don't mind nns at all...but still love some of the beautiful longer formal names.
<Edie
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