What is your opinion?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2003
What is your opinion?
19
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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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 4:33pm
I agree...name your child with the name that you want them to be called. It's much easier in the long run.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2004
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 4:56pm
My husband hated his first name so when he got in his 20's he started using his middle name. His first name has no possible nn's. I figure if it has lots of options then once our little ones are grown they can call themselves whatever they want.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 5:19pm
I think its cool to have a name which many nicknames stem from, that way each relative can form their own personal bond with the child by choosing a nickname that only they use with the child
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 6:43pm
I have always deplored nn. If a name did have nn potential, it didn't keep me from considering it- I would just prefer and emphasize it in long form. Of late, I am growing more accustomed to this huge nicknaming trend...more for boys. Just recently, I have added Theodore(Theo) & Abraham(Abe or Bram) to the list of names I like simply because I LOVE the nicknames and don't think they'd be great stand alone names without a more formal "real" name. Across the board, if I happen upon a nn I like, I would just USE it for the "real" name. Example- I LOVE Liam, Luke, Jed & Jake and see absolutely no need to lengthen them, just so I can call a son by the short form! But in answer to your question, I think to shorten a name as a love name/pet name around the house is somewhat sweet; however as a rule, I do not like nicknames. Take care, Ginger
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2003
Tue, 10-19-2004 - 7:23pm
I love nicknames, but would use the full name, ie: Alexandria and call her Lexi or something like that. I would also call the child by his/her full name too. Would depend on my mood. I think giving them full names gives them more options as they get older. They can choose a nickname or to go by the full name.

*Ali

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Wed, 10-20-2004 - 10:17am
I have mixed views on this. For example you mentioned all of the NN for Elizabeth. For most of them (Liz, Lizzy, Libby, Beth) I would definitely use the FN Elizabeth as her given name. But others (Lily or Elly for example) I don't consider to be common NN for Elizabeth so I would just use them on their own. Same with some people naming their DD Margaret and calling her Molly or Daisy. Maggie, I could see. But for me Molly and Daisy have become totally separate names over the years, kwim?

I guess you could say that about 90% of the time I like the longer versions of a name better. But there are exceptions! Like if I named my son Ben I would just name him Ben, not Benjamin, just because I think it's too long. Or if I had a daughter and planned to call her Sara her entire life, I wouldn't name her Sarafina.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2004
Wed, 10-20-2004 - 11:07am
My name is Elisabeth and until I was about 9, I thought it was Libby. When I hit college, it became Elisabeth and to this day at work everyone calls me Elisabeth. Outside of work, I am Libby. Its nice to be able to have a formal name for professional reasons and a nn for family and friends.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 10-20-2004 - 1:27pm

I love the idea of a "formal" name and a nickname. My ds is John but we call him Jack. My dad was the same expect friends and family called him Jack or Jasper and at work he was John. My dd is Anna but we call her Annie, a really cute name for a little girl but she will have the more sophisticated option of Anna when she gets older.

My second ds is Christopher. I don't love the nickname Chris but that is all he wants us to call him now. PLUS his friends have taken to calling him "Crispy" now and he thinks that is just great.

I think naming a child a common nickname is silly. JMHO, I love have options!

Mary

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 10-20-2004 - 1:55pm

I love names that have the potential for nns! In fact, I tend not to choose names that can't be shortened at all. Like others have said, it's nice to have different names that you can use for different groups of people or at different ages. My name is Stephanie, and I always introduce myself as Stephanie, but all my close friends and family (except my mom) call me Steph. I honestly don't even hear the difference unless somebody I've just met thinks they're familiar enough with me to use my nn.

My DD is Megan, and we call her Megan, Meg, and Megan Joy interchangeably. I used Meggie a tiny bit when she was a newborn, but I didn't like it. We're almost definitely going to name this next baby Julianna, which I think is just beautiful, but I also love the nn potential of Julie, Anna, etc. And I really like the idea of calling her Annie a lot when she's little although I'm sure I'll use her full name and her other nns, too.

DH really liked the name Erin, but one of my least favorite things about it was the lack of nn potential. I probably wouldn't choose a name if I never planned on using the full name, but I like having several name and nn options.

Just my 2 cents,
Stephanie w/ Megan Joy (6/6/03) and maybe Julianna May due 11/25/04

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