Anderson?

[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all,

[name_f]My[/name_f] SO loves the name [name_m]Anse[/name_m] for a boy. I’m not super keen on it, but I don’t mind it as a nickname for [name_m]Anderson[/name_m]. However, I’m worried it sounds too much like a last name? Also, I hate the nickname [name_u]Andy[/name_u] and I’m sure people would end up calling him that. Our last name is two syllables and starts with a W. What do you think of [name_m]Anderson[/name_m]?

I like [name_m]Anderson[/name_m], I think its a handsome name and I like the nn [name_m]Anders[/name_m] although when he is older he may decide to go by [name_u]Andy[/name_u], no telling. For nn [name_m]Anse[/name_m] have you considered [name_m]Ansel[/name_m], Anslem or [name_m]Anson[/name_m]?

I think you could do it. If you always introduce him as [name_m]Anse[/name_m], that’s what people will call him. If he decides he likes [name_u]Andy[/name_u], I don’t think you can really avoid it. Having said that, I tend to assume [name_u]Andy[/name_u] is short for [name_m]Andrew[/name_m], so I wouldn’t think to shorten [name_m]Anderson[/name_m] to this nickname

[name_m]Anderson[/name_m] is firmly in the surname territory for me. I much prefer [name_m]Anders[/name_m] for a first name. You could try to enforce the nickname [name_m]Anse[/name_m], but there is a chance that he will choose it himself when he is older. I second the suggestion of [name_m]Anselm[/name_m]. I think it’s a much better way to get the nickname [name_m]Anse[/name_m].

I’ve never heard of [name_m]Anse[/name_m] before, I think it’s very cool! I would think it would make more sense as a nickname for [name_m]Ansel[/name_m] or [name_m]Anselm[/name_m], but it could work for [name_m]Anderson[/name_m]. [name_m]Anderson[/name_m] is a surname in my family, but not one that’s been carried on, so my sisters and I have all considered it as a first. [name_f]My[/name_f] problem was also not liking the nickname options. [name_m]Anse[/name_m] would be a stretch, but I like it.

I like it. I’ve known an [name_m]Anderson[/name_m], and it works well as a first name. [name_m]Anderson[/name_m] is also #304 in the US, so it isn’t unusual as a first name.

[name_f]My[/name_f] older brother is [name_m]Anderson[/name_m], we live in [name_f]Canada[/name_f]. He has never met someone with his name but my mom never got bad reactions from it. Nobody had ever called him a nickname it just did not happen he is firmly [name_m]Anderson[/name_m]. I personally love his name and its a surname in our family, as well as my name.

I complete agree with ikfly. If [name_m]Anselm[/name_m] is a no go, have you considered [name_m]Andreas[/name_m]?

My oldest is named [name_m]Anderson[/name_m] but his nickname is [name_m]Anders[/name_m]. My strategy was to call him [name_m]Anders[/name_m] in public for the first year and a half. Nobody calls him [name_u]Andy[/name_u]. I made it pretty clear from young on that we intended on [name_m]Anders[/name_m] as a short form.