I like the name [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] and the nickname [name_m]Ben[/name_m] but dont like [name_m]Benny[/name_m] or [name_m]Benji[/name_m]. Should I pick another name for fear of those nicknames?
If you introduce him as [name_m]Ben[/name_m], then people should be respectful of that and address him as such. I wouldn’t be too concerned over it. “This is my son, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], we call him/he goes by [name_m]Ben[/name_m].”
I think most people default to [name_m]Ben[/name_m] as a nickname. I agree that [name_m]Benny[/name_m]/[name_m]Benji[/name_m] are awful! In fact, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] was one of the few traditional boys’ names that my husband I could agree on and that we could stand the nickname for. So many great names ruined by nicknames that make me think of guys my dad’s age ([name_m]Steve[/name_m], [name_m]Bob[/name_m], [name_m]Jim[/name_m], [name_m]Frank[/name_m], etc). [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]!
Oh yes. My brother grew up as a [name_m]Ben[/name_m] and nobody ever thought to call him [name_m]Benji[/name_m] (which I actually like) or [name_m]Benny[/name_m].
I’m glad you like [name_m]Ben[/name_m], though, because I think it’s impossible to avoid with [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. There’s a toddler in my daughter’s class whose parents want him being called [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], but I find myself calling him [name_m]Ben[/name_m] all the time and so do others. Also, he’s adorable, and it’s pretty much the perfect boys’ name.
I think it is possible. I have a nephew [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] who has never been [name_m]Matt[/name_m] or [name_u]Matty[/name_u]. If you/he call him something consistantly, I have noticed that others will generally follow suit - except maybe a stubborn grandma!
You and your spouse can avoid the other nicknames, but parents absolutely, positively do not have control over what their children (who will grow up) are nicknamed.
[name_f]Nor[/name_f] should they. Any parent with that much control has a control problem.
It’s tough b/c I too dislike those nicknames, just as I loathe [name_m]Chuck[/name_m] yet love [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. In the [name_m]Charles[/name_m] case, that would scare me off.
PS This notion that people put forward – if you introduce him as X, people will call him X — might or might not work when the child is very small and you are still introducing him to people.
Once he enters day care, preschool, school then all bets are off.
I won’t use a name that has a commonnickname I don’t care for. It is why I wouldn’t use [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] ([name_u]Andy[/name_u]) for example.
I think as long as you like [name_m]Ben[/name_m], then you’re fine. All the [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]'s I know (3), go by [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] or [name_m]Ben[/name_m].
My brother is a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], and he’s never gotten [name_m]Benji[/name_m] or [name_m]Benny[/name_m]–he’s [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] at home and [name_m]Ben[/name_m] at school.
If you were asking if [name_m]Ben[/name_m] was an avoidable nn then I would say no. School friends/most other people will probably shorten [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] to [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. But I definitely think [name_m]Benny[/name_m] and [name_m]Benji[/name_m] are avoidable. I love [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] and like [name_m]Benji[/name_m] but dislike [name_m]Ben[/name_m] so I would never use it because all Benjamins I have ever met have ended up being [name_m]Ben[/name_m] (there was one who was [name_m]Benji[/name_m] as a child but decided he disliked it as a teenager and is now just [name_m]Ben[/name_m]). I think a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] would only have the nn [name_m]Benji[/name_m]/[name_m]Benny[/name_m] if the parents tell everyone to call him that because [name_m]Ben[/name_m] is the more intuitive nn.