Finally finally we have settled on a name for [name_m]Augustin[/name_m] [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]'s brother. After months of angst and trying to find a name as unique as our son’s, we both fell in love with a top 20 name: [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. Middle name will be [name_u]Winter[/name_u], so [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] [name_u]Winter[/name_u].
Here’s the thing: we plan to call him [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] NOT [name_m]Ben[/name_m] (unless he decides otherwise when he’s older). It’s a beautiful name that despite its popularity, goes great with [name_m]Augustin[/name_m] we think. Is this even possible?
Bonus question: assuming we follow through on our plan to go with [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] (and it just FEELS right so I think we will)…does the fact that everyone in our famil will now have names starting with A or B mean that we are forced into using the same first initial for a future third child?
I adore that name! I think as long as you reinforced to friends/family that he is to be called [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] it will be fine. He will eventually be called [name_m]Ben[/name_m] when he’s older (unless he corrects the people otherwise). It just takes some reinforced effort on your part when he is little.
I don’t think you would be stuck doing the “A” “B” theme unless you decide to go that route. Especially if you have a girl, her name would be less expected to be tied and matched with her brothers.
It is perfectly possible for you to call him [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], I’m sure. As long as you’re ready for the possibility that you might have to start calling him [name_m]Ben[/name_m] when he’s older, which it sounds like you are, I don’t see the problem! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you never use a short version of your first son’s name? If you don’t, then I guess you’re not the sort of people who feel the need to shorten names Myself I would find it very hard to call a child a 3-syllable name all the time, but that’s just who I am, I’m a nickname fan!
I don’t think the A B thing is even a thing. A lot of people probably wouldn’t even notice it. I wouldn’t worry about it for a second.
My son [name_m]Bennett[/name_m] is NEVER [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. We told family from the beginning that it wasn’t allowed. A few strangers or acquaintances have tried, and I just say “oh it’s [name_m]Bennett[/name_m] not [name_m]Ben[/name_m].” That has only happened a couple of times.
I love [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]! I think a lot of people like [name_m]Benji[/name_m] (I don’t, but many do). I tend to like [name_m]Ben[/name_m], actually, but when it was my top choice for a boy, I wanted him to be just [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], too. I just thought it was too gorgeous to shorten to the trite [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. Besides [name_m]Ben/name_m, what about [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] or [name_m]Mino[/name_m]/Minho? I’m not terribly fond of Minho, just because it seems too tied to Minho from The Maze Runner series, but I love the sound, and I think [name_m]Mino[/name_m] is pretty cool.
I agree that you’re not tied to an alphabet theme, too!
I don’t like [name_m]Benji[/name_m] either. We kind of do need a nickname of some sort though snce we do call [name_m]Augustin[/name_m] [name_m]Augie[/name_m] sometimes. Ideas for other nicknames?
My husband and I have first names starting with A and B too - does that change anything?
[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] and [name_m]Ben[/name_m]. I don’t think it will be an issue. You’ll have to reinforce it with some people, but I feel like many people also use the name that is given so if you say “this is [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]” a lot of people will adhere to it …and some won’t. A gentle correction is all that is needed, and that goes for many a name. My little sister is [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] and she refused to be anything but [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] as a child, and people caught on not to shorten it to [name_f]Becca[/name_f].
A / B I didn’t notice. If I had I wouldn’t think you’re locked into a theme, though overall it’s cute that you all share the same initials. I don’t think if you have a third child he/she will feel left out.
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] nn [name_m]Jim[/name_m], [name_m]Jimmy[/name_m], [name_u]Jem[/name_u] all seem fairly intuitive to me. There’s also [name_u]Bennie[/name_u], but might be too “[name_m]Ben[/name_m]” ish? [name_m]Augie[/name_m] and [name_m]Jimmy[/name_m] or [name_m]Augie[/name_m] and [name_u]Jem[/name_u] is pretty cute.
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] [name_u]Winter[/name_u] is such a handsome name! Goes nicely with [name_m]Augustin[/name_m] [name_m]Wolf[/name_m]. If you, your husband, and big brother all call him [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] I’m sure people will catch on with no nickname. I don’t think you’d be “tied” to a theme because of the boys names or your own.
I’m just going to throw any nicknames I can think of out there…
[name_u]Jem[/name_u]
[name_m]Jim[/name_m]/[name_m]Jimmy[/name_m]
[name_u]Jamie[/name_u]
[name_m]Jamin[/name_m]- friend of my family is named [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] and he goes by [name_m]Jamin[/name_m]
These two are more of a stretch but I see them as more of a universal nn for a B name like [name_m]Mac[/name_m] can be for M names…
[name_u]Barry[/name_u]- [name_u]Barry[/name_u] and [name_m]Augie[/name_m] are perfect! At least to me.
[name_m]Banks[/name_m]
I wouldn’t have even thought of the A/B thing if you hadn’t pointed it out - not an issue at all. As far as [name_m]Ben[/name_m]/[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] is concerned, I can certainly understand having a strong preference of one over the other. Keep in mind, though, that you really only have control over it until he starts school. There’s a good possibility that his friends and teachers are going to make him [name_m]Ben[/name_m] no matter how many times you chant “[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], not [name_m]Ben[/name_m].” Nicknames are like that. I would just be sure that you can live with [name_m]Ben[/name_m] if it does happen earlier than you and your husband want it to.
We know boys whose names are [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m], and they go by their full names. It’s never been an issue. I can’t imagine calling them [name_u]Chris[/name_u] or [name_m]Jon[/name_m]-it’s just not who they are. I don’t think you’ll have a problem.
Thank you all SO much for your comments I feel so so so much better about the A B thing now; the Berries approve
And I love many of the nicknames you suggest; [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] is even a family name!! I didn’t realize you were suggesting nicknames at first, I thought you were suggesting entirely new names but now I get it: look to the middle and end of [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] for his nickname Or maybe something entirely unrelated to his name will catch on! It’s not that we don’t like [name_m]Ben[/name_m], it’s just super common so if he’s going to be [name_m]Ben[/name_m] one day we want that to be HIS decision rather than ours.
I know a [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] who I call Benzo or [name_m]Jamin[/name_m] or [name_u]Jamie[/name_u]. But [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] in it’s full glory is awesome! It gets shortened too much.
I like [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]! Fun story: two of my cousins (they are sisters) are dating boys named [name_m]Ben/name_m. The other sister is dating a [name_m]Ken/name_m. [name_m]Ben[/name_m], [name_m]Ben[/name_m] & [name_m]Ken[/name_m]! [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] is fun Haha.
I wouldn’t worry about the [name_m]AB[/name_m] thing. If the next child is a girl, then you can forget it entirely without a worry. If it’s a boy, you can stick with [name_m]AB[/name_m], give him a name that starts with C ([name_m]Augustin[/name_m], [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] & C- - [name_m]Columbus[/name_m]?), or just go wild and pick whatever you like, ([name_m]Augustin[/name_m], [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] & [name_u]Tobin[/name_u] works just fine.) I wouldn’t worry about it at all.
@caymangirl - oh, no, sorry! I was definitely suggesting nicknames for [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]. I’ve heard [name_u]Jamie[/name_u] suggested a couple times on other [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]-but-not-[name_m]Ben[/name_m] threads, and I think it’s rather ingenuous. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about [name_m]Beau[/name_m] or [name_u]Bo[/name_u]? I remember someone saying [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] nn [name_u]Bo[/name_u] before, too, and I rather like that. I think [name_m]Augie[/name_m] and [name_u]Bo[/name_u]/[name_m]Augustin[/name_m] and [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] are really perfect together. Spunky and vintage and masculine.
You guys are awesome!!! Thank you!!! It’s SO good to finally feel completely at ease about his name!!! Two weeks today and he will be here wooohoooooo!!!
Myself I would find it very hard to call a child a 3-syllable name all the time, but that’s just who I am, I’m a nickname fan!
