One of our current frontrunners for baby boy is Christopher. It ticks all the boxes between the two of us - he wants something familiar but not super popular, and he’d prefer something versatile with nickname options, while I’d prefer something with a nostalgic 80s/90s vibe, sort of reminiscent of 80s teen idols like Michael J Fox, Andrew McCarthy, etc. (something I got from my mum exposing me to all her favourite shows and films from her teen years).
Deciding on the nickname for Christopher is the hard part! We don’t mind Chris, but it’s not our favourite option, and Topher is kind of cool, and gives me the nostalgia (Topher Grace from That 70s Show) vibe I was after, but feels a bit odd, which brings us to Kit.
S/O likes it as it reminds him of Kit Harrington from Game of Thrones fame, and I like that it’s got a British flair to it like our girls list did, and that it also still has an 80s connection (Kitt, the car from Knight Rider - I’ve watched far more 80s tv than I have anything else ), but I’m not 100% sure on Kit, as in Canada, it’s not a well known nickname option and would likely raise a few eyebrows/require explaining.
What are your thoughts on Christopher nn Kit? Does it work, or is it too out there?
[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u]! [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] has an 80s/90s feel, while [name_u]Kit[/name_u] has a certain British cheekiness. [name_u]Kit[/name_u] might require some explaining, but I think pointing out other established Christopher/Kit wearers (like [name_u]Kit[/name_u] Harrington) can help support its use for those unfamiliar.
If my husband were not Jewish, this name would 100% be my top pick. [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and love [name_u]Kit[/name_u] as a nn even more!
I work with children and the only Christophers I know are dads or granddads and it doesn’t rank in my area’s top names anymore. S/O’s criteria for popular is not currently within the top 20 for Canada, the US or the UK, which Christopher falls under.
I know it’s popular for older generations but imo it’s quite refreshing on a baby.
I think you could make it work, however, I would think most people will choose to call him one or the other rather than use them interchangeably. So, to his friends he might only be [name_u]Kit[/name_u], to his grandma only [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] and so on.
If you yourself are regularly using both names for him, I could still see people just naturally calling him [name_u]Chris[/name_u] at family gatherings and ignoring (though not in a malicious way) your preference for [name_u]Kit[/name_u] because [name_u]Chris[/name_u] just feels more natural to them. And then it’s on you to either be “strict” about the nickname or let it go and maybe end up with a [name_u]Chris[/name_u] instead.
Basically, I think the success of nicknames that, as rooted in history as they might be, are not the most natural nicknames will likely hinge on you calling the child that nickname almost exclusively.
[name_m]Christopher[/name_m] “Kit” really does seem like the perfect choice for you guys!
I love it. And I really think that even if it’s not common (yet) in [name_f]Canada[/name_f], it won’t seem that odd to most people. [name_m]Christopher[/name_m] is a very well-established classic, and [name_u]Kit[/name_u] is not unfamiliar. It seems to me like the perfect stands-out/fits-in choice!
@OpheliaFlora makes some really good points. It depends what your intention is for the nickname. If you only use the nickname as an endearment with family or friends then you’ll explain it once and be done. But if it’s the name you introduce him as to everyone he meets, you’re going to have to field a lot more questions and comments and you won’t get as much use of Christopher in its lovely long form.
Do you think the relative unfamiliarity of Kit is the only reason you’re not quite sold on it? You may have already considered it but I wonder if Kip holds any appeal for you. Similar sound but it feels a little more versatile. Kip Winger as an 80’s reference.
[name_m]Christopher[/name_m] was a very popular name for late 80s/ early 90s babies where I live in the US. I’m not really into [name_u]Kit[/name_u] for boys but get that it’s more common in other places and I could imagine it being cute due to [name_u]Kit[/name_u] [name_m]Harrington[/name_m]. [name_u]Kit[/name_u] is very American [name_f]Girl[/name_f] doll to me which is another 90s reference, albeit a girl one. [name_u]Chris[/name_u] is fine. [name_m]Topher[/name_m] only makes me think of gophers haha I hope it’s just me.
I adore [name_m]Christopher[/name_m], it’s such a timeless classic. I’m not a fan of [name_u]Kit[/name_u], though. I can’t really explain why, it just doesn’t sound very pleasant to me. I strongly prefer [name_u]Chris[/name_u] as a nickname, because I like the sound of it, but also because it has personal significance to me. [name_m]Topher[/name_m] is also nice, but might be a bit harder to “enforce”.
From personal experience, the nickname you plan on using isn’t always the one the child ends up with. Different people may call him by different nicknames, or when he’s actually here another nickname might just feel more natural.