Is anyone with me here?
For example I have [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] and am due another baby in [name_u]June[/name_u] and love [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] but don’t feel right using the nn [name_f]Delia[/name_f] with a C name.
Is it just me??
No, I do not have an issue with a full name and a nickname beginning with a different letter. For example [name_f]Emilia[/name_f]'s nickname would be [name_f]Millie[/name_f].
I know your hesitation - it would be so wrong to not call [name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_f]Em[/name_f]! Yet the [name_m]French[/name_m] tradition is actually to lop off the first half of the name - [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] becomes [name_m]Jamin[/name_m] and [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is Colas. Perhaps because of that, my [name_m]French[/name_m] Canadian grandmother called me [name_u]Mel[/name_u], not [name_f]Emily[/name_f] or [name_f]Em[/name_f]. It didn’t feel weird to me because I grew up with it. If you want to call her [name_f]Delia[/name_f], just make sure you do it from the get-go!
I think [name_f]Cora[/name_f] is a lovely nn for [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] though 
Really? Wow I’ve never heard of this before. My french friend [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] is usually called [name_u]Nico[/name_u].
I don’t have the same problem. In fact, I prefer having several nickname possibilities that can come from anywhere in the combo. I plan to call my [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] [name_u]Seren[/name_u], for example, but I won’t mind if she gets [name_f]Fina[/name_f] as well.
I’m with you! But mostly because I love monogramming and I think it would be confusing about which letter to use if [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] exclusively went by [name_f]Delia[/name_f]. I love the name [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nellie[/name_f] but won’t use it for that reason which I’m sure sounds crazy to some ppl :o
I can’t sympathize; nicknames can be anything, so I don’t really understand the fuss.
If you don’t like [name_f]Delia[/name_f] as a nn for [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], what about [name_u]Cory[/name_u]?
I see your hesitation if you’re looking to call her by a nickname full time. [name_f]Celia[/name_f] would be a lovely nn for [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
I think if you want to call her [name_f]Delia[/name_f] exclusively, just name her [name_f]Delia[/name_f].
That is such a good point about monogramming
I don’t think it’s an issue, especially in this case where [name_f]Delia[/name_f] is an expected nickname.
The only time different letters like that annoy me is in the case of my name - full name starts with C, nickname starts with K for absolutely no reason…
I saw this post when it started. My first reaction -no problem. I have [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] - [name_m]Ned[/name_m]; and [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]- [name_f]Zanna[/name_f]. [name_u]Love[/name_u], love their short names and then read the embroidery idea. Oh I really got the quandary-I put initials on everything I can find. My time out from 1 yr old twins was gone that day so I just thought to put my ponderings about it today. [name_f]Zanna[/name_f] has “Z”, not the ‘A’ from her full name [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]. [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] had really only presented a decision for me when there has been those little name tags to sew on:-for sport he had [name_m]Ned[/name_m] R… and for other he has [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] . I note he writes his initials as E.R on various belongings. It was really enlightening and causes wonder if there is any confusion. I tried a few ‘A’ letters for [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] and it just felt wrong.
As PP says I also have been a C (there are some amazing “C” fonts) so I haven’t experienced it either
. Great post.
Thank you everyone. It’s a tough one! As [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] said I don’t know if I would just default to [name_f]Delia[/name_f] on everything or if I would use [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]. I suppose you don’t know until you meet the baby.
Lots to think about!
I personally don’t feel that way, but I think it depends on the name and if I like the “assumed” nickname or not, more than if it shares the first letter. You could use [name_f]Cora[/name_f] for [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], which I actually prefer or if you like [name_f]Delia[/name_f], maybe just name her [name_f]Delia[/name_f] or [name_f]Delilah[/name_f].
@Amonty, I always loved nn [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] for [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
I think many nicknames used are too much of a stretch, but I don’t see why they have to begin with the same initial as a given name. [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] is short for [name_m]Robert[/name_m], [name_u]Billy[/name_u] for [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_f]Lottie[/name_f] for [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f] or [name_f]Katie[/name_f] for [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f] for names such as [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Annabella[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Delia[/name_f] for [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]. It’s perfect.
This is a tough one for me. I love when a nickname and a given name share the same letter. But sometimes it doesn’t matter. [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] “[name_f]Mia[/name_f]”, [name_f]Camille[/name_f] “[name_f]Millie[/name_f]”, [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] “[name_f]Tillie[/name_f]”, [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] “[name_f]Bella[/name_f]”, [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] “[name_m]Xander[/name_m]”, [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] “[name_u]Lexi[/name_u]” all make sense to me. But also [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] “[name_u]Alex[/name_u]”, [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] “[name_m]Ben[/name_m]”, [name_m]Samuel[/name_m] “[name_u]Sam[/name_u]”, [name_m]Harrison[/name_m] “[name_m]Harry[/name_m]” all do too.
Now that we bring up monogramming it does kind of bother me. Monogramming is usually formal though, so the real name would triumph the nickname for me. In college during my sorority time monogramming was huge. A girl name [name_u]Alexis[/name_u] “[name_u]Lexi[/name_u]” would always monogram with L and not A. I hated it.
This is why I’m back and forth with a nickname for [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. It’s a beautiful name, but long. I love [name_f]Evie[/name_f] and it’s right in the center, but [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] makes more sense and more likely to happen. I’d have to force [name_f]Evie[/name_f] if I wanted it that badly.
@tamparays8, yes I am still following @jessiemayjagger’s post with interest. I think you may be right about formality or what we tend to loosely call the ‘real name,’ winning out. Although some of the ‘monogramming’ I do is far from formal in any context. My meanderings about the issues with son [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] - [name_m]Ned[/name_m]: your observation sums it up. The ‘N’ would be in less formal situations where some of his little friends might not even know he is full name- [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and that fact the he now old enough to choose for himself, he writes E.R.
For daughter [name_f]Miri[/name_f]/[name_f]Miranda[/name_f], the issue is not there.
Now its only come up with our one year old, [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]. She was nearly just [name_f]Zanna[/name_f] and that’s the name we use mostly. But she is only one year old. Your relating the story of the college girl also named [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] -sorry, [name_u]Alexis[/name_u], really hit me and I felt by that age I would hope [name_f]Zanna[/name_f] is embracing her full name even if she is still called [name_f]Zanna[/name_f], otherwise what is the point of our opting for full name [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]. It will be her choice, who knows? but its made me rethink the issue. Because she is so tiny I want her to relate to ‘her’ things but I will be more careful and selective how I familiarize her to her full name.
@jessie… I am wondering when, if ever you reach an answer. I don’t think One year is enough especially with school ahead and I have a case where she is predominantly [name_f]Zanna[/name_f].(I love [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] b.t.w.)
Back to @tamparays8, Thanks from me for your post. I am still in favor of an alternate start letter nickname if its what you really prefer but this is one legitimate argument for trying for the same letter. Very best in deciding over [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. Goodness its a beautiful name. Was certainly on our list and ruled out because with french background I default to saying the french name even here in Australia. Well I am sure this is pertinent to more than we mono grammars.