I was wondering everyone’s thoughts on [name_f]Annie[/name_f] as first name and if it should be legally [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I read something once that said you should strongly consider having the official name be [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I kind of feel like it falls in that [name_m]Jack[/name_m]/[name_m]John[/name_m] category? [name_f]Do[/name_f] people think girls cannot grow into [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and need [name_f]Anne[/name_f] as an option for more formal? I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks!
I’ve never thought that names that are traditionally thought of as nicknames needed formal options. That seems so stuffy to me! Not the names themselves, just that idea that one name is better than another or that an [name_f]Annie[/name_f] wouldn’t be taken as seriously as an [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Annie[/name_f] works beautifully as a stand alone.
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] does not need to be [name_f]Anne[/name_f] it is perfectly acceptable as a given name. My best friend is a successful woman with a PhD, and her name is [name_f]Annie[/name_f].
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] is fine as first name in of itself. However, I probably would use a more formal name and go with [name_f]Annie[/name_f] as a nickname
[name_f]Anne[/name_f] doesn’t appeal to me but I really like [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Annika[/name_f], and [name_f]Annabel[/name_f] as more formal ways to get to the nickname [name_f]Annie[/name_f].
I’ve never met an [name_f]Annie[/name_f] whose full name was [name_f]Anne[/name_f]! They’ve all been just [name_f]Annie[/name_f], and all the Annes have just gone by [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I don’t think [name_f]Annie[/name_f] sounds unprofessional at all, and the ones I know are quite successful and don’t seem to have been held back by their name.
Also, not sure if this would matter to you, but to me a nickname longer than the full name sounds very old-fashioned. Back in the day [name_f]Janie[/name_f] for [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] for [name_f]Rose[/name_f] were common, but nowadays the most common nicknames for names are pretty much always shorter than the name.
I think [name_f]Annie[/name_f] is fine on it’s own though I view it differently to [name_m]Jack[/name_m]/[name_m]John[/name_m] (that would be [name_f]Beth[/name_f]/[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] for me) as it does feel sweeter and more like a nickname.
The wonderful thing about [name_f]Annie[/name_f] is that there are so so so many full names to choose from, ranging from [name_f]Anne[/name_f] to [name_f]Zuzanna[/name_f] with [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], [name_f]Viviana[/name_f], [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] and many more in between!
You totally can use [name_f]Annie[/name_f] on it’s own. Though I think it’s preferable to have it as a nickname for a more formal name. I just feel like that offers more options for more types of people. Incidentally, I have an [name_f]Anna[/name_f] that we call [name_f]Annie[/name_f] much of the time, and I’ve been really happy with it as a name. Easy to understand and spell. Really classic, but we don’t actually run into other Annas hardly ever.
[name_f]Annie[/name_f] is fine as a name on its own. If you feel you would rather another version with [name_f]Annie[/name_f] as the nn, I would suggest something other than [name_f]Anne[/name_f], which seems rather bland and dated. [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f], [name_f]Annika[/name_f], [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], [name_f]Anthea[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Anya[/name_f] are all lovely.
Ok, so I usually am one of those ‘give them a formal name for the birth certificate’ people, but with [name_f]Annie[/name_f] I don’t think its a must.
I have a really good friend names [name_f]Annie[/name_f] and its just [name_f]Annie[/name_f] - it fits her so well and if she was [name_f]Anne[/name_f] or [name_f]Anna[/name_f] I would actually think that was weird lol
So, basically, yes I definitely think [name_f]Annie[/name_f] can stand on its own. That being said, if you want to give her a formal name, personally I wouldn’t pick [name_f]Anne[/name_f], I’d use either [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]
I am a “give them a formal name to give them options throughout life” person.
I absolutely adore [name_f]Annie[/name_f], but would only use it as a nickname. My favorite are [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], and [name_f]Susannah[/name_f].
[name_u]Abby[/name_u], who writes here as the Name [name_u]Sage[/name_u], addressed this question on her blog recently:
I think she gives a sensible and balanced view. Summary: Her post links to arguments for & against having a “formal name”. Her advise is always use the name you love. If you go with a nickname-name, but are worried about doing so, she suggests it might be worthwhile giving her a more formal middle name.