Eleanor nickname?

We are expecting number 3, and for a girl have it narrowed down to either [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. I am really loving [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], but have a small hesitation–does it automatically lend itself to a nickname? One of the few criteria we have for names is no obvious nicknames. For example, our two other kids are [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] and [name_u]Owen[/name_u]–no real nicknames for those two. Would [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] automatically be called [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]/[name_f]Ella[/name_f]/[name_f]Nora[/name_f]? My husband is convinced that everyone would call her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and a nickname would only come into play if WE introduced it, but I need further convincing. What do you think–would people automatically go to Elllie, etc or would she get called [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]?

I don’t think most people would automatically think of [name_f]Ella[/name_f]/[name_f]Ellie[/name_f]/[name_f]Nora[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] unless the parents introduced it first. At least for me if the child wasn’t someone in my family or the child of a good friend I wouldn’t automatically use the nn, however if say my sister had a daughter and named her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] I most likely will call her ellie, or elle just to shorten it :slight_smile: but thats just my opinion. I don’t think you should refrain from using the name though, because it is pretty but if the whole nickname thing bothers you then I guess you could always go with [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], either way you have it narrowed down to two beautiful names :slight_smile:

I would not call [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] or [name_f]Nora[/name_f] unless she introduced herself with the nickname. I think it is quite do-able to avoid the unwanted nicknames.
I have a nickname that is not obvious, but it works, I just say I am “[name_f]Olympia[/name_f]-Not-[name_f]Pia[/name_f]-But-[name_f]Oly[/name_f]”, along these lines. People will get used to it.
I only know one [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] or [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] 50/50. I know you didn’t ask, but I think [name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_u]Nelly[/name_u] is sweet for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].

I don’t know. I feel like it’s long enough that people would WANT a nn to use (although my sister has a name with just as many syllables–and letters–and I’m really the only one who nicknames her), but personally, I don’t use a nn unless someone else uses one first? For example, I know a little [name_f]Edyn[/name_f], but I didn’t call her [name_f]Edie[/name_f] until I heard her family calling her [name_f]Edie[/name_f]. I personally love [name_f]Ella[/name_f]/[name_f]Lena[/name_f] (and am even starting to like [name_f]Nora[/name_f]) for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], but I wouldn’t use a nn until I heard her parents/family using one. And even then, I might just continue calling her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], if I liked her name well enough (which I do! I think [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]'s fantastic). My little second cousin’s name is [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m], and it took me years to start calling him [name_m]Ben[/name_m] (even though I’d heard his parents calling him [name_m]Ben[/name_m]/[name_m]Benji[/name_m]/[name_m]Benny[/name_m]), because I loved [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] in full so much.

If you introduce her as [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], and just solidify that that is her name and she doesn’t have a nickname, everyone will call her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. It may sound a but pushy, but you’re allowed to tell people what you want them to call your child. :stuck_out_tongue: My aunt did that with her two children – [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] and [name_m]Jonathan[/name_m]. She told everyone that those were their names - not [name_f]Jen[/name_f] or [name_m]Jon[/name_m] - and everyone respected that. Now they’re teenagers and they’re still mostly called by their full names. Of course, when your baby [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] grows to be a teenager, you will have to accept it that her friends may call her a nickname, but that will be because she chose it herself.

I think as long as you call her [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] all the time that it would stick with adults. Her friends however, will eventually give her a nn. [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] and [name_u]Nori[/name_u] are such cute nn’s for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Plus, those nn’s are really trendy right now.

My neighbor’s daughter is named [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and everyone calls her [name_u]Nori[/name_u]. I think it is an adorable nn.

I don’t automatically think of a nickname when I hear [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. Honestly, if you sort of set the boundary that you want her called by her full name then it shouldn’t be a problem. She may get pet names and she may go by a nickname as she gets older but I feel like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is easy enough for a child to use without a nickname.

I think [name_u]Lennie[/name_u] is a fun [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] nickname.

I can totally relate to your conundrum mama! I named my daughter [name_f]Vivienne[/name_f] and was wondering if people would automatically nickname her. Though since I only call her by her full name, people tend to follow suit ; )

I think if you call her by her full name then others will to. If you introduce a nickname and use it frequently, others will as well. I don’t automatically go to a nickname when I hear [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. I think you’ll get the shortening of [name_f]El[/name_f] like “Hey [name_f]El[/name_f] look over here” but not as an all the time nickname or even frequent nickname, just a time-saver type thing. I do think just [name_f]Nor[/name_f] is a cute nickname, [name_u]Nori[/name_u] is also cute and I like [name_f]Nell[/name_f].

Not when she’s small but once she’s in school I don’t think you can prevent it.

If she’s in 4th grade and her best friend wants to call her [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] or [name_f]Nora[/name_f] it’s gonna be hard to prevent it unless you instill a hatred for all nicknames in her :wink:

First of all, I think [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is such a beautiful name. It is such a classic female name. I don’t think it automatically lends itself to a nickname, but as others have said her friends in school may give her a nickname and that should be OK if that’s OK with your daughter.

I’m a [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] and I have never been known as [name_f]Vicky[/name_f]. I have to constantly correct people but in my 30’s I don’t answer to [name_f]Vicky[/name_f] because it’s not my name.

If you install that she’s not an [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] (etc…) in her from the beginning she’ll correct people. There’s a recording of me at infant school, about 5 years old, on stage and the headteacher called me [name_f]Vicky[/name_f] and I walked across the stage and corrected her - the crowd laughed but it was a default setting even at that age.

[name_m]Just[/name_m] to be safe, go with [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]