[name_u]Baby[/name_u] Boy should be arriving at the end of [name_u]January[/name_u]. My husband and I picked out the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] [name_m]Robert[/name_m] for our son when we were pregnant the last time, but ended up having a girl. It’s an honor name for my mom ([name_u]Patrice[/name_u]) and my FIL ([name_m]Robert[/name_m]). [name_m]Robert[/name_m] is also my husband’s mn. When we found out we were having a boy this time around, we naturally told people the name we had selected for him. It was a given.
Now, I’m regretting telling anyone because I’m unsure about [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. I’m just not feeling in love with this name. I love the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], but I hate every one of its nicknames and we are a very nicknamey family. Our daughter is [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] and goes by [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_f]Ro[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] [name_f]Joy[/name_f] etc.
Help! [name_f]Do[/name_f] we keep [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and ask for no nicknames, deal with the inevitable nns, or just pick a new name even though everyone is referring to my stomach as [name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]? So torn!!
Maybe add another first name, one you are sure about and love, and make [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] [name_m]Robert[/name_m] a double middle name. It would be a bit long, so a short first name would be best if you do. My cousin did a double middle name for her first son, Hɛnry Chᴀrlɛs Robɛrt, to honor both grandpas and a single middle name for the other two boys, Ɛthᴀn Isᴀᴀc and Conor Aᴀron. Good luck in deciding.
Congratulations on the upcoming addition to your family.
Is it just the nicknames you’re worried about, or are you just not that smitten with [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] itself? If it’s the former, you can just ask your family to not use a nickname, or maybe think of a nickname you do like that’s derived from [name_m]Robert[/name_m]?
But if you’re not sure of the name itself, I’d look for one that you do love and that feels right for your son. You don’t have to hold on to [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] because you’ve already told people, you’re allowed to change your mind.
Good luck deciding!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.
I’d say if you’re uncertain about [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], then you should explore other options. I think it’s handsome, but I agree that [name_u]Pat[/name_u] is not great. It’s somewhat unavoidable, but I don’t know…what do you think of the nn Patch? I think that’s way cuter, but you’d have to call him Patch all of the time to get people to call him that instead of [name_u]Pat[/name_u].
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like the name [name_m]Robert[/name_m] any more? [name_m]Robert[/name_m] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is nice. I also love the name [name_m]Padraig[/name_m], but that would just be confusing if you’re in the U.S.
Would another ‘P’ name work to honor your mom? Or does your mom have a nice mn you could work with?
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps.
I agree with the posters who said that [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] isn’t the one. Keep it as a middle name!
And don’t worry about others will think about the change, it’s your baby after all and they shouldn’t judge your choices.
The most important thing is that the name you choose for your son is the one you [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the most! I think you should explore more options in case you find one you like more than [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], or, you may feel settled that [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is the one. [name_m]Don[/name_m]’t be concerned about changing your choice because you have told people what his name will be. If discussing your baby with others you could say that you are still in the process of choosing his name but I wouldn’t offer any details so that you don’t get unsolicited advice/comments, as sometimes they can make us question our choices. Others will adjust to referring to him with another name. I do think that [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] will default to [name_u]Pat[/name_u] when he is a bit older and I like the pp’s suggestion to use three names so you still get to use honour names.
[name_u]Pax[/name_u] as a nn maybe? It’s a good name and it’s great that it has meaning for you but if you’re not in love I would do what other posters suggest and use it as one of his middles.
I agree that you should keep looking. I told people the names I planned to use for our daughter before I changed her middles altogether. I just wasn’t excited and while they sounded good, I didn’t love them. So I totally advocate using [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] [name_m]Robert[/name_m] in the middle and choosing something you can be excited about instead of settling for [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] just because it’s what you thought you’d use. You’re allowed to change your mind! I would just tell people that you decided to bump [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] to the middle spot since while it was your #1 when you were pregnant before, it just didn’t feel like this baby’s name. Bottom line: this is your baby. You’re going to say its name SO MANY TIMES over the course of a lifetime. It deserves something as well loved as [name_m]Liam[/name_m] and [name_f]Rosaline[/name_f]. Good luck!!
If you love the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], definitely go for it. [name_m]Just[/name_m] be firm about your no nicknames rule. (My name is [name_f]Teresa[/name_f] and my entire family wanted to call me [name_u]Terry[/name_u], but my mom put her foot down-- even refusing to let my grandmother babysit until she respected my mom’s choice). It may sound dramatic, but it is your baby, and it would be rude of others to not respect your choice. I know I am grateful my mom didn’t let me become a [name_u]Terry[/name_u] lol. Also, I know several Patricks and none of them have used a nickname, so I don’t think it’s too much to ask.
I know you said you didn’t like the nicknames for [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] (I’m assuming obvious ones like [name_u]Pat[/name_u], [name_m]Rick[/name_m], etc), but what about some less common ones that might work? [name_u]Kit[/name_u] could be a nickname for [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], or Patch, or maybe even [name_u]Pax[/name_u].
If you love the name [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], go for it!! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let other call your son with nicknames!! [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is a name that suits in a little boy better than [name_u]Pat[/name_u]. The only nickname I like is [name_u]Paddy[/name_u]… [name_m]Robert[/name_m] [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is also good, but he’ll have the same name as your husband and it would be difficult… Go for it! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t be afraid and don’t let others decide about your son’s name!!! [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is a lovely name!!!