Gillian - would it get shortened to Gill/Jill?

[name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering on whether [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] with a soft G pronunciation (Jillian) would be shortened to [name_u]Gill[/name_u] (Jill) constantly. Would it be less obvious because of the G spelling?
Also, what vibe does the name give off?
I love it dearly, but I want to also see how it fits with the rest of my list.
Names like [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_u]Anne[/name_u], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f], [name_f]Faith[/name_f], [name_f]Charity[/name_f], [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Therese[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] have the feeling I’m going for.
Thank you! :heart::heart:

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I knew a [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] (middle school aged) and she never had her name shortened to anything! I think it goes ok with your other names, i don’t know if there’s any history to it?? (I haven’t looked it up!) but i feel like your other names have rich history!

i think gillian is less likely to get called gill/jill than if it were spelled with a j! i knew a jillian and she want by just jillian and her close family called her jilly bean (like jelly bean) which i always thought was adorable. i think gillian fits nicely with your other names too!

Names never have to be shortened. Start out calling them what you intend them to be.
Many people said when I was pg that my coming ds Grantson would be [name_m]Grant[/name_m]. Hasn’t happened once. He’s 26. :slight_smile:

The [name_f]Jillian[/name_f] I know prefers to be called [name_f]Jill[/name_f], but I’d never go for that immediately upon meeting another [name_f]Jillian[/name_f]. I’d probably call her [name_f]Jilly[/name_f].

i do think it’s pretty inevitable! the spelling generally doesn’t make a difference to me when it comes to nicknames. i do think it fits nicely with the rest of your list

That’s interesting! Unfortunately where I live people are obsessed with nicknames and shortening names which I really have a pet peeve for :cold_sweat:

Agree with you. I’ve followed baby names most of my life. People ARE very obsessed with nicknames everywhere now. I still can’t picture a name taking on a life of its own without anyone hearing the parents call their child by a nickname first.

More importantly, I LOVE the name [name_f]Gillian[/name_f]. Under-noticed and classy!

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I know a child who only is ever called the full name. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband likes to say the name as if it is a number, like a [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] of something.

Inevitably I’d say. In my experience people will shorten a name whether you like it or not so I’d always make sure you like the shortened form. I do know a small handful of people who’s names have obvious, intuitive and established shortened forms and who’ve managed to get away with being known by their full name, but they are very much outliers and I wouldn’t personally bank on that with a name that had an obvious and well-used diminutive I disliked, it would fill me with anxiety. I’ve rejected [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], names I love, as potential firsts for this reason, as I couldn’t bear [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], and I don’t even think that’s as intuitive as [name_u]Gill[/name_u] / [name_f]Gillian[/name_f].

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Thanks! Also would you shorten [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]?

Yeah, people really are obsessed with nicknames which confuses me. [name_f]My[/name_f] real name gets nicknamed irl 100% of the time, and it drives me crazy. Especially when the nickname is so masculine. And thank you! [name_f]Glad[/name_f] you like the name [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] :smiley:

Fair point, thanks. Another name I’ve been considering is [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]. Would that have an obvious intuitive nickname?

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No, certainly not anywhere near as obvious as [name_u]Gill[/name_u] / [name_f]Gillian[/name_f]. But I think really you should expect any names of 3+ syllables to get shortened. People are odd like that and will often find a way. But I think what it’s likeliest to get shortened to, if anything, is [name_f]Clara[/name_f], which I happen to love.

What about [name_u]Clare[/name_u]? I don’t mind [name_f]Clara[/name_f], it’s really beautiful, but it rhymes with the name of a person I don’t like irl. And Clare’s shorter, too, so I hope that would be more intuitive?

I wouldn’t say [name_u]Clare[/name_u] is as intuitive because of the pronunciation difference of the vowel.

It fits well with the rest of your list but G/Jill does seem a bit inevitable. It might be possible to convince others to use her full name but if she wants a nickname then [name_u]Gill[/name_u] is the obvious choice.

I think [name_u]Clare[/name_u] makes total sense as a nickname for [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f].

I think it depends on where you live as to whether or not the name will be nicknamed. Where I live its almost inevitable. And also whether or not your daughter likes the nickname. If she doesnt she will correct people, but if she does at that point [name_f]Jill[/name_f] becomes her name.

Personally my opinion is if you dont like the common nickname for a name I wouldnt use it.

However I do think [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] is adorable.

It fits with your list :slight_smile:
It might well get shortened to [name_u]Gill[/name_u] - if someone is a nicknamer, then they might do it automatically, but if you introduce her and she introduces herself as [name_f]Gillian[/name_f], it might be less likely.
[name_f]Gillian[/name_f] in sound gives me a lively, friendly feel - with the [name_f]Gillian[/name_f] spelling, it’s kind of clunky-cute and cosy in a sort of knitting, slippers and wherthers originals kind of way (this isn’t meant as a bad thing :heart:)