I can’t even believe I’m admitting to this, but, [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] is certainly growing on me. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t get me wrong, I absolutely adore nicknames as first names, but, [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], [name_f]Carrie[/name_f], [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f] were two I never, ever thought I’d be ok with. (Still not fully ok with [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f], mainly because my mother would disown me if I came home with a pink bundle named [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] )
[name_f]My[/name_f] great grandmother is a [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f], but for all 90 years of her life, she has gone by [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] and pretty much refuses to use anything else. She loathes the name [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], and all shortforms, and when I told her [name_f]Florence[/name_f] was a favourite of mine, she gave me a look as if she’d just had a glass of sour milk.
However, I have been considering [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], because of her. She’s tough lady who’s endured a lot of hardships in her life, and I feel like (even though I would likely still use [name_f]Florence[/name_f]), [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] may just be the best way to honour her (if I can get myself to properly love it).
What are your honest thoughts on [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]? Can it work? I’ve noticed that it seems quite trendy in the UK (looking at stats but those don’t always tell everything), and it doesn’t seem to be used hardly at all in the US.
[name_f]My[/name_f] grandmother’s name is [name_f]Ida[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f], but similarly only goes by [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]. She gained the nickname as a girl among brothers who happened to be very tiny, like a doll. I am usually open to nicknames as names, but [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] really isn’t one I can get behind. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though the only [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] I know is 77 years old, I still feel that it doesn’t “age well.” I would pass on this one.
Usable? Yes, I think so. It’s cute, adorably childish, and has a sweet vintage feel. But on its own it lacks substance, and for this reason you may want to consider using it as a nickname (via [name_f]Dolores[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], etc.) rather than a full.
I live too close to Dollywood to imagine anything other than [name_m]Parton[/name_m] when I hear/see/speak the name. If I can force myself past the association, I just think of dolls, which makes this name very juvenile to me.
Since your grandmother’s [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], it’s probably safe to assume that she’s your biggest association with the name? In the abstract it’s not terrible. It has a pleasing sound and it matches your other names really well. I just can’t get onboard.
I know of a little [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] with young, trendy parents so can confirm it is being used here (also know a little [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] which feels quite similar). But I also have a close friend with a dog called [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] who remains my only real association. I do think it’s sweet, though. But if I’m honest I’d be much more likely to use [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] which I think is just gorgeous.
(also what’s wrong with [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f]? Seems so inoffensive haha)
Back in about 1892, there was a murder case in the US involving [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] [name_m]Borden[/name_m]. She was accused of brutally hacking her father and stepmother with a hatchet, but ended up being acquitted of all charges. However, there was a rhyme invented around the time of the trial;
“[name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] [name_m]Borden[/name_m] took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.”
[name_f]My[/name_f] mother being an [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], was teased with this rhyme relentlessly, and has pretty much said she would disown me if I came home with a baby [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] She’s only ever allowed her dad and my dad to refer to her as [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f], although her oldest sister (who we no longer have contact with) used to call her that in a condescending tone all the time. I can get why my mum is against it
I’m not sure I’d ever use [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], but I think maybe [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] is best in with the likes of [name_f]Petal[/name_f], [name_f]Blossom[/name_f] and [name_f]Honey[/name_f] - an adorable pet name, but nothing more. I do love [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] though
[name_f]Dolly[/name_f] is a sweet nickname, I’ve been rather partial to it since reading [name_f]Anna[/name_f] Karenina. I don’t think it works very well in a professional setting though, so best as a nickname. To me it can be a term of endearment like [name_f]Princess[/name_f] or Cupcake, so doesn’t have to relate to the actual name.
Personally I don’t think [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] [name_m]Borden[/name_m] is a reason to not use [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f]. I know of her story and the play, but it wouldn’t be my first association. I’m not sure kids would know of it- I didn’t until high school when my drama class looked at the play. I’d think of [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] (or [name_f]Lizzy[/name_f]) [name_m]Bennet[/name_m] from Pride and Prejudice first. And there are so many Elizabeths out there, I’m sure many are Lizzies, that it’s not a huge issue to me. If it bothers you though, of course, that’s a different story.
It isn’t so much that it bothers me, and I know it’s not even a strong connection now, but I feel almost like it would be wrong to choose a form of my mother’s name that she completely and totally hates. [name_f]My[/name_f] first connection has always been [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] [name_m]McGuire[/name_m], haha.
That’s totally understandable. Oh [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] [name_m]McGuire[/name_m], I kind of remember those books. I loved them but I feel like I’d find them rather silly now. The things I used to read…
I like [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]. Partly because I adore [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] [name_m]Parton[/name_m], but also I just like sugary nicks like [name_f]Kitty[/name_f], [name_f]Posy[/name_f], [name_f]Susie[/name_f], [name_f]Betty[/name_f], and [name_f]Polly[/name_f]. They feel sunny and unafraid.
But for me, they need to be short for something. Not necessarily less feminine, but less adorable.
I’ve heard [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] short for [name_f]Dolores[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f], and [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] before. I like [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]. (more like dar-thea in my accent). [name_f]My[/name_f] husband prefers perky and vaguely Animaniacs [name_f]Dot[/name_f], but there’s something very likable and saucy about [name_f]Dolly[/name_f].
I met an adult [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] once and, maybe this is wrong, but everybody laughed about her name behind her back and nobody took her seriously. I am by no means against all nicknames as full names but I find some of them, like [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], a bit too cutesie as a full name. For me, a dolly is a baby doll a child plays with. Also, I just think of [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] the sheep.
I really love [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], and have considered using it as a full name. However, I think it’s just the wrong side of cutesy to work on its own. Therefore, I have [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] on my list; I adore [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] too though (I don’t believe in using names to get to a nickname unless you love the full name just as much).
I’ve had similar issues with [name_f]Hettie[/name_f]; not sure if it’ll work on its own, but I can’t make myself love any of its long forms ([name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Hester[/name_f], [name_f]Heather[/name_f] etc…) and I dislike non-intuitive nicknames. But, since I love [name_f]Hettie[/name_f] so much, I’ve taken the plunge and put it with a strong, feminine middle in my top 5.
If you love [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], and can’t imagine using any of the long forms, then go for it. It hasn’t done [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] [name_m]Parton[/name_m] any harm! x
That’s true! I’m still a bit iffy on it, I don’t really love any of the other forms (I see it the same way as you do, and for a lot of names, I prefer the nickname to the proper name), but I’m not sure I can see it on anyone over 10 either (which is odd as my great grandmother has never used any other name, and will be 90 in [name_f]October[/name_f]). For what it’s worth, I love [name_f]Hettie[/name_f], but I have [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] on my long list, with [name_f]Belle[/name_f] or [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] as the middle.
That’s why mine goes by [name_f]Dolly[/name_f], but she said the nickname came from her being the youngest of 7-8 siblings, (the oldest was out of the house, married with kids when she was born), and her older brothers and father started calling her it because she looked like a little doll (bit like how [name_f]Pixie[/name_f] [name_m]Lott[/name_m] got her nn), and as she grew up, she hated [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f] and all nicknames for it so it stuck
)
She’s only ever allowed her dad and my dad to refer to her as [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f], although her oldest sister (who we no longer have contact with) used to call her that in a condescending tone all the time. I can get why my mum is against it