Thinking about my list - I obviously go in for very classic boys’ names. I know the taste may be boring to some, but I’m fine with it.
I do think I would like to dress up these names with unexpected nn’s. Does anyone have personal experience with these or something similar? Also just welcome insight into how well you think it would work.
[name]James[/name] - [name]Jack[/name], [name]Jago[/name]
[name]Henry[/name] - Henno
[name]Robert[/name] - [name]Ro[/name], [name]Bo[/name], or maybe [name]Bert[/name] for the right kind of boy
[name]William[/name] - [name]Liam[/name] (as a NN not as the full name), [name]Wiley[/name]
I think it’s a great idea if you want something a bit less common. Personally, I would just use a nn I really loved for the name, regardless of whether it was really common (for example, I’d use [name]Bella[/name] for [name]Isabelle[/name]), or more obscure (I love [name]Madeleine[/name] nn [name]Leni[/name], for example, and most of the names I’ve considered for the nn [name]Posy[/name]–[name]Penelope[/name], [name]Josephine[/name]/[name]Josefina[/name], [name]Sophia[/name], [name]Primrose[/name], [name]Jocelyn[/name], [name]Johanna[/name], etc.–have a pretty obscure connection, as well). I like [name]Jack[/name] a lot, but I also love [name]Jamie[/name] as a nn for [name]James[/name]. I like just [name]Henry[/name], personally, but I’ve heard of [name]Henry[/name] nn [name]Rio[/name], and I think that’s cool, as well. [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Wiley[/name] and [name]Liam[/name] for [name]William[/name]! I’ve heard of [name]Wim[/name] and [name]Lee[/name], which are cool, as well, although I like [name]Wiley[/name] and [name]Liam[/name] more. I’m not sure about [name]Robert[/name], I do like [name]Beau[/name]/[name]Bo[/name] a lot, though!
Thanks for the suggestions! [name]Henry[/name] nn [name]Rio[/name] is great! I like [name]Jamie[/name] and [name]Jem[/name] for [name]James[/name] too, I just think it takes a certain kind of guy to pull it off, so I’d probably want him to get a little older to see if it worked, ([name]Jack[/name] and [name]Jago[/name] could be similar really ha : D, but I just see them suiting a broader range of personalities, especially [name]Jack[/name]).
[name]Robert[/name] is a tough one, I realize it’s a little less stylish these days, but it has tons of family meaning and in a way it might make him more likely to have it on his own that it’s “out” currently (although obviously I’m not too concerned with popularity!). Anyway, [name]James[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] are higher up because they fit in a bit better now, [name]William[/name] is lower because while I love the name and it has meaning I’ve known some pretty unlikeable [name]Williams[/name] and it gives me pause (but, obviously I have plenty of positive and neutral associations too). I highly doubt I’ll ever need more than 2 names, but you never know : D.
[name]James[/name] - [name]Jack[/name], [name]Jago[/name] … what about [name]Jamie[/name]? [name]Jem[/name]?
[name]Henry[/name] - Henno … I’ve never considered a nn for [name]Henry[/name]! I have no idea here.
[name]Robert[/name] - [name]Ro[/name], [name]Bo[/name], or maybe [name]Bert[/name] for the right kind of boy …[name]Bert[/name] is cute! When I saw “[name]Ro[/name], [name]Bo[/name]”, my mind jumped to “Robot”. Also, I like the [name]Robert[/name] alternatives of [name]Robin[/name] (which could also work as a nn for [name]Robert[/name]) and [name]Rupert[/name].
[name]William[/name] - [name]Liam[/name] (as a NN not as the full name), [name]Wiley[/name] …I have no idea here either, but [name]Liam[/name] is my favourite nn for [name]William[/name]. Oh, maybe [name]Lee[/name] could work?
I don’t think your tastes are boring at all! As you can see, we have many boys’ names in common ([name]James[/name], [name]Robert[/name], [name]Henry[/name]…and [name]Edwin[/name]…plus I’m considering [name]Michael[/name] as a mn).
I don’t like [name]Jack[/name] or [name]Jago[/name] for [name]James[/name] at all.
[name]Henry[/name] nn Henno is fine. Personally my idea for [name]Henry[/name] is the nickname of [name]Rio[/name]. It’s just like how [name]Lottie[/name] is a nickname for [name]Charlotte[/name]. Take the last syllable, and add a vowel sound. There’s also [name]Enzo[/name] which is the Italian version of [name]Henry[/name], it can work with the common En sound.
[name]Robert[/name] nn [name]Bo[/name] is fine. For some reason [name]Terry[/name] comes to mind.
[name]William[/name] nn [name]Liam[/name] I love. [name]Wiley[/name] is just erugh to me.
[name]Edit[/name]: Oh I see [name]Ash[/name] has already mentioned the nn [name]Rio[/name], idea.
[name]James[/name]- Jamo
[name]Henry[/name]- I love [name]Hank[/name], though I know a lot of people don’t.
[name]Robert[/name]- [name]Bertie[/name] is adorable!
[name]William[/name]- [name]Will[/name] is my favorite, [name]Wiley[/name] is interesting though!
ha. I only mentioned it because I remembered our [name]Henry[/name] nn [name]Rio[/name]/[name]Bailey[/name] nn [name]Leo[/name] conversation, and how neither seemed very contrived to either of us.
Thanks for the added suggestions! [name]Hank[/name] could grow on me pretty easily, I think. [name]Just[/name] not a [name]Harry[/name] fan, sadly. [name]Do[/name] see its charms, but don’t think I’d want my own boy to be one. I guess if it truly fit him, it could grow on me too. I don’t think [name]Henry[/name] nn [name]Harry[/name] would be inevitable, although I know it’s a potential “risk”.
Personally, I would just use a nn I really loved for the name, regardless of whether it was really common (for example, I’d use [name]Bella[/name] for [name]Isabelle[/name]), or more obscure (I love [name]Madeleine[/name] nn [name]Leni[/name], for example, and most of the names I’ve considered for the nn [name]Posy[/name]–[name]Penelope[/name], [name]Josephine[/name]/[name]Josefina[/name], [name]Sophia[/name], [name]Primrose[/name], [name]Jocelyn[/name], [name]Johanna[/name], etc.–have a pretty obscure connection, as well). I like [name]Jack[/name] a lot, but I also love [name]Jamie[/name] as a nn for [name]James[/name]. I like just [name]Henry[/name], personally, but I’ve heard of [name]Henry[/name] nn [name]Rio[/name], and I think that’s cool, as well. [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Wiley[/name] and [name]Liam[/name] for [name]William[/name]! I’ve heard of [name]Wim[/name] and [name]Lee[/name], which are cool, as well, although I like [name]Wiley[/name] and [name]Liam[/name] more. 
