Here’s another survey by me asking about our experiences with some debatable name practices (I’ve done one before on unisex names, and another one on “dated” names). This one focuses on the subject of a formal name on the birth certificate even if you usually or always go by a nickname vs. making the nickname the official name, and those who have a name that fits into this category.
If you were given a “longer” name legally but are usually or always called by a nickname, what do you think of your name? [name]Do[/name] you like having a more formal name or other nickname options as a “backup”? Or do you wish your nickname was your official name?
If you were given a name that’s traditionally a nickname as your legal name, what’s your opinion of it? [name]Do[/name] you like not having to deal with a different name in formal vs. informal situations? Or do you wish you had the longer version with other options?
Also, since this is one of those issues strongly divided along “American vs. British” lines, you might hint as to where you live and/or were born/grew up.
I am [name]Margaret[/name] formally, but am [name]Maggie[/name] most of the time, and on some occasions I’m even [name]Peggy[/name].
I love having a “[name]Sunday[/name] name” (what I call a formal name), because I see the [name]Margaret[/name] me, and the [name]Maggie[/name] me, as two different people.
Let me explain…
[name]Margaret[/name] is the serious me, the conscientious student, who is working hard to get into her dream college. I am [name]Margaret[/name] in any formal situation, such as when I had my interview with an alumni of my dream college two weeks ago. I put [name]Margaret[/name] on all my school work. When I have a job in the future, I will be [name]Margaret[/name].
[name]Maggie[/name] is the fun me, the one away from all the formal stuff, and it’s what I am to family and friends. She is different to [name]Margaret[/name]. I leave [name]Margaret[/name] in the library or at school. [name]Maggie[/name] is the one who kicks back with her friends, goes to gigs with her boyfriend, that kind of thing.
So yeah, I like having a name that can be nicknamed, so I can use it to separate the formal stuff in life from the fun/personal stuff.
It wouldn’t have been the end of the world to have been named [name]Maggie[/name] on my birth certificate, but I definitely prefer being a [name]Margaret[/name].
I have a short name that doesn’t have many nicknames unless you get very creative. (It’s [name]Karen[/name]. My mom calls me Karenina sometimes which is kind of the opposite of a nickname and my sister calls me [name]Kai[/name])
But I think it’s better to put the longer name officially on the birth certificate so that at least it’s there and you can shorten it any way you like afterwards.
Unfortunately, I don’t fit either category.
My birth name is not really a formal name with a nickname, and it’s not a nickname.
It’s just smackdab, a name in between, think along the lines of [name]Vanessa[/name], or [name]Regina[/name].
I’d like to give my future kids a longer name with nickname options though.
My name is [name]Cynthia[/name], nickname [name]Cindy[/name]. I always went by [name]Cindy[/name] with close friends and family, but at work or school it has mostly been [name]Cynthia[/name]. I don’t mind [name]Cindy[/name] as a nickname but as a full name it would seem insubstantial and childish imo. I prefer [name]Cynthia[/name]. There are only a few nicknames I like to see used as a formal first name, for example [name]Lucy[/name], [name]Charlie[/name], [name]Bram[/name] and etc.
My general opinion is that if it’s a short name but traditionally a full name in its own right (e.g. [name]Lucy[/name] which was mentioned, or [name]Finn[/name]) I wouldn’t put a longer form on the birth certificate for the sake of having one if I planned on calling the child by the nickname most or all of the time, but I wouldn’t have a problem with a longer form/nickname combo if I liked the longer name too. On the other hand I probably wouldn’t put a nickname on the birth certificate, especially if it’s a common and well-known nickname of a longer name (e.g. [name]Charlie[/name] and [name]Cindy[/name] mentioned by the PP); an exception would be if the traditionally-nickname-name is established enough on its own and is distinct from its parent name (e.g. [name]Nancy[/name]).
I have a longer name with a nn which I like. It gives me a more formal option and a more familiar option. Like if someone calls and asks for [name]Alex[/name] I know it’s a friend and if they ask for [name]Alexandra[/name] I know it’s a business matter.
In high school I had a friend named [name]Christie[/name]. Her mom liked that name and not the possible longer versions or other nicknames, so that’s what she used.
I think if the kid likes their name, it works out fine to use a nickname as the given name, but if she doesn’t, she might wish she had a longer nickname-able name to make it easier to choose another option to go by.
I wouldn’t put a full name on the birth certificate just for the sake of having a full name. [name]One[/name] of my absolute favorite names for a girl is [name]Annie[/name]; I don’t like [name]Ann[/name], [name]Anna[/name], [name]Annabel[/name], [name]Anneliese[/name], etc. I love [name]Annie[/name]. I personally feel that some “nickname names” have been used on their own for so long ([name]Annie[/name] is one of them), that they don’t NEED a full name. [name]One[/name] argument that typically comes up is that parents want their son/daughter to have a “professional” name in case their son/daughter goes into a professional field. I feel that the concept of a “professional” name is obsolete. Our president’s name is [name]Barack[/name] [name]Obama[/name]. I once came across a lawyer named Utopia [name]Cassady[/name] (http://www.southalabamalawyers.com/) near Mobile, [name]AL[/name]. I am quite accustomed to seeing this lady’s campaign signs all over the state:
In another thirty years we’re going to have Dr. Kinzleigh and Hon. [name]Zayden[/name], and for some reason [name]Annie[/name] will stand out as childish and unprofessional? I think not.
I’m [name]Katherine[/name] called [name]Kate[/name] and I have always wished my parents just named me [name]Kate[/name]. I love [name]Kate[/name]. It just fits me and it is classic in its own right, so it doesn’t really need a formal version. I think President [name]Kate[/name] works just as well as President [name]Katherine[/name]. I have zero attachment to my formal name. At the same time, it is only inconvenient when meeting people who I don’t know who are reading my name off of a piece of paper, so it doesn’t affect my normal life.
I agree with southern.maple that professional names are becoming obsolete. I’m in law school and my classmates have all kinds of names: diminutive, formal, silly, diverse, inventive, classic. [name]One[/name] of the most famous justices was named Learned Hand. Learned Hand! That name has only helped him since it makes him memorable.
I am a [name]Katherine[/name], which I absolutely love- but have always been [name]Katie[/name]- which suits me more. I have used [name]Katherine[/name] as my formal name, but introduce myself as [name]Katie[/name]- and in many ways feel that [name]Katherine[/name] is being wasted- just not used. I used to think I’d name my children with a tradition formal name that can have a nickname- but then decided I wanted them to have just one real name- and for them to really ‘own’ it. I now have [name]Annie[/name] [name]Cecilia[/name] and [name]Liam[/name] [name]Michael[/name]- both ‘nicknames’ but that hold great meaning and family history. I am happy with their names- and actually find them more ‘respectable’ than made up or trendy names etc.
I always go by my middle name or a nickname of my first name as far as friends and family go, except for official purposes in which case I go by my full name [both first and middle].
I find it awkward when someone calls me by my full first name when they are on a familiar basis with me, probably because people tend to only do that when they are pissed off at me or something.
I am [name]Ebony[/name] nicknamed [name]Eb[/name], [name]Ebb[/name], Ebs, Ebsie, [name]Ebenezer[/name], [name]Ebenezer[/name] Scrouge, Ebenenzer, Ebie, Bony, [name]Bonnie[/name] and Ebby. I prefer Ebs to [name]Ebony[/name] and [name]Ebony[/name] to [name]Ebb[/name] but most people call me [name]Eb[/name] as a nickname which I really don’t like. I don’t think you really need a formal name especially if you never get called it. I prefer [name]Lily[/name] to [name]Lillian[/name], [name]Evie[/name] to [name]Eve[/name], [name]Liam[/name] to [name]William[/name], [name]Jack[/name] to [name]John[/name]. I hate how names like [name]Lucy[/name] and [name]Poppy[/name] proper names in there own right and people especially berries and its annoying.
I have a short name and have never had a nn. For my future children, I generally like short names. I’m just not a nn person and there isn’t any nn I like enough to put on a birth certificate. I find them informal and childish
And I don’t consider a diminutive like [name]Jimmy[/name] or [name]Chrissy[/name] along the same lines as an uncommon/unfamiliar/ethnic name like [name]Barack[/name] or Learned. I like a lot of uncommon names but they are “professional” because they are full names not diminutives of another name
My name is nickname name, and I always get so annoyed when people say, “Oh, [name]Ellie[/name]…is that short for [name]Eleanor[/name] or [name]Elizabeth[/name]?” I drives me crazy, but I’m kind of glad they didn’t name me [name]Eleanor[/name] or [name]Elizabeth[/name], because I’m not really a huge fan of either of those names.
Another example: There’s this girl I know, her name’s [name]Mandy[/name], but that’s just her nickname. Her full name is [name]Mandolin[/name]. Her parents didn’t like [name]Amanda[/name], so they named her that. Personally, I kind of wish they’d just named her [name]Mandy[/name]. I say, if you like the nickname, but not the name itself, you don’t have to find a name that goes with it. [name]Just[/name] use the nickname.
I have a name that doesn’t tend to have nicknames. Diana. Occasionally I get called D or Di (like the princess), but only by a couple of friends. I actually used to wish I had a nickname since I thought it was the “cool thing” so when some friends started calling me Di or Di, I let them know I liked that, but it didn’t really stick. Only two people still call me D/Di. However now I’m glad it didn’t stick because I love my name Of course I don’t mind the occasional D or Di, but I’m glad my husband calls me Diana because I just love hearing my full name.
I prefer people with nicknames though to have full names, like Kathrine for Katie. It just give them something to fall back on when they are older. I also prefer Catherine over the nicknames, which makes me sad because I can’t use a lot of names I like due to hating the nicknames (Nathaniel, Jonathon, Frederic, Catherine, Madeline)
I tend to like shorter names (Luna, Flora, Ezra) so I don’t think my children will ever have nicknames, which is fine with me. The only name I actually like that I would consider a nickname for is Euphemia (Euphie) because I actually think the nickname is cute.
Overall I’m not a nickname person, I just think they sound too young and don’t age very well. However, I do like names like Lucy and Masie, where they have that nicknamey feel but are full names. Poppy and Evie are ones I don’t like. It really depends.
I have a strong tendency to use a long name and call a child by a nickname. [name]Arabella[/name] is [name]Bella[/name] or [name]Belle[/name], but I also use her full name. [name]Jude[/name]…well, is [name]Jude[/name]. However, I am almost dead set on [name]Theodore[/name] for another little boy, but I can easily see me calling him [name]Teddy[/name] or [name]Theo[/name]. Almost every girl’s name on my list has an obvious nickname. It’s not that I’m necessarily requiring that a name have a short form, I’m just naturally drawn to longer names that have nicknames. I think that I’m so used to calling many of my friends and family by nicknames that its become old hat for me to do so when dealing with my own kids.
I have a short name ([name]Dana[/name] in a different spelling), but it’s kind of uncommon here in Germany, [name]Daniela[/name] is much more common. So sometimes people think it’s a short version of that. I really dislike [name]Daniela[/name] and [name]Danielle[/name], so I’m glad my parents didn’t chose a longer version. Then again it is very uncommon in Germany, to just go by a short version (except for some established ones, and even these you use only with friends, not officially)
I think it is funny that so many people have listed [name]Lucy[/name] as a good stand alone name here when it can actually be a nickname for many names, i.e. [name]Lucille[/name], [name]Lucinda[/name]. My little sister is named [name]Lucia[/name] because my mom hates the idea of nicknames as full names. Any name that ends in an -ie or -y is not a real name, in her opinion. While I don’t totally agree, I thought I’d just say that [name]Lucia[/name], my sister, goes almost exclusively by [name]Lucy[/name] at school yet still likes having the full form [name]Lucia[/name] and likes the family to use that. To her it is a little more special than just [name]Lucy[/name] and has more meaning/family significance.
My personal feeling is that a lot of nicknames are diminutives and thus sound childish/infantile. My name is [name]Shannon[/name], but I’m typically called [name]Shan[/name] or [name]Shannie[/name] by family members and even some friends. But I would be severely embarrassed to have to put [name]Shannie[/name] on an application or introduce myself as such.
I think some names (like the aforementioned [name]Kate[/name]) can definitely stand on their own. Typically, I really like long, flowing, possibly over-serious/dramatic girls names that I would want a nickname for to be more playful. I love the name [name]Eloise[/name] and I also like the name [name]Lola[/name]. [name]Lola[/name] sounds a bit silly almost as a full name, but I think it’s a great nickname for [name]Eloise[/name]. I also like [name]Eloise[/name] a bit more than [name]Lola[/name], but I think the latter is fun. I like [name]Tilly[/name], [name]Millie[/name], and [name]Tilda[/name], but I like [name]Matilda[/name] a lot. I like [name]Poppy[/name] and [name]Posy[/name], but I like [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Rose[/name] more. I like [name]Lulu[/name], but I like [name]Lucia[/name] a lot too. I think it depends on your naming style. I don’t like the nickname-y names as full names, but that’s me!
My husbands name is [name]Clifford[/name]. He only goes by [name]Cliff[/name] and wishes he was just a [name]Cliff[/name]. (I don’t blame him) So when we started having kids he insisted on naming them whatever we were going to call them. Our first 2 aren’t that controversial but our third is going to be named [name]Zack[/name]. We were debating about naming him [name]Zachary[/name] and calling him [name]Zack[/name] but my husband wasn’t really happy with that and tell you the truth, neither was I. [name]Zachary[/name] seemed like a mouth full when put with our last name and it was too long to really “fit in” with his siblings. If people ask about not calling him [name]Zachary[/name], we simply respond as “we knew we would never call him [name]Zachary[/name] so why name him that.” In addition we found out that a lot of Zacharys go by [name]Zack[/name](in some form of spelling), so him being just a [name]Zack[/name] would fit right in. I understand both views of the subject though. My name is [name]Stephanie[/name] and thats what I go by. I don’t ever go by [name]Steph[/name] and when somebody calls me [name]Steph[/name], Im totally thrown off. Though, no telling that if I had a different name with more possible nicknames I wouldn’t prefer them over the formal name. There is a lot of names out there that I like that I prefer the nickname to the formal and vice versa. I think its harder when you like a formal name and hate the nicknames. For example I love [name]Francis[/name] but not [name]Frank[/name]. I love [name]Seraphina[/name] but none of the nicknames.
Of course I don’t mind the occasional D or Di, but I’m glad my husband calls me Diana because I just love hearing my full name.