Often hear "So they can have options when they get older"

General Name Discussion
1

I often hear people that recommend a “full name” say that it is to give options to the child when they get older. Many people have names like [name_m]George[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u], [name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_m]Luke[/name_m], [name_f]Nora[/name_f] etc. These people (which include most of my family) do not have “options for when we got/get older” And I do not know anyone that has complained about not having options. So why do people think people with nickname names will have an issue with not having options? Nickname names are not a new concept. Take a look at popular names 100+ years ago. They are popular in today’s times and I am guessing they will remain popular in the future.

Need to add. I also would like to know who dictates and sets the rules as to what names are “full” names and which are “nickname” names?

I am going to add the post I typed this morning. The subject I was talking about is made much clearer. I should have thought through my first post and it would have been made clearer in the first place. And I am sorry about that. Hopefully the confusion will be fixed.

2

I think it means exactly what it sounds like. My mom loved the name [name_u]Abby[/name_u] and liked the name [name_f]Abigael[/name_f]. She named me [name_f]Abigael[/name_f] to give me options for when I become an adult, but I’ve gone by [name_u]Abby[/name_u] since the moment I was born. If I felt as though [name_u]Abby[/name_u] was too cutesy or nickname-y for me, I had the option of a longer name in [name_f]Abigael[/name_f]. As it is, I don’t feel like my nickname is super cutesy and, despite the fact that a future nameplate of mine will read [name_f]Abigael[/name_f] ___, I will probably go by [name_u]Abby[/name_u] at a work place. However, a couple of years ago, I did think that [name_u]Abby[/name_u] was very childish, and I was planning to go by [name_f]Abigael[/name_f] as an adult. My longer name gave me the option to change my mind about that.

My younger sister, though, is named [name_f]Leah[/name_f] and doesn’t have any nicknames or alternative “options” for when she’s older. And it doesn’t seem to bother her at all. As for my youngest sister, her name is [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] and goes by [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] and [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] pretty much interchangeably. For her, the full name came before the nickname (my mom knew she loved [name_u]Abby[/name_u] and named me [name_f]Abigael[/name_f] specifically so she could call me that. With [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], she knew she loved [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] and decided [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] would make a cute nickname) but it was the same idea in that [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] gives her the option of a longer, fuller name.

The whole “options for the future” thing isn’t something I really think about when finding my favorite names though. My top girls, [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], don’t have longer or shorter versions that could be more than pet names. [name_u]August[/name_u], I suppose, has Auggie or [name_u]Gus[/name_u] but I dislike both of those, so I’d probably just call him [name_u]August[/name_u]. But I don’t like [name_m]Augustus[/name_m] as much, so although that might give him more options, I’d opt for [name_u]August[/name_u] there too. I like many nickname names such as [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] and [name_u]Nico[/name_u] but dislike [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] and [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m], so I don’t care if the latter two would give them more “options”, I would go with the ones I actually enjoy.

I definitely think some people go over the top when suggesting longer names for “options”. There is nothing that says [name_f]Cora[/name_f] has to be short for [name_f]Coraline[/name_f] or [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]. Sometimes, I get the impression that the poster just prefers the name [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] over [name_f]Cora[/name_f], and thus tries to justify why the person should use it.

As for your other question, I don’t think the line is clear. I guess nicknames are names that are seen as typically belonging to a formal name. For example: [name_u]Abby[/name_u] to [name_f]Abigail[/name_f], [name_f]Liz[/name_f] to [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_m]Nate[/name_m] to [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]. The names could stand on their own but people usually associate them as being shortened versions. I think it’s up to the individual to determine what names are nicknames and what names stand by themselves. I know more boys named [name_m]Liam[/name_m] than I do boys name [name_m]William[/name_m] who go by [name_m]Liam[/name_m]. I also know more boys called [name_u]Drew[/name_u] than [name_m]Andrew[/name_m] nn [name_u]Drew[/name_u]. However, I find [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] to be more of a nickname and would assume any [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] I meet is short for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Eliana[/name_f], despite the fact that [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] is a common full given name. I think that it is in the eye of the beholder.

3

[name_m]Just[/name_m] because you don’t personally know of anybody who has complained about not having options doesn’t mean those people don’t exist. In fact, you only need to be a frequent reader of this forum to know that they do exist.

As for the names you listed, a lot of them actually do have options: [name_m]George[/name_m] can be [name_u]Georgie[/name_u], [name_f]Jane[/name_f] can be [name_f]Janie[/name_f], [name_m]John[/name_m] can be [name_m]Johnny[/name_m] or [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] can be [name_f]May[/name_f]/[name_f]Molly[/name_f]/etc., [name_f]Anne[/name_f] can be [name_f]Annie[/name_f]/[name_f]Nan[/name_f]/[name_f]Nancy[/name_f], [name_f]Julia[/name_f] can be [name_u]Julie[/name_u] or [name_u]Jules[/name_u] (which also works for [name_u]Julie[/name_u]), [name_f]Emily[/name_f] can be [name_f]Emmie[/name_f] or [name_f]Milly[/name_f], [name_m]Jacob[/name_m] can be [name_m]Jake[/name_m], [name_f]Emma[/name_f] can be [name_f]Emmie[/name_f]… [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], and [name_f]Nora[/name_f] are nickname names that are adult-sounding enough that that they can stand on their own and work on any age, but they would have so many more options with [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_m]William[/name_m], and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] if they didn’t like [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], and [name_f]Nora[/name_f]. It’s not just about giving “options to the child when they get older” as you say in your first sentence, which I think misses a bit of the point. When you name a child, you have no idea if they will like their name or not, so a flexible name can be a great choice. Maybe [name_m]William[/name_m] doesn’t feel quite like a [name_m]William[/name_m] but thinks that [name_m]Will[/name_m] suits him better; if his formal name is [name_m]William[/name_m], no one will think it’s strange if he starts asking to be called [name_m]Will[/name_m]. However, if [name_m]Liam[/name_m] hates the name [name_m]Liam[/name_m], well, he’s stuck with a name he doesn’t like unless he chooses to switch to his middle name or changes his name altogether – both options which would probably be a pain.

It’s true that there are people out there with nickname names that are perfectly happy with their names. There are also people out there who were never called by their formal names and wish their parents had just put the nickname name they go by on the birth certificate. But those are only “some” people. There are also people with nickname names who wish they had more formal names because their nickname-y name doesn’t suit them for some reason. There are people with formal names who love the fact that they can go by a different nicknames. (That’s me!) There are people out there who hate nicknames, period, and just want to go by their full formal name. You just never know which type your child is going to be, so that’s why a lot of people think it’s better to give them a name with options.

(Another reason that options can be a good thing is popularity. My son’s name is William, but we mainly call him Liam. We know of a family who have their own Liam – just Liam. That works out great, though, because when they’re together, we can just call our son William or Will and there’s no confusion. If we had just gone with Liam, we wouldn’t have that option. They would have to be Liam A. and Liam B. or something like that.)

4

[name_m]History[/name_m] and etymology - some names are diminutives of other names rather than having their own independent etymology. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] comes from [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] comes from [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], [name_u]Bobby[/name_u] comes from [name_m]Robert[/name_m], [name_u]Gus[/name_u] comes from [name_m]Augustus[/name_m]. None of those full names are diminutives of other names.

5

I think when people talk about giving a full name option it’s regarding nn’s that are not exactly professional (personal opion obvious dictates what is professional). My daughter is named [name_f]Norah[/name_f] and I consider that a full name, I didn’t name her [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f] and just call her [name_f]Norah[/name_f]. However if I had named my daughter Feefee because I think it’s cute, I would probably put [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] on her birth certificate so she has a more mature option.

6

I think people should name their kid whatever they like, as long as it is not too crazy, respect the roots and doesn’t affect other people. So nickname or full name, it doesn’t matter.

In [name_f]France[/name_f] names like [name_m]Tom[/name_m], [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_u]Theo[/name_u], [name_m]Leo[/name_m], [name_m]Lenny[/name_m], [name_u]Sacha[/name_u] (boy) or [name_m]Liam[/name_m] are super popular! Nobody wonders if a full name would be better or give more options. I also met people named [name_f]Maddie[/name_f], [name_u]Max[/name_u], [name_m]Tim[/name_m], [name_u]Sam[/name_u], [name_u]Alex[/name_u]. They have absolutely no problem.

Many names were actually nicknames and they are popular now. I think of [name_f]Elise[/name_f] ([name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f]), [name_f]Margot[/name_f] ([name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]), [name_m]Leo[/name_m] ([name_m]Leonard[/name_m], [name_m]Leopold[/name_m]), [name_u]Theo[/name_u] ([name_m]Theodore[/name_m]), [name_u]Sasha[/name_u] ([name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]), [name_u]Finn[/name_u] ([name_m]Finnegan[/name_m]), etc.

7

It is well past my bed time but I wanted to make my post more clear. The options you gave are not formal names. Yes, options but not about the point I was trying to make. Probably shouldn’t have posted when I was tired and ready for bed in the first place. :smiley: I am talking about posters stating that people should use formal names on the birth certificate, like [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] instead of [name_u]Alex[/name_u], even if the person states they will only use [name_u]Alex[/name_u]. And often their reason for stating this is “so they can have options”. There are lots of people with names that do not have a more formal name, like those I listed above. The list could go on and on. Having a name without a more formal name has never caused anyone I know grieve. It shouldn’t cause grieve. Or we would be cutting out a very large group of names from ones we should use. I do not see why people think that someone that would be given a name (like [name_u]Alex[/name_u]) that does have a more formal name would end up having issues. Sure anyone can end up not liking their name. That goes for anyone.

8

Umm, yes, I know ultimately that is the case. But on forums people like to create their own rules to naming. You will have some that throw their hands up and say that [name_f]Anne[/name_f] is too much of a nickname, you need a more formal name. There are those that think [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] can be a stand alone but [name_u]Teddy[/name_u], no way, you need a more formal name (I’m saying this is the same person that thinks [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] is a stand alone). So I ask, who is in charge of dictating and creating these rules? I am talking about the made-up rules, like other naming rules, like not using the same first letter for children or having them end with the same letter.

9

I am not much of a nicknamer myself. If I had a daughter and named her [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], she would be called ‘[name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]’ not ‘[name_u]Georgie[/name_u]’ or ‘[name_f]Gigi[/name_f]’ or anything, though I do think those are cute nicknames. A lot of “nickname names” I think work on their own (e.g. [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_u]Georgie[/name_u], [name_u]Josie[/name_u], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], etc.). But a nn like [name_f]Gigi[/name_f]…I might want to give her a formal name option because, while [name_f]Gigi[/name_f] is adorable on a little girl, I could see an older girl prefering a more mature name. However, I could also see it not being a problem either. It just depends on the child–the child you do not know yet, so you don’t know whether they’ll prefer a cutesy nn or a fuller, formal name.
For my part, I will name my children the names that I plan to call them. If a nn comes naturally, then fine. But I won’t name my daughter [name_f]Mildred[/name_f] just to get the nn [name_f]Millie[/name_f].

10

I totally get this since I have just [name_u]Alfie[/name_u] on my list. I really don’t like [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] even though I love [name_u]Alfie[/name_u] and quite like [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] I couldn’t use [name_m]Alfred[/name_m]. I also love the name [name_f]Millie[/name_f] but I like [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] just as much so I would use one of those instead, same with [name_f]Evie[/name_f] and [name_m]Archie[/name_m]. I don’t get the whole name the kid [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] so he has options, [name_u]Alfie[/name_u] is in the UK top and in Australia it would be more popular then [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] for babies. And the can you imagine a doctor named [name_f]Millie[/name_f]/[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]/[name_u]Alfie[/name_u], yes I can, I go to a doctor whose full name is [name_f]Debbie[/name_f], I don’t feel like she’s any less qualified or as greater doctor because her name ends with an ie.

11

I see what you’re saying. Really, there are no “rules”. I think everyone in their own minds has their own opinions about names, but their ideas are not standard. [name_m]Just[/name_m] because some people think [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] needs to be [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], doesn’t mean [name_u]Teddy[/name_u] can’t stand alone. Those are just two conflicting opinions. It’s just like how one person can adore [name_u]James[/name_u] on a girl and another can say it is strictly masculine. Or one person adores [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] but another says it’s waayyy too popular.
Some people I have seen do come up with their own rules when naming their children like, for example, they might say 1) I/we don’t want anything super popular; 2) I/we don’t want it to have a difficult spelling or a bad association; 3) No unisex names; and etc. But those rules apply to narrow it down to The Name rather than names and naming in general.

If all this makes sense.

12

My first name, [name_f]Nelle[/name_f], is considered a “nickname name”. I’m perfectly happy with my name most of the time. The only thing that bothers me about it is that most people assume that it’s a nickname for something else, and I always have to point out that it’s my full name.

About "having options’, I don’t know. I suppose some people wish they had a more formal, longer name, but I guess that’s not the majority of people. Some people just don’t like their name, nicknames or not. Of course you can’t know if your child will like it’s name, but it seems a bit ridiculous to me to give your child a name “with options” because you’re scared he or she won’t like his or her name. If you name your child [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], and he doesn’t like his full name, or [name_u]Alex[/name_u] or [name_m]Xander[/name_m], well… If you think like that, you shouldn’t give your child a name at all.

13

It’s just a matter of opinion, truthfully. Some people prefer shorter name, some prefer longer and use nicknames. I guess to me, using the popular example of [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] vs. [name_u]Alex[/name_u], [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] just looks more complete to me and I really do feel like it would give the kid a chance to go by a variety of names he may prefer himself. Also, in my family and from what I’m used to (in my circle, I guess), it’s just common to give the fuller “formal” names.

I don’t think anyone is wrong or stupid for their views, though. No one who chooses a name “so they can have options” is just some stupid, bad parent. I don’t think that is what you were insinuating, either. It’s just hard to answer questions about “why” some feel a certain way about X, because there are really so many reasons. I myself have been wondering what constitutes a name being labeled “pretentious” and why people throw that term around here so much, but honestly, some people just truly view names in a different light lol.

14

I completely agree with @emmamay!

I personally don’t see wanting a more formal name as a good reason for deliberately ignoring the name on the birth certificate, just to use a different name. If naturally a nickname develops and falls into occasional use, then that’s fine. I’m very open to using nicknames on birth certificates, and it’s probably got something to do with where I live. The [name_f]England[/name_f]/[name_m]Wales[/name_m] list is full of what would most likely be considered nickname names; [name_m]Archie[/name_m], [name_u]Alfie[/name_u], [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_m]Albie[/name_m], [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Minnie[/name_f], [name_f]Libby[/name_f], the list goes on. I even know of a [name_f]Trixie[/name_f] (in one of the best schools in the country), and consider it a perfectly okay name. I think different people have different experiences and views about what qualifies a name to go on the birth certificate. Some hold a lot of weight in how professional it would sound in the workplace, so want a formal name to fall back on, some (like me) less so. In my opinion, at the end of the day you can’t predict what will happen, whether a child will or won’t like their full name or the nickname options. They could hate their name either way and want to change it, or never use their full name. They might even adopt a career where the shorter, snappier nickname would work better. If it’s so big a problem, it can be solved, and I don’t think having a nickname name will hold them back. I just think, unless it’s really extreme or inappropriate, I would put the name I intended to use on the birth certificate, and actually use it. I definitely wouldn’t try to find a mediocre full name I didn’t really love, just to have more options that might not even be used.

15

While everyone is different, I think that most people who wish they had more options (at least in this context) were given names that are usually nicknames for longer/more formal names. They are more likely to hear, “oh, is it short for…?” over and over again. I think this can make the person feel like they were given the 50%-off version of their name - it may feel to them like they got cut out of the history or prestige associated with the longer form of their name. So - I can see that person longing for the original name.

Once a nickname is established enough to not inspire the questions (“short for?”) I imagine that the name-bearers are less likely to wish they had more options.

OP, your list of names ([name_m]George[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_m]John[/name_m], [name_f]Mary[/name_f], [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_u]Julie[/name_u], [name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], [name_f]Emma[/name_f], [name_m]Luke[/name_m], [name_f]Nora[/name_f]) includes some that are nicknames and some that are the “formal” versions and have nicknames themselves. The two that standout as being nicknames - [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_m]Liam[/name_m] - do not have obvious nickname options, while the others do. So that could be a reason that some parents prefer the formal names. But, both [name_m]Jack[/name_m] and [name_m]Liam[/name_m] are so widely used as names on their own that I don’t think either would get the “oh, what’s it short for?” question. I doubt they’d be dissatisfied with their options unless they dislike the names altogether.

16

I really gravitate towards names that stand alone, no nickname. From my signature you cannot really pull nicknames from [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_u]Jude[/name_u], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_m]Boyd[/name_m], etc. But my exception name is [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], I love the nickname [name_f]Evie[/name_f].

A few examples of a “full” name versus a stand alone name would be [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] versus [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_m]William[/name_m] versus [name_m]Liam[/name_m], [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] versus [name_u]Abby[/name_u]. Many people name their children [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] and go by “[name_f]Kate[/name_f]”, [name_m]William[/name_m] and go by “[name_m]Liam[/name_m]”, [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] and go by “[name_u]Abby[/name_u]”. Or people all together by past the formal name and name their child the nickname, so just [name_f]Kate[/name_f], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], and [name_u]Abby[/name_u].

The statement “so they have options when they get older” is true, and I’ve seen it. My friend [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] was “[name_f]Katie[/name_f]” all growing up. When we entered high school she decided she wanted to go by her full name [name_f]Katherine[/name_f], so she introduced herself was [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] to everyone, and corrected people if she was called [name_f]Katie[/name_f]. Throughout high school [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]'s name eventually gravitated towards “[name_f]Kat[/name_f]”, and currently in college she now goes by [name_f]Kat[/name_f].

I also have a friend name Elizabeth, who fully goes by Elizabeth. She has many options for nicknames, but has always gone by her full name. My other friend Elizabeth exclusively goes by Lizzie.

I have a friend name Carrie, who’s full name is actually Carolyn. Carolyn very well stands alone just fine, but Carrie has always gone by Carrie since I’ve known her.

17

I am personally in favour of a formal name “so they can have more options”.

I have a nickname on my birth certificate myself, but even though most people don’t actually realise that it was originally a nickname and just consider it an unusual name (it’s a little-established diminutive for a more established but dated name, compare [name_f]Irie[/name_f] for [name_f]Irene[/name_f]), I have personally resented not having a more formal name to use outside a family context. Not only is it a question of identity, feeling that my sweet and whimsy name doesn’t suit the more serious side of my character, but, hypocorisms as they are, diminutive names seem to be almost synonymous with terms of endearment for me, and, as such, should be reserved only for a certain few with whom one is very intimate. In the same way as I would not like to have my employer call me “sweetheart”, I would not like to have them have to address me by a name which is, originally and in my view, a pet-name.
I find that nicknames that do not end in -ie, -ette, -ot, etc. are more suitable to be official given names, as they feel more like abbreviations of names, rather than affectionate forms of them.

This is just my personal way of viewing nicknames. I guess the majority of people wouldn’t look at it this way.

18

I know the options I gave are not formal names. That’s because a lot of the names in your list are already formal names and are not comparable with your [name_u]Alex[/name_u]/[name_m]Alexander[/name_m] example. ([name_m]Jack[/name_m]/[name_m]Liam[/name_m]/[name_f]Nora[/name_f] are the only ones that are comparable since they do have more formal names they could go by.) They still have options, though. I was saying the argument you were making on behalf of the formal name enthusiasts is missing the point. It’s not that it’s good to have a more formal name so they have options when they get older; it’s good to have a more formal name so they have options, period. For a good example, look at politicians’ names. A lot of people suggest doing the Supreme [name_m]Court[/name_m] test, with the idea that it sounds better for Supreme [name_m]Court[/name_m] justices/presidents/governors/etc. to have more formal names, but a lot of politicians actually go by nickname names ([name_m]Bill[/name_m] [name_m]Clinton[/name_m], [name_m]Bob[/name_m] Dole, [name_m]Joe[/name_m] Biden, Ted [name_u]Cruz[/name_u], etc) in an effort to come across as friendly and “of the people”. The thing is, those people that I mentioned are [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_m]Robert[/name_m], [name_m]Joseph[/name_m], ([name_m]Rafael[/name_m]) [name_m]Edward[/name_m] on their birth certificate. They CHOOSE to go by a nickname. Likewise, maybe [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f]'s name suited her just fine when she was a little girl, but now that she’s the CEO of a big company, she thinks [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] sounds too childish and flighty, but [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] sounds sensible and capable. Putting [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] on the birth certificate gives her the option of going by [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] if she wants to. She has that choice. By putting a nickname name on the birth certificate, however, the parents are limiting the options, and that’s what the formal name enthusiasts don’t like about them.

19

I think a lot of it depends on the sociological context people find themselves in.

I’m one of those people that have a name which was historically a nickname but has been widely used as a standalone name (and considered as such) for quite some time. Growing up in a relatively rural middle-class town, my name was never questioned. However, when I attended a historically elite university with a history of mostly upper class attendance I had several occurrences of people asking if my name was short for historical full name.

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Naming your children names such as [name_m]Grant[/name_m], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_u]Kyle[/name_u], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_m]Carl[/name_m], [name_u]Reid[/name_u], [name_u]Flynn[/name_u], [name_u]Joan[/name_u], etc would also be limiting their options. So we are to cut a very large number of names out of our choices, so we can use names like [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], etc on the birth certificate, so they can have options in case they need them in later life. I will not agree with this idea. A person should be able to use a name they adore and truly love on the birth certificate. Not choose names for fear of the future, names that they might not actually care for. Having these formal names on their birth certificates will also not guarantee them liking it or any of the options. You name children the name you adore and feel attached to. There is never a guarantee they will love it. But that child should understand the thought and love that went into that choice.

I will never agree with the whole what if they want to be a doctor, lawyer, president thing. That is a very small amount of careers among a vast array of jobs and careers. Plus a [name_u]Charlie[/name_u], [name_f]Tillie[/name_f], [name_m]Charles[/name_m], and [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] can all choose these careers if they wish to…and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] will have just as great of a chance as [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. Honestly I would feel more at ease with people in these fields having less formal names.

I think at times some people feel that it shows class to use formal names. They are very wrong. A family that chooses [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] over [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] on the birth certificate is not necessarily of lower class and the family choosing [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] are not necessarily upper middle/upper class.