We really think this is a lovely name, but do not like the idea of it being shortened to [name_u]Pat[/name_u], [name_u]Paddy[/name_u], [name_f]Patty[/name_f], or anything of the sort. My grandmother’s name is also [name_f]Patricia[/name_f] (goes by [name_u]Pat[/name_u]) and I don’t really want anyone thinking it was in honour of any particular family member either… just to keep the peace. I know shortening and nicknames will happen, so am very hesitant to include this name officially on the short list. [name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering if there are other parents who have the same feelings on the name/short forms of it who decided to go ahead with it anyway, and what the success was (or was not) with having people use [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] vs. any shortened versions?
Not sure if this helps, but my parents always wanted me to be called [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u] rather than a shortened form. Once I went to school, that all ended and soon enough I was [name_u]Kim[/name_u] or [name_f]Kimmie[/name_f]. As an adult, I prefer to use [name_u]Kimberly[/name_u] for formal situations, and even when I use it, people that I don’t know will automatically shorten it to [name_u]Kim[/name_u]. So, unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be able to avoid the nickname. However, as long as it doesn’t bother you what other people might call your son as long as you call him [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], then I say go for it!
The nicknames are my only hold up with [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. I think [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is fabulous. I’ve known two that never got shortened.
The two Patricks I know also only ever go by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], and I wouldn’t think of calling them otherwise! I think it really comes down to the individual.
I am sort of in the same boat–I love [name_m]Joshua[/name_m], but I’m pretty much at the point where I won’t use it up front because it’s my cousin’s name, and I absolutely don’t want people thinking I’m trying to honor my cousin, for personal reasons.
I’ve put it in the MN spot, though, and justified it for other reasons, and if I get questions, I plain to explain those other reasons.
But with [name_m]Patrick[/name_m], I do think [name_u]Paddy[/name_u] is pretty cute, but if you don’t, what about [name_u]Pax[/name_u]? I’ve loved the idea of [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] nn [name_u]Pax[/name_u] for years, and it seems to sufficiently rid [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] of the more dated nn options. I love that [name_u]Pax[/name_u] means “peace”, too.
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m] is a lovely choice and I am fond of [name_f]Patricia[/name_f] too for females.
But it’s important to remember that parents CANNOT [name_u]EVER[/name_u] GUARANTEE that no one in their child’s life will call him a nickname.
That seems a particularly tenacious nameberry myth.
The parents may only say [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] and they may ask others to do the same. That works OK when the child is a toddler, but not in their teens and certainly not in their adulthood.
90 year old mother to her 60 year old son’s colleagues: “Now don’t you be calling [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] [name_m]Fred[/name_m]!” Not gonna happen.
Besides, nicknames are not chosen by parents alone, they are chosen (or not chosen) by everyone your child (not a child for long) will meet.
I had a lovely girl in class named [name_f]Larissa[/name_f]. Her parents were horrified, had been horrified, since 5th grade when all her friends began calling her [name_m]Larry[/name_m] which just proves no name is foolproof.
If it were me, I’d use [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] as a middle b.c. I too don’t like [name_u]Pat[/name_u] or [name_f]Patty[/name_f], just as I’d only use [name_m]Charles[/name_m] ([name_m]CHUCK[/name_m]!) and [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] ([name_m]NATE[/name_m]!) as middles b.c. the obvious nicknames repulse me.
Good luck!
My best friend has a [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] (he is a teen), he has ONLY gone by [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]. I personally prefer the Scottish ([name_m]Padraig[/name_m] - PAW-drig) or Irish ([name_m]Padraic[/name_m] - PAW-drik) forms of [name_m]Patrick[/name_m].
And you might not be able to guarantee no one from trying to use a nickname but you and your son can always correct those people. I know plenty of people, children and adults, that ONLY go by their full names.
I like [name_m]Patrick[/name_m] as a full name. I don’t like most NNS for it, but I do like Patch and Trick as potential NNS. My youngest is the one who came up with Trick.