I haven’t been on since having my son, [name_m]Desmond[/name_m], 3 years ago. At that time I was struggling with the spelling of his nickname. Most of the people commenting back then thought I should be true to the spelling of [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] and go with [name_m]Des[/name_m]/[name_u]Desi[/name_u].
The first announcement of his birth to friends and family via FB announced him as “[name_m]Dezi[/name_m]”, but within a few days, I changed my mind and went with [name_u]Desi[/name_u]. I felt then that the “Z” looked like I was trying too hard to be trendy.
For the past 3 years he’s been [name_u]Desi[/name_u].
These days I am having serious second thoughts. I think [name_u]Desi[/name_u] looks too feminine to me, and it’s starting to bother me. [name_m]Dezi[/name_m] looks more masculine, and I think it will affect the way he is viewed as he grows. My son is about to start preschool in a month, and I want to try to make a final decision before then.
Of course everyone who knows him knows the spelling is [name_u]Desi[/name_u], but I don’t think it will be too terribly awkward to swap the “s” out for a “z”. It’s not like we’re changing his full name, nor are we changing its pronunciation.
I think [name_u]Desi[/name_u] looks great. Most nicknames have a slightly feminine feel. [name_u]Jackie[/name_u] [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] was one of the most famous men ever but [name_u]Jackie[/name_u], and [name_u]Jacky[/name_u] both have a feminine feel. Most of the [name_u]Chris[/name_u]’ I’ve known have been women, either [name_f]Christina[/name_f], [name_u]Christy[/name_u], or [name_f]Christine[/name_f], if you count [name_u]Kris[/name_u] with a K I’ve k a few Kristens that have gone by [name_u]Kris[/name_u]. And even names like [name_u]Jo[/name_u], and [name_u]Joey[/name_u] have a long history as nick names for names like [name_u]Joan[/name_u], [name_f]Joanne[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], and [name_f]Josepha[/name_f]. Point is [name_u]Desi[/name_u] don’t look feminine to me, any more then [name_u]Andy[/name_u], [name_u]Jackie[/name_u], or [name_u]Joey[/name_u] but there are going to be girls that share his name, there might be less that do if its spelled [name_u]Desi[/name_u], or [name_m]Des[/name_m] but he’s too young for this to be a big deal. So if you feel better with it being [name_m]Dezi[/name_m] go for it.
[name_u]Desi[/name_u] does not look feminine at all nor do I think a Z makes it any more masculine. Because his name is [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] (with an S) his nickname should logically be [name_u]Desi[/name_u] not [name_m]Dezi[/name_m]. It would be different if his name were Dezmond; the Z is just silly looking to be honest. An Z instead of a S is not going to effect his masculinity or how other people view him, that I can promise you. The only part of [name_u]Desi[/name_u] that is feminine feeling is the ending and to fix that he can just be [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] instead, but a Z swapped for an S does nothing.
I would stick with [name_u]Desi[/name_u]. [name_u]Desi[/name_u] is a great nickname. I do not think [name_u]Desi[/name_u] looks feminine. [name_m]Dezi[/name_m] looks off to me.
Stick with [name_u]Desi[/name_u]. It’s a much more intuitive nickname for [name_m]Desmond[/name_m]. It doesn’t look or feel feminine to me. I think you are over thinking it.
I looked back and saw that I posted basically the same question years ago and got basically the same responses. Thanks everyone for your thoughtful responses. It makes me feel better knowing you don’t think [name_u]Desi[/name_u] looks too feminine. I particularly liked being reminded that the nicknames of many boy names tend to have that same effect, i.e. [name_u]Andy[/name_u], [name_u]Danny[/name_u], for example.
I am a very indecisive person, so picking, and then STICKING with a name has been incedibly tough for me over these years. I love the name [name_m]Desmond[/name_m], but not a day goes by that I don’t wish I had chosen something else. I’m not going to change his name, of course, so the only other option would be to change the spelling of the nn to [name_m]Dezi[/name_m]. I was hoping that might make me feel better about my name choice. Oh well, I need to let it go.
He can be both [name_u]Desi[/name_u] & [name_m]Dez[/name_m]
As a kid I had a friend named [name_f]Desiree[/name_f]. Her nicknames were [name_u]Desi[/name_u] & [name_m]Dez[/name_m]. [name_m]Dez[/name_m] is more intuitive than [name_m]Des[/name_m] while [name_u]Desi[/name_u] is more natural than [name_m]Dezi[/name_m]. And as others have mentioned, [name_u]Desi[/name_u] is tied to [name_u]Desi[/name_u] Arnaz so I doubt many will find it ‘girly’
I say stick with [name_u]Desi[/name_u]. Many nicknames are gender neutral and [name_u]Desi[/name_u] feels that way to me. I also think it’s more intuitive because your son’s name is spelled with an “s.”
Aww! I hate that you doubt [name_m]Desmond[/name_m]. I absolutely love it. It incredibly handsome and debonair while remaining masculine. I can see [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] at any walk of life and in any career. He could be a jock, business man, doctor, or a lumberjack. Plus, I always remember [name_m]Desmond[/name_m] from Lost. Great association!
[name_u]Desi[/name_u] is perfectly masculine. In fact, I think changing the spelling to [name_m]Dezi[/name_m] makes it seem more feminine…no joke my family’s (female) dog as a child wal named [name_m]Dezi[/name_m] (because she was born on 1/17/1991 the day Operation Desert [name_u]Storm[/name_u] began. Weird family huh? Lol)
