I’m currently in love with the name [name]Walter[/name], nn [name]Walt[/name]. Not ttc yet, but of course dreaming about future siblings for our [name]Vincent[/name] [name]Harrison[/name]! We’re not crazy about the nn [name]Wally[/name], though…do you think it could be avoided, or is it inevitable? I don’t want it to hold us back from the fantastic name [name]Walt[/name]–it has a lot of meaning for us since both hubby and I worked for [name]Walt[/name] Disney World and it has had a lot of influence on our lives. Thoughts about the nn situation and how it goes with brother [name]Vincent[/name] (nn [name]Vince[/name] and [name]Vinny[/name])?
Possible middle names…[name]Walter[/name] [name]Michael[/name], [name]Walter[/name] [name]Davis[/name]…any other ideas? (both family names)
I would love to meet a new baby named [name]Walter[/name]! It’s fabulous And I think [name]Wally[/name] can be avoided, honestly the first nn I thought of was [name]Walt[/name], for me that’s more natural than [name]Wally[/name].
My husband comes from a family with no less than 5 Walters, and every single one is a [name]Wally[/name]. IMHO it’s not avoidable. To someone, someday he will be [name]Wally[/name]. [name]Wally[/name] is easily more popular than [name]Walt[/name] for a [name]Walter[/name] nn.
I think [name]Walt[/name] is more intuitive than [name]Wally[/name]. [name]Just[/name] establish that as your nn of choice and I think you should be in the clear-unless he decides on [name]Wally[/name] himself down the road.
My 2.5 year old is [name]Walter[/name] nn [name]Walt[/name] and not one person has ever called him [name]Wally[/name]. Maybe that happens in kibby’s family because there was a precedent of Walters getting called [name]Wally[/name]. People call our son [name]Walt[/name] or sometimes Walty (which I think is a lot cuter than [name]Wally[/name], but I’m guessing it won’t last much beyond the early years). And I don’t think they would even call him Walty unless they heard us doing it. I’m obviously biased, but I think It’s a great name; people compliment it all the time.
The first nickname, and probably the most common one, to pop into my head for this name was [name]Walt[/name], which I think is handsome! I would never call a [name]Walter[/name] “[name]Wally[/name]”. If it’s a concern for you, you could always introduce him as [name]Walt[/name] first, or pull a “This is my son [name]Walter[/name], we call him [name]Walt[/name] for short.”
Eventually, though, he may WANT to go by [name]Wally[/name]. [name]Just[/name] like some [name]Richards[/name] choose to go by [name]Dick[/name], for reasons I will never understand. So no, it’s not 100% avoidable, but I don’t think you should let that put you off!
I agree with above posters, the first nn I thought of for [name]Walter[/name] was [name]Walt[/name], although all the Walters I’ve ever known were called [name]Walter[/name], no nn. The British nn is Wat or Watty.
As for [name]Richard[/name] and [name]Dick[/name], most guys my age or older were [name]Dick[/name] because it simply wasn’t thought of as the pejorative slang it is used for today. [name]Dick[/name] and Dickon were nns for [name]Richard[/name] for seven centuries before modern nastiness took it out of the picture.
I grew up with a [name]Walter[/name] who went by just [name]Walter[/name] (his dad was [name]Walt[/name], he didn’t appreciate us calling him that. But I kind of like it better). Anyway, we didn’t exactly get along so I have pretty bad associations with that name. That being said, if you like it use it. It goes great with [name]Vincent[/name]! [name]Walter[/name] [name]Davis[/name] is a very handsome name.
Abbycd- You are likely right! [name]Wallys[/name] are probably [name]Wallys[/name] in the family because thats how the first one was nn’d. I never thought of it that way.
I’ve known a few Walters and none of them ever went by [name]Wally[/name]. One went by [name]Walt[/name] and the other two were always [name]Walter[/name]. I think [name]Walt[/name] is the more natural nickname. It would never occur to me to call a [name]Walter[/name], [name]Wally[/name].
well i come from a family with [name]Walter[/name]'s also and the youngest [name]Walter[/name], the third is called [name]Wally[/name] by family. I am certain his dad, my uncle is never called [name]Wally[/name] and am quite sure my Grandpa was never called [name]Wally[/name]. it is not used as an all the time nn, usually he is called [name]Walter[/name], and my Uncle goes by [name]Walt[/name], but it is used as an occasional pet name or teasing nickname.
[name]Walter[/name] is very uncommon where I live and I’m not sure that many people under the age of 50 even know that [name]Wally[/name] is a nickname for [name]Walter[/name] . I only knew it was because I googled it to find out why Leave It To Beavers brother was called that…
We have a [name]Walter[/name] who is almost two. Most people call him [name]Walt[/name] or [name]Walter[/name]. I call him Walty, but just affectionately. My husband and my father call him [name]Wally[/name], but it doesn’t bother me. I think if you like a name, and then you like your child, that name comes to embody them, and then the silly little nicknames won’t bother you so much. Officially, we tell people his name is [name]Walt[/name]. My point is, people will call him what you want them to call him, and if they don’t – meh! Also, be forewarned – about 75% love his name, and the other 25% think we’re totally insane. We love it though, and wouldn’t change it for the world. He is truly an adorable little old-soul [name]Walter[/name]!
I love the name [name]Walter[/name]! As long as family and friends hear you refer to him as [name]Walt[/name], I think you can avoid [name]Wally[/name] without a problem. It seems unlikely, but if anyone slips up, I would explain that you don’t care for [name]Wally[/name] and ask them to use [name]Walt[/name] instead. [name]Walter[/name] is a great name, and I hope you keep it on your short list for the future.
I come down on the side of Walt as being the most likely nickname, especially among his peers in school, who aren’t particularly likely to know the nn [name]Wally[/name] from tv or anywhere else.
I’d love to be able to use the Walter myself - it’s one of my absolutely favorites - but my husband hates it. I’m happy to see the name get so much love around here.
I have a 15 month old named [name]Walter[/name]. Hubby and I decided not to use nicknames for our kids, so we just call him [name]Walter[/name]. You as his parents dictate what he will be called. If you don’t like [name]Wally[/name] then you just don’t even bring up that option.
I doubt very many people these days know that [name]Wally[/name] was a nickname for [name]Walter[/name] in the past; people are going to associate the name with what’s in pop culture. None of the “Walters” on TV [for example on Breaking Bad and Fringe, which have main characters dubbed [name]Walter[/name]] or famous people in the media in general go by or have anyone calling them [name]Wally[/name], just [name]Walt[/name] as a nickname. I suspect the only time you’d get anyone calling him [name]Wally[/name] is if they were either elderly and remember the days when [name]Wally[/name] was the nickname used OR someone is teasing or trying to annoy.
Also-- until your child reaches later school-age, starts joining sports teams, etc-- his nickname will be shaped by what he’s called at home. A 4yo called [name]Walt[/name] at home will show up at preschool and tell his friends “hi, my name is [name]Walt[/name]!” And those little friends will tell their parents to invite “[name]Walt[/name]” to their birthday parties.
Once kids reach the age where their identity is shaped by their peers rather than their family, it’s all beyond your control anyway.
And FWIW-- the only young [name]Walter[/name] I know (age 3) goes exclusively by [name]Walt[/name].
We’re not crazy about the nn [name]Wally[/name], though…do you think it could be avoided, or is it inevitable? I don’t want it to hold us back from the fantastic name [name]Walt[/name]–it has a lot of meaning for us since both hubby and I worked for [name]Walt[/name] Disney World and it has had a lot of influence on our lives. Thoughts about the nn situation and how it goes with brother [name]Vincent[/name] (nn [name]Vince[/name] and [name]Vinny[/name])?
So no, it’s not 100% avoidable, but I don’t think you should let that put you off!