[name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering, what are your thoughts on less than intuitive nicknames?
Like nicknames that aren’t too far removed from the name, but aren’t the standard nickname for them. Like a nickname that you wouldn’t think of, or call someone with the name, but if you know their nickname and then find out their real name you find it quite cool and creative.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] less than intuitive nicknames only work for names that don’t really have nicknames?
[name_u]Or[/name_u] can they sometimes be used for names that do have a more intuitive nickname as long as the name-wearer makes their nickname choice clear?
E.g. introducing themselves as said nickname or having [name_m]Real[/name_m] name (Nickname) on their social media profile.
I wouldn’t force them. Some emerge naturally, but it would be weird if parents insisted their son [name_u]Benjamin[/name_u] be called [name_m]Jamin[/name_m].
I like them - it’s always cool to meet someone with an unexpected nickname.
Having worked with kids, there are plenty with less intuitive nicknames. Most have the preferred nickname recorded on the register so that’s what you see, what you know to call them. Others I’ve met have typically corrected people or just said ‘I’m [full name], but I go by [nickname]’ and usually it works.
I think it’s fine if the name has more intuitive nicknames - but it might need correcting or being introduced by the nickname.
I think less-than-intuitive nicknames can work for any name, but I think they work best when the wearer goes exclusively by the nickname.
For example, an [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] choosing to go by [name_u]Billie[/name_u] would have to almost exclusively refer to herself as [name_u]Billie[/name_u] to avoid [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] or [name_u]Abby[/name_u] in my experience. I find giving some people even the option of the full name upon meeting is confusing for them. I know someone with a nickname derived from the meaning of their name, and they always just introduce themselves as [nickname] to avoid excessive explaining.
I don’t necessarily think it’s strange when I encounter it in real life (people get nicknamed in all kinds of ways), but I don’t know that it’s something that I couls see myself planning.
Tbh I find the entire concept of feeling like you’re in control of your own nickname odd. Nicknames are given, not proscribed, and in the past people who tried to enforce their own ‘cool’ nickname that nobody naturally called them were seen as sad. I would personally steer clear of any names where I hated the intuitive shortened form, because [name_f]British[/name_f] naming culture is very nicknamey and people will do it whether you like it or not. It’s the reason I’ve sadly had to write off so many gorgeous [name_f]El[/name_f]- names, because I have an irrational dislike of [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]. No offence to any Ellie’s, I can’t even explain my dislike. But yeah, basically I don’t think any unintuitive nickname can be enforced unless you literally only ever introduce as that as if it were their actual name, in which case it might as well be their birth certificate name and I don’t see the point.
I adore less than intuitive nicknames! I don’t come from a super nickname-y area and people’s names don’t often get automatically shortened by others, so when I encounter someone with a nickname, it’s almost always a form of self-expression! I love seeing people expressing themselves with names in any way, even with nicknames that are absolutely not intuitive at all I think this can (and have seen this) work equally well for names without nicknames at all and names with intuitive nicknames. I know a bunch of people with less than intuitive nicknames like this, and after introducing themselves as “_____, but you can call me _____” they’ve never had any issues with people resorting to a more intuitive nickname!
I love them! They might be a little hard to enforce, especially if the child didn’t pick it out themself but I think they can totally work for any name.
I used to know an [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] ‘Beth’ and I’d say that’s definitely a less intuitive nickname than [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f] or, say, [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], but she just introduced herself as [name_f]Beth[/name_f] so we all just called her it. It was months before I found out her full name, and I think if I was to ever use a less intuitive nickname for myself that’s the way I would go about it. Though it would obviously depend on the name/nickname and circumstances as to how easy it would be to enforce/encourage
I think this can (and have seen this) work equally well for names without nicknames at all and names with intuitive nicknames. I know a bunch of people with less than intuitive nicknames like this, and after introducing themselves as “_____, but you can call me _____” they’ve never had any issues with people resorting to a more intuitive nickname!