What if you love a name but hate the possible nickname others will use for that name?

[Anonymous]

We had to reject several classic boys' names for this reason. I love Joseph but there's just no way that kid wouldn't be called Joe or Joey. Same for names like Matthew and Thomas. Husband wanted a Jr, but hates pretty much all nicknames for his name, and I'm not signing up for half my family being called the same thing. Had to go pretty Old Testament for a name that was old but not nicknameable,

[Anonymous]

I avoided Henry because my DH wouldn’t promise not to call him Hank sometimes. No way was I going to be Hank’s mom!

[Anonymous]

I went by Elizabeth through high school. In college folks started calling me Liz to the point where introducing myself as Elizabeth felt weird. I now go by Liz.

People will nickname any name - even the shortest of names.

[Anonymous]

You have to accept the nickname if it’s something like Joseph/Joe or Christopher/Chris.

For a more unusual name, nicknames aren’t as definite and you can get away with saying, “don’t use that nickname”.

[Anonymous]

My sister. Her name is Gabrielle and my mother was worried people would call her Gabby and hated when people called her that (would correct them). Once she got to elementary school she actually chose to use the nickname Gabby as it was just a lot easier and more simple for her and her friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My son is named James. We use the nickname JP. People very often will call him Jim or Jimmy, which we do not use or like. By using the nickname often, or correcting people nicely, they will eventually get it. But yes, it is a little frustrating when assumptions are made.

- Elizabeth (nn Betsy but always called Liz by strangers)

On the other hand-I have a 5yo James and no one ever calls him Jim or Jimmy. I don’t think he would even have a clue that they were talking to him if they used Jimmy. I feel like the trend in kids names (at least around here) has been towards formality, so people don’t assume nicknames as much, especially for names that are short anyway.

[Anonymous]

Also. Your kid might like the nick name.

I hated my son having a nick name but he prefers it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t use the name. You and your child will forever be correcting people. Unless they like the nickname and decide to go for it.

Signed - Elizabeth, not Liz, who is constantly and forever being called Liz.

I am also an Elizabeth (no official nickname).

I've had some people call me Liz. I don't introduce myself that way and don't prefer it, but I usually just let it slide. No a huge deal.

I would say the main thing is that people nickname me OTHER things all the time. Unrelated to Elizabeth. I think because it's a 4 syllable first name, people just want to shorten it. In high school people used my last name (which was two easy syllables).

At work I've never had an issue and everyone calls me Elizabeth. In my personal life I have a million other names, but none I would co-opt as my "own" name and use when introducing myself.

For the record: I named my kids short names that don't have obvious nicknames .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also. Your kid might like the nick name.

I hated my son having a nick name but he prefers it.

The world hates a long name and will shorten it.

[Anonymous]

I think there’s a difference between James/Jim and Christopher/Chris.

What’s the name , OP?

The “long name” thing confuses me because I’m an Emily, which is THREE syllables, but it doesn’t get nicknamed because it looks short...?

[Anonymous]

DH and I ended up not using our first choice name- Rosalind- which we both LOVE because I can't stand Roz as a nickname and he can't stand Rose.

[Anonymous]

I once mistakenly introduced two friends, both named Judith, but one goes by Judy only after they proclaimed about how much they had in coming- “and look you even have the same name!” To which they both (rightly, politely and forcefully) responded, “ah, no I’m a Judith and she’s a Judy.”

[Anonymous]

I didn’t use Victoria for this reason. What REALLY sealed it for me was when someone pointed out that she herself could decide she wanted to go by Vicky!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my parents thought they had found a nickname proof name,

Then my grandma shows up at the hospital ans immediately shortened it.

They were so upset.

Years later, I used that name with my best friend in my neighborhood only. My mom said it was like nails on a chalkboard.

What was the name??

Shannon, and the nickname they didn’t see coming was Shannie

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who also wanted to avoid a name with a nickname. She named her son Logan. Grandparents on both sides call the kid Logey!! As if that isn’t the worst name EVER!!!