Nicknames/short names that don't make sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're right, all nn probably do have a REASON, but some of those reasons are dumb. Calling your kid TeeJay is fine and seems logical. Calling your little Thomas John, CRAIG, while you're still pregnant is weird! Why not just name your kid Craig. (this is just an example name, but I've run into this sort of thing and that is what I'm complaining about). Also, I don't take anything on DCUM seriously, that's probably why I don't think this thread is overly judgmental. I actually enjoy kind of pointless threads like this more than "serious" threads that don't go anywhere and turn into debates about public breastfeeding or when to turn your toddler forward facing (been there done that).

You seem to have a pretty narrow view of names, like that thread where the teacher thought an Isabella should always be called Isabella even if the kid went by Bella. I haven't come across any extreme examples like you mention, and since you admit it's a made up one it's hard to judge what's going on, but a name has to do a lot over a person's lifetime, so it makes sense to me why parents might want a name that provides options over time. Little Timmy can decide to be Elizabeth or any of the other nicknames later if she wants, but if her parents had actually named her "Timmy" she'd be SOL. As for Jordan and Danny, it seems to me to be a nice solution in the event that the parents actually like BOTH names and don't want to decide. My DH and I went with a name theme that we realize our kids may grow to hate, so we purposely chose names that have nicknames outside the theme so our kids have options later.

OP here. The thread has helped me realize that it's the forced unnatural nn that I don't like, forced being key and something I didn't stress in my original post. Maggie for Margaret wouldn't be very forced because it's well known. Same with Bill for William. These nn wouldn't leave people feeling confused.

I may have a narrow view of names, not sure what that means actually, I guess I'm too narrow. However, I have a name that has what I call a "nickname" but really it's just the first few letters/sound of the name. This probably happened out of lazyness on my parents part but at least it just happened naturally, I appreciate it.

I knew a Stephanie in elementary school, actually I knew 3 in my 2rd grade class. So instead of everyone being confused all year, the teacher asked if one of them would like to go by Stevie (the others went by Steph and Stephanie). Looking back this seems reasonable. She still goes by Stevie to this day, I do wonder if her parents minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. The thread has helped me realize that it's the forced unnatural nn that I don't like, forced being key and something I didn't stress in my original post. Maggie for Margaret wouldn't be very forced because it's well known. Same with Bill for William. These nn wouldn't leave people feeling confused.

Well, really, picking out any name for a baby at all is forced and unnatural. You should wait until the baby is born and then see what you just naturally call the baby as you get to know the baby. (In my case, my children would be "Bunny" and "Fusspot".)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. The thread has helped me realize that it's the forced unnatural nn that I don't like, forced being key and something I didn't stress in my original post. Maggie for Margaret wouldn't be very forced because it's well known. Same with Bill for William. These nn wouldn't leave people feeling confused.

Well, really, picking out any name for a baby at all is forced and unnatural. You should wait until the baby is born and then see what you just naturally call the baby as you get to know the baby. (In my case, my children would be "Bunny" and "Fusspot".)

interesting idea. I might do it next time. Thanks not kidding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is Minx a nickname for? It's the nn of a girl on the show The Whispers.

It's the nickname for her real name which is Millicent

[Anonymous]

That is absolutely figgin perfect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
That is absolutely figgin perfect

Thanks AI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dick and Richard

Jack and John

Peggy and Margaret

Chuck and Charles

For classic ones, yes, these always baffled me. ESPECIALLY John --> Jack!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A recent "shortlist" thread that mentioned the nn Jo or Danny for Jordan made me realize how weird I think it is when people come up with these short names that don't make any sense. Jordan doesn't lend to either Jo or Danny in my opinion.

I'm not sure I follow you with Danny. Jordan ends in jor-DAN which does lend itself to using Danny as a nickname. That's similar to Beth for Elizabeth, Fred for Winifred, Belle for Annabelle, and many others. It's common to use the first OR last syllable as a nickname for a multisyllabic name.

But nobody pronounces it jor-DAN--if they did, that would make sense. It is pronounced more like JOR-din.
I agree that using Jo for a name that begins with Jor is a bit of a stretch, but not Danny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please list nn, or short names, that you've come across that don't make any sense for the real name.

A recent "shortlist" thread that mentioned the nn Jo or Danny for Jordan made me realize how weird I think it is when people come up with these short names that don't make any sense. Jordan doesn't lend to either Jo or Danny in my opinion.

*I'm not meaning to pick on people who come up with cute little nicknames- I know a kid who goes by Sia, her brother just can't pronounce her name. Another kid goes by Chuck because of a cute family joke.

Jo is literally the first two initials of the name! Danny is not common but it is in the name!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These new stretch nn are indeed annoying. I met a poppy, short for Penelope. I immediately wondered why they didn't go with Penny but I guess because of the OPE, poppy is ok. Though to me the end of Penelope sounds like uppy, so puppy would be more natural. ha!

I also know a Penelope who only goes by poppy

[Anonymous]

Jiggs (kid growing up; James)
Lumpy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tuck for Tom
Bo for Robert

I knew a Tuck for Chuck. His sibling couldn't pronounce Chuck. I think Tuck is cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is Minx a nickname for? It's the nn of a girl on the show The Whispers.

Pussy?

[Anonymous]

You would hate the silent generation. My mom said everyone had a nn unrelated to their name and many times they forgot what tgeir names were.

Example: Bookie because he would go to the movies snd go into such detail to his friends it was like a book.

Sissy for 'sister'

Red for boys with red hair etc etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ned for Edmund.

Ted for Edward

Ted for Theodore