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

[Anonymous]

Would you still use that name?

[Anonymous]

I've generally found that people usually only use a nickname if it's used first by the person in question. We have a Katherine who goes only by Kate and has never, ever been called Katie by anyone, even when she was a toddler. My college roommate was only ever Elizabeth, never Liz or Beth. I work with someone who is only ever Jonathon, not Jon. It's just how they introduce themselves so that's how they're called.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

No. My kid goes by the full name but occasionally people default to the nickname. We are ok with it but actually had the discussion before he was born.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've generally found that people usually only use a nickname if it's used first by the person in question. We have a Katherine who goes only by Kate and has never, ever been called Katie by anyone, even when she was a toddler. My college roommate was only ever Elizabeth, never Liz or Beth. I work with someone who is only ever Jonathon, not Jon. It's just how they introduce themselves so that's how they're called.

This is so incredibly incorrect.

I am Abigail. I have always been Abigail. NEVER have I introduced myself as Abby. But 9 out of 10 times when I meet someone new, and I say "My name is Abigail" they respond back "Hi Abby!" and maybe 2/10 times I get told "My dog's name is Abby!" ... Coool, that's not my name and not what I JUST told you my name is.

I have been battling this my entire life. My sister has the same problem, Margaret who is NOT Maggie, but everyone has always insisted on Maggie. Our cousin is Katherine, and has ALWAYS been "So is it Katie or Kate?" No, it's Katherine. "Ok, Kate!"

[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.

That seems odd because there a million nicknames for Elizabeth, why would anyone assume that yours is Liz? Either you’re exaggerating or you just have crappy friends.

My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth and no one ever called her anything but Elizabeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That seems odd because there a million nicknames for Elizabeth, why would anyone assume that yours is Liz? Either you’re exaggerating or you just have crappy friends.

My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth and no one ever called her anything but Elizabeth.

I'm with Elizabeth here.
Signed- Cathryn who has always been Kate or Katie (They even switch the first letter!! )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've generally found that people usually only use a nickname if it's used first by the person in question. We have a Katherine who goes only by Kate and has never, ever been called Katie by anyone, even when she was a toddler. My college roommate was only ever Elizabeth, never Liz or Beth. I work with someone who is only ever Jonathon, not Jon. It's just how they introduce themselves so that's how they're called.

This is so incredibly incorrect.

I am Abigail. I have always been Abigail. NEVER have I introduced myself as Abby. But 9 out of 10 times when I meet someone new, and I say "My name is Abigail" they respond back "Hi Abby!" and maybe 2/10 times I get told "My dog's name is Abby!" ... Coool, that's not my name and not what I JUST told you my name is.

I have been battling this my entire life. My sister has the same problem, Margaret who is NOT Maggie, but everyone has always insisted on Maggie. Our cousin is Katherine, and has ALWAYS been "So is it Katie or Kate?" No, it's Katherine. "Ok, Kate!"

Yeah that PP is wrong. Especially when it comes to kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've generally found that people usually only use a nickname if it's used first by the person in question. We have a Katherine who goes only by Kate and has never, ever been called Katie by anyone, even when she was a toddler. My college roommate was only ever Elizabeth, never Liz or Beth. I work with someone who is only ever Jonathon, not Jon. It's just how they introduce themselves so that's how they're called.

This is so incredibly incorrect.

I am Abigail. I have always been Abigail. NEVER have I introduced myself as Abby. But 9 out of 10 times when I meet someone new, and I say "My name is Abigail" they respond back "Hi Abby!" and maybe 2/10 times I get told "My dog's name is Abby!" ... Coool, that's not my name and not what I JUST told you my name is.

I have been battling this my entire life. My sister has the same problem, Margaret who is NOT Maggie, but everyone has always insisted on Maggie. Our cousin is Katherine, and has ALWAYS been "So is it Katie or Kate?" No, it's Katherine. "Ok, Kate!"

My friend is Abigail and I've never heard anyone call her Abby. She's very much an Abigail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That seems odd because there a million nicknames for Elizabeth, why would anyone assume that yours is Liz? Either you’re exaggerating or you just have crappy friends.

My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth and no one ever called her anything but Elizabeth.

It’s mostly co-workers at nearly every job I’ve had. No idea why. My friends know my name.

[Anonymous]

It's almost certain that at some point someone will use that nickname. (Or maybe your own child might choose to use that nickname.) How much would that bother you?

[Anonymous]

My DD's full name is Kate. On most paperwork when she was little would ask for a nickname and we asked for her NOT to be called KATIE. As she got older, she would correct anyone who called her Katie. Now as a teen, no one calls her Katie. If I truly despised the nickname I would probably find a different name. In this case I just thought she would have a hard time losing Katie as an adult.

[Anonymous]

It’s never been a problem for me. I’m Anna Beth. I’ve always gone by Anna Beth. No one ever calls me Anna or Beth. I like both of the names, so it’s not a big deal. But it’s literally never been an issue. And I’m 50 years old.

[Anonymous]

Ha! Sometimes your kid has a mind of his own. I loved the first name, never used the nickname and it was no problem. But it turns out my 10 year old likes the nickname and encourages others to use it. So now he’s known by both and it’s not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's almost certain that at some point someone will use that nickname. (Or maybe your own child might choose to use that nickname.) How much would that bother you?

This. My kid has a name that has a nickname I don't love. We never use that nickname. No one in her extended family uses that nickname. She doesn't introduce herself using that nickname. Nonetheless, some teachers and friends have called her by that nickname. At this point, she's old enough to decide whether she likes it or not, and to tell people she would prefer to be called by her full name or a different nickname. So, yes, it's something we were aware of when we chose the name, and we decided to use the name anyway. What other people call her isn't something I care that much about, and certainly not something I can control once she's in school, anyway.