Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+ 1

In other cultures, it's the norm to choose a formal name you like and expect that to be used at all times. In the US, you do have to think about potential nicknames because they are soooo heavily used (Nicholas -Nick, Michael - Mike, Daniel - Dan, Katherine - Kate, Elizabeth - Ellie or Lizzie, etc. etc. etc.)

Even if you make it through your child's childhood using the formal name, I've found that teachers often give them nicknames when they start school in order to differentiate between children with the same name. "Ok you're Katherine, you're Kate, and you're Katie."

When I was teaching, I always asked the kids which version of their name they preferred and they almost always told me a shortened version.

I hope that teachers don't do this. That would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

Well they do so pick a name with standard nicknames that you like (I don't like the nn Nate so I would never choose Nathaniel for my kids).

Kids do it too. Now that I think about it, maybe that's where it comes from actually - the other kids start calling your Christopher Chris and he goes along with it so the teacher starts calling him that as well.

Anonymous wrote:I hate Kiki. Kiki is hard for me to say, or at least sounds ugly when I say it. Gets caught in the back of my throat or something and sounds like Giggy. I do really like KK though which is somehow easier for me to say and also it sounds cuter.

There's also Keer/Kir which I think is super cute but also one of my favorite cocktails.

Really? I've never heard anyone say Kiki (Key Key) was hard to say. Doesn't sound like Giggy AT ALL. Do you have a lisp or accent?

I hate Kiki. Kiki is hard for me to say, or at least sounds ugly when I say it. Gets caught in the back of my throat or something and sounds like Giggy. I do really like KK though which is somehow easier for me to say and also it sounds cuter.

There's also Keer/Kir which I think is super cute but also one of my favorite cocktails.

Kiri (Kiri Te Kanawa)
Kira

Anonymous wrote:
I hear you that it's a tough dilemma for an 8 year old, but the problem is that Christopher is a common name and every other Christopher is cool with Chris. We have a last name that many people mispronounce (it's an easy name but it has a common mispronunciation). My 9 year old is not comfortable telling everyone the correct pronunciation but he hates when people do it and my advice to him is to learn to be ok with how people are pronouncing (I, personally, don't care one way or the other if you put the accent on the wrong syllable and pronounce the vowel the other way) or get used to correcting it. It is what it is. Going through life seething because someone makes a very common mistake is a recipe for disaster. Not saying your son is doing this, but you sound irrationally upset over it.

It's not true that every other Christopher is cool with Chris. Some are, some aren't. If Christopher has to tell his teacher every day that it's Christopher, not Chris, that's not Christopher's problem, it's his teacher's.

Kiki is adorable, and Chiara is a bit hard to say, especially for little kids. So I think the decision may be made for you. I truly like both ... just two very different feels.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Christopher: Hi, my name is Christopher.
You: Hi, Chris.
Christopher: Actually, Christopher, please.

Now what do you do?

NP here. I try to remember, but if I am also trying to get a new school year started, it might not happen for awhile.

You can remember Chris but not Christopher? BS. Forgetting the whole name is one thing, but no way I'm buying that people remember Rick but not Richard, Tom but not Thomas, Etc.

That's the dilemma for him--he's 8, he really doesn't feel like he can tell his teacher EVERY DAY that he doesn't want to be called Chris.

I hear you that it's a tough dilemma for an 8 year old, but the problem is that Christopher is a common name and every other Christopher is cool with Chris. We have a last name that many people mispronounce (it's an easy name but it has a common mispronunciation). My 9 year old is not comfortable telling everyone the correct pronunciation but he hates when people do it and my advice to him is to learn to be ok with how people are pronouncing (I, personally, don't care one way or the other if you put the accent on the wrong syllable and pronounce the vowel the other way) or get used to correcting it. It is what it is. Going through life seething because someone makes a very common mistake is a recipe for disaster. Not saying your son is doing this, but you sound irrationally upset over it.

Agree with Kiki if you want a nickname, but it's not inevitable. I know lots of people who go by their full names, including a Kathryn, Caroline, Charles, Robert, Daniel, Jeffrey, Rebecca, Alison, etc. etc. etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+ 1

In other cultures, it's the norm to choose a formal name you like and expect that to be used at all times. In the US, you do have to think about potential nicknames because they are soooo heavily used (Nicholas -Nick, Michael - Mike, Daniel - Dan, Katherine - Kate, Elizabeth - Ellie or Lizzie, etc. etc. etc.)

Even if you make it through your child's childhood using the formal name, I've found that teachers often give them nicknames when they start school in order to differentiate between children with the same name. "Ok you're Katherine, you're Kate, and you're Katie."

When I was teaching, I always asked the kids which version of their name they preferred and they almost always told me a shortened version.

I hope that teachers don't do this. That would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

Many are too lazy. If I have to tell one more teacher it's Christopher and not Chris, my head may explode.

Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Good lord, it's not that damn hard. He doesn't like it but doesn't appreciate having to correct his teachers. I don't like NN in general, why is it so hard to just call everyone by their name? If I tell you myname is Elizabeth, I expect you to call me Elizabeth, and not to have a 5 minute conversation about other options.

Sorry, Liz. Should've picked a different name if you don't want your DS to go by Chris. If he prefers Topher, he needs to say so.

Try harder, you're not actually funny. That's a grimace you see on everyone's face, not a smile.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Christopher: Hi, my name is Christopher.
You: Hi, Chris.
Christopher: Actually, Christopher, please.

Now what do you do?

NP here. I try to remember, but if I am also trying to get a new school year started, it might not happen for awhile.

You can remember Chris but not Christopher? BS. Forgetting the whole name is one thing, but no way I'm buying that people remember Rick but not Richard, Tom but not Thomas, Etc.

That's the dilemma for him--he's 8, he really doesn't feel like he can tell his teacher EVERY DAY that he doesn't want to be called Chris.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+ 1

In other cultures, it's the norm to choose a formal name you like and expect that to be used at all times. In the US, you do have to think about potential nicknames because they are soooo heavily used (Nicholas -Nick, Michael - Mike, Daniel - Dan, Katherine - Kate, Elizabeth - Ellie or Lizzie, etc. etc. etc.)

Even if you make it through your child's childhood using the formal name, I've found that teachers often give them nicknames when they start school in order to differentiate between children with the same name. "Ok you're Katherine, you're Kate, and you're Katie."

When I was teaching, I always asked the kids which version of their name they preferred and they almost always told me a shortened version.

I hope that teachers don't do this. That would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

Many are too lazy. If I have to tell one more teacher it's Christopher and not Chris, my head may explode.

Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Good lord, it's not that damn hard. He doesn't like it but doesn't appreciate having to correct his teachers. I don't like NN in general, why is it so hard to just call everyone by their name? If I tell you myname is Elizabeth, I expect you to call me Elizabeth, and not to have a 5 minute conversation about other options.

Sorry, Liz. Should've picked a different name if you don't want your DS to go by Chris. If he prefers Topher, he needs to say so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+ 1

In other cultures, it's the norm to choose a formal name you like and expect that to be used at all times. In the US, you do have to think about potential nicknames because they are soooo heavily used (Nicholas -Nick, Michael - Mike, Daniel - Dan, Katherine - Kate, Elizabeth - Ellie or Lizzie, etc. etc. etc.)

Even if you make it through your child's childhood using the formal name, I've found that teachers often give them nicknames when they start school in order to differentiate between children with the same name. "Ok you're Katherine, you're Kate, and you're Katie."

When I was teaching, I always asked the kids which version of their name they preferred and they almost always told me a shortened version.

I hope that teachers don't do this. That would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

Many are too lazy. If I have to tell one more teacher it's Christopher and not Chris, my head may explode.

Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Good lord, it's not that damn hard. He doesn't like it but doesn't appreciate having to correct his teachers. I don't like NN in general, why is it so hard to just call everyone by their name? If I tell you myname is Elizabeth, I expect you to call me Elizabeth, and not to have a 5 minute conversation about other options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Christopher: Hi, my name is Christopher.
You: Hi, Chris.
Christopher: Actually, Christopher, please.

Now what do you do?

NP here. I try to remember, but if I am also trying to get a new school year started, it might not happen for awhile.

Anonymous wrote:
Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.

Christopher: Hi, my name is Christopher.
You: Hi, Chris.
Christopher: Actually, Christopher, please.

Now what do you do?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+ 1

In other cultures, it's the norm to choose a formal name you like and expect that to be used at all times. In the US, you do have to think about potential nicknames because they are soooo heavily used (Nicholas -Nick, Michael - Mike, Daniel - Dan, Katherine - Kate, Elizabeth - Ellie or Lizzie, etc. etc. etc.)

Even if you make it through your child's childhood using the formal name, I've found that teachers often give them nicknames when they start school in order to differentiate between children with the same name. "Ok you're Katherine, you're Kate, and you're Katie."

When I was teaching, I always asked the kids which version of their name they preferred and they almost always told me a shortened version.

I hope that teachers don't do this. That would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

Many are too lazy. If I have to tell one more teacher it's Christopher and not Chris, my head may explode.

Seriously? You named your kid Christopher but get that upset if he is called Chris? That was a bad name to choose if you don't like Chris. It's too natural a nickname for anyone to think twice about using it.