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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2011

    Nicknames - whats the big deal

    For the life of me I do not understand the take of nn's that some berries have like how it will make or break a name for them to not have one or how they wont use a name if it has one they dont like. All you have to say is "we dont call our child that so we expect you not to call them that either" or are people too passive to do this? Is it considered rude?

    Personally I never even thought about nn's until I got on nameberry, I feel like they just come naturally and when people say "my name is ____ and I always wanted a nn but there arent any good ones for it" I think theres a good chance their parents didnt like nn's or for whatever reason no one bothered to give them one because Ive yet to see a name that could not somehow be nicknamed.

    So can someone explain to me why it's necessary to preplan nn's as well as names?
    Josephine Athénaïs - Josephine Ivy - Myriam Athénaïs - Vivienne Josephine
    Ambrose Aristide - Ulysses Aristide


  2. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Well, you don't have to have a nickname - I don't. But nicknames are usually pre-planned because the name will have a standard nickname the parent dislikes. For example, if you name your child Elizabeth but don't like Liz, you can call her Elle, Eliza, Liddy, Lily or Buffy.

    Like you said, nicknames can form when the person is older. I get the feeling that anyone who names their kid Seraphina isn't looking to fit in, which means that the nickname Sera is a no-no. To avoid this, they'd go for Phina/Fina, Fia or Fifi.
    Amber. 17. Happy Hallowe'en.

  3. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    La La Land
    I love names that have nicknames, because I like to have choices. Like if I were to name my daughter May, she wouldn't have any options to go by something else. I don't think nicknames are completely necessary; Some people just like the option it gives them though.

  4. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Cair Paravel :)
    lol, I never thought people were making a big deal about it. I mean, I have a name with no nickname, and it's not for lack of trying. I wish I had one, but I am only ever Ashley with the people I know, and the majority of the people I know do have nicknames. When I look at nicknames I look at it from that perspective--I would like to be able to give my child a nickname, so it's just a part of looking at the whole name and seeing which nicknames I like, which I prefer with the full name, etc. If people don't like a certain nn it's a way to hopefully guide others into using the nn they prefer. I do think things evolve naturally but it's nice to have an idea as you're going into everything.
    twenty-something namenerd and aspiring novelist


  5. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Wishing for Greece, stuck in the US
    I've never had a nickname and when people try to call me Ang or Angie I usually say "no, my name is Angel, not Ang or Angie." I also know people with names that I didn't think could have a nickname and then they get one. Haylie at work gets called Hay-hay all the time.

    Personally, I don't understand letting a nickname make or break a name. I like Raphael but I hate Raph or Rafe so just call him by his full name. Or, I'll call him Rex, which is part of the middle. I like having the option of a middle name I love, but loving the full name is much more important to me. I always hate to see posts on here when people say "I just want the nn Ally (for example) so what's a long name to use so I can always call my kid Ally?" Don't name your kid Allison if you don't like it an only want to use the nn Ally. Name her Ally. I feel the same about almost all nicknames. Don't name your kid Alexander if you only like Alex, Eliana if you only like Elle, Charlotte if you only like Charlie....

    To me, nicknames are things that should happen naturally unless there's one in particular you don't want to be used. In which case, just don't use it and tell other people not to. If you kid decides to go by it later, that's their decision. At least you used a name you loved. You shouldn't let whether a name has a super amazing nickname or one you don't love push you away from the name you love.

    Proud Mama to:
    Persephone Elysia Willow -- June 5th 2013
    TTC #2 by Christmas 2014

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