[Opinions] Nathan vs. Nathaniel
Nathaniel is the one name I've been able to agree on with my boyfriend. However, I've begun to like Nathan just a bit more. I'm curious as to people's opinions. Nathaniel has better namesakes to me, but Nathan is just easier.
TIA
TIA
Replies
I like Nathaniel nn Nathan
I prefer Nathaniel, personally--first there's Nat from Little Men and Jo's Boys, who turned me onto the name in the first place, then dear Natty-boy of Bartimaeus, and then the eternally-sexy Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Nathan, on the other hand, has Nathan Fillion of Firefly and not much else. Plus, every Nathan I've known has been a total jerk. So I definitely like Nathaniel better.
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Nathan, on the other hand, has Nathan Fillion of Firefly and not much else. Plus, every Nathan I've known has been a total jerk. So I definitely like Nathaniel better.
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I prefer just Nathan by itself. Skye's name was going to be Nathan if she was a boy.
Nathan and Nathaniel are pretty close in popularity stats.
Doesn't make much of a difference.
Doesn't make much of a difference.
23 to 69 is bit of a difference, at least for me. I suppose I just get more of a trendy feel from Nathan.
This message was edited 8/28/2007, 4:32 PM
I prefer Nathan
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I know easily twice as many Nathaniels as I do Nathans, so if the ease that you're considering comes from it being a shorter name, I wouldn't worry about it. Nathaniel's a pretty easy one for people to grasp. If your preference for Nathan isn't that strong, and you both agree on Nathaniel, I recommend going with Nathan as a nickname.
As a matter of interest, without exception every Nathaniel or Nathan I know goes by Nate. And after Christopher and variants of Eric, it easily competes to be one of the top most popular names of my personal acquaintances.
As a matter of interest, without exception every Nathaniel or Nathan I know goes by Nate. And after Christopher and variants of Eric, it easily competes to be one of the top most popular names of my personal acquaintances.
I love both names but tend toward Nathaniel as being more handsome, less trendy in sound, more possible nicknames (not just Nate, Nathan, Nat but also Niel / Neil or even Eli from the ending letters). I also love it's connection on my family tree (Nathan can also be found there but not as direct an ancestor). So anyway, Nathaniel is my suggestion.
I know a Nathan who goes by Nathan, a Nathan who goes by Nate, a Nathaniel who goes by Nate, and a Nathaniel who goes by Nathan.
Personally, I think Nathan is more handsome and, as you said, easier. Especially if you're going to call him Nate or Nathan anyway, just leave the '-iel' off, unless you're honoring or something...
Personally, I think Nathan is more handsome and, as you said, easier. Especially if you're going to call him Nate or Nathan anyway, just leave the '-iel' off, unless you're honoring or something...