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Help[Opinions] Hating Nicknames
I am having a problem. I like the combo Alice Josephine but I have a fear that even though I don't like any nn's for Alice that I would end up using one at some point (Like Allie, or Liss, blech!). I don't want that to happen.
Do any of you have a similiar problem? Do you have a name or combo you like but hate the nicknames, even though you know you will likely end up using one out of convenience (even though you know you will try hard not to)?
Do any of you have a similiar problem? Do you have a name or combo you like but hate the nicknames, even though you know you will likely end up using one out of convenience (even though you know you will try hard not to)?
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Replies
Yeah, I have some names like that. The one I can think of right now is Rand nn Randy, and also Jonathan nn Jon and Nathan nn Nate.
I don't think there's any bad nns for Alice though. I've never seen any people named Alice who go by a nn; all the Alices I know just go by Alice, so I wouldn't worry anout that one.
I don't think there's any bad nns for Alice though. I've never seen any people named Alice who go by a nn; all the Alices I know just go by Alice, so I wouldn't worry anout that one.
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Oh, yes, I know what you mean. I guess the biggest one for me is Geoffrey. Love Geoffrey but I loathe loathe loathe Geoff, and have a really bad association with a Jeff. But as it's the first syllable of Geoffrey I know I'd end up calling him that, it's automatic for me to shorten a name to it's first syllable. So Geoffrey is out.
With Alice, neither of those seem like automatic nicknames. If anything, I'd be worried about calling her Al cause that's what I would automatically call her. I think nn's can be avoided if you really want. Alice is a lovely name.
With Alice, neither of those seem like automatic nicknames. If anything, I'd be worried about calling her Al cause that's what I would automatically call her. I think nn's can be avoided if you really want. Alice is a lovely name.
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Thank you!
I think you are one of the only people replying that actually understood what I was trying to get across. I was starting to get a little frustrated.
Thanks for your input!
I think you are one of the only people replying that actually understood what I was trying to get across. I was starting to get a little frustrated.
Thanks for your input!
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If you really hate the nicknames, I would think you simply wouldn't use them. Why would you call your daughter a name you hate? It just doesn't make any sense.
Also, I think Alice is short enough that most people wouldn't try to shorten it. That said, it's really up to the kid herself (once she's old enough to assert her opinion on the matter) if she chooses to accept the nicknames people sometimes automatically give. Unfortunately, after a point there's not much you as a parent can do about it if people insist on calling Alice by a nickname and she doesn't care.
Case in point: my brother and me. His name is Nicholas and mine is Allison. Our parents have NEVER used nicknames for us. (My dad actually agreed to Nicholas' name contingent on never using a nickname for him.) However, people tend to automatically shorten our names to Nick and Ally. He doesn't care, so he's now known as Nick (except in our family). I hate being called Ally, so I correct people and am known as Allison, or occasionally "Al" if someone wants a quick abbreviation.
As for my name choices -- I like most of the common nicknames for the names I've chosen. The only exception is Julia. I HATE HATE HATE the nicknames Jewel, Jules, etc. and people with Jul- names always seem to get called them. However, if I have a daughter and name her Julia, I know *I* won't call her Jules, so it'll be up to her to decide if she cares enough to correct other people.
Also, I think Alice is short enough that most people wouldn't try to shorten it. That said, it's really up to the kid herself (once she's old enough to assert her opinion on the matter) if she chooses to accept the nicknames people sometimes automatically give. Unfortunately, after a point there's not much you as a parent can do about it if people insist on calling Alice by a nickname and she doesn't care.
Case in point: my brother and me. His name is Nicholas and mine is Allison. Our parents have NEVER used nicknames for us. (My dad actually agreed to Nicholas' name contingent on never using a nickname for him.) However, people tend to automatically shorten our names to Nick and Ally. He doesn't care, so he's now known as Nick (except in our family). I hate being called Ally, so I correct people and am known as Allison, or occasionally "Al" if someone wants a quick abbreviation.
As for my name choices -- I like most of the common nicknames for the names I've chosen. The only exception is Julia. I HATE HATE HATE the nicknames Jewel, Jules, etc. and people with Jul- names always seem to get called them. However, if I have a daughter and name her Julia, I know *I* won't call her Jules, so it'll be up to her to decide if she cares enough to correct other people.
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People don't use nn's for Alice...if they do it's your daughter's job to quell it if she doesn't like it.
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First of all, Alice Josephine is a lovely combo and I don't think that the nicknames would be that big of a deal.
I'm worried that Charlotte (one of my favourite names at the moment) will lead to nicknames like Char and Charlie which are names that are so frumpy and ugly when compared to Charlotte. Lottie's cute but not something I would use.
I'm worried that Charlotte (one of my favourite names at the moment) will lead to nicknames like Char and Charlie which are names that are so frumpy and ugly when compared to Charlotte. Lottie's cute but not something I would use.
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I like Joseph, but I'm not keen on Joe. There's nothing wrong with it, but I consider it very plain and boring. Joey sounds like an annoying little kid, so I don't like that either.
I also like Elisabeth/Elizabeth, but I don't care for any of its nicknames except for Lisa. I like Lisa, but Lizzie/Libby/Eliza/Elle/Ellie? BLECH.
I also like Elisabeth/Elizabeth, but I don't care for any of its nicknames except for Lisa. I like Lisa, but Lizzie/Libby/Eliza/Elle/Ellie? BLECH.
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Bellatrix - I love Bellatrix, but I can't stand Bella or Trixie.
Nicola - I don't like Nick or Nicky. Or Cola, for that matter.
Lotus - Loty? Tussy?
Aisling - I don't like Ais (pronounced like Ash). All I think of is Pokemon. But I suppose a proper Irish nickname for Aisling would be Aislín (ASH-leen), which is really pretty.
Mallory - Mal is the French word for bad, and Mally sounds like someone saying Molly in a strange accent. And Lory is said like lorry.
Nicola - I don't like Nick or Nicky. Or Cola, for that matter.
Lotus - Loty? Tussy?
Aisling - I don't like Ais (pronounced like Ash). All I think of is Pokemon. But I suppose a proper Irish nickname for Aisling would be Aislín (ASH-leen), which is really pretty.
Mallory - Mal is the French word for bad, and Mally sounds like someone saying Molly in a strange accent. And Lory is said like lorry.
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Totally!
I am ALL about this problem. I have many examples that make me cross off names from my first-name list, JUST because I KNOW that a hated nickname will inevitably be used. Like:
James and Jamesina: HATE HATE HATE Jamie. I like Jimmy, but that's passe and nobody would use it naturally.
Christabel: Hate Chrissy and Chris
Charlotte: Hate Charlie. Lottie would be ok, but who would use it? It's not an obvious choice.
Clifford: Don't like Cliff
Cornelia: Corny!
Edgar: Not crazy about Ed or Eddie
Eglantine: I like the nick name "Aggie" for this, but it's rather obscure, and I'm fearful that some "egg"-related name will result.
Isidora, Isabeau, Isolde: I don't like Izzy, it seems mannish and ditzy at the same time.
Norman: I like Norman, but not Norm
Willamina: I don't like Willie or Will for a girl. Mina is preferable, but it's another non-obvious choice.
It makes me a little sad to know that these names will be bumped into the middle because of the nicknames that go along with them.
I am ALL about this problem. I have many examples that make me cross off names from my first-name list, JUST because I KNOW that a hated nickname will inevitably be used. Like:
James and Jamesina: HATE HATE HATE Jamie. I like Jimmy, but that's passe and nobody would use it naturally.
Christabel: Hate Chrissy and Chris
Charlotte: Hate Charlie. Lottie would be ok, but who would use it? It's not an obvious choice.
Clifford: Don't like Cliff
Cornelia: Corny!
Edgar: Not crazy about Ed or Eddie
Eglantine: I like the nick name "Aggie" for this, but it's rather obscure, and I'm fearful that some "egg"-related name will result.
Isidora, Isabeau, Isolde: I don't like Izzy, it seems mannish and ditzy at the same time.
Norman: I like Norman, but not Norm
Willamina: I don't like Willie or Will for a girl. Mina is preferable, but it's another non-obvious choice.
It makes me a little sad to know that these names will be bumped into the middle because of the nicknames that go along with them.
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Some encouraging suggestions...
Jamesina -- Jina? No one will shorten James to Jamie unless they no what he prefers. Jimmy is normally the first thing people shorten it to where I live. I personally much prefer Jamie to Jimmy though, on a girl.
Christabel - Christy would be my first thought personally, not Chris or Chrissy. Or maybe encourage Bella?
Charlotte - no one will shorten this unless she tells them too.
Clifford -- I think more of your problem is kids making fun of him for the book character association. It sounds stupid, but that's what kids are in kindergarten. I've even witnessed kids making fun of a George becuase of George of the Jungle. I'd hate to see what they'd do to a Clifford. If that becomes a problem, Cliff is a good nickname to fall back on. If you don't like it, I personally wouldn't use the name.
Cornelia - Encourage Corie, Cora, Neely, or Lia. I've heard of a Dutch one who went by Corie.
Isadora -- push Isa, Dora, or Dory. Maybe Isra? She just has to tell people not to call her Izzy though. Think of all the Victorias who simply have to tell people not to call them Vicky and they get the hint.
Norman -- Norm's old-fashioned and kids won't use it most likely. If anyone calls him that, he can tell them to stop.
Willamina - Willa would be most natural for me. Push Mina and it'll happen easily. I have a cousin named Meena.
Jamesina -- Jina? No one will shorten James to Jamie unless they no what he prefers. Jimmy is normally the first thing people shorten it to where I live. I personally much prefer Jamie to Jimmy though, on a girl.
Christabel - Christy would be my first thought personally, not Chris or Chrissy. Or maybe encourage Bella?
Charlotte - no one will shorten this unless she tells them too.
Clifford -- I think more of your problem is kids making fun of him for the book character association. It sounds stupid, but that's what kids are in kindergarten. I've even witnessed kids making fun of a George becuase of George of the Jungle. I'd hate to see what they'd do to a Clifford. If that becomes a problem, Cliff is a good nickname to fall back on. If you don't like it, I personally wouldn't use the name.
Cornelia - Encourage Corie, Cora, Neely, or Lia. I've heard of a Dutch one who went by Corie.
Isadora -- push Isa, Dora, or Dory. Maybe Isra? She just has to tell people not to call her Izzy though. Think of all the Victorias who simply have to tell people not to call them Vicky and they get the hint.
Norman -- Norm's old-fashioned and kids won't use it most likely. If anyone calls him that, he can tell them to stop.
Willamina - Willa would be most natural for me. Push Mina and it'll happen easily. I have a cousin named Meena.
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Recently I came up with the combo Oliver Miles. It is currently one of my top combos and the only top combo that all of my new friends agree is really good. But I can't stand the nn Ollie, which every Oliver is bound to be called by someone, even if I don't use it.
The more I think about it though, the more I begin to like Miles better than Oliver. So I have been considering switching the position of the names, but Miles Oliver, while still a really nice combo, doesn't roll off the tongue as well as Oliver Miles does.
The more I think about it though, the more I begin to like Miles better than Oliver. So I have been considering switching the position of the names, but Miles Oliver, while still a really nice combo, doesn't roll off the tongue as well as Oliver Miles does.
This message was edited 8/2/2009, 11:49 AM
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This could be directed towards Starrie and LMs...
I prefer Oliver Miles, and I doubt the kid will be called Ollie, if anyone does, he can just stop it at once, unless he likes it. But I feel like Ollie would be more of a comedic occasional nickname. I personally would never take to shortening Oliver all the time, only if asked to. It doesn't evoke natural nicknames. Similarly to the poster, I hate Ally, but people assume Ally as a nickname for Allison, not Alice. It's one of those names that most people won't nickname. Plus as long as you're not calling your kid Ollie, I wouldn't worry about it. It's up to them really. I know Victoria's and Rebecca's who go by their full names, and everyone knows not to try and shorten them. People will call you what you ask. The only girl I knew who had a problem with people calling her a nickname when she wanted to be known by her full name was an Elizabeth. But this is understandable in my school, where Elizabeth is the most common name and nine out of ten go by a nickname, normally Liz.
I prefer Oliver Miles, and I doubt the kid will be called Ollie, if anyone does, he can just stop it at once, unless he likes it. But I feel like Ollie would be more of a comedic occasional nickname. I personally would never take to shortening Oliver all the time, only if asked to. It doesn't evoke natural nicknames. Similarly to the poster, I hate Ally, but people assume Ally as a nickname for Allison, not Alice. It's one of those names that most people won't nickname. Plus as long as you're not calling your kid Ollie, I wouldn't worry about it. It's up to them really. I know Victoria's and Rebecca's who go by their full names, and everyone knows not to try and shorten them. People will call you what you ask. The only girl I knew who had a problem with people calling her a nickname when she wanted to be known by her full name was an Elizabeth. But this is understandable in my school, where Elizabeth is the most common name and nine out of ten go by a nickname, normally Liz.
This message was edited 8/2/2009, 4:10 PM
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I guess repliers aren't understanding my post
I don't mean that I don't want other people to use nicknames but fear other people will do it anyway. I fear that I, out of convenience, will use a nickname spur of the moment such as "Lissa, come here!" without thinking about it. I am wondering of ways that I can quell this problem and if people do this too.
I don't mean that I don't want other people to use nicknames but fear other people will do it anyway. I fear that I, out of convenience, will use a nickname spur of the moment such as "Lissa, come here!" without thinking about it. I am wondering of ways that I can quell this problem and if people do this too.
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Oh no, I much prefer the offbeat quality of Miles Oliver
Oliver Miles seems horribly yuppie, while Miles Oliver is more artsy.
Oliver Miles seems horribly yuppie, while Miles Oliver is more artsy.
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I've never actually known an Alice who isn't just called Alice.
Most of the names I like don't really lend themselves to nicknames, and the ones that do have nicknames I like, generally. Jacob is probably the only exception-- I hate the NN Jake. I would probably either just use it as a MN, or really insist he was only called Jacob.
Most of the names I like don't really lend themselves to nicknames, and the ones that do have nicknames I like, generally. Jacob is probably the only exception-- I hate the NN Jake. I would probably either just use it as a MN, or really insist he was only called Jacob.
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I don't think Alice would have any problem with NN's. I know an Alice, and she never gets called anything else.
I seriously know what you mean, though. Usually I don't like nicknames, but I've started to like them more because I love Russian names the best now and their diminutives are SO CUTE. I had a problem when I was really young because I loved the name Emmanuel but hated Manny. I don't like either now. Now, I'm having the same problem, but with Dmitri. I don't really like the sound of Mitya and it feels weird saying it. It seems sometimes like Russian soft T's should only be in verbs. I'm trying to like Dima, but it's slow going since I have a kind of strong association with it and then there's the fact that it's feminine in Arabic...
The nickname problem is such a pain, no?
I seriously know what you mean, though. Usually I don't like nicknames, but I've started to like them more because I love Russian names the best now and their diminutives are SO CUTE. I had a problem when I was really young because I loved the name Emmanuel but hated Manny. I don't like either now. Now, I'm having the same problem, but with Dmitri. I don't really like the sound of Mitya and it feels weird saying it. It seems sometimes like Russian soft T's should only be in verbs. I'm trying to like Dima, but it's slow going since I have a kind of strong association with it and then there's the fact that it's feminine in Arabic...
The nickname problem is such a pain, no?
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I have some names I like, but I don't like an obvious nickname, for instance I like Frederick but dislike Fred.
Otherwise, I find it's mainly people in English-speaking countires who seem to feel this need for nns. Unless maybe a bane's super-long, there's no necessity for a nn. So I think that, at least until your daughter's young, you could just call her Alice and discourage others from using a nn. Of course, once she's old enough to decide for herself, then she might want to go by Allie or Liss or some other nn.
Otherwise, I find it's mainly people in English-speaking countires who seem to feel this need for nns. Unless maybe a bane's super-long, there's no necessity for a nn. So I think that, at least until your daughter's young, you could just call her Alice and discourage others from using a nn. Of course, once she's old enough to decide for herself, then she might want to go by Allie or Liss or some other nn.
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I guess my problem is that I might just end up using a nn, even though I hate them, for convenience sake and I just don't want to fall into that trap. Does anyone have advice to help prevent myself from doing that?
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Alice is a short enough name that I don't think you'd need to use a nn for convenience.
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ditto!
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I don't know, but I don't think I'd be inclined to use a nn I hated. I guess you'd have to make a conscious effort to use her full name in situations where you'd be inclined to use the nickname, such as when you're calling her directly, for instance.
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