[Opinions] Re: Nicholas.
in reply to a message by Kitty
I, too, had a boyfriend with that name, and I always called him Nicholas, but nobody else was allowed to call him anything but Nick. This was during my phase of calling everybody by their full first names, which I dropped because my friend Alex(ander) found it irritating and it was too hard to keep track of who OK'ed it.
I think it ages well, sure. I've never liked it at all though. It's one of the few names that I've consistently disliked, along with Christopher, which it is linked to in my mind. I think it has to do with the fact that there are no long, strong vowels. It's just sort of bleeeeeehhhhh. It's like a name made of cottage cheese.
I think Nicola (male) is pretty awesome, and it reminds me of Tesla, who is also pretty awesome. Nikolai is probably myt favourite of the cognates, but I can't say I'm overly fond of any of them sadly. Klaus is super too though.
I think it ages well, sure. I've never liked it at all though. It's one of the few names that I've consistently disliked, along with Christopher, which it is linked to in my mind. I think it has to do with the fact that there are no long, strong vowels. It's just sort of bleeeeeehhhhh. It's like a name made of cottage cheese.
I think Nicola (male) is pretty awesome, and it reminds me of Tesla, who is also pretty awesome. Nikolai is probably myt favourite of the cognates, but I can't say I'm overly fond of any of them sadly. Klaus is super too though.
Replies
Isn't it funny how many people, who go by nicknames, object to being called by their full names? I've always been in the habit of once in a while (not always) calling a person by their full name. No rhyme or reason to it, just once in a while I'll do it. I remember a Chris who, whenever I said "Christopher", would say, "Don't call me that" and a Ben who would say the same thing whenever I called him Benjamin.
I've never really understood it---if you're a Chris, isn't it assumed your full name is Christopher, so why make a big deal when you're called that? I've never had a nickname and I would object to being given one, not the other way around. I don't want anyone calling me Jan. But that seems different, because my name is Janice on my birth certificate, not Jan, and it seems reasonable to insist on being called by your full name rather than a nickname that someone else chooses. Objecting to being called what's on your birth certificate just doesn't seem as reasonable to me.
My daughter has known a few people--all older, authority figures such as teachers---who refuse to use her nickname and insist on calling her by her full name, but it's never bothered her.
I've never really understood it---if you're a Chris, isn't it assumed your full name is Christopher, so why make a big deal when you're called that? I've never had a nickname and I would object to being given one, not the other way around. I don't want anyone calling me Jan. But that seems different, because my name is Janice on my birth certificate, not Jan, and it seems reasonable to insist on being called by your full name rather than a nickname that someone else chooses. Objecting to being called what's on your birth certificate just doesn't seem as reasonable to me.
My daughter has known a few people--all older, authority figures such as teachers---who refuse to use her nickname and insist on calling her by her full name, but it's never bothered her.