New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Long vs. Short
One of the things I've noticed is that I prefer short and simple names whereas my husband prefers longer ones - at least when it comes to actually naming a child. Below are the names I'd consider and the ones he'd consider.
Mine:
Leah
Nora
Gwen
Naomi
Grace
Claire
Julia
Paul
His:
Genevieve
Katarina
Eleanor
Malcolm
Raphael
There is some overlap, all of the names he likes I'd consider and we both like Judith. I just really prefer names that don't lend themselves to nicknames
Thoughts on the names? Our daughter is Miriam.
I have more to give! More words! More joke! MORE BANANAS! - Gerald
Mine:
Leah
Nora
Gwen
Naomi
Grace
Claire
Julia
Paul
His:
Genevieve
Katarina
Eleanor
Malcolm
Raphael
There is some overlap, all of the names he likes I'd consider and we both like Judith. I just really prefer names that don't lend themselves to nicknames
Thoughts on the names? Our daughter is Miriam.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I'm the opposite of you. I always wished I had a longer name with nickname potential growing up, so that's something I like in a name.
Mine:
Leah - love
Nora - I prefer it to my own spelling, but it's still hard for me to judge!
Gwen - nice, but I'd only use it as a nickname because it feels incomplete to me
Naomi - I'm not a fan. I can't put my finger on why, because I like how it looks, I like many of the elements, but something about it just isn't for me.
Grace - love love love
Claire - I prefer Clare and I much prefer Clara to either spelling, but it's sweet.
Julia - This used to be a favorite of mine, but I think I'm a little tired of it. It's nice though.
Paul - love
His:
Genevieve - I wouldn't use it, but I do like it.
Katarina - I like Katherine much better. It feels a bit like it's trying too hard to me.
Eleanor - love
Malcolm - sooo heavily associated with Malcolm in the Middle for me that I can't imagine using it.
Raphael - I'm not a fan.
Mine:
Leah - love
Nora - I prefer it to my own spelling, but it's still hard for me to judge!
Gwen - nice, but I'd only use it as a nickname because it feels incomplete to me
Naomi - I'm not a fan. I can't put my finger on why, because I like how it looks, I like many of the elements, but something about it just isn't for me.
Grace - love love love
Claire - I prefer Clare and I much prefer Clara to either spelling, but it's sweet.
Julia - This used to be a favorite of mine, but I think I'm a little tired of it. It's nice though.
Paul - love
His:
Genevieve - I wouldn't use it, but I do like it.
Katarina - I like Katherine much better. It feels a bit like it's trying too hard to me.
Eleanor - love
Malcolm - sooo heavily associated with Malcolm in the Middle for me that I can't imagine using it.
Raphael - I'm not a fan.
This message was edited 2/12/2018, 10:20 AM
1
I love Gwen as a nick name for Gwendolyn. Katarina and Eleanor are gorgeous. Nora is sweet and simple. What do you think of Eleanora and using Nora as a nick name?
Malcolm seems like something that would fit among current naming trends but isn't my style. It is interesting that you and your husband both like boy names ending with 'l' (Paul, Raphael).
Malcolm seems like something that would fit among current naming trends but isn't my style. It is interesting that you and your husband both like boy names ending with 'l' (Paul, Raphael).
1
When it comes to girls names, I'm a bit all over the place!
In my top 10, I have 4 names with 2-syllables, 3 names with 3-syllables, 2 with just 1 syllable and 1 with 4-syllables!
I like Gwen, Naomi and Genevieve (though I'd probably have to shorten Genevieve to Eve).
I typically shorten most names, that's just who I am as a person, I never realised how bad it was until I became a teacher and now I shorten Sophie to Soph and Kodi to Kode!
That being said, my top girls name Octavia I like without a nickname - but I think that's mostly because there's not a natural one that slips off that tongue.
I went to school with a Miriam who never got a nickname though I have heard of Miriams becoming "Mimi"
In my top 10, I have 4 names with 2-syllables, 3 names with 3-syllables, 2 with just 1 syllable and 1 with 4-syllables!
I like Gwen, Naomi and Genevieve (though I'd probably have to shorten Genevieve to Eve).
I typically shorten most names, that's just who I am as a person, I never realised how bad it was until I became a teacher and now I shorten Sophie to Soph and Kodi to Kode!
That being said, my top girls name Octavia I like without a nickname - but I think that's mostly because there's not a natural one that slips off that tongue.
I went to school with a Miriam who never got a nickname though I have heard of Miriams becoming "Mimi"
1
lol
I had a friend who attempted to nickname my daughter Mimi. The problem is that my mom goes by Mimi instead of Grandma. I suspect if my mom wasn't Mimi Miriam probably would go by that name. My mom came up with the nickname Ikey for Isaac, Mimi from Miriam would have been a sure one. Thank goodness that my mom does go by it!
I will say that my daughter does have a nickname. Her second middle name is Mae and we call her Miss Mae. It's not something that anyone calls her outside of the family but we use it fairly often. Her dad actually tends to use it when she's done something naughty!
I had a friend who attempted to nickname my daughter Mimi. The problem is that my mom goes by Mimi instead of Grandma. I suspect if my mom wasn't Mimi Miriam probably would go by that name. My mom came up with the nickname Ikey for Isaac, Mimi from Miriam would have been a sure one. Thank goodness that my mom does go by it!
I will say that my daughter does have a nickname. Her second middle name is Mae and we call her Miss Mae. It's not something that anyone calls her outside of the family but we use it fairly often. Her dad actually tends to use it when she's done something naughty!
This message was edited 2/11/2018, 4:38 PM
1
Both lists are really lovely. The only one I really dislike is Gwen, which is so nicknamey. I also find the "gw" sound ugly.
I also really prefer Nora as a nickname but it doesn't bother me as a full name as much as Gwen.
Miriam sounds great with all of those names, with the possible exception of Katarina. I love Katarina but it's an odd stylistic mismatch with Miriam IMO.
I also really prefer Nora as a nickname but it doesn't bother me as a full name as much as Gwen.
Miriam sounds great with all of those names, with the possible exception of Katarina. I love Katarina but it's an odd stylistic mismatch with Miriam IMO.
1
Don't really like any of the short ones except maybe Julia.
Much prefer the longer names. Eleanor, Malcolm and Raphael are really nice. Raphael is on our list.
Much prefer the longer names. Eleanor, Malcolm and Raphael are really nice. Raphael is on our list.
1
My friend Grace's brother found the perfect nickname for her as a schoolboy: Dis!
Do both his names and your names sound OK with your ln?
Do both his names and your names sound OK with your ln?
1
I like many of these. In fact, I can't choose one list over the other.
I especially like:
Leah
Naomi
Grace
Claire
Julia
Genevieve
Katarina
Eleanor
Malcolm
I'd love to see Miriam and Naomi paired together.
Actually, the only one I'm not really wild about is Judith and I think most people here are aware of why I don't love it or Judy, lol. My bias, I guess.
Re: short vs. long names, I understand what you're saying about feeling more comfortable with shorter names. While I love long, flowing names, what feels most comfortable to me is a name with two syllables.
I especially like:
Leah
Naomi
Grace
Claire
Julia
Genevieve
Katarina
Eleanor
Malcolm
I'd love to see Miriam and Naomi paired together.
Actually, the only one I'm not really wild about is Judith and I think most people here are aware of why I don't love it or Judy, lol. My bias, I guess.
Re: short vs. long names, I understand what you're saying about feeling more comfortable with shorter names. While I love long, flowing names, what feels most comfortable to me is a name with two syllables.
1
Thought you would. :-)
I realized I forgot to list Nina after I saw your name
I realized I forgot to list Nina after I saw your name
1
Usually I like short first names and long middle names.
I like:
Leah
Gwen
Naomi
Katarina
Eleanor
Raphael
ETA: Naomi especially goes well with Miriam.
I like:
Leah
Gwen
Naomi
Katarina
Eleanor
Raphael
ETA: Naomi especially goes well with Miriam.
This message was edited 2/10/2018, 7:24 PM
1
I don't know people could shorten Malcolm. Mal maybe but thats it.
Leah is getting common, but its okay. I always prefered Lea, for some reason though.
Nora is okay. It seems like a nickname to me though, for Annora, Eleanora, or something.
Gwen is a decent name, but a bit short. It also seems less complete and with Miriam, not Bibilical enough.
Naomi fits with Miriam best, in my opinion of the girl names.
Grace is a very nice name but a little trendy.
Claire is okay, but Clara is also nice.
Julia is very classic. with Julia, you can't go wrong.
Paul is okay. Its very simple and easy to say.
Genevieve - a bit flowery.
Katarina - Katarina is pretty. The spelling Caterina always appealed to me more though.
Eleanor - okay.
Malcolm - just unnatractive to me.
Raphael - okay.
I think that medium length names are nice.
Leah is getting common, but its okay. I always prefered Lea, for some reason though.
Nora is okay. It seems like a nickname to me though, for Annora, Eleanora, or something.
Gwen is a decent name, but a bit short. It also seems less complete and with Miriam, not Bibilical enough.
Naomi fits with Miriam best, in my opinion of the girl names.
Grace is a very nice name but a little trendy.
Claire is okay, but Clara is also nice.
Julia is very classic. with Julia, you can't go wrong.
Paul is okay. Its very simple and easy to say.
Genevieve - a bit flowery.
Katarina - Katarina is pretty. The spelling Caterina always appealed to me more though.
Eleanor - okay.
Malcolm - just unnatractive to me.
Raphael - okay.
I think that medium length names are nice.
1
Are they? I'm thinking about my daughter's classmates and friends, it seems to be evenly mixed.
1
The names in my nieces' classes vary so much, it would be hard to pinpoint a trend. They go to school with kids named Coco and Theophania, and everything in between, so I agree with you that it's pretty mixed.
This message was edited 2/11/2018, 12:02 PM
1
Yes, I keep hearing that from random people. Short names being "in" is only based on what I heard people say.
1
Interesting.
It doesn't surprise me, I long ago realized my naming tastes followed the popular trends.
It doesn't surprise me, I long ago realized my naming tastes followed the popular trends.
1
Mhm, random people including taxi drivers and now I wonder why I was talking about names with taxi drivers.
1
I like: Gwen, Naomi, Claire, Julia, Judith, Genevieve, Eleanor, Malcolm, Raphael.
I tend to like medium-length (2 to 3 syllable) names. I don't dislike NNs, but I wouldn't choose a name if I didn't like the idea of using it consistently without a NN. I also think length of the surname is a big factor (I'm used to thinking of combos as they relate to my 1 syllable surname); I like short names more with longer surnames and vice versa.
I tend to like medium-length (2 to 3 syllable) names. I don't dislike NNs, but I wouldn't choose a name if I didn't like the idea of using it consistently without a NN. I also think length of the surname is a big factor (I'm used to thinking of combos as they relate to my 1 syllable surname); I like short names more with longer surnames and vice versa.
This message was edited 2/10/2018, 6:18 PM
1
We have a three syallble, ultra common surname.
My husband's family doesn't use nicknames - only my husband regularly goes by one. His siblings are Elizabeth, Christopher, Damian, Katherine, Anthony and Mary. The kids are always stuck explaining that no, they do not use a nickname. My family on the other hand loves nicknames and comes up with crazy ones. Using names that are straightforward solves the problem of one family ignoring the nickname and the other side choosing something dumb.
An example with Judith:
In-laws would refer to her as Judith, parents Jujubee, strangers would probably shorten to Judy. We'd probably use Judith. A short name simplifies the process.
It's all academic, though.
My husband's family doesn't use nicknames - only my husband regularly goes by one. His siblings are Elizabeth, Christopher, Damian, Katherine, Anthony and Mary. The kids are always stuck explaining that no, they do not use a nickname. My family on the other hand loves nicknames and comes up with crazy ones. Using names that are straightforward solves the problem of one family ignoring the nickname and the other side choosing something dumb.
An example with Judith:
In-laws would refer to her as Judith, parents Jujubee, strangers would probably shorten to Judy. We'd probably use Judith. A short name simplifies the process.
It's all academic, though.
This message was edited 2/10/2018, 5:56 PM
1