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Help[Opinions] Nicknames
After reading some comments such as 'I think this name is too short to need a nn' and others like it, I have been wondering:
What are everyone's nn traditions in your family?
Are nns important for your kids to have?
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
The reason I am asking this is that EVERYONE in my family has a nn, even if it is longer than their actual name (which I find kind of ironic :p). For this reason, I know my family will shorten any children that I have's names no matter what, and whats more, I know I will automatically shorten it! For example, Eden...I know it is short, but it will be shortened to Edie, no doubt about it. So when I list names, I usually give the nn I have chosen for it next to it, as I have one prepared for most of my favourite names
What are everyone's nn traditions in your family?
Are nns important for your kids to have?
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
The reason I am asking this is that EVERYONE in my family has a nn, even if it is longer than their actual name (which I find kind of ironic :p). For this reason, I know my family will shorten any children that I have's names no matter what, and whats more, I know I will automatically shorten it! For example, Eden...I know it is short, but it will be shortened to Edie, no doubt about it. So when I list names, I usually give the nn I have chosen for it next to it, as I have one prepared for most of my favourite names
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We dont have any nicknaming traditions in my family, I prefer full names but dont insist upon it I tend to think that it is up to the children themselves and their peers what nn if any that they go by.
Though I admit I did point my neices and nephews away from the nickname Cathy for my daughter as I dislike it intencely, that said if Catherine suddenly said that she wanted to be Cathy I would accept it.
Though I admit I did point my neices and nephews away from the nickname Cathy for my daughter as I dislike it intencely, that said if Catherine suddenly said that she wanted to be Cathy I would accept it.
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What are everyone's nn traditions in your family?
In my family growing up, we had -y tacked onto the end of our names (Korriney, Arony, Ryany) or rhymes (Aron Bear, Ryan Lion) or in my case, a nn based on my personality (Moochie Mouse). As daddy's girl, I also had the nn DD (Darling Daughter). *awww*
Are nns important for your kids to have?
Absolutely; I never had a nn based on my name. My parents didn't like the nn Korrie, so that was out. I always wanted a nn, so it was very important to me to give my kids names you could give nns to. Although, my DS's name can't be shortened to anything other than No or Ah, but we got around that by calling him Teddy. :o)
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
Absolutely! I have no qualms about giving my kids a name I like, just so I can use a nn I love, lol.
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
I plan on sometimes calling my kids by various nns, some of which are planned, some of which simply evolve over time. My DD Victoria Kathleen is aka Tori, Tori Kate, Tora, Pickle, Sweet Pea, Sweets, Toots, Pumpkin, Li'l Red, and probably will end up being Scarlet (b/c I love the name & she has red - not orange! - hair). As a baby, a Puerto Rican friend called her gatito and salchichita! DS Noah Michael's aliases are Nona, Noer, Nomi, Gnome, Bruiser, Tank, Sport, Bud, and Teddy.
In my family growing up, we had -y tacked onto the end of our names (Korriney, Arony, Ryany) or rhymes (Aron Bear, Ryan Lion) or in my case, a nn based on my personality (Moochie Mouse). As daddy's girl, I also had the nn DD (Darling Daughter). *awww*
Are nns important for your kids to have?
Absolutely; I never had a nn based on my name. My parents didn't like the nn Korrie, so that was out. I always wanted a nn, so it was very important to me to give my kids names you could give nns to. Although, my DS's name can't be shortened to anything other than No or Ah, but we got around that by calling him Teddy. :o)
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
Absolutely! I have no qualms about giving my kids a name I like, just so I can use a nn I love, lol.
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
I plan on sometimes calling my kids by various nns, some of which are planned, some of which simply evolve over time. My DD Victoria Kathleen is aka Tori, Tori Kate, Tora, Pickle, Sweet Pea, Sweets, Toots, Pumpkin, Li'l Red, and probably will end up being Scarlet (b/c I love the name & she has red - not orange! - hair). As a baby, a Puerto Rican friend called her gatito and salchichita! DS Noah Michael's aliases are Nona, Noer, Nomi, Gnome, Bruiser, Tank, Sport, Bud, and Teddy.
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Noooo! Login timed out...here's more info. ;o)
Ok, names I like for future children: Sapphira, shortened to Sara. I really dislike Sara as a full name. It's too short and it's too common. But suddenly, as a nickname for Sapphira, it becomes likeable to me.
Evangeline, shortened to Vannie. Vannie is a family name on my husband's side, but I think it's slightly ridiculous as a full name. Giving a future DD a name that can be shortened to Vannie solves this problem for me. We can honor family through the back door, so to speak. :o)
Eben, shortened to Ben. Yes, I know Eben is already short for Ebenezer (although it's a proper name in its own right), but Eben is just weird enough that DH will feel uncomfortable with it unless it can be shortened to the ever-comfortable, well-known Ben.
Malcolm, shortened to Mac. It was a family name on my side and Mac is cool and relaxed and has none of the associations Malcolm has.
Ok, names I like for future children: Sapphira, shortened to Sara. I really dislike Sara as a full name. It's too short and it's too common. But suddenly, as a nickname for Sapphira, it becomes likeable to me.
Evangeline, shortened to Vannie. Vannie is a family name on my husband's side, but I think it's slightly ridiculous as a full name. Giving a future DD a name that can be shortened to Vannie solves this problem for me. We can honor family through the back door, so to speak. :o)
Eben, shortened to Ben. Yes, I know Eben is already short for Ebenezer (although it's a proper name in its own right), but Eben is just weird enough that DH will feel uncomfortable with it unless it can be shortened to the ever-comfortable, well-known Ben.
Malcolm, shortened to Mac. It was a family name on my side and Mac is cool and relaxed and has none of the associations Malcolm has.
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Actually, in my family, only a few people go by nns. My grandmother is Flossie June and she goes by June (which isn't really a nn, but it's not her first name). My father is David, but he sometimes goes by Dave. My aunts are Sandra and Beverly and they go by Sandy and Bev. I have another aunt who is Deborah, but she goes by Debbie. And last but not least, my cousin's daughter is Alexandria, but she goes by Ally (or Allie, I honestly don't remember the spelling). In my immediate family (because we rarely see the rest of our family), we all have just casual nns that are "easier to say," I guess, than our real fns. My mom is Mare (her name is Mary), my sister is Stace (I honestly don't know how you'd spell it, her fn is Stacie & her nn is the first syllable). Mine is the weirdest of all, though. I am Laura, but in my house, I am pretty much always referred to as Orla (which is the way my sister said my name when she was little & it happened to stick as a nn). Nicknames aren't really a tradition in our family. It's pretty normal. You either go by your first name or the nn your parents gave you in public places like school, but in the household, well, nns happen, haha.
Personally, for the most part, I plan on using the first name I give my child as their name they'd introduce themselves as. There are only a few names where I plan on using nns, at least until the child is old enough to decide for themselves (Winona nn Winnie, Amarantha nn Ama, & Kipling nn Kip are the only ones that come to mind). Of course, I'll probably have "household nns" for all my children.
Personally, for the most part, I plan on using the first name I give my child as their name they'd introduce themselves as. There are only a few names where I plan on using nns, at least until the child is old enough to decide for themselves (Winona nn Winnie, Amarantha nn Ama, & Kipling nn Kip are the only ones that come to mind). Of course, I'll probably have "household nns" for all my children.
This message was edited 7/27/2006, 2:15 PM
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The only one of my siblings that has a nickname is my sister Mary Jo... we usually call her Jo or Jojo, and I think there's a couple people that call her MJ. Other than that, I don't think ANYONE has nicknames... oh, well my cousin Jacob goes by Jake, but that's the only other one.
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We don't have traditions.
It's not important that my kids have a nn.
Depends of the name. Some I automatically think of a nn, yes.
I will call my kids by their full name or by a nn depending on the name. For instance, Benjamin will be called Ben but Cecilia will be called Cecilia.
♥ Kristen ♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shake Your Body Like A Bellydancer.
Here is where you are
There is where you want to be
But you can't get there from here ♥
It's not important that my kids have a nn.
Depends of the name. Some I automatically think of a nn, yes.
I will call my kids by their full name or by a nn depending on the name. For instance, Benjamin will be called Ben but Cecilia will be called Cecilia.
♥ Kristen ♥
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shake Your Body Like A Bellydancer.
Here is where you are
There is where you want to be
But you can't get there from here ♥
1
What are everyone's nn traditions in your family?
Some have nns, others don't.
Are nns important for your kids to have?
Nope.
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
No
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
Not since I plan to give at least 2 mns, but by fn or maybe a nn but generally I'm not into nns unless the person is named after someone who also had this nn.
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
Some have nns, others don't.
Are nns important for your kids to have?
Nope.
When you look at names, do you automatically think about possible nns?
No
Or do you plan to call your kids by their full names?
Not since I plan to give at least 2 mns, but by fn or maybe a nn but generally I'm not into nns unless the person is named after someone who also had this nn.
~~ Claire ~~
My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July
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Almost everybody in my family goes by his or her full name. I'll almost certainly do the same with my kids. The only people with nicknames in my family are people who didn't like their full names and found a diminutive preferable.
-- Sarah
-- Sarah
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In a general sense, I don't like nns. When I think of a name, I don't automatically look for nns to go with it. With that being said, there are a few names that I love but couldn't imagine giving the child as a full name, Will and Luke. They just don't sound complete like that to me. With that being said, if I had boys, I would name them William and Lucas, and call them Will and Luke.
Growing up, we did use nns in my household. My brother Jonathan was shortened to Jon. My name was always shortened to Suzy my dad. I hate it, and he's the only one allowed to call me that. I was named Suzanne for a reason, and that's what I want to be called.
Growing up, we did use nns in my household. My brother Jonathan was shortened to Jon. My name was always shortened to Suzy my dad. I hate it, and he's the only one allowed to call me that. I was named Suzanne for a reason, and that's what I want to be called.
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In my family the only nns we have are just shortened versions of the full name, even down to a syllable. For instance, for my sister Tara, we call her both Tara and Ta. My brother David is both David and Dave. I'm called both Laurie and Laur.
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I personally dont see nn as a must, in fact, I prefer none, especially on traditional classics everyone shortens (Michael, David, Jeffery, Daniel, Thomas, William). Some nn I really like such as Ty for Tyler or Sky for Skylar. But I believe its up to the child what he/she wants to be called. I am the only child in the family with a nn, Kristi for Kristina. I grew up hating Kristi, and wanted to be called Kristina, but my family wouldnt call me Kristina. Eventually I got over it, but why couldnt they call me what I wanted to be called, and my real name. If they wanted to call me Kristi, why not name me Kristi. Children dont get to choose their full name, but I think they should have a say if they dont like a nn or prefer the nn.
As of now, my names are William and Lucas, and I will call them William and Lucas.
~~Kris~~
As of now, my names are William and Lucas, and I will call them William and Lucas.
~~Kris~~
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Well, we give nicknames if the name is long, or if the kid prefers to be called by a particular nickname. My oldest, Thomas, wanted to be TJ, because he hated being called Tom/Tommy. His twin only wanted to be called James, not Jamie or Jim/Jimmy. My third oldest, Travis, is Trav, or Travsees (which he doesn't really like, but sometimes we call him that just to bug him). Then our two oldest daughters go by nicknames just cause their names are fricken long. (Danielle, Allyssabeth). Matthew prefers Matt, because "that sounds so much cooler", Eric wanted to be EJ, kinda like his big brother, and Kaitlynn is usually shortened to Katie.
My family almost always uses nicknames --and some of them are really weird (these ones, however, are only used around close family and friends). My brother Christopher gets called Charlie, my brother Alexander is Alfie, and my youngest brother Shane is Sammy. Don't ask why. We still call 'em that, too, sometimes--really confuses their kids. Me and my sisters' names just got shortened--Rach, Dani, Jules, and Manda. My husband's family almost used nicknames for some of theirs as well: Zachary was Zach, until his son Zachary II was born, and Jacob II is Jake, and his son, Jacob III is JD. I'm not including the names the children called each other--they aren't nice.
Ok, I'm done rambling now...don't know if I helped any, but what the heck.
My family almost always uses nicknames --and some of them are really weird (these ones, however, are only used around close family and friends). My brother Christopher gets called Charlie, my brother Alexander is Alfie, and my youngest brother Shane is Sammy. Don't ask why. We still call 'em that, too, sometimes--really confuses their kids. Me and my sisters' names just got shortened--Rach, Dani, Jules, and Manda. My husband's family almost used nicknames for some of theirs as well: Zachary was Zach, until his son Zachary II was born, and Jacob II is Jake, and his son, Jacob III is JD. I'm not including the names the children called each other--they aren't nice.
Ok, I'm done rambling now...don't know if I helped any, but what the heck.
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Well in the Netherlands it's the custom to give your children the names you will actually end up calling them. So Elisabeth nn Elise is seen as somewhat strange, people probably end up asking you: "So why didn't you name her Elise if that's what you want to call her?"
to illustrate my point: The top 20 of Dutch names in the first half of 2006:
boys:
Daan
Sem
Thomas
Milan
Lars
Tim
Thijs
Lucas
Jesse
Sven
Bram
Max
Ruben
Stijn
Luuk
Niels
Finn
Jan
Tom
Daniël
girls:
Sanne
Sophie
Emma
Lisa
Anna
Lieke
Iris
Anne
Eva
Anouk
Fleur
Julia
Femke
Isa
Noa
Lotte
Maud
Britt
Roos
Marit
All the names are very short, there's only one name over two syllables (Daniël), and you can count on most of them really use the name you see here, not a nn.
Sometimes a longer name is used, but then not with a nn but what we call a roepnaam (a 'calling name', it means a name which you are called by, it's not a nickname, because that's bijnaam in Dutch). The longer name is known as a doopnaam, a 'baptism name'. This is only seen in Roman-Catholic families (so not at all in the Northern part of the country, only to the south an not even half the south at that) and this practise gets even less frequent than it used to be.
to illustrate my point: The top 20 of Dutch names in the first half of 2006:
boys:
Daan
Sem
Thomas
Milan
Lars
Tim
Thijs
Lucas
Jesse
Sven
Bram
Max
Ruben
Stijn
Luuk
Niels
Finn
Jan
Tom
Daniël
girls:
Sanne
Sophie
Emma
Lisa
Anna
Lieke
Iris
Anne
Eva
Anouk
Fleur
Julia
Femke
Isa
Noa
Lotte
Maud
Britt
Roos
Marit
All the names are very short, there's only one name over two syllables (Daniël), and you can count on most of them really use the name you see here, not a nn.
Sometimes a longer name is used, but then not with a nn but what we call a roepnaam (a 'calling name', it means a name which you are called by, it's not a nickname, because that's bijnaam in Dutch). The longer name is known as a doopnaam, a 'baptism name'. This is only seen in Roman-Catholic families (so not at all in the Northern part of the country, only to the south an not even half the south at that) and this practise gets even less frequent than it used to be.
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I guess our "tradition" is that one of my grandmothers hated nicknames. No nicknames on the other side of the family either. So there wasn't any legacy in that regard.
My children's names:
Travis, nn Trav (he's also been called Travissimo, Travitoni, Travelloni, etc., but he hates this.)
Garrett, nn Wally.
No, I don't automatically think of nicknames. Even though my kids have nns, I still tend to call people by their full names. (I call my friend Michael by his full name, not Mike like most people; I call my friend Richard just that, not Rich which he prefers; Peter not Pete; etc.)
My children's names:
Travis, nn Trav (he's also been called Travissimo, Travitoni, Travelloni, etc., but he hates this.)
Garrett, nn Wally.
No, I don't automatically think of nicknames. Even though my kids have nns, I still tend to call people by their full names. (I call my friend Michael by his full name, not Mike like most people; I call my friend Richard just that, not Rich which he prefers; Peter not Pete; etc.)
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