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Maddie doesn't scream three-year-old (m)
in reply to a message by Sian
that argument has always bothered me, and I'm not a big fan of nicknames as full-names. Things like Princess would be a problem, but plenty of adults go by their nickname bestowed upon them in childhood anyway. It seems silly to name a child something you're never going to call them, or that you don't like just so that you can use the nickname.
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Yes it does.Yes, it does.It also makes me think of the English three year old named Maddie that disappeared a few years ago.
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Who, interestingly enough, was dubbed Maddie by the media, apparently her family called her Madeleine only.
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The press did the same thing with James Bulger (a two-year-old boy who was horrifically murdered by two ten-year-olds in 1993). They always called him Jamie even though his family never did.
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My daughter is named Victoria and always called Torrie, and my son is named William and always called Will. I don't think this is silly, and nobody else has ever seemed to think it's silly, either. That's all.
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Personally I think it does sound like the name of a three year oldand if I had the choice between Maddie and Madeline I'd choose to go by Madeline. Sure people are still CALLED by their nicknames, but they can put a full name on official documents and they can introduce themselves with their full names at business meetings. I'd be so embarrassed having to go to a business meeting and introduce myself as Maddie or Abbie, it sounds so unprofessional.Just my opinion, though.
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Agree andIf I were looking for a doctor or a lawyer (or other such professional) and I see two listings- one for Maddy Jones and one for Madeline (even Madalynn for that matter) Jones, I'd opt for Madeline. Why? It just sounds more professional. Maddy would give me the impression of a younger, less experienced person who hadn't yet learned that her full name (as I would assume she had one) comes off as more grown up. Sure it's all speculation and assumption just looking at the names, but our names written out for all the world to see sometimes gives the first impression of us. A full name, imo, gives a better impression in certain situations. Having a full name gives options for all stages of life. While I agree that you should use whatever name you like best, I would be aware that while you like a nn, it may not allow your child to put his or her best foot forward in every situation. Not all nns are created equal though, some sound more formal than others, Lily and Jack, for instance can stand on their own without sounding like a nn. That's just my take on nns versus full names, based on my experience in which most everyone I've come in contact with who has had a nicknamey name has also had a full name backing it up.
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agree as wellOf course if someone told me "you should go to Dr Maddy Jones, she's great", I wouldn't hold her name against her, but I think it's better to have a more formal name in professional situations. I struggle with imagining a 50-yo grey-haired CEO named Maddy. Which doesn't mean that someone named Maddy is doomed to never have a career because of her name, but the name would look awkard in certain situations, the way in which it would be awkward to turn up at a business meeting in tattered jeans.I think this is a particularly glaring example because it's a nn that sounds particularly childish and that I can 't imagine on someone over 5, as opposed to the likes of Alex, Kate and maybe ever Katie that seem more adult.What I don't get about wanting a nn as full name at every cost is: what's the big deal, for the parents, to put Madeleine "on the dotted line"? It doesn't stop them to use Maddy.
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I agree wholeheartedly.
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For me personallyI almost always introduce myself as Joan when first meeting someone or when in a professional setting such as a job interview. Okay, so Joanie isn't horribly childish, but I love that my mom gave me the option of being Joan or Joanie.

This message was edited 5/28/2009, 4:23 PM

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I completely agreeI love names :)
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I like to leave the option up the person who has to go by the name......go spin circles for me...
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That's why I don't like it. It limits the person to just the name. Katy can only be Katy, but if she were Katharine, she could be Katy, Kate, Katie, Kathy, Kay, Kat, Kit, Kitty or something else. Alexandra could be Alex, but she could also be Alexa, Lexi or Xandra. That's why I like names like Margaret and Elizabeth. There are many names to choose from and she can pick the one that fits her best.I would be extremely disappointed if Gia was my full name. Because my name is Giovanna, I can be Giovanna, Giovanella (only to my mom), Gianna (and any other spelling I like ex Giana, Jonna), Gianni (only to my grandfather), Gina (I don't, but I could make it work if I felt like it), Gio and Gia.

This message was edited 5/29/2009, 6:01 AM

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That's the thing: None of us have options. If it were left up to you, would you have chosen Lindsey for yourself?c

This message was edited 5/28/2009, 1:39 PM

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Well, ....No, certainly not.
However the idea that my parents could have gone ahead and named me Lindz or Lin (like many of my friends refer to me) just pisses me off.
I'm glad they gave me a full name.
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Agreed. Parents can maximize those options.
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=) Exactly, that's all I'm saying......smokes your smokes while I keep a watchful eye...
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