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HelpLike the full name but not the nickname/short name
As you may (or may not) know, Grant and I have finally decided on a name, Nathan Daniel. The thing is I have already had people tell me they are going to call him either Nat or Nate for short. I don't really like either of those names, I actually prefer Nath (pronounced as nayth). How do I go about having people not calling him Nat or Nate or is it unavoidable?
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You can do it! +
This is an example I've given before, however..i know a young woman named Roxane, always called that, because her mother insisted that she be so called, NOT Roxie.
Nathan Daniel is a fine name, and as I expect others have said, just persist. Correct people pleasantly when they say"Nate." After all, it's nor a long or difficult name.
This is an example I've given before, however..i know a young woman named Roxane, always called that, because her mother insisted that she be so called, NOT Roxie.
Nathan Daniel is a fine name, and as I expect others have said, just persist. Correct people pleasantly when they say"Nate." After all, it's nor a long or difficult name.
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Tell them not to
My brother's name is Nathaniel, and he has never had a nickname. My mom always told people that she didn't name him Nate, or whatever. She said that was not what she named him and was, therefore, not his name. Some people aren't as quick as the rest though, and she did have to repeat several times to some people. But the vast majority did not press calling him a nickname after they were told not to. It really didn't happen that often though. When it did, it was with the same people, and my mom just kept telling them NO, do not call him that!
If you and Grant call your child Nathan or Nath all the time, he will know that the other nicknames are not his name. Correct the people every single time they say it wrong and maybe they will eventually get it or at least get annoyed and stop.
Nicknames are pretty common in my area. I often hear Ethan shortened to Eth, Kaylee shortened to Kay, Rachel shortened to Rach, etc, but it hasn't really been a problem for my brother.
My brother's name is Nathaniel, and he has never had a nickname. My mom always told people that she didn't name him Nate, or whatever. She said that was not what she named him and was, therefore, not his name. Some people aren't as quick as the rest though, and she did have to repeat several times to some people. But the vast majority did not press calling him a nickname after they were told not to. It really didn't happen that often though. When it did, it was with the same people, and my mom just kept telling them NO, do not call him that!
If you and Grant call your child Nathan or Nath all the time, he will know that the other nicknames are not his name. Correct the people every single time they say it wrong and maybe they will eventually get it or at least get annoyed and stop.
Nicknames are pretty common in my area. I often hear Ethan shortened to Eth, Kaylee shortened to Kay, Rachel shortened to Rach, etc, but it hasn't really been a problem for my brother.
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Introduce him as Nathan, and when people say "Oh hey Nate", say "No, Nathan."
Easy peasy.
Easy peasy.
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Not all Nathan's get called Nate/Nat. If you call him Nath for short, than that will probably become is nickname. Or just call him Nathan--most people won't call him Nate.
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You can correct teachers and other adults when they call him Nat or Nate, but you can't really do that with other kids; then you would be the weird mom who corrects them all the time. And if he doesn't mind it, there's really not much you can do there, either. If you really hate Nat or Nate with a passion, I would consider using another name.
Nath is very strange, BTW. I'm sorry, but it just sounds weird.
Nath is very strange, BTW. I'm sorry, but it just sounds weird.
This message was edited 6/6/2009, 9:54 AM
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I actually prefer Nat/Nate. But he's not my kid so...
Normally, if you start calling him Nath/Nathe then he'll grow up calling himself that but, not always. If his friends at school call him Nat/Nate then he might prefer that over Nath/Nathe.
Normally, if you start calling him Nath/Nathe then he'll grow up calling himself that but, not always. If his friends at school call him Nat/Nate then he might prefer that over Nath/Nathe.
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I agree, I don't like Nat or Nate but I like Nath/Nathe. It really depends on what Nathan ends up prefering though- if he ends up wanting to be called Nate because he prefers it, then that's what you and everyone else should call him. When he's too young to care, I would just call him Nath or Nathan and tell everyone else too as well, but don't make a big deal out of it. You're the person he's going to be around the most, so what you call him is what he'll get used to and probably and up preferring.
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My daughter is named Victoria, and her nickname is Torrie. A couple of times when she was very young, we introduced her as Victoria, and the person started calling her Vicky. All we had to do was tell them once that we call her Torrie, and after that it wasn't a problem.
My grandson is Abraham nn Bram. A few people said before he was born that they were going to call him Abe, to which his parents object. They haven't really done it. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
My grandson is Abraham nn Bram. A few people said before he was born that they were going to call him Abe, to which his parents object. They haven't really done it. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
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My sibling's names are Brian and Amanda. Both with could be shortened. My mother made sure to call them only Brian and Amanda when they were little, and that's what they go by. If you want to call him Nathan, use just that and it should stick. Although I'm in America, so I'm not sure if that will make a difference.
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I think those nns are common, but avoidable. My daughter's name is Cecelia with the only nn of Celia. We were often asked after she was born if we call her Cece (I personally despise this name for her) and we said "no". No one calls her that now. Ultimately I think that the child attached to what the parents call him/her and will look strangely at someone using a nn that is different. Shortening to Nath may also be a way to avoid this problem. I know a Charles who only goes by his whole name. That is just who he is to us and no one who knows him shortens it.
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I don't think it's unavoidable at all. My husband's little brothers are named Joshua and Daniel. They don't go by Josh or Dan. Their parents introduce them by their full names and call them by their full names, so other people do too.
I've found that people will call your child whatever you call them. Usually I introduce Ben as Ben, but sometimes I'll say Benjamin. When I do people will call him Benjamin or ask if I call him Ben for short.
I've found that people will call your child whatever you call them. Usually I introduce Ben as Ben, but sometimes I'll say Benjamin. When I do people will call him Benjamin or ask if I call him Ben for short.
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We're in Australia, it's just a natural thing that's bound to happen! You know how us Aussies have to shorten everything and then usually shorten what's been shortened! Hope that made sense!
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Yeah true.
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Wow, that's kind of rude that they tell you they will call him something other than his full name. I don't think they should call him by any nickname unless they are told do so. They shouldn't already be making up nicknames for him before you have decided what you want to call him.
I refuse to believe that nicknames are unavoidable. If you always call him Nathan he won't respond to Nate or Nat because it's simply not his name. I'm sure that there will always be someone who keeps calling him by some nickname but the majority will probably get that his name is Nathan and they will call him Nathan. Just correct people if they call him by some nickname you don't like.
I refuse to believe that nicknames are unavoidable. If you always call him Nathan he won't respond to Nate or Nat because it's simply not his name. I'm sure that there will always be someone who keeps calling him by some nickname but the majority will probably get that his name is Nathan and they will call him Nathan. Just correct people if they call him by some nickname you don't like.
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I'd keep calling him Nath, and hopefully everyone who spends time with him will start doing the same.
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My parents were insistent that I be called Anthony, and it stuck, even today I really don't like being called anything else unless its by someone particularly close.
In the end its hard to control what other people will do, but just be insistent with it, and in the end your son might even prefer Nate, but I for one prefer Nath. Then again being that you live in Australia like me he will probably end up with a nickname from his last name.
In the end its hard to control what other people will do, but just be insistent with it, and in the end your son might even prefer Nate, but I for one prefer Nath. Then again being that you live in Australia like me he will probably end up with a nickname from his last name.
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Nathan isn't really a long name, so I don't think it will be shortened to anything unless you choose for it to be... except, on very rare occasion, maybe.
(for example, there is a boy in my yearbook class called Nathan. We call him Nathan probably 80% of the time. We some times call him Nate to get his attention, but that's about it. Of course, I'm sure if he said he didn't want to be called Nate, we wouldn't call him that at all).
(for example, there is a boy in my yearbook class called Nathan. We call him Nathan probably 80% of the time. We some times call him Nate to get his attention, but that's about it. Of course, I'm sure if he said he didn't want to be called Nate, we wouldn't call him that at all).
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Cause it's really so difficult to say Nathan :|
I would've thought Nathan would be pretty nn proof, except for Nath, I automatically shorten a name to its first syllable and sometimes add -y or -s. But Nat and Nate aren't glaringly obvious nn's, and hsould be avoidable. I'd just say "He's called Nathan" every time they try. The only way I think it's unavoidable is if he himself decides to go by one of those nn's. otherwise when he gets old enough he should saying "My name is Nathan" right along with you. Eventually most people should get it.
I would've thought Nathan would be pretty nn proof, except for Nath, I automatically shorten a name to its first syllable and sometimes add -y or -s. But Nat and Nate aren't glaringly obvious nn's, and hsould be avoidable. I'd just say "He's called Nathan" every time they try. The only way I think it's unavoidable is if he himself decides to go by one of those nn's. otherwise when he gets old enough he should saying "My name is Nathan" right along with you. Eventually most people should get it.
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I think that it is unavoidable to stop people shortening peoples names. My cousins Lewis and Abbie get called Lew and Abs by their friends. My aunt and uncle can't understand why their friends shorten their names, but they do. I get called Haz or Haze for short which I hate but people still do it.
You could try shortening is name to Nath yourself, that way he will get used to it and other people will here your calling him that and do the same.
You could try shortening is name to Nath yourself, that way he will get used to it and other people will here your calling him that and do the same.
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My sister calls Hayley Hayls quite a bit which really annoys me.
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I have that situation (My daughter is Alexandra so a lot of nickname possiblities and people seem to love picking their own) and I have found that just calling her what my husband and I want to call her, she doesn't respond much to the other nicknames. That and saying "She goes by..." has cut down a lot on nicknames I can't stand. There are a few stubborn people (My husband's grandmother still calls her Alex regardless that no one else does and the issue of my husband having a step-brother Alec which can lead to confusion) but all in all it seems to have nipped it in the bud, thankfully :)
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