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HelpAm I the only one who likes nicknames?
It seems like a lot of people prefer full versions of names to nicknames, but I think nicknames are a lot of fun. Am I in the minority? Are there any nicknames you like by themselves?
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I can tolerate a few nicknames by themselves, such as Jack, Jerry, Lily, Hattie, and Nellie.
However, most nicknames look ridiculous as full names. This trend is especially bad in the UK (no offense to any British users!).
I especially hate most one-syllable nicknames such as Joe, Zac, Sam, Kay, Beth, and Ben being given as legal names. I also hate babyish nicknames like Lexi, Alfie, Timmy, Danny, Jimmie, and Chrissy.
If you give the child a proper name and then calling them by a nickname for short (i.e. the child is named Samuel and nicknamed Sammy), the child can have the full name to fall back on. But if you stick them with the nickname (i.e. just Sammy), then he/she doesn't have the same choice.
However, most nicknames look ridiculous as full names. This trend is especially bad in the UK (no offense to any British users!).
I especially hate most one-syllable nicknames such as Joe, Zac, Sam, Kay, Beth, and Ben being given as legal names. I also hate babyish nicknames like Lexi, Alfie, Timmy, Danny, Jimmie, and Chrissy.
If you give the child a proper name and then calling them by a nickname for short (i.e. the child is named Samuel and nicknamed Sammy), the child can have the full name to fall back on. But if you stick them with the nickname (i.e. just Sammy), then he/she doesn't have the same choice.
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Generally I like the full name and then possibly a nickname. I feel it gives the person more possibilities & the full name generally sounds more professional as an adult.
However, Maggie is one of my top 3 names and I like that best by itself. Also Ella is one of my favorites but DH thinks it is too nicknamey. I also like Lily, Jack & Lucy on their own.
However, Maggie is one of my top 3 names and I like that best by itself. Also Ella is one of my favorites but DH thinks it is too nicknamey. I also like Lily, Jack & Lucy on their own.
This message was edited 1/17/2011, 10:19 AM
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Yeah I love nicknames and, why yes, I do like some as full names.
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I love nicknames, just think my baby deserves a full distinguised name to fall back on if they want.
Without caring about their feelings though, I love these nicknames (with my preferred full name):
Allie
Dolly
Penny
Betsy
Ginny/Jenny
Tilly
Milly
Teddy***** (This is my main one!)
Ned
Ted
Sammy
Dair (Alasdair/Alasdhair)
Gus
Dex
Hank
Mal
Charlie
Without caring about their feelings though, I love these nicknames (with my preferred full name):
Allie
Dolly
Penny
Betsy
Ginny/Jenny
Tilly
Milly
Teddy***** (This is my main one!)
Ned
Ted
Sammy
Dair (Alasdair/Alasdhair)
Gus
Dex
Hank
Mal
Charlie
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I just made a similar post on another site! I think it's awesome when you can get 2 for 1 - both a full name and nickname that you love and can toggle between (ex: Ren is too choppy with my LN but I'm loving the idea of Kieran/Cameron nn "Ren" because I love all 3 names). My problem is loving a lot of NNs but NOT their root... mostly with boy names....
Theo, Sam, Will, Alex, Leo, Jamie, etc...
And I'm really struggling with one of my favorite girls names - Gwen - which most say is too nicknamey... and I don't know if I agree or not. I love Gwyneth too but the spelling irks me a bit.
So no :) you're not the only one... but trying to decide whether I think they are TOO nicknameish just confuses me more :(
Theo, Sam, Will, Alex, Leo, Jamie, etc...
And I'm really struggling with one of my favorite girls names - Gwen - which most say is too nicknamey... and I don't know if I agree or not. I love Gwyneth too but the spelling irks me a bit.
So no :) you're not the only one... but trying to decide whether I think they are TOO nicknameish just confuses me more :(
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I tend to like nicknames if the name is long enough to have one. I can't imagine using a long name without a nickname unless I just couldn't find a nickname for it that I liked.
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Honestly, it depends on the name. I am happy to be a Catherine-who-goes-by-Catherine, but there are certain names that I really like nicknames for, and certain names I think it best to have a nickname for. I do prefer full, formal names as given names, but have a less formal nickname is always nice option.
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From my observations and personal feelings, it's using nicknames as full names that bother most people here. I have no problems with using nicknames or with "nicknames" that are legitimate names on their own (Nora comes to mind), but I don't like names that are truly nicknames being used as full names (like Kate). Does that make sense?
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I love nicknames. Both of my children have nicknames. Three of my siblings do. I like Torrie for Victoria, Will for William, Becky for Rebecca, Betsy for Elizabeth, Kat or Kate for Katherine, Zan for Alexandra, just a lot. But....no, I don't like nicknames by themselves. A nickname on a birth certificate is one of my pet peeves.
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I LOVE nicknames! I usually try to come up with nicknames for names. I just LOVE nicknames!
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I only prefer a full version if I don't think the nickname is complete enough or at other times it gives me a change to use two names I like, give opportunities for more than one nickname out of the same name (Magnolia gives me Maggie and Nola)
NNs I like on their own
Christie
Gracie
Lara
Lena
Nellie
Nessa
Nola
Nora
Rae
Alec
Ty
NNs I like on their own
Christie
Gracie
Lara
Lena
Nellie
Nessa
Nola
Nora
Rae
Alec
Ty
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It depends on the nickname.
I like lots of nicknames, but I wouldn't use them as full names - e.g. I like Ginny as a nickname for Virginia or Ginevra, but I think it's insubstantial on its own. I like Elizabeth and Alexandra as full names only, no nicknames.
I like lots of nicknames, but I wouldn't use them as full names - e.g. I like Ginny as a nickname for Virginia or Ginevra, but I think it's insubstantial on its own. I like Elizabeth and Alexandra as full names only, no nicknames.
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There are some nns I like by themselves and some I only like with the full name, and some full names I only like by themselves. For instance, I like Ben but not Benjamin, I like William "Will" or "Liam", and I like Alexandria with no nickname. It just depends on the name.
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I like nicknames for some names; sometimes I prefer the full name. I don't like nicknames as given names, since Katie Johnson looks less professional than Katherine Johnson on a resume. There are a few exceptions to this rule -- Juliet or Jack work just as well, imo.
I'm also really picky about nicknames. For instance, I like Teddy as a nickname for Ed- names, but never for Theodore.
I'm also really picky about nicknames. For instance, I like Teddy as a nickname for Ed- names, but never for Theodore.
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I'm exactly like you.
The need for formal names drives me crazy. I post up about Nina and everyone goes on about how nick-namey it is. Even Lucy gets that treatment - as does Nora. I suppose it's fashionable now to be formal but I like simple best - so it's always going to be Nina, Lucy & Nora for me.
The need for formal names drives me crazy. I post up about Nina and everyone goes on about how nick-namey it is. Even Lucy gets that treatment - as does Nora. I suppose it's fashionable now to be formal but I like simple best - so it's always going to be Nina, Lucy & Nora for me.
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Nina, Lucy, and Nora are fine on their own.
At least, im my opinion they are. Lucy is a full name in its own right; Nina and Nora could be NN's, but I wouldn't blink if they were on a birth certificate all by themselves. *shrug*
At least, im my opinion they are. Lucy is a full name in its own right; Nina and Nora could be NN's, but I wouldn't blink if they were on a birth certificate all by themselves. *shrug*
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Exactly.
It seems a cardinal sin around here, though. :-D
It seems a cardinal sin around here, though. :-D
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I like nicknames, but not every name needs one. Some people take nn's too far, and use nn's that have very little resemblance to the actual name.
I love Lexi. I don't think I'd use it as a full name though, most likely I'd use Alexandria.
I also like Theo for Theodore, Andy and Drew for Andrew.
I love Lexi. I don't think I'd use it as a full name though, most likely I'd use Alexandria.
I also like Theo for Theodore, Andy and Drew for Andrew.
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I like nicknames! I just don't like them as given names. One of my favorite things about names is that they can have nicknames. A full name I like with an occasional nickname I like is about as good as it gets, name-wise. It's like bargain naming -- two for the price of one, haha. I am definitely not of the camp that thinks "If you're going to call her Kate, why not just name her Kate?" To me it's an opportunity to use two names I like -- Kate and Katherine.
I really like Theo by itself. I have yet to find a full name for it that I like as much as I like Theo. However, I wouldn't use a nickname alone, nor would I use a full name whose common nickname I didn't like (I love Matthew but hate Matt, for example).
I really like Theo by itself. I have yet to find a full name for it that I like as much as I like Theo. However, I wouldn't use a nickname alone, nor would I use a full name whose common nickname I didn't like (I love Matthew but hate Matt, for example).
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I like some names that were originally just used as nicknames, but it depends on the name. Some I still think sound just like a nickname. I think it has to do with if the name has a "serious" enough tone to be used as a full name in its own right. Some people don't care about this, but I personally like a name that (whether it's short, long, orginially a nickname, or a standard full name) sounds like a serious name. (and by serious I don't mean boring, but that you could picture it on an adult without thinking that they sounded childish, or do the "judge test" on the name.)
Some "nicknames" I like for full names are: Nell, Tess (Tessa sounds too much like a nickname to me), Leo, West, Jack, Nina (which isn't just a nickname, but can be one, so it counts), Nora (ditto), Ash, Kate, Abby/Abbey, Lia, Mia, Lily, (Lucy I don't like, but I think it works as a full name), Elle, Gray/Grey and I'm sure there are a lot that I can't think of right now!
Others that I still can't see as "full" names: Katie, Ally/Allie, probably most with an "ee" sound at the end, actually.
Some "nicknames" I like for full names are: Nell, Tess (Tessa sounds too much like a nickname to me), Leo, West, Jack, Nina (which isn't just a nickname, but can be one, so it counts), Nora (ditto), Ash, Kate, Abby/Abbey, Lia, Mia, Lily, (Lucy I don't like, but I think it works as a full name), Elle, Gray/Grey and I'm sure there are a lot that I can't think of right now!
Others that I still can't see as "full" names: Katie, Ally/Allie, probably most with an "ee" sound at the end, actually.
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ditto!
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No you're not alone. The nicknames of the Gabrielle/Gabriella are the reason I like those names even more than what the qualities of the names possess. So, nicknames can make some lengthy names like Gabrielle more easy to use.
This message was edited 1/16/2011, 11:37 AM
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