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My feeling is that some nns work well as full names, like Jack, Liam, and Mia. Others, like Josie and Beth, are better used as nns. There's no logic to my opinion, just what feels right.

It depends. Some, like Jack, Mia, Gwen, and Sadie are substantial enough on their own. However, something like Jim, Tom, or Beth is not substantial at all and should remain a nickname.

It depends on the name and whether there is much a historical precedent for it being used as a full name. For example, I think Liam, Jack, Mia, Kate or Sadie (just to name a few) can stand alone as a fn, even if I personally prefer them as nicknames. Nicknames like Josie, Susie, Ricky or Johnny should be only used as nicknames as they don't age well IMO.

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In general, I prefer a longer name and then using a nickname because it gives the child more options as they grow.

It really depends on the nickname. Josie is a name I much prefer to Josephine/a and I don't think it would be more beneficial to name her Josephine/a, as it would to name a Cate with a full name of Catherine.

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Jack I think is now a name in it's own right, and shouldn't be used as a nn for John anymore. Same with Mia.

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Beth, Betsy, Liz, Lizzie, Eliza are all nn's I hate, however, I love Elizabeth (my middle name). I would use the whole name and use the nn as exactly what it is. However, I'd go with Elle or Ellie.
With Liam, I'd use William.

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Some are a bit more gray like Jake. I could almost see Jake as a full name rather than a nn for Jacob. Also, Theo as a full name instead of Theodore. I think that idea is growing on me.

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Another puzzling one for me is Maggie. I love the nickname, but I'm not fond of Margaret, and I wouldn't want my daughter called Margaret, but I don't think I'd feel comfortable naming her just Maggie. It seems unfair.

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It depends on the name. Jack, Mia, Nell, and Kate can be full names, but Maggie, Frank, Angie, or Sophie should be nicknames, IMHO. These are just random examples, but I could go on forever.

Names of that type range significantly. I like some of the names such as Clint or Cliff but I wouldn't dare use Gabby, Gordy, or more informal sounding nicknames that could easily be outgrown or rendered as useless. It best works with names that have fallen down heavily and have become uncommon. Gordon is short enough as it is in my opinion.

This message was edited 2/20/2011, 8:52 PM

I like a lot of nickname-y names as given names, so I don't have a problem with it. Some nicknames I don't like as full names, not that I can think of them right now of course! Basically it doesn't bother me whether the kids have longer names with a nn or the short version of the name, whatever suits.

Most of the time I prefer a formal name to back up a nickname, but I have a few exceptions. I adore Nora, and while I love Eleanor, I love Nora more. I feel Nora is good enough to stand on its own, it doesn't need Eleanor or Honora. It's the cutesy nicknames I've never liked as full names (Lizzie, Tommy, Maddie, Jimmy, Nikki / Nicky, Katy / Katie)

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I've always been very glad my mom gave me Joan as a first name rather than Joanie. Her reasoning was while she loved Joanie, she wanted me to have a formal name to fall back on. It works out well when I'm in a professional setting.

I typically prefer longer formal names with nicknames. I'm fine with nicknames as given names in general, but there are some of them that I think need more formal names, such as Ed and Eddy. Josie, Beth, Liam, Jack, and Mia are all okay as full names.

I think most nicknames are too insubstantial and/or immature to work as given names. It seems unfair to use Beth or Katie, for example, when Elizabeth or Katherine would age more gracefully and offer your child additional options.

This message was edited 2/20/2011, 3:52 PM

I much prefer a formal name with a nickname. Nicknames are too informal and insubstantial, imo.

It depends on the nickname. Something like Beth or Mia I consider a name in it's own right at this point, so I'd have no problem using something like that. I'd also make exceptions for some nicknames I particularly like (for example, I have been considering Minnie as a stand-alone name lately.) There are a few nicknames that I do prefer on their own, like Eliza, for example, which I'd use without Elizabeth as a more formal extension.

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However, I also like more formal names with nicknames. For example, I like Jessamine nicknamed Minnie. So ultimately it really comes down to each specific name.

Well, I think the likes of Beth, Liam and Jack can also be considered names in their own right.

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I don't care much for nicknames used as full names, especially the childish once like Timmy and Maddie. I think it's better to have a more formal official name even if it's not used much.

Personally I like longer names without nicknames (and that's what I'll do with my kids).
Generally though, I don't mind short names (Mia, Tina, Liam, Cole...), but dislike cutesy diminutives as full names (like Alfie, Gracie, Betty, Joey...).

This message was edited 2/20/2011, 12:54 PM