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HelpWhich names would you avoid simply because you dislike the nicknames?
mirfak's reply to one of my posts made me think of this. Are there any names you love but would never use because you hate the standard nicknames for them and are afraid that people would try to call your child by those nicknames? Or even worse, that your child would love the nickname you hated and go by that?
I think I could live with other people trying to call my child by a hated nickname (you could always correct them and they'd get it eventually) but if your child decides she wants to go by it there's really nothing you could do.
Here are mine:
Madison - I think it's appealing in its full form but I dislike Maddie.
Madeline - again I think the full form is nice, but I can't stand Maddie.
Lucille - this one I'd still use because I don't think Lucy is horrible. But I'd be sad if she decided to go by Lucy later on so I'm not sure.
Crispin - Cris just bores me to death.
Christopher - I think the full name is appealing but I can't stand Chris or Topher.
Melody - I would still use it, but I wouldn't be that happy if she went by Mel.
Catherine - I would still use it as a middle name (as a first name it's so common) but I really dislike the idea of Katie.
Caitlin - I like it but can't stand Katie.
Daniel - don't mind the full name but can't stand Dan.
David - I like David but hate Dave with a passion.
Victoria - I like the full form but can't stand Tori and I don't like Vic or Vicky either.
Valerie - I think it's cute but Val sounds so horribly negative and lifeless.
Jennifer - don't mind the full name but Jenny is too cutesy and Jen is just boring.
Gillian - love it but really hate Gill or Jill. I have hope that people wouldn't try to call a Gillian Gill as much as they'd try to call a Jillian Jill even though they sound the same.
Alexandria, Alexa - I think they're cute but I hate Alex and Lexi.
I think in general I dislike most middle aged guy nicknames. Dan, Dave, Joe - you get the idea.
I think I could live with other people trying to call my child by a hated nickname (you could always correct them and they'd get it eventually) but if your child decides she wants to go by it there's really nothing you could do.
Here are mine:
Madison - I think it's appealing in its full form but I dislike Maddie.
Madeline - again I think the full form is nice, but I can't stand Maddie.
Lucille - this one I'd still use because I don't think Lucy is horrible. But I'd be sad if she decided to go by Lucy later on so I'm not sure.
Crispin - Cris just bores me to death.
Christopher - I think the full name is appealing but I can't stand Chris or Topher.
Melody - I would still use it, but I wouldn't be that happy if she went by Mel.
Catherine - I would still use it as a middle name (as a first name it's so common) but I really dislike the idea of Katie.
Caitlin - I like it but can't stand Katie.
Daniel - don't mind the full name but can't stand Dan.
David - I like David but hate Dave with a passion.
Victoria - I like the full form but can't stand Tori and I don't like Vic or Vicky either.
Valerie - I think it's cute but Val sounds so horribly negative and lifeless.
Jennifer - don't mind the full name but Jenny is too cutesy and Jen is just boring.
Gillian - love it but really hate Gill or Jill. I have hope that people wouldn't try to call a Gillian Gill as much as they'd try to call a Jillian Jill even though they sound the same.
Alexandria, Alexa - I think they're cute but I hate Alex and Lexi.
I think in general I dislike most middle aged guy nicknames. Dan, Dave, Joe - you get the idea.
This message was edited 1/5/2013, 9:02 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Top of this list is Jacqueline...
I can't stand calling a girl Jack or Jackie.
I also wouldn't use:
William- Don't really like Will, Willy, Billy... but Bill is the worst.
Alexander- Don't like Al, Alex, Lex or Xander.
Samantha- hate Sam or Sammy on a girl... actually, I don't like Sammy on a boy either, although Sam is fine for Samuel.
Laurence- Don't like Larry.
Catherine- I'd be fine with Cat, but Cathy, Katie, and to a lesser extent, Kate, are all unappealing.
Elizabeth- I love the name, and I love the 'El' nicknames like Ellie, Elsie, Eliza... but I hate Liz, Lizzie, Beth Betsy, Bessie and Betty.
I can't stand calling a girl Jack or Jackie.
I also wouldn't use:
William- Don't really like Will, Willy, Billy... but Bill is the worst.
Alexander- Don't like Al, Alex, Lex or Xander.
Samantha- hate Sam or Sammy on a girl... actually, I don't like Sammy on a boy either, although Sam is fine for Samuel.
Laurence- Don't like Larry.
Catherine- I'd be fine with Cat, but Cathy, Katie, and to a lesser extent, Kate, are all unappealing.
Elizabeth- I love the name, and I love the 'El' nicknames like Ellie, Elsie, Eliza... but I hate Liz, Lizzie, Beth Betsy, Bessie and Betty.
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Geoffrey!
I adore Geoffrey. But I loathe Geoff. And I just KNOW it'd be shortened. It's the first syllable, so very natural even to me to shorten it to it's first syllable. And I have a really bad association with a Jeff so I can't even take the chance. Otherwise Geoffrey would be way up on my list :(
Judah - really can't stand Jude. At all.
Micah - can't stand Mike either, although I feel like this is less likely as a nn
Israel (boy), Isidore (boy) & Isidora (girl) - uuuugggh Izzy :/
Matthias / Matteo - uuuugh Matt. Ick.
Patrick - no love for Pat or Paddy, although I do like Patch
Raphael - Rafe does nothing for me
Nathaniel - neither does Nate
I adore Geoffrey. But I loathe Geoff. And I just KNOW it'd be shortened. It's the first syllable, so very natural even to me to shorten it to it's first syllable. And I have a really bad association with a Jeff so I can't even take the chance. Otherwise Geoffrey would be way up on my list :(
Judah - really can't stand Jude. At all.
Micah - can't stand Mike either, although I feel like this is less likely as a nn
Israel (boy), Isidore (boy) & Isidora (girl) - uuuugggh Izzy :/
Matthias / Matteo - uuuugh Matt. Ick.
Patrick - no love for Pat or Paddy, although I do like Patch
Raphael - Rafe does nothing for me
Nathaniel - neither does Nate
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Madeleine - I love Madeleine, but I really dislike Maddie.
Susannah - I dislike Susie, but there are other nickname possibilities, such as Annie, so Susie isn't a must.
Samantha - I don't really care for Sam.
David - I don't care for Dave.
Victoria - I dislike Vicky. I like Tori, though.
Tabitha - I dislike Tabby.
Gabrielle - I dislike Gabby.
I would still consider Madeleine and Gabrielle as middle names.
Susannah - I dislike Susie, but there are other nickname possibilities, such as Annie, so Susie isn't a must.
Samantha - I don't really care for Sam.
David - I don't care for Dave.
Victoria - I dislike Vicky. I like Tori, though.
Tabitha - I dislike Tabby.
Gabrielle - I dislike Gabby.
I would still consider Madeleine and Gabrielle as middle names.
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For the most part, I believe hated nicknames can be avoided with people outside the family. Whatever you introduce your child as is what she'll be called. But, yeah, I do have a few nicknames that I hate sooooo much, I just can't risk my child ever shaking off her early "Ew! X nickname = yuck!" conditioning and choosing one of them for herself.
Alexandra: This is my mother's middle name (and her favorite part of her name), so I'd love to use it for a daughter. Lexi totally ruins it for me. I'm on board with every other Alexandra nn from Alex to Zanna, but the thought of my daughter choosing to go by the salacious, downmarket Lexi makes me die inside a little.
Matilda: Like Mattie, hate Tilly/Tillie. I simply cannot stand it, so no Matildas for me.
Antonia: The thought of Toni/Tony is chilling. I hate it for boys, too.
Patricia: Very pretty in full, and I think Patty and Patsy are sort of cute, but I loathe Tricia/Trisha and Trish.
David: I hate Dave, too. It's a shame because I'm starting to really like David in full. Dave would be hard to avoid, imo, just because it's so natural and ubiquitous.
Alexandra: This is my mother's middle name (and her favorite part of her name), so I'd love to use it for a daughter. Lexi totally ruins it for me. I'm on board with every other Alexandra nn from Alex to Zanna, but the thought of my daughter choosing to go by the salacious, downmarket Lexi makes me die inside a little.
Matilda: Like Mattie, hate Tilly/Tillie. I simply cannot stand it, so no Matildas for me.
Antonia: The thought of Toni/Tony is chilling. I hate it for boys, too.
Patricia: Very pretty in full, and I think Patty and Patsy are sort of cute, but I loathe Tricia/Trisha and Trish.
David: I hate Dave, too. It's a shame because I'm starting to really like David in full. Dave would be hard to avoid, imo, just because it's so natural and ubiquitous.
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For the most part, I am a nickname person, and I usually am drawn to names with a lot of nicknames especially for boys. But there are a few where I don't like the nicknames.
Samuel, for example. I really like Samuel but Sam and Sammy are both unusable for a number of reasons to me and my SO, so because of that we've never seriously considered it, although we do both really like it.
That's the only name I can think of that I might seriously consider if it weren't for a nickname. Though there are other names I don't particularly like with nicknames I don't care for, and other names I do like with nicknames that I don't love but can live with.
Samuel, for example. I really like Samuel but Sam and Sammy are both unusable for a number of reasons to me and my SO, so because of that we've never seriously considered it, although we do both really like it.
That's the only name I can think of that I might seriously consider if it weren't for a nickname. Though there are other names I don't particularly like with nicknames I don't care for, and other names I do like with nicknames that I don't love but can live with.
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None
In my experience it is perfectly possible to have a name with a common nickname that you don't use. I wouldn't let a nickname possibility deter me from using a name I otherwise love. It doesn't bother me to correct people if they used the nickname, but in my experience they don't just assume a nickname anyway. They will call your child what you introduce them as, and will ask about a nickname. My son's name is Benjamin, and we do call him Ben, but if I introduce him as Benjamin that's what they'll say or they'll ask if we use Ben. My daughter Margaret people will ask if we call her Maggie (which we don't, so I'll tell them we call her Meg). I also have brothers in-law who have always been Joshua and Daniel, never Josh and Dan. It works for them.
In my experience it is perfectly possible to have a name with a common nickname that you don't use. I wouldn't let a nickname possibility deter me from using a name I otherwise love. It doesn't bother me to correct people if they used the nickname, but in my experience they don't just assume a nickname anyway. They will call your child what you introduce them as, and will ask about a nickname. My son's name is Benjamin, and we do call him Ben, but if I introduce him as Benjamin that's what they'll say or they'll ask if we use Ben. My daughter Margaret people will ask if we call her Maggie (which we don't, so I'll tell them we call her Meg). I also have brothers in-law who have always been Joshua and Daniel, never Josh and Dan. It works for them.
This message was edited 1/6/2013, 5:05 AM
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I think everyone would agree that it *can* work- I think the point is more that the child could always make their own choice to be known by that nickname once they're in school and then you don't have control over it and you end up with a kid going by a name that you hate. My cousin is a Patrick and only ever Patrick to the family but to all his friends from high school, he is Pat. Both of his parents hate the name Pat but they have no control over it.
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Also...
I think as long as you have another nickname lined up to give people an alternative, you have a better chance. For example, I like Alexandra but hate Lexi...if she is established early on as an Alexandra occasionally nicknamed Allie or Alex or something, I'd feel more confident in her never becoming a Lexi. If you go into it being 'She is Alexandra and that is all she will be', there is a much greater chance that it will get shortened to something you have no control over in high school (although it isn't inevitable).
I think as long as you have another nickname lined up to give people an alternative, you have a better chance. For example, I like Alexandra but hate Lexi...if she is established early on as an Alexandra occasionally nicknamed Allie or Alex or something, I'd feel more confident in her never becoming a Lexi. If you go into it being 'She is Alexandra and that is all she will be', there is a much greater chance that it will get shortened to something you have no control over in high school (although it isn't inevitable).
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I'm curious, how old are your children? Most young children I know use their full names without nicknames, but it seems like when children reach 10 to 12 years old, their friends begin nicknaming them and those nn seem to stick.
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My big one is Thomas, I find this really charming but Tom I cannot stand.
Alexandra is on my list and so is Alexander, I dislike Alex for both genders, for a nickname for Alexandra I would push for Ally, and for a boy I think Lex has a lot of appeal.
I can't think of any more right now, but yeah: Thomas is my main unfortunately.
Alexandra is on my list and so is Alexander, I dislike Alex for both genders, for a nickname for Alexandra I would push for Ally, and for a boy I think Lex has a lot of appeal.
I can't think of any more right now, but yeah: Thomas is my main unfortunately.
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These are more names I love but hate the nickname for, I’d not necessarily avoid the name all-together.
Caroline/Carolina – Carrie
Catherine – Cathy is terrible. Of course there are many other nicknames for Catherine.
Josephine - I love Josephine but cooled on it a bit after my mother insisted she’d call a baby Josephine Joey. Well one because that’s our dogs name, and two because I dislike boys names on girls.
Matilda – but not Mattie or Tilly. Still love the name though.
Rebecca – Becky, Becca, especially since every Becky I’ve met has been a big meanie.
Susanna – Susie
Victoria –Vickie and Tori are ugly.
Abram – Abe, I do love Bram though.
Andrew – Andy, Drew
Bartholomew – Bart. It sounds like “fart” and Bart Simpson is a negative.
Gabriel – Gabe
Martin – Marty
Michael – Mike/Mikey/Mick.
Vincent – Vince and Vinny are all stereotypical Italian gangster.
Caroline/Carolina – Carrie
Catherine – Cathy is terrible. Of course there are many other nicknames for Catherine.
Josephine - I love Josephine but cooled on it a bit after my mother insisted she’d call a baby Josephine Joey. Well one because that’s our dogs name, and two because I dislike boys names on girls.
Matilda – but not Mattie or Tilly. Still love the name though.
Rebecca – Becky, Becca, especially since every Becky I’ve met has been a big meanie.
Susanna – Susie
Victoria –Vickie and Tori are ugly.
Abram – Abe, I do love Bram though.
Andrew – Andy, Drew
Bartholomew – Bart. It sounds like “fart” and Bart Simpson is a negative.
Gabriel – Gabe
Martin – Marty
Michael – Mike/Mikey/Mick.
Vincent – Vince and Vinny are all stereotypical Italian gangster.
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Nicholas --I hate Nick. Nico is nice, but Nick is such a default nickname.
Alexander --Alex really grates on me for some reason.
Joseph --It's so handsome in full, but Joe totally ruins it.
Matthew --Ditto for Matt. Matt is so ugly.
Michael --And again for Mike. Michael is a great guy. Mike is obnoxious and immature.
Gabriel --I don't hate Gabe exactly, but I'd be pretty bummed if I had a Gabriel who preferred Gabe.
David --Dave is so boring and overdone. Davey is even worse.
Jacob --Jake is so harsh and annoying.
Alexandra --Lexi makes me cringe. I'm not fond of Alex either. I do love Allie and Alexa, so maybe there's hope.
Margaret --I absolutely loathe Maggie. It makes me think of maggots. Eugh.
Elizabeth --There are plenty of Elizabeth nicknames I do like (Elise, Lily, Libby), but I hate Liz / Lizzy and Beth, the most obvious ones.
Sophia --My favorite girl name of all time, but I cannot stand the whiny, insipid Sophie so it's right out.
Alexander --Alex really grates on me for some reason.
Joseph --It's so handsome in full, but Joe totally ruins it.
Matthew --Ditto for Matt. Matt is so ugly.
Michael --And again for Mike. Michael is a great guy. Mike is obnoxious and immature.
Gabriel --I don't hate Gabe exactly, but I'd be pretty bummed if I had a Gabriel who preferred Gabe.
David --Dave is so boring and overdone. Davey is even worse.
Jacob --Jake is so harsh and annoying.
Alexandra --Lexi makes me cringe. I'm not fond of Alex either. I do love Allie and Alexa, so maybe there's hope.
Margaret --I absolutely loathe Maggie. It makes me think of maggots. Eugh.
Elizabeth --There are plenty of Elizabeth nicknames I do like (Elise, Lily, Libby), but I hate Liz / Lizzy and Beth, the most obvious ones.
Sophia --My favorite girl name of all time, but I cannot stand the whiny, insipid Sophie so it's right out.
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Agreed! And this is why I reserve certain names to be MNs ONLY!! :)
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My husband and I were just discussing this in reference to Edwin and Edmund. I can't stand Ed or Eddie. It seems like this comes up frequently but I can't think of many now.
David - don't like Dave though Davy for a youngster is cute
Douglas - Doug and Douggie are awful though that wasn't the dealbreaker. I would still love to use this name, but in my family two bearers had tragic deaths.
Many I would never consider because of the common nn. Don't care for Sam, Bill, Bob...
I do like Jillian nn Jill though. It's at the top of my list though I'm lacking in girl names.
David - don't like Dave though Davy for a youngster is cute
Douglas - Doug and Douggie are awful though that wasn't the dealbreaker. I would still love to use this name, but in my family two bearers had tragic deaths.
Many I would never consider because of the common nn. Don't care for Sam, Bill, Bob...
I do like Jillian nn Jill though. It's at the top of my list though I'm lacking in girl names.
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Isabella and Isidora - Dislike Izzy, Bella, and Dora
Jacob - hate Jake
Vincent - hate Vin, Vinny, Vince etc
Lillian - I like Lil but dislike Lilly
Charlotte - Charlie is *the* nickname for this in Australia these days...I don't like Charlie on a girl at all
Edward - dislike Ed, Eddie, Ned, Ted
Madeleine - hate Maddie
Jillian - dislike Jill
Raymond - hate Ray
Alexandra - I'd worry about her choosing to go by Lexi urghh
Daniel - dislike Dan
I know there are lots more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head
Jacob - hate Jake
Vincent - hate Vin, Vinny, Vince etc
Lillian - I like Lil but dislike Lilly
Charlotte - Charlie is *the* nickname for this in Australia these days...I don't like Charlie on a girl at all
Edward - dislike Ed, Eddie, Ned, Ted
Madeleine - hate Maddie
Jillian - dislike Jill
Raymond - hate Ray
Alexandra - I'd worry about her choosing to go by Lexi urghh
Daniel - dislike Dan
I know there are lots more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head
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Samuel and Samantha- I don't like Sam, and I've never known a Samuel or Samantha who didn't go by the abbreviated form fairly frequently, so I'd hesitate to use them, even though I LOVE Samuel.
Nathaniel and Nathan- I think both of these are handsome sturdy names, but Nate takes away all the charm
Edmund- Ed isn't great, Eddie is downright awful
Constance- Connie isn't that bad, but I don't like it
Frances- I adore this name, it's been one of my top ones for forever, but I really hate Frankie and Franny and Fran isn't great either
Ezekiel- I dislike Zeke, it's just such an unattractive sound
Lawrence- I don't think it would be a default at all, but Larry is awful
Stuart- Stu just makes me think of food or someone stewing over a situation
Nathaniel and Nathan- I think both of these are handsome sturdy names, but Nate takes away all the charm
Edmund- Ed isn't great, Eddie is downright awful
Constance- Connie isn't that bad, but I don't like it
Frances- I adore this name, it's been one of my top ones for forever, but I really hate Frankie and Franny and Fran isn't great either
Ezekiel- I dislike Zeke, it's just such an unattractive sound
Lawrence- I don't think it would be a default at all, but Larry is awful
Stuart- Stu just makes me think of food or someone stewing over a situation
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Arthur - I don't like Artie.
Bartholomew - don't like Bart, I'd use Ollie.
David - Don't like Dave and Davy is just okay.
Robert - Bob, Bobby, Rob and Robbie are quite plain.
William - dislike Bill, Billy and Willie. Will and Liam are okay.
Edmund - it's my favorite boys name but I'd almost not use it because of the nicknames Ed and Eddie. I'd be very strict about him being called Edmund.
Kenneth - this is a family name and I actually don't mind it but I dislike Ken and Kenny. Kent is just okay.
James - I really dislike Jim and Jimmy. Jaime is okay and so is Jem.
Richard - I dislike all the nicknames: Rick, Ricky, Rich, Richie, Dick and Dickie.
Charles - I like Charlie but hate Chuck.
Daniel - really dislike Dan and Danny.
Albert & Alfred - I dislike the nicknames Al, Bert, Bertie and Alf. I do like Alfie a bit.
Susan - dislike Sue but Susie is okay.
Abigail - dislike Abby and Abbie.
Victoria - me too, I dislike Vicky and Tori.
Bartholomew - don't like Bart, I'd use Ollie.
David - Don't like Dave and Davy is just okay.
Robert - Bob, Bobby, Rob and Robbie are quite plain.
William - dislike Bill, Billy and Willie. Will and Liam are okay.
Edmund - it's my favorite boys name but I'd almost not use it because of the nicknames Ed and Eddie. I'd be very strict about him being called Edmund.
Kenneth - this is a family name and I actually don't mind it but I dislike Ken and Kenny. Kent is just okay.
James - I really dislike Jim and Jimmy. Jaime is okay and so is Jem.
Richard - I dislike all the nicknames: Rick, Ricky, Rich, Richie, Dick and Dickie.
Charles - I like Charlie but hate Chuck.
Daniel - really dislike Dan and Danny.
Albert & Alfred - I dislike the nicknames Al, Bert, Bertie and Alf. I do like Alfie a bit.
Susan - dislike Sue but Susie is okay.
Abigail - dislike Abby and Abbie.
Victoria - me too, I dislike Vicky and Tori.
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Endless amount of names I'm afraid ;(
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Madeleine - I don't like Maddie at all. (In fact, I really don't like that it begins with "Mad," either.) Since Maddie and Mattie sound pretty much the same in my accent, Mathilda is out, too.
Samuel, Samantha, and Samara - I really dislike "Sam / Sammy."
Victoria - I can't stand Vicky. It's like Icky, but with a V in front of it.
Daniel / Danielle - Don't like Danny / Dani.
Gabriella - I think it's a beautiful name, but I hate "Gabby" with a passion. It's an epithet. That's why I'm actually partial to Briella, though I think I'm the only person on these boards who is.
Patricia / Patrick - Don't like "Pat."
ETA: I can't believe I forgot Pamela. By itself it's okay, but Pam... all I can think of is cooking spray! (And Pam Anderson. In fact, she pretty much ruins Pamela altogether.)
Samuel, Samantha, and Samara - I really dislike "Sam / Sammy."
Victoria - I can't stand Vicky. It's like Icky, but with a V in front of it.
Daniel / Danielle - Don't like Danny / Dani.
Gabriella - I think it's a beautiful name, but I hate "Gabby" with a passion. It's an epithet. That's why I'm actually partial to Briella, though I think I'm the only person on these boards who is.
Patricia / Patrick - Don't like "Pat."
ETA: I can't believe I forgot Pamela. By itself it's okay, but Pam... all I can think of is cooking spray! (And Pam Anderson. In fact, she pretty much ruins Pamela altogether.)
This message was edited 1/12/2013, 1:44 PM
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Not really a fan of any of them except melody and crispin, because
They aren't as popular, but I don't mind most of the
Nn. I don't usually use nicknames for real people at least
Not ones that have to do with there name. Like my Ln is
Holmes so my friends call me sherlock.
They aren't as popular, but I don't mind most of the
Nn. I don't usually use nicknames for real people at least
Not ones that have to do with there name. Like my Ln is
Holmes so my friends call me sherlock.
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I think you didn't really get what this thread is about :P
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Oops. Totally missed what this was about. Sorry :)
I don't like Robert because Bob annoys me, but I guess
Robby is ok. Im not a huge fan of Caitlyn to Cate or Lynn.
I also don't like Andrew in general but especially with Andy as a nn.
I agree with Victoria to Vicky too. Vicky just screams old lady
To me, though one of my good friends is named that :p
I don't like Robert because Bob annoys me, but I guess
Robby is ok. Im not a huge fan of Caitlyn to Cate or Lynn.
I also don't like Andrew in general but especially with Andy as a nn.
I agree with Victoria to Vicky too. Vicky just screams old lady
To me, though one of my good friends is named that :p
This message was edited 1/5/2013, 8:23 PM
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