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in reply to a message by Lily
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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