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Well my son is named Alexander Drake and we call him Xander.

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Mum to Alexander Drake : b. 3 January 2006

I am in high school, and every Alexander in my form has a nickname. We have two Alexs and a Xander. I personally like Alec as a shortened version, but I really like Alex too.

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I think that as soon as a child gets to school, and definitely by high school they have their name shortened...My auntie was always correcting people who tried to shorten her daughter's name of Katherine. Katherine was in kindergarten for 3 weeks and it had become Kat. (My aunt was horrified :p)

I've known a couple of Alexanders that didnt' go by a nn, but they were under 5 years old, so I'm not sure what happened as they got older. :b Besides Alex, I've known 2 Alexanders that went by Xander.

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~Heather~

I also love the name Alexander but I don't really like the nn Alex. I would prefer the full name but I know this will be shortened by some people. I like the nicknames Sandy, Sacha, Sasha. Other nicknames are Andy, Anders, Alexis, Lex, Xander and Zander.

In answer to your questions: yes and yes.

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Alexander is one of the names I see most frequently on boys. I have two friends with little boys named Alexander, and I would say its easily in the top 10 where I live. You see Alex alot but also Zander/Xander - a nn I hate with a passion.

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I do agree that Alexander is likely to be shortened by folks. I'd use Alek or Sasha as a nn to avoid the over-popular Alex issue or the overly-trendy Xander issue.

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my cousin is named Alexander, but does go by Alex. However, I don't think a lot of people his age are named Alexander (he is a few years older than your nephew will be) If your sister-in-law doesn't want him to be called Alex and he grows up being called Xander, Ander(s), Andy, Lex, Len, Zan, or whatever, by the time he starts school he will identify himself with that nickname instead of Alex and people will respect what he wants to be called.

I know a few and they all go by Alex except one. But you could you Andy, Xander / Zander, Lex, Alec, I know a boy named Sandy, or I've even heard Zen before (not sure of the spelling but thats how it was pronounced)

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♥ Kristen ♥

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Shake Your Body Like A Bellydancer.
Here is where you are
There is where you want to be
But you can't get there from here ♥

It's very, very likely that Alexander will be shortened. I've known dozens of them, and only one goes by Alexander in full. About half go by Alex and the other half by Sandy. I know a couple who use Alec too, and one Xander.

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If your friend doesn't like Alex she'd be safer choosing a whole new name.

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♥Elinor♥

I know an Alexander who goes exclusively by the full form. No Alex, no Xander, no Lex, no Al. It is possible, if you're prepared to correct people all the time.

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Though of course, if the kid grows up to prefer being called Alex, there isn't much you can do about it.

Some Alexanders go by Xander or Alec, which aren't that popular. I personally love Alexander as a full name, too, and I don't think it's too much of a mouthful.