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I very strongly agree with you. Joseph should be on the birth certificate, and then you can call him Joey, which will most likely be shortened to Joe as he grows older. If your son grows up to be a professional, Joey will seem ridiculous on his business cards. What's the harm in putting Joseph on his birth certificate? It gives him more options---he can be Joey or Joe or Joseph. I do really dislike nicknames as given names in general, but I dislike the idea of Joey more than most others, such as Beth instead of Elizabeth, because I find Joey particularly childish.

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I have to say, though, I wouldn't use a name I'm not crazy about to get to a nickname I like. I wouldn't put the nickname on the birth certificate either. I'd abandon the idea altogether. But you may be different.