yup
in reply to a message by Vulcan-rebel
I think many of them are great! Particularly the ones that don't end in an "ee" sound, as I think those (the "ee"s) sound too nicknamey. I say, if you're going to call them that all the time and you really prefer it to a "full" name, don't just give the longer one just because you feel like you should.
Ones I like:
BOYS:
Jack
Max
Alec
Alex
Misha
Sasha
Sander
Skandar
Dan
Ben
Ash
Val
Ari
Rick
Rob
Luca
Nate
Shea (nickname of one name that's also a separate "full" name)
GIRLS:
Val
Maggie
Kate
Nora
Elle(a)
Deryn
Mina
Maisie
Lia
Mia
Talia (another nickname/name in its own right)
Bryn (ditto, although i like this name on a boy as its "full" form best)
Beth
Gwen/Gwyn
Merry
Rae
Sofie
Liv
Ones I like:
BOYS:
Jack
Max
Alec
Alex
Misha
Sasha
Sander
Skandar
Dan
Ben
Ash
Val
Ari
Rick
Rob
Luca
Nate
Shea (nickname of one name that's also a separate "full" name)
GIRLS:
Val
Maggie
Kate
Nora
Elle(a)
Deryn
Mina
Maisie
Lia
Mia
Talia (another nickname/name in its own right)
Bryn (ditto, although i like this name on a boy as its "full" form best)
Beth
Gwen/Gwyn
Merry
Rae
Sofie
Liv