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HelpNickname solution?
I posted a few days ago about concerns around the name Enitan (eh-NEE-tah(n)) being too similar to my nephew's name Eitan. I don't care that much but am afraid my sister will. I had thought we could just call him Eni in the family, but another poster asked about the name Hugo recently, and that led me to a possible solution.
Meanings are what it's all about for me. When I responded to the poster's question about Hugo, I learned that the name means "heart, mind, spirit." As a theologian/spiritual caregiver and narrative researcher, next to the meaning I have chosen for my son already, "person of story," that's about the best meaning I could think of. In Scotland, a diminutive of the related name Hugh is Shug, which I think is adorable, and can also be Shuggie.
Turns out, Scottish football players use the name Shug for anyone on the team who has a difficult to pronounce name (which you could obviously argue the Yoruba name Enitan is, for English speakers at least), and it just felt perfect to me.
In my family we all had long names and always went by them in full, but I like the idea of a pet name in the family, and think it could solve the unfortunate dilemma I was having around the naming issue.
Posting as an update for those who might be interested, and to ask, what do you all think?
Original posting, for reference: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4671443
Meanings are what it's all about for me. When I responded to the poster's question about Hugo, I learned that the name means "heart, mind, spirit." As a theologian/spiritual caregiver and narrative researcher, next to the meaning I have chosen for my son already, "person of story," that's about the best meaning I could think of. In Scotland, a diminutive of the related name Hugh is Shug, which I think is adorable, and can also be Shuggie.
Turns out, Scottish football players use the name Shug for anyone on the team who has a difficult to pronounce name (which you could obviously argue the Yoruba name Enitan is, for English speakers at least), and it just felt perfect to me.
In my family we all had long names and always went by them in full, but I like the idea of a pet name in the family, and think it could solve the unfortunate dilemma I was having around the naming issue.
Posting as an update for those who might be interested, and to ask, what do you all think?
Original posting, for reference: http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4671443
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
If Shug / Shuggie works for you, then fine, but I agree with the other comments that your ds may not wish to be called that as an adult. And since your ds will only see his cousin once or twice a year, do you really think you'd even need to go there with Shug as a nn? Have you considered just talking to your sister before the baby is born?
She may surprise you. When I was PG with my second child, I didn't really care for any male names. The only one I remotely liked was Nicholas, but it was my sister's favorite name for a boy and at that time, she wasn't sure if she'd have any more children. So I asked her opinion about Nicholas and she was surprisingly gracious and told me to go ahead and use it. Furthermore, if she ever had another ds, she'd use it too and we'd deal with different nns. As things turned out, I had a dd and she had a ds named Nicholas 6.5 years later. :-)
Another story about my sister: Several years after her dd Emily was born, her SIL asked her permission to use Emma for her dd. Since Emma would be living in Australia and my sister lives in the Southeastern US, my sister wholeheartedly agreed and was pleased to have been consulted. Sometimes, people can be incredibly agreeable. Your sister might be as well -- especially since Enitan has nothing to do with Eitan other than a few similar sounds.
She may surprise you. When I was PG with my second child, I didn't really care for any male names. The only one I remotely liked was Nicholas, but it was my sister's favorite name for a boy and at that time, she wasn't sure if she'd have any more children. So I asked her opinion about Nicholas and she was surprisingly gracious and told me to go ahead and use it. Furthermore, if she ever had another ds, she'd use it too and we'd deal with different nns. As things turned out, I had a dd and she had a ds named Nicholas 6.5 years later. :-)
Another story about my sister: Several years after her dd Emily was born, her SIL asked her permission to use Emma for her dd. Since Emma would be living in Australia and my sister lives in the Southeastern US, my sister wholeheartedly agreed and was pleased to have been consulted. Sometimes, people can be incredibly agreeable. Your sister might be as well -- especially since Enitan has nothing to do with Eitan other than a few similar sounds.
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My problem with Shug is that it reminds me of Shug Knight. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suge_Knight If you aren't in the US, it might not be a problem.
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Oh, I hope he doesn't have a monopoly on the name ... the different spelling helps. I actually think of Shuggie Otis before I think of Suge Knight. But I try not to think of the latter period :)
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If there are a lot of of people called Shug/ Suge where you are, then it wouldn't be as much of a problem. But for me, Knight is the only one.
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While I like the idea and the way you've solved the "problem", I agree with Gracie, the previous poster. It'll be difficult to actually keep people using a totally unrelated nickname, however cute it may be.
I never replied to your original post, but IMO Ethan and Enitan are very similar, despite the pronounciation. I can however understand that you've got your mind set on this name.
I never replied to your original post, but IMO Ethan and Enitan are very similar, despite the pronounciation. I can however understand that you've got your mind set on this name.
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So are you considering Enitan Hugo as a combo?
I do like the connected dots you have between Hugo and Shug/Shuggie. I will say that I imagine most guys I know would not be happy if Shuggie stuck around in common usage into adulthood. I'd hesitate to plan on that, and actually consider it lasting as a possible bad side effect. I'd be concerned it would fade out and then you'd be back with their similar first names.
I do like the connected dots you have between Hugo and Shug/Shuggie. I will say that I imagine most guys I know would not be happy if Shuggie stuck around in common usage into adulthood. I'd hesitate to plan on that, and actually consider it lasting as a possible bad side effect. I'd be concerned it would fade out and then you'd be back with their similar first names.
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No, the 3-syllable middle name is a nod to my son's father (since he's getting my 1-syllable surname) and I'm pretty locked into that. So Shug would truly just be a pet name, like I'm Auntie Kitty in only that context. But, I appreciate your caution of this little boy nickname accidentally sticking around ... Since this is not a naming convention in my family at all, I don't really know what to expect.
I want Enitan to be his name, and what he's called, I'm just trying to come up with a solution for the two times a year he'll be with his cousins. Eitan is 14 years old, so the age gap should mean it's much less of an issue in the not too distant future.
I want Enitan to be his name, and what he's called, I'm just trying to come up with a solution for the two times a year he'll be with his cousins. Eitan is 14 years old, so the age gap should mean it's much less of an issue in the not too distant future.
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