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HelpNickname for Adelaide
I think my husband and I have 95% come to an agreement on a name for our baby if it’s a girl. We both really love Adelaide, but I’m so afraid the nickname “Addie” will be inevitable. Neither of us like that nickname at all, but at the same time saying Adelaide all the time IS a mouthful. We both like the nickname Ada, but it doesn’t quite flow as naturally. Do you think Addie will be a nickname whether we like it or not? Or can it be avoided?
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Coming from a family where nobody uses the conventional nn for their name, I'd say yup, it can be avoided, as long as its owner is on board with that. I don't think Ada is too much of a stretch. And if she starts out as Ada, you're more likely to get casual use of Ade or Adey than Addie.
Aïda, Léda, Ida, Adelita, maybe even Daisy might also be fun to play with.
Aïda, Léda, Ida, Adelita, maybe even Daisy might also be fun to play with.
This message was edited 7/29/2018, 5:03 PM
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Yes. If you don't use it, what if she does? You aren't going to tell her she can't use it, right? What if her friends start to call her that and she likes it? You really can't get away from it.
My personal opinion is that if you hate it so much, don't use the long name. There are thousands of names to choose from.
My personal opinion is that if you hate it so much, don't use the long name. There are thousands of names to choose from.
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Yes there are thousands of names, but getting two picky people to agree on one In only a matter of months is not at all easy...it’s surprising we’ve agreed on one at all
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Seriously, this is so wild - you really love a name where the first syllable, also the emphasized syllable, is "ADD" - you could think of the name as a celebration and contextualization of that syllable itself, like "ADD" is seriously the main character - but you really strongly dislike that syllable on its own, plus a friendly "ie" at the end? Really? You love Adelaide and really dislike Addie? That's like loving guacamole and hating avocado. Granted, there are some people like that, but, well, they're baffling.
I don't know if it's inevitable that people will call her Addie. A lot of young Christophers with uptight mummies are carefully called "Christopher" all the time nowadays. There's much more of a respect for "the text" in general. But, like, ... how do you love a name whose first syllable you hate? Wouldn't you WANT to call her Addie?
I don't know if it's inevitable that people will call her Addie. A lot of young Christophers with uptight mummies are carefully called "Christopher" all the time nowadays. There's much more of a respect for "the text" in general. But, like, ... how do you love a name whose first syllable you hate? Wouldn't you WANT to call her Addie?
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I mean, I get what you mean about the sounds, but you can also have certain associations with the "name play" nicknames. They can have a really different feel. Like, I don't like people to call me Cathy. I like my name, including the emphasized first syllable, and I don't necessarily hate the sound of Cathy. It just sounds like a baby boomer name to me and doesn't appeal to me. It doesn't feel like my name at all, even though it's a natural pet name for it. The OP said she knows lots of Addies so it has a "popular" association to her that Adelaide doesn't have. So I think liking or not liking a NN can go beyond the sound itself.
Also, I think I call the name someone goes by (if it's not their full name) a nickname and the "name play" names pet names.
Also, I think I call the name someone goes by (if it's not their full name) a nickname and the "name play" names pet names.
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I think
the confusion I am feeling is in the concept of nicknames.
I think most posters here have are using the concept of "nickname" as "shortened form of the name that all your friends call you and that you go by and it takes the place of your full name and people get kind of surprised to learn what your full name is."
I am thinking of it as "a way to refer to people sometimes when you like them and are having fun saying their name in different ways."
In my experience, nicknames in the first example are basically totally dictated by the parents, and if they're changed later, it's an act of mild rebellion. I think in our culture, parents can totally say whether their kid goes by Adelaide or Addie. But wtf, I would sometimes call her Addie for fun!
eta: The terminology I would have expected would be "go by" rather than "nickname."
the confusion I am feeling is in the concept of nicknames.
I think most posters here have are using the concept of "nickname" as "shortened form of the name that all your friends call you and that you go by and it takes the place of your full name and people get kind of surprised to learn what your full name is."
I am thinking of it as "a way to refer to people sometimes when you like them and are having fun saying their name in different ways."
In my experience, nicknames in the first example are basically totally dictated by the parents, and if they're changed later, it's an act of mild rebellion. I think in our culture, parents can totally say whether their kid goes by Adelaide or Addie. But wtf, I would sometimes call her Addie for fun!
eta: The terminology I would have expected would be "go by" rather than "nickname."
This message was edited 7/29/2018, 10:39 AM
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I'm not sure what difference this makes...
Various people have shortened my name in 3 ways (Vicky, Tory, Tor).
I only like one of them based on sound (Tor), so I don't mind being called that, but I'd never introduce myself that way. It'd feel weird, because I'm more familiar with what my parents called me. And I hate being called Vicky, but I don't hate Victoria.
Various people have shortened my name in 3 ways (Vicky, Tory, Tor).
I only like one of them based on sound (Tor), so I don't mind being called that, but I'd never introduce myself that way. It'd feel weird, because I'm more familiar with what my parents called me. And I hate being called Vicky, but I don't hate Victoria.
This message was edited 7/29/2018, 3:14 PM
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I'm not confused about nicknames (yeah, I know some people use a nickname ALL THE TIME instead of just occasionally, but I also see a nickname as a shortened version of the name just used by friends). I just don't think it's all that weird to like a certain name and then really dislike a nickanme for it. No need to bring up guacamole & avocado just bc someone doesn't like a common nickname for the first name they like.
For example, I'm Marjolijn and people may call me Mar sometimes, but I'm really annoyed at people calling me Marjo. I don't like it as a nickanme and it's also what a cousin of mine is called, so I don't think it's fun at all to be called that. I'm okay with Marjolijn, but I'm not with Marjo. It shouldn't be that hard to understand that the syllable -lijn makes a huge difference.
I think Edgar is a decent name, but I really dislike Eddy, even used informally every once in a while. I like Alister but not Al or Ali at all. And can name more of these. I also like Leonidas and Leo, Maximus and Max. It's not always that I dislike common nicknames, but it's not strange for anyone who doesn't, even when the sound s very similar. There are more things that make a person like or dislike a name apart from just the sound of the syllables in it.
For example, I'm Marjolijn and people may call me Mar sometimes, but I'm really annoyed at people calling me Marjo. I don't like it as a nickanme and it's also what a cousin of mine is called, so I don't think it's fun at all to be called that. I'm okay with Marjolijn, but I'm not with Marjo. It shouldn't be that hard to understand that the syllable -lijn makes a huge difference.
I think Edgar is a decent name, but I really dislike Eddy, even used informally every once in a while. I like Alister but not Al or Ali at all. And can name more of these. I also like Leonidas and Leo, Maximus and Max. It's not always that I dislike common nicknames, but it's not strange for anyone who doesn't, even when the sound s very similar. There are more things that make a person like or dislike a name apart from just the sound of the syllables in it.
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All right, nevermind, I don't get it.
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That's okay. No need to always understand everything :)
I cannot explain any more clearly than this either, so it's all good!
I cannot explain any more clearly than this either, so it's all good!
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...it's not that weird a concept?
Someone who loves Virginia might hate Virgie or Virginie.
Someone who loves Fantasia might hate Fanny.
Someone who loves Ladesia might hate Laddie.
Someone who loves Rebecca might hate Rebbie or Rebelle.
Someone who loves Sierra might hate Siri.
Someone who loves Lavinia might hate Lavie.
Someone who loves Daphne might hate Daffy.
Someone who loves Erica might hate Errie or Ricki.
Personally I find all Add* names annoying, but I don't have a problem with Adelaide.
Someone who loves Virginia might hate Virgie or Virginie.
Someone who loves Fantasia might hate Fanny.
Someone who loves Ladesia might hate Laddie.
Someone who loves Rebecca might hate Rebbie or Rebelle.
Someone who loves Sierra might hate Siri.
Someone who loves Lavinia might hate Lavie.
Someone who loves Daphne might hate Daffy.
Someone who loves Erica might hate Errie or Ricki.
Personally I find all Add* names annoying, but I don't have a problem with Adelaide.
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"Personally I find all Add* names annoying, but I don't have a problem with Adelaide."
No, no - this sentence doesn't make sense. You either don't find them all annoying, or you do have a problem with Addie. Lol.
No, I don't get it. If you love a name, it does not make sense to exclude the most prominent syllable of it for nickname play.
(Notably, in several of your examples, you have used the first syllable, rather than the most prominent one. There's a reason hardly anyone calls Rebecca "Rebbie" and instead calls them "Beck"-related names.)
But yeah, if you love Virginia but you dislike the Virg- sound enough to not ever want to play with the name you gave her and call her Virgie - something's off there.
No, no - this sentence doesn't make sense. You either don't find them all annoying, or you do have a problem with Addie. Lol.
No, I don't get it. If you love a name, it does not make sense to exclude the most prominent syllable of it for nickname play.
(Notably, in several of your examples, you have used the first syllable, rather than the most prominent one. There's a reason hardly anyone calls Rebecca "Rebbie" and instead calls them "Beck"-related names.)
But yeah, if you love Virginia but you dislike the Virg- sound enough to not ever want to play with the name you gave her and call her Virgie - something's off there.
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"No, no - this sentence doesn't make sense. You either don't find them all annoying, or you do have a problem with Addie. Lol."
I never said I didn't think Addie was annoying. I said I don't mind Adelaide. I don't like "add" in names partly because of the spelling...Addelaide would be annoying to me. I have negative word associations with the sound, but they're vague enough that they don't matter to me, unless they're reinforced visually.
"No, I don't get it. If you love a name, it does not make sense to exclude the most prominent syllable of it for nickname play."
It makes sense because there are factors other than sound that can affect the aesthetics of a name. Even if you're judging solely on sound, you can take into account how the individual sounds (and associations people have with them) interact, and that can change overall perception.
Maybe, like...if you put red next to green, it might look different than if you put it next to yellow? It's the same shade of red, but you might only like the overall affect of one visually. And maybe some people will associate red + yellow with fast food, and then fast food with being unhealthy, even though the main reason those colors are popular in restaurants is that they increase appetite, which could be good, in a certain context. But red + green might make them think of Christmas and by extension community and generosity or evergreens and by extension nature and winter, or whatever. They might just think of traffic lights, and by extension traffic jams, either way, even if they like red.
It's all subjective, and there's no reason it can't be nuanced.
I never said I didn't think Addie was annoying. I said I don't mind Adelaide. I don't like "add" in names partly because of the spelling...Addelaide would be annoying to me. I have negative word associations with the sound, but they're vague enough that they don't matter to me, unless they're reinforced visually.
"No, I don't get it. If you love a name, it does not make sense to exclude the most prominent syllable of it for nickname play."
It makes sense because there are factors other than sound that can affect the aesthetics of a name. Even if you're judging solely on sound, you can take into account how the individual sounds (and associations people have with them) interact, and that can change overall perception.
Maybe, like...if you put red next to green, it might look different than if you put it next to yellow? It's the same shade of red, but you might only like the overall affect of one visually. And maybe some people will associate red + yellow with fast food, and then fast food with being unhealthy, even though the main reason those colors are popular in restaurants is that they increase appetite, which could be good, in a certain context. But red + green might make them think of Christmas and by extension community and generosity or evergreens and by extension nature and winter, or whatever. They might just think of traffic lights, and by extension traffic jams, either way, even if they like red.
It's all subjective, and there's no reason it can't be nuanced.
This message was edited 7/29/2018, 3:52 PM
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Oh oops, made a brain fart in my first sentence. Should have said Adelaide, not Addie.
Interesting explanation.
Interesting explanation.
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Maybe because Adelaide is beautiful and Addie is immature and cutesy?
Just theorizing here ;)
Just theorizing here ;)
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Seems like an overall preference for full names rather than nicknames, since nicknames are cutesy versions of full names.
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The OP said they liked Ada, which is a NN.
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I know probably 10 little girls named Addie, to me it’s such a borning name, and so commen, and it’s like saying “Abby” wrong. I’ve never been a fan. It’s not the ADD sound that I don’t like, it’s the nickname all together. There is a huge difference in liking the full name and not one choice of nickname. You can like the name Theodore, and even like the nickname Teddy, but you may not like how “Theo” sounds on its own. Everyone is different.
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No matter what, your kid is going to reach an age to choose her/his own nn, or to not use one.
I hate the nn my family has for me, since birth, and no one else, not even family friends I've known forever, call me it. And I know others who hate their full name and go by a nn their family doesn't use at all.
I tend to avoid names that nn worry me. Edmund is probably my favorite name ever but I hate Ed and Eddie. He could like both/either or. So I will only use it as a mn, if at all.
ETA: I meant to ask, how do you feel about Adele or Dell?
I hate the nn my family has for me, since birth, and no one else, not even family friends I've known forever, call me it. And I know others who hate their full name and go by a nn their family doesn't use at all.
I tend to avoid names that nn worry me. Edmund is probably my favorite name ever but I hate Ed and Eddie. He could like both/either or. So I will only use it as a mn, if at all.
ETA: I meant to ask, how do you feel about Adele or Dell?
This message was edited 7/27/2018, 11:12 AM
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Ada shoudl be doable I think. I might even try for Adelaide without a nickname. It's only 3 syllables, not 5 or something...
Others:
Adele
Dell (which I strongly dislike)
Heidi :)
Otherwise maybe you could do something with intials?
Adelaide Victoria "AV" (Avie / Avey?)
Adelaide Dawn Aurelia "ADA"!
Others:
Adele
Dell (which I strongly dislike)
Heidi :)
Otherwise maybe you could do something with intials?
Adelaide Victoria "AV" (Avie / Avey?)
Adelaide Dawn Aurelia "ADA"!
This message was edited 7/27/2018, 9:22 AM
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I think that’s a great point. We have a son named Elijah and we have never shortened it to Eli, and Elijah is a 3 syllable name. My sisters name is Olivia and when she was little we called her Livie but really she just goes by Olivia which is 4 syllables. I think you’re totally right about it being fine on it’s own.
Also I love the idea of including middle names to truly make Ada a nickname! Now to find ones I like that would work haha
Also I love the idea of including middle names to truly make Ada a nickname! Now to find ones I like that would work haha
This message was edited 7/30/2018, 11:25 AM
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Del or Della?
If you tell people her NN is Ada,at least when she's little, they'll go for it. If someone called Henry told me he goes by Harry, who am I to say it isn't his name because it doesn't seem as natural?
One day though she might decide Addie is what she wants to be called though.
If you tell people her NN is Ada,at least when she's little, they'll go for it. If someone called Henry told me he goes by Harry, who am I to say it isn't his name because it doesn't seem as natural?
One day though she might decide Addie is what she wants to be called though.
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You can avoid it yourself by not calling her that, and by telling friends and family it isn't her name. But once she gets a bit older and has friends and teachers, it may be out of your hands, especially if she likes Addie herself.
If the full name feels too awkward to say, and the nicknames most readily apparent don't appeal to you, then I'd advise choosing another name without the headaches.
If the full name feels too awkward to say, and the nicknames most readily apparent don't appeal to you, then I'd advise choosing another name without the headaches.
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I definitely think it's inevitable, but you can probably convince family to call her Ada for short.
Convincing school friends and such will be harder.
Convincing school friends and such will be harder.
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