Well simply to answer your questions, I loathe
Nate as well, but
Nat is kind of cute (as well as Natty).
As for as
Nate being too strong, I really dont know why you would think that would have a problem. Personally, its what the parents choose becomes the ultimate nn. I personally hate
Kristi, and thats what most people call me because its what I've been called by my family all my life. I never really liked it, but couldnt get them to stop, and I just gave up fighting it. If you call your son
Nat, he will be known as
Nat. In school, in my experience, teachers ask if you go by your full name or have a nn. They may ask if he prefers
Nate, but he could correct them and say Nat...its not that big of a deal. I hope that makes sense. Simply stated, dont worry about
Nate being more popular. Its like someone named
Thomas going by
Tommy instead of
Tom kind of thing.
~~
Kris~~