Names for Chrildren - Did You Use Shortened Ones?

TractorFactor

It's more of a question of if you used shortened versions (such as Charlie instead of Charles) and WHY you didn't use the full name?
Or is their legal name Charlies but everyone uses Charlie?

strawb_shortcake

We discounted lots of names as we didn't like the shortened version, well with the first two. The youngest does have his name shortened but it's just a lazy version rather than a proper shortened name. 

I think people just like what they like, longer versions can be quite formal i.e. Archibald is bold choice, Archie less so

sheramber

As a family we use my son's full name but everybody else uses  a shortened version.

My SIL did not want her daughter's name shortened so called them  Lyn and Jane. 

 But there became Lyndy and Janey.

hildasmuriel

We called our daughter Charlotte with the full intention of calling her Charlie.

But somehow she just never looked like a Charlie so remained a Charlotte.

Mojisola

Imagine your little cutie getting an important job in the future (or even just having their full name read out during a marriage service) and see whether the shortened form still seems appropriate.

Whatever you choose, see what it sounds like with the surname and make sure the initials don't spell something embarrassing.

I went to college with a lad whose Mum had always loved the name Richard (but hated it shortened to !!!!!!) - she didn't take into account that she had married a Mr Whittington and absolutely everyone but her called their son !!!!!!.

Spendless

Because the full version we named son wasn't that common in this country 23 years ago and friends/family/neighbours all kept calling him by a similar sounding full name but not one I was keen on. When he was 10 days old I grew tired of correcting people so called him and introduced him by his shortened name. I actually found it frustrating as he grew whether to put his long official name on forms or the shortened one he was known by. I therefore didn't repeat the same thing with his sister.  

silvercar

My boys have names that can be the full version or a shortened version. We were happy with this as it gives them the option to choose as they got older. What actually happened was that as babies we used the shorter versions as the full name seemed too long for a baby. They both now mainly use the shorter version. DS1 would actually like to officially change his name to the shorter version only, DS2 actually likes the long version. 

DullGreyGuy

A friend growing up was named Vicky but when she acted up in class etc her teachers would call her Victoria (usual trying to use the formal version when dealing with something serious) but she very correctly pointed out that her name wasnt Victoria.

I've the typical British habit of using diminutive versions of names in all but formal situations with only a few exceptions (unless the person has said they dont like the diminutive). Mrs is the opposite and uses full names, so Maryanne-Louise gets said in full whereas I'd likely go for Mary. 

trailingspouse

I have a name that isn't easily shortened, so I deliberately chose names for my two that had several different shortened versions. That way, I hoped they'd end up being called by a name that fitted their personalities.

Sarahspangles

TractorFactor said:

It's more of a question of if you used shortened versions (such as Charlie instead of Charles) and WHY you didn't use the full name?
Or is their legal name Charlies but everyone uses Charlie?

We have three children between us, all given a full name that is capable of being shortened.  The one we thought most likely to always be used in full, isn’t, ever.  The other two have multiple shortened forms, so they could have one for business and one for party - but they never shorten theirs.

I think we did right giving them a choice….

silvercar

I do like shortened names that are from the middle end of the name rather than the beginning. I wish I'd thought of that for my children.

eg Lisa for Melissa, Tal for Natalie, Xander for Alexander.