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Conference oass::babynames

Title:	A list of All the BABYNAMES (shadow copy)
Notice:	BABYNAMES is now on-line and writable! Enjoy...
Moderator:	OASS::BURDEN_D

Created:	Tue Feb 13 1996
Last Modified:	Fri May 30 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	996
Total number of notes:	7139

433.0. "Whats wrong with nicknames?" by TUNER::FAHEL (Amalthea, the Silver Unicorn) Wed Aug 30 1989 08:22

    I have a question;
    
    A number of times in this conference I come across the phrase
    "a name that is not easily shortened".
    
    Why?
    
    I see nothing wrong with nicknames.  (I alone have more nicknames
    than I care to mention).  The best thing about nicknames is that
    a person can change them without any paperwork or problems.
    
    Take the name Katherine, for instance.
    
    As a child she can be Katie or Kitty.  As she gets older she can
    be Kate, Kat or Kathy.  Katherine can still be used for more formal
    occasions, or for work.
    
    Nicknames can be special, just between friends or family, or more
    generally used.  No one outside of NOTES calls me K.C.  ;^)
    
    A name should be something to be proud of, but a nickname can be
    just as special.
    
    I'll shut up now.  ;^)
    
    K.C.  (aka: Kitten, Kitty, Kay, Violet, Little-girl, Shadow, etc.)

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
433.1	It's up to the nicknamee to decide	CLOVE::MACDONALD_K		`Wed Aug 30 1989 11:54`	13
	I guess there's nothing wrong with nicknames if the person being nicknamed doesn't mind. I, for one, don't care much for nicknames. I always introduce myself to people as "Kathryn" and about 50% of those I meet respond with, "Oh, nice to meet you, Kathy". I really don't like it when people take it upon themselves to give me the nickname of their choice. Then, when I correct them and say, "No, it's Kathryn", they get very irate and say something like "Well, EXCUSE ME!". I'm never rude to them, it's just that some people are weird, I guess. Kathryn is my name and that's what I prefer to be called. - Kathryn
433.2	I agree, its your choice	SKIWVA::FSCNO		`Thu Aug 31 1989 11:22`	10
	I agree with Kathryn, if its ok with the person whose name is shortened is one thing. Unfortunately, some people who go by their full name have it shortened whether they like it or not. For instance, my brother's name is Gregory and everyone in the family calls him that. People outside the family call him Greg for the most part. It really doesn't bother him but to us in the family Greg and Gregory are two different people. I go by nickname (Cindy) and prefer it that way. Its just your choice. Cindy
433.3	Short vs. Nickname	USWAV1::BRADISH		`Fri Sep 01 1989 12:28`	6
	I hate when people call my husband Bri. I ALWAYS call him BRIAN. But I don't mind nicknames, but to me shortening a persons name is not really a nickname. I think nicknames are something like "Princess", "Kitten", "Rusty". Joy (whose name cannot be shortened!!)
433.4	But WHY?	CHCLAT::HAGEN	Please send truffles!	`Fri Sep 01 1989 14:27`	23
	> A number of times in this conference I come across the phrase > "a name that is not easily shortened". I've always wondered that, too. It's not a matter of someone calling you by a nickname that you don't go by. (i.e. having someone automatically assume you go by Ed if your name is Edward). If you grew up always being called Edward, than it's wrong for someone who, upon meeting you, calls you Ed. The issue, or question, is WHY DON'T PARENTS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE NICKNAMES? Why are people always looking for names for their children that can't be shortened? Why do they dislike the thought of a nickname (or shortened name) so much? This is what I've been wondering. I purposely chose a name for my son that can be shortened. This way he has a "formal" name, and a name his friends can call him. Sort of like the French having two forms of "you" : tu and vous. My name is Lorraine and my nickname is Lori, which isn't an obvious nickname for Lorraine. My teachers always called me Lorraine and I really didn't like it. (It sounded too formal or stuffy or something.) I always wished I had a regular name that didn't have a nickname, such as Linda, or a name which had an obvious nickname, such as Cynthia.
433.5	Someone understands me! ;^)	STEREO::FAHEL	Amalthea, the Silver Unicorn	`Fri Sep 01 1989 15:14`	19
	Thank you Lori! That is the point that I had been trying to make! Of my family (7 kids), 4 have names with obvious nicknames (and they go by the nicknames), 2 have names that can not be shortened, and 1 has a name that can be shortened, but doesn't. My sister and I envy the others because they had a choice. We are: Sandra (Sandi) Richard (Rick) Randall (Randy) Cathy Lawrence (Larry) Karen Peter K.C. (#6)
433.6		PMROAD::PORTER		`Fri Sep 01 1989 16:40`	22
	Of the four children in my family, only the boys have names that can be shortened: Lori Shari Jeffrey (Jeff) Howard (Howie) Both brothers use the shortened versions of their names, although Howie has just started using Howard and my sister and I have always wished we had names that could be shortened without sounding stupid, she's always been called Shar and I've always been called Lor. My fiance's name is Steven, but if you call him that, he'll get very upset. He insists on being called Steve, he says it sounds more mature. My nephew's name is Andrew, but don't let my brother hear you calling him Andy, his nickname is Drew. Lori B.
433.7	As you please	TKOV50::ZORBAS	NULL Junior	`Mon Sep 04 1989 00:54`	11
	As pointed out in the previous replies some names lend themselves to being shortened (or even lengthened!) while other names do not and some people like having their name shortened while other people do not. My preference is to have a name which can handled by both the namer and the namee without any of the embarrasments (however slight) which may occur. Stuart (sometimes Stu) Zorbas (sometimes Zorb).