No More Nicknames?

Over the last few years, I've seen a growing trend of children who's parents insist on using full first names versus the well known nick names: Matthew instead of Matt, David instead of Dave. The one parent I asked simply said she preferred the full name (which I don't believe is the whole story).

Does anyone know why parents are increasingly against nicknames? Why is it wrong to be known as Matt?

My commonly used name has always been a nickname and I don't see the benefits of using my full first name except in legal documentation.

 

I have a name that can easily be shortened to a nickname as do both of my brothers.
My mom always called us by the names she gave us and I was never comfortable with the nickname, my brothers are the same way.
We're all GenX at least so I don't think it's that new.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a nickname per se.
But in a way it's that whole power of names thing.
You choose you name, mine is the full version not the nickname.
I've been using redravin for so long it would be less weird to us that.

 

I've never thought of shortened name as a nickname.

Howard...Howie...Fruit Loops.

 

The only time I've seen this is from my sister-in-law. She started years ago that people should stop calling her by the shortened version of her name and only use the full name. When she and my bother had children she insisted the same for them. God help it if you refer to her son by his easily shortened name. He doesn't care at all and he's in his twenties now. I find it odd and silly, but I'm not in her head... thank God.

 

Some people tend to use the shorter version of my name. Not thrilled by that, but it does not really bother me either and I will respond to it. I switched to using my full name when I was 14 and never give the short take personally.

 

Umm, get a lot of calls from the sheriff, Lindy?

Personally I've always been very found of the name Sophia.

 

I've never had a problem with the diminutive of my full name, but I've known people who hated having their name shortened. Two of them were named Michael.

One guy made it a point to say "My name is Michael" as many times as needed to stop people from calling him Mike. I used that has nickname, in my mind not to his face, I referred to him as Mike "My name is Michael" Hislastname.

The other Michael Not Mike I knew in college was in his late teens/early 20s but looked about 12 (he only needed to shave once a week, if that often). He really struggled with finding himself. Girls ignored him sexually speaking because he looked like a 12 year old boy, and quite a few gay guys didn't ignore him for the same reason.

 

Based on the response, I'm assuming that this is nothing more than a personal preference. I had assumed that this was a new trend in naming since all of my experiences had been with the children of adults I know. That perception changed when I met an adult named Peter who hated it when people shortened his name.

All of my children have names that can be and are usually shortened to their diminutive version. They all have no problem with it now. I'm interested to see if that changes as they become adults.

 

I am okay with the shortening of names -- James to Jim, Robert to Rob or Bob, etc. --whatI don't like is the infantilizing of names -- James to Jimmy or Robert to Robbie.

I am also okay with actual nicknames. We have a few too many Mikes in our office, one is Mike, another is Swedish Mike or just Swedish, and the other is Jacko, a diminutive of his last name.

 

My stepfather is a III. His grandfather was Charles. His father was Chuck. His initials are CAP so he became Cap. I use my full name, not the easily shortened version.

 

My name is unisex, short and not really nicknameable - but damn if people didn't try by adding an -sie or -ski -ster to the end of my name. Not so much anymore. But it was so annoying.

 

I also have problem with adult males (I don't see it so much with females) infantilized names, but if the person is OK with it then so be it. It just one of my quirks. And actual nicknames are fine as long as the person doesn't mind (I'm not sure that a large person really wants to be called Tiny or Slim).

When I procured records for litigation I ran into situations where people, usually men, were so well known by their nicknames, after decades of use, that folks had a hard time remembering their actual names. "Michael Smith? Hmm, let me think. Oh, you must mean Junior. We called him Junior because his uncle was already named Michael, Big Mike."

 

To be clear, I am fine if someone really wants to be called Jimmy or Billy. I still think it's an odd choice for an adult but whatever.