Starting to use middle name as nickname

[lightside]

My son is one and we're thinking about starting to use a nickname that's the first syllable of (and common nn for) his middle name. I love his middle name and didn't really think about how lost middle names are in day-to-day life. My question is, do you think this would be odd and/or potentially confusing for him and others? If it makes any difference, I think the name really suits him and his first name doesn't lend itself to any nicknames. And to be completely honest, if I could have a do-over I would have just made his current middle name his first name (or kept it in case we have another son), that's how much I love this name. Just curious what others think...

[Oliver's Bear]

All the men on my mother's side use their middle name, or nicknames of their middle names as their day-to-day name. So does my husband -- to the point that when people call my husband by his actual first name, he doesn't recognize it.

I don't see a problem with it. If he keeps it up as an adult, people might wonder why his full name is P. Jack Smith, but that's easy and common enough to explain.

As long as no one else has an objection to the switch, I don't see it as a big deal.

[jollywife]

In theory this is fine and I think you should call your son what you want to call him. At one year it will probably be a bit confusing for him, though. I assume he knows his first name and responds to it so this might take some time for him. Essentially it's changing his name a year out.

[honeylemon]

I think it would be ok.

My daughter is Iris Wilhelmina. I adore both names and wish I could use her middle more. Especially the nn Willa. I LOVE Willa. So sometimes I'll call her Iris Willa.

If he's only one and you start with something like that where you use the name he's used to and the new nn, I think he would get used to it quickly. Then if you decide later you still want to call him the new nn, it won't be such a surprising thing.

[cabbagecabbage]

Part of me thinks it's weird to decide on a new nn. I feel like nicknames happen organically and not abruptly. The other part just shrugs and doesn't think it's a big deal at all.

My daughter sometimes goes by Midge, which has nothing to do with her name. My cousin goes by her middle name exclusively and has since age 2 or 3. I wouldn't worry about it if it feels right to you.

[bromios]

I think it's early enough to where you could do it, especially if you start by consistently calling him by his fn and mn, then gradually shift to using the mn. By the time he's three he won't remember that you ever called him by his fn. So as long as your SO is on board (if applicable), I think it's fine.

[seamonster]

Not a big deal. My sister grew up going by a nn for her middle name. No problems with it.

[lightside]

Thanks, everyone. This is all really helpful and reassuring to see that most of you think it’s nbd.


I already call him by both names together and sometimes just nn at home, so I don’t think it would seem like an abrupt change in that sense. My worry is more about explaining the change to our families, his teachers, our colleagues, etc and then potentially to him when he’s a bit older if he asks about it. Thinking about that process makes me feel like it’s all a bit silly (and maybe a little narcissistic?) to change my kid’s name when he is over a year old…


I think I have been hoping that it would just happen naturally (like cabbagecabbage mentioned) and that I wouldn’t have to make a drastic decision. Ugh. So I guess I’m going to think it over a bit more and try to set a deadline to make to a final decision. My gut feeling is that the decision is going to be not to change.

[jollywife]

I love his name. From what I can gather, the change would not be so big for him. You often already call him by the nn, right? If that's the case and it's just others, I think it's much less of a big deal.

This isn't quite the same situation, but my girls both have names that are nns of their 'official' names. The nns are also full names in and of themselves. It will no doubt be confusing when they start school and are called by their full names, but a simple "oh I go by ___" should suffice. I think the same goes for your situation, just the other way around for now.

[lightside]

May 29, 2016 23:17:38 GMT -5 pineapplesmoothie said:

My aunt Elizabeth often went by her middle name Robin. She was interchangeably Aunt Lizzy or Robin. I think one grandparent always liked one name better than the other or something.
Relevant?

Yes! I talked to H about it and we decided to continue using his fn while also using the middle nn casually if it feels right. Maybe it will catch on with others, maybe not. Eventually he will be old enough to decide if he wants to be called by fn or nn. 

[joy]

I mean - this is clearly the best example of all time... but, Aleeah Grace one of the twins on Teen Mom 2. Somewhere between one year old and four years old, her mom (Leah) started calling her Gracie. Now she appears to be interchangeably Aleeah or Gracie.

Everyone caught on!

[helenahhandbasket]

I have a friend that does this with her kid. Not sure how old your son is, but it's probably best to do this while he is still very young so that it catches on easily.

If your H is on board, I don't see an issue.

[spicysalmonroll]

May 30, 2016 6:37:18 GMT -5 joy said:

I mean - this is clearly the best example of all time... but, Aleeah Grace one of the twins on Teen Mom 2. Somewhere between one year old and four years old, her mom (Leah) started calling her Gracie. Now she appears to be interchangeably Aleeah or Gracie.

Everyone caught on!

Same with Britney Spears' son. When they were born the tabloids always said Jayden James and Sean Preston and now whenever I see any interview or article, the younger is only referred to as Preston.

[joy]

May 30, 2016 12:38:07 GMT -5 spicysalmonroll said:

May 30, 2016 6:37:18 GMT -5 joy said:

I mean - this is clearly the best example of all time... but, Aleeah Grace one of the twins on Teen Mom 2. Somewhere between one year old and four years old, her mom (Leah) started calling her Gracie. Now she appears to be interchangeably Aleeah or Gracie.

Everyone caught on!

Same with Britney Spears' son. When they were born the tabloids always said Jayden James and Sean Preston and now whenever I see any interview or article, the younger is only referred to as Preston.

Britney went for pretension. Haha.

goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/103764/pretentious-names-list?page=1