Nickname for a full name

[peaseblossom55]

H & I are having trouble agreeing on names and now we need 2 girls names. We both love the name Maggie. My requirement for a name is that it should sound good in all 3 scenarios- if she were to be an actress, or a doctor or a lawyer. I don't want a name that can sound childish or if they were to become a doctor not be taken seriously. I wanted to use the full name Margaret and use Maggie as the NN what we would call her on a regular basis. H hates the name Margaret.

Is Maggie too informal?

[peaseblossom55]

Thanks @charlotte! I believe we went through most of the names you mentioned and H vetoed them. Although most of the names aren't our style. The only name we have agreed on so far is Emilia.

[billyhorrible]

Ilove the name Maggie, but for me, it would be too informal. I think it depends on profession.


I have a name like Margaret and work in a very male dominated profession. Socially I go by a nickname similar to Meg, but professionally I go by "Margaret." I can't tell you the humber of men who call me "Maggie." It comes across as though they don't take me seriously. I've never seen a grown man named Robert addressed as Bobby without permission.

I think when there are certain areas where women are notoriously struggling, having a juvenile sounding name is just one more hurdle to overcome.

[peaseblossom55]

Thanks billyhorrible, I agree I really don't want a juvenile name. I thought maybe I was being too conservative on this.

[Widget123]

+1 No to just Maggie

[cabbagecabbage]

Maggie is too much for the birth certificate. Do you like Magnolia? Magdelena?

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 13, 2016 14:38:58 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

Maggie is too much for the birth certificate. Do you like Magnolia? Magdelena?

No NMS.

[joy]

Yeah, Maggie is too nicknamey.

Since no to Margaret, Magnolia (::sob: and Magdalena... what about another version of Margaret?

Marjorie
Mairead (muh-raid)
Megan
Margot
Marguerite

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 13, 2016 15:02:22 GMT -5 joy said:

Yeah, Maggie is too nicknamey.

Since no to Margaret, Magnolia (::sob: and Magdalena... what about another version of Margaret?

Marjorie
Mairead (muh-raid)
Megan
Margot
Marguerite

I like Marjorie and Margot,  H already vetoed Margot so I'll have to bring up Marjorie. Thanks!

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 13, 2016 15:33:23 GMT -5 corinne said:

It's a little bit of a stretch, but I have a family member named Madeline with the nick name Maggie.

I love the name Madeleine in general. H has a cousin who named their daughter that but we never see them. H didn't hate the name and wasn't in love with it. So until it gets the full veto I consider it the running. :-) Thanks.

[kellybenelly83]

I was going to suggest Marjorie.
I love Josephine
Serafina (Sara, Fin)
Mallory (Lori, Milly)
Penelope (penny)

[peaseblossom55]

kellybenelly83, thanks I think either one of us vetoed most of the names you suggested. We both have such different tastes. I feel kind of lucky we agreed on one so far.

[dreadpiratebuttercup]

Echoing PPs, Maggie is too informal for the full name. Marjorie or Madeleine and Emilia would make a lovely sibset.

[catahoulatte]

Ohhh Magnolia High on my list of GP names.
I do agree Maggie is too juvenile for the full name though, as much as I like it as a NN. I see you have already covered that.

[peaseblossom55]

catahoulatte, I love your daughter's name Juliet! It's on my list but I don't think H loves it.

We talked a bit last night, he liked Madison, Penelope, Caitlin, Avery and Lindsay. I can tolerate Madison, and Lindsay.

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 14, 2016 9:22:49 GMT -5 corinne said:

I prefer Madeleine and Emilia to Lindsey or Madison.

Madeline and Emilia are just so beautiful IMO, that the other two don't compare.

Lindsey feels very 80s/90s, Madison is a boys name.

I love Emilia and Madeleine so much together, I even love Juliet and Emilia. I agree Madison is a boy's name.  I don't mind so much the feel of Lindsey but I don't think it either of us were in love with it.

[dreadpiratebuttercup]

Jul 14, 2016 9:02:32 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

catahoulatte, I love your daughter's name Juliet! It's on my list but I don't think H loves it.

We talked a bit last night, he liked Madison, Penelope, Caitlin, Avery and Lindsay. I can tolerate Madison, and Lindsay.

Nooooo! Madison is a boy name by definition. Lindsay is technically a boy name as well, but I side eye its use a bit less. It's terribly dated, though. Avery is also a boy name.

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 14, 2016 11:54:25 GMT -5 dreadpiratebuttercup said:

Jul 14, 2016 9:02:32 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

catahoulatte , I love your daughter's name Juliet! It's on my list but I don't think H loves it.

We talked a bit last night, he liked Madison, Penelope, Caitlin, Avery and Lindsay. I can tolerate Madison, and Lindsay.

Nooooo! Madison is a boy name by definition. Lindsay is technically a boy name as well, but I side eye its use a bit less. It's terribly dated, though. Avery is also a boy name.

I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's suggested like 5 names I felt bad saying no immediately. He needs to spend more time looking at names though. I like Caitlin the best at this point.

[Deleted]

Jul 14, 2016 9:02:32 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

catahoulatte, I love your daughter's name Juliet! It's on my list but I don't think H loves it.

We talked a bit last night, he liked Madison, Penelope, Caitlin, Avery and Lindsay. I can tolerate Madison, and Lindsay.

I like Emilia.
I prefer Madeline to Madison. I like Penelope.
Caitlin is dated- I prefer Katherine nn Kate or Katie.
Avery is my GP name- it's supposed to be a boys name.
Lindsey is dated, but OK. I like Lauren or Laurel better.
I also like Loralei.

Penelope was on our list- our runner up. It's a stretch but maybe you might like Caliope nn Callie.

Other suggestions since you liked Penelope:
Daphne
Dahlia
Iris
Ivy
Delphine
Bianca
Clara
Olivia since you liked Emilia

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 14, 2016 21:09:22 GMT -5 @clarypax said:

Jul 14, 2016 9:02:32 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

catahoulatte , I love your daughter's name Juliet! It's on my list but I don't think H loves it.

We talked a bit last night, he liked Madison, Penelope, Caitlin, Avery and Lindsay. I can tolerate Madison, and Lindsay.

I like Emilia.
I prefer Madeline to Madison. I like Penelope.
Caitlin is dated- I prefer Katherine nn Kate or Katie.
Avery is my GP name- it's supposed to be a boys name.
Lindsey is dated, but OK. I like Lauren or Laurel better.
I also like Loralei.

Penelope was on our list- our runner up. It's a stretch but maybe you might like Caliope nn Callie.

I didn't bring up Lauren or Laurel, I don't love those names but I don't hate them.  I like Loralei. H vetoed Caliope.  

[sandandsea]

Generally I like naming kids what you will call them. Maggie doesn't seem too juvenile imo but it is a nickname. We named DS 2 a name that is legit fill name but is also a common nickname for a longer name in Spanish (ILs first language). It doesn't bother me.

[Unknown]

What about middle naming it? You can use it, but have a more "formal" first name to use if she chooses. I general don't like using the mn, but I'm not so against it that it couldn't be a compromise.

[peaseblossom55]

Jul 15, 2016 11:11:42 GMT -5 Unknown said:

What about middle naming it? You can use it, but have a more "formal" first name to use if she chooses. I general don't like using the mn, but I'm not so against it that it couldn't be a compromise.

I never thought about that,  I guess that could be an option too. Thanks!