# Parents who name their child just the diminutive/short form of a given name **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382 "2023-12-10T20:30:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/41 "2023-12-11T00:14:33Z")
> [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > If you want to call your child Pete, that’s fine, but for pete’s sake 😄 give them the given name Peter. > [@peedin](#): > > I understand but I’m the opposite. If you want to call your son Alex, name him Alex, not Alexander. He can call himself Arthur Pewty when he grows up, but until then, give the kid a name you like. I’m not quite either of these - my opinion is that if you want to name your kid “Elizabeth”, don’t get the idea that you will be able to decree that everyone else calls her either " Elizabeth" or “Beth” instead of one of the eleventy million other nicknames for “Elizabeth”. But anyway, why the diminutive forms- different reasons. Often, it’s that the parents don’t know it’s a diminutive - I’d bet most people don’t know that “Jack” is a nickname for “John” and then you have the people naming their kid in a different language. My husband’s immigrant parents named him after someone who was no doubt named " Daniel" - but they didn’t know that , they only knew him as “Danny”. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/42 "2023-12-11T00:40:52Z")
My late FIL’s given name was Bobbie. I expect it caused untold annoyances over the years. He went by Bob, but I’m sure more than one person tried to put Robert on official paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/43 "2023-12-11T00:54:55Z")
I have a granddaughter nicknamed _Alex_ She is Alexandra. Her sister nicknamed _Max_ She is Maxine. The boys are Named _Jax_ and _Rex_. No other name. The parents like Xs. (I hope not in their marriage) I think all their names are ridiculous. But, what you gonna do? My middle daughter named her boys names I would’ve sworn were made up. Turns out I was wrong. They’re rare enough that there is trouble with peeps mispronouncing all the time. I warned her. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/44 "2023-12-11T01:00:22Z")
Lizzie Borden’s official name was Lizzie, not Elizabeth. I knew two Chinese immigrant brothers who took the names Eddy and Edward as their “American” names. They thought they were completely different names. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/45 "2023-12-11T01:00:52Z")
The OP’s post is wacko. Name the kid whatever. Long form is not better than short form; just different. E.g. Alex is exactly as good a nickname for Alexander as is vice versa. Bob & LaShaun are exactly as “good” choices for arbitrary labels for a kid. Whole lotta prescriptive stupidity & prejudice in this thread. Having said that, parental illiteracy is NOT a topic to be celebrated. Creative is great; incompetent is not. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/46 "2023-12-11T01:08:08Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Lizzie Borden’s official name was Lizzie, not Elizabeth. How can you be so sure, did you ax her parents? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/47 "2023-12-11T01:11:10Z")
“WHY!” (whack) “DIDN’T!” (whack) “YOU!” (whack) “JUST!” (whack) “NAME!” (whack) “ME!” (whack) “ **ELIZABETH!** ” (whack whack whack whack whack) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/48 "2023-12-11T01:14:00Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > How can you be so sure, did you ax her parents? Nah, I’ve never even been to Fall River! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/49 "2023-12-11T01:22:06Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I think all their names are ridiculous. But, what you gonna do? Just objecting to the ‘X’? Alex → Sasha; that one is easy. “Max” already sounds [cool](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AwesomeMcCoolName) but you can go to Millie… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/50 "2023-12-11T01:28:26Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > All names are made up. Exactly. I don’t understand the disdain on any level. It’s all, as you say, made up. Why is Jack a nickname, but John is okay? That is some weird arbitrary BS. (My middle name is “Jack” and, while it doesn’t come up often, some people have insisted that it was actually “John.” No, I know my middle name, it’s effing “Jack” and it’s not the diminutive of John, but rather a convolution of the Polish name “Jacek.”) Now, to be fair, our daughters both have full names and nicknames we call them, but the nicknames vary a bit depending on situation, mood, phase of the moon, whatever. But they both have a main nickname we use 95% of the time. Who cares? Why is it anyone’s business to tell me whether a name is acceptable or not? If we went with the nicknames on the birth certificate, it’s none of anyone’s business, as it’s all fairly arbitrary anyway. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/51 "2023-12-11T01:29:25Z")
I have an older sister whose name is Patty. Not Patricia, please. It caused her nothing but grief with teachers and coaches who assumed - nay, insisted - that her name must be Patricia. It took my mother meeting with the teacher in person and laying down the law and the truth. Until the next year, and the next teacher. Which is strange, since all of the other siblings have names that can be shortened: Michael/Mike, David/Dave, etc. When asked why she chose Patty, my mother didn’t really have a good answer. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/52 "2023-12-11T01:32:27Z")
Oh, I’ll call them what their parents named them. I said my piece at the birth of each. It’s really ok. Altho’ _Max_ says a boy at school believes she’s really boy, cause her name is for boys. I told her to ignore him. Personally I’d have punched him out, already. It’s not a thing I wanna teach grandkids. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/53 "2023-12-11T01:38:03Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Altho’ _Max_ says a boy at school believes she’s really boy, cause her name is for boys. In popular culture, one of the main characters from Season 2 onward of _Stranger Things_ is a girl named Max (short for “Maxine,” yes.) Depending on the kid and his interests, might be too young for him, but both my under-10 girls are familiar with and fans of her character. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/54 "2023-12-11T01:42:23Z")
I’d love to see the list of approved names from our neighborhood busybodies. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/55 "2023-12-11T01:44:00Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > “WHY!” (whack) > “DIDN’T!” (whack) > “YOU!” (whack) > “JUST!” (whack) > “NAME!” (whack) > “ME!” (whack) > “ **ELIZABETH!** ” (whack whack whack whack whack) That’s only eleven whacks by my count. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/56 "2023-12-11T01:55:46Z")
I think the rhyme might exaggerate a little… though looking on Wikipedia, it says her stepmother (interesting, I hadn’t known that detail) was killed with 18 whacks, which is pretty close; her father “ten or eleven.” Since the stepmother wasn’t involved with her naming, I think I’m right on point. Also that Lizzie’s middle name was Andew, so I think per the terms of this thread she was quite right to be aggreived. Especially since her sister was just Emma. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/57 "2023-12-11T01:56:07Z")
I recall a thread about common cultural practice among South Asian folks in India. Everyone has a string of names on their local equivalent of a birth certificate which is legally binding. Inherited family names, given names, ancestral names, etc. And _everyone_ has a long list of different nicknames used by close family, extended older family, extended younger family, close friends, distant friends, coworkers, BF/GFs, etc. In that culture each category had a different list of nicknames. And would never think of using any of the “birth certificate” names. That was. Simply. Not. Done. All this was mainstream and normal in their world, before you even consider folks like that emigrating to an English-speaking country that struggled mightily with saying actual no-shit hard for English speakets to pronounce Indian / Hindu / Bengali etc. names. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/58 "2023-12-11T02:04:55Z")
I really don’t care what people _really_ name their kids. It’s their business, not mine. I can and do care about my kids and their kids names. And, I can and do have opinions as to what names I like, out in the wild. That doesn’t mean I’d ever call anyone out about their name. Nope, wouldn’t ever. I’m allowed to feel how I want about it. And judge harshly, if I want. In my head. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/59 "2023-12-11T02:08:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > In popular culture, one of the main characters from Season 2 onward of _Stranger Things_ is a girl named Max (short for “Maxine,” yes.) I had a friend in high school way back in the Dark Ages whose name was Maxine, but was almost always called Max. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2023, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382/60 "2023-12-11T02:08:28Z")
> **[Name Discrimination Study Finds Lakisha And Jamal Still Less Likely To Get...](https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/08/18/name-discrimination-jobs)** > > Economists sent 83,000 job applications to 108 companies. Applicants with Black names were called back 10% fewer times across the board. But it never really just stays in one’s head does it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-who-name-their-child-just-the-diminutive-short-form-of-a-given-name/994382.md?page=4)