Why do people feel the urge to nickname your baby after you’ve shared the name chosen for your baby?!

I don't think your child will get confused about it tbh our LG has a nickname which is uesd about 80% of the time. Its never confused her, shes 3. In general, just be firm & say use the full name only please unless its a nickname we give her. Inevitabely though she/others will use nicknames, especially if her names longer.

No does my head in my MIL did the same with Finley

Soo it's normal for the most part in the way that it has been done for ages. Doesn't mean you have to like it. My daughter Elizabeth has the same name as one of my Aunts. And that aunt's twin sister was mad at her so she refused to call Elizabeth by her name and tried to call her Izzie... but that was her dog's name too.. so I didn't like that. I just said that she could call her Lizzy or Baby E because I didn't mind that. You can be strict if you want, but the nicknamers might be mad or something. Who knows. It depends on the person. But I straight up told some people not to call my baby by dumb names and they accepted my request. A few whines but that was it.

I think your overreacting. It’s all out of love.

My kids have so many nicknames. My oldest daughter is Ashton- I call by her name or ashcan , sweet pea, sister, sis, and sissy. Her siblings call her Ashy, sissy, and sister. Some family calls her lu lu ( have no idea why ). Everyone else calls her by her name. My dad called her mini mouse when she was small. My youngest daughter is Olivia- I call her bug, pudge, sissy, Libby, Libby Lue, and peanut. My dad calls her Olivia or hip pocket when small and my mom call her livvy. They have never gotten confused and when I call sissy the one I want knows it’s her. Is so cool I guess my voice sounds different.

You are overreacting. Nicknames are part of bonding. My fifth child is one. He knows his name, his main few nicknames, and all of the spinoff nicknames that descended from the other nicknames. He is normal, not a child genius. He also seems to recognize the other names of his siblings and their many nicknames as well. He has many mom type names to call me and choose from, and he hears some people call me by my actual name. Remember it’s a child, not property, and if you hinder other people from having their own relationships with the child, some will step away from the work and it is the child that will lose. As a first time mother there is a huge emotional craving to control everything and it is smart to resist it. I hope that comes across as well meaning advice, it’s intended that way.

I’m not a fan of nicknames either but I don’t think your child will be confused. I felt the same way when my first was born and my MIL gave her a nickname (my daughter is 4 now and I still hate it) but she definitely knows her whole name

I don’t think you’re overreacting! If you don’t want them to have a nick name then tell people that, I have! We’re calling our baby Penelope and I HATE penny! So whenever I tell people that’s her name I say it’s Penelope not penny I don’t like penny if anyone wants to shorten her name it will just be P that’s it, it’s your child if you don’t want people calling them a name then you can tell them don’t feel like you can’t x

I think it's such a personal thing, and you can start with what you like and ask for that. My mum chose a name that she thought would be hard to shorten because she doesn't like nicknames and I rebelled against it when i was old enough. I love my full name, but it feels too formal, and so I get friends to call me a nickname. It's also a little odd, so people sometimes find it hard to remember, so a nickname is easier for them. My mother hates my nickname and refuses to call me by it, although my dad calls me a different name altogether that we bonded over when I was very young. I had a flatmate who had a long name that people naturally shortened and she asked them to please not shorten it as she likes to be called her full name. I think people naturally shorten names out of habit, but it doesn't mean that someone needs to be called a name they don't like. You do what feels right for you and hopefully people can respect that. But also your child will probably have a perspective when she is old enough.

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You might also change your mind when she is born. A friend had a name she wanted as a full name and was very explicit that that is what her child would be called and asked us all to use that. Within 6 months, she started calling the child by a nickname and we all followed suit. I now use both names interchangeably and the child always knows who we are talking too.

My mom never called us with a nickname but we all had them for each other, usually because a younger sibling couldn't say the name right so we all adopted their way of saying it. For example, I have a brother named Alijah but we all (except mom) call him YiYa. She just didn't let it bother her. I like nicknames personally. We named our daughter Emmaline specifically for all the nicknames (Emi, Em, EmEms, M&M, EmiRoo, and whatever else anyone comes up with) To each their own I guess. But I don't think your kid will be confused growing up.

Your kid you so you pick the name. My name is Alexandra and my dad was firm for short it would be alex. He HATED Lexy and shut it down fast when people tried to call that. And honestly I am glad lol.

I chose the name I did for my daughter to be, because it gave her loads of options for nicknames when she was a bit older. Don’t think there’s any issues with it I mean in the Caribbean most people aren’t even called by their birth name lol I suppose though if it bothers you - especially pipi- then I would just say directly no please don’t call her that I don’t like it. Nothing wrong with correcting people if you don’t like something x

I wanted to call my daughter by her middle name. I liked her middle name best, but it became the middle name bc it flowed better. My mom babysat and called her by her first name all the time. She doesn’t respond to her middle name at all. She’s 4. 😡 Same kid. My MIL said ppl will call her Smelly Mellie if we named her Amelia and called her Mellie.

Well we all parent differently. My three boys all have different nicknames from my husbands parents and my parents. My mom: oldest- my big boy Middle: lazzy (his name is lazarus) Youngest: tiny toots My dad- he only gave my oldest a nickname since he hasnt met my other two. He calls him smellymess His mom and step dad: oldest- cookie Middle: laz Youngest: roadrunner (he runs fast ass hell for a 1 year old) 😂 My husband: oldest- handsome Middle: neenee Youngest: squinny Me i just call them by their names i only give them nicknames when their babies and they were all called my little nuggets 😂😂😂😂 My oldest is 4 middle child is 3 and youngest is turning 2. They all respond to their nicknames when called they dont get confused at all. My oldest makes sure of it 🤦🏻‍♀️😂😂😂

If it’s a nickname that you absolutely can’t stand, you should put your foot down. My FIL insists on calling my daughter by her full name, and it pisses me off. He’s a bully and thinks he can do it. I’ve told him to knock it off, because in my family, you only full-name your kids when they’re in trouble.

I was very adamant that I didn't want my son to have a nickname... My husbands family all go by nicknames and it just seems weird to me to not just name your kid what you want him to be called. My husband and I do occasionally call him stink butt, sweetheart etc. But it is not his name and we really don't do it outside of the house

Idk. I am kinda on both sides. Like my parents call my youngest squishy and honestly it’s kinda cute 😂😂 but it’s also perfectly fine for you to correct them. It is your baby. ☺️

You are not overreacting! It drives me crazy when people give my child a nickname without asking. You can correct them nicely. Just be honest so it doesn’t become a bigger issue down the road trying to hold it in.

I was the youngest of 5. I had so many nicknames I can’t count them on my two hands. I was never confused about what my name was and what all those nicknames were. In fact, it made me feel loved to have so many. Babies are super smart. So no need to worry about them being confused. But I’m sorry if you don’t like the nicknames! Maybe just let others know if you’d prefer they just call the baby by their name.

I think they shouldn’t be nicknaming your daughter before she’s even in the world and once announced just make it clear ‘ this is her name’ you haven’t even met her in person yet so why are they re naming her?

Oh its annoying, and I felt quite offended when both my mum and sister asked if they could call her X as a shortened version, even though we told them the shortened name we would be using. They asked immediately after sharing too which made me feel like they dont think very much of our chosen name. Same as you, don't want her to be confused by being called something different either. I don't understand it myself

I think if it bothers you, you should communicate that. You carry that child you’re entitled to feel however you want to feel, whatever it’s about. I have severe covid anxiety when it comes to my UNBORN baby, and I already have friends and family members talking about they can’t wait to see the baby etc.. stay true to how you feel. You have every right!

I’ve been the same, we’ve settled on Henrik for our little boy & my family keep calling him H or Henry like that is not his name 🤦🏻‍♀️. We’ve called him Henrik as a tribute to my granddad (Henry) but deliberately chosen a different name so he isn’t directly named after him, but for some reason my family think it’s ok to just completely change his name 🙄. Partners family don’t approve of the name either but meh not their kid not their problem 😄 x

Oh my daughter has like 5 different nicknames by everyone in my family, 😂I think it comes naturally out of love

I don’t think there is a single child growing up not knowing their name just because they have different nicknames with different members of the family:)

Idm. My child has 2 nicknames. My niece grew up with 4 nicknames but it never confused her.

Weirdly enough I had the opposite happen to me. I named my daughter Mae and my husband and I call her Mae Mae. It’s catching on and people are using it and in my head I’m like omg can you not that’s special 🥴 which is totally ridiculous but it still eats at me 😂😂😂

My little girls name is Addi & my coworkers all call her Selma. Idk why, my boss started calling her that when I was pregnant before we picked out a name & it stuck. So now if they ask about her they call her Selma instead of her real name. But that’s the only weird nickname that other people have given her. I don’t mind it though lol.

Tell them that they aren't calling baby by those names. Put an end to it now or it's going to be harder later.

I'd let them know straight away if there are nicknames you really don't like. My girl's called Dorothy and we don't like her to much called Dot/Dotty, so just said to people who started calling her that to stop straight off. They were a bit funny, but as soon as she could my D told them not to call her that if they did - so wouldn't worry too much.

So we have predetermined the nicknames that we like and we've told our friends and family if they want to call them by nicknames that's the nickname we would like to use!

My baby has sooooo many nicknames. I still call him bean and he's 5 months old lol

My partner’s dad has decided to give my baby a nickname and I hate it, it’s such a horrible nickname. He hasn’t seen my baby very much due to covid so my baby doesn’t react to it yet thankfully. All our other family members also think it’s a horrible nickname, unfortunately I’m not brave enough to say anything 😂

Honestly, I can totally understand your frustration! When I was thinking of the name for my baby (think we finally found one we like!) I had a hard time because I didn’t want him to be called dumb nicknames. I even went as far as to avoid using names that would make his initials a nickname (CJ, AJ, JR, DJ). I want him to be called what I choose (or what he chooses in the future). Not what everyone else feels like calling him. So, yes, the nickname possibilities definitely played a part in our name choosing! I wish you luck with your baby’s nicknames!

Sweetheart, it’s ok, you can’t change the world. In my culture, nicknames are given with endearing thoughts. When the intention is sweet, loving and kind, don’t go out of your way to stop people who will just think you are rude and radiate that negativity onto your child as well. Maybe you can give them a nickname that you would prefer instead of pipi. I personally got very close to my relatives who gave me special names. It was a sweet special connection that I feel until now when they call me by that nickname.

My SIL wanted me to name my daughter Penelope. She seriously called her Penelope almost the whole time I was pregnant. She finally started calling her Pineapple instead. Which works. All of my kids, have multiple nicknames. They love most of them. My husband’s family is still mad that we didn’t name our son the family name(James) He is 7 and Nana still calls him James half the time.

Oh girl I was like this tooooo I hate nicknames period

My sister in law tried to tell everyone not to call her gabby(Gabrielle). And we all still do. It’s kind of silly to tell people what to not call your child. There going to regardless of what you say. If her name is Penelope people will most definitely call her penny.

Be brave and tell them not to. It’s not their child. As someone who’s name gets shorted all the time (slightly different I know) and I can’t stand it, I’m really forceful and just correct people the first time they do it..... they don’t do it again! Nip it in the bud ASAP.

This is one of the main reasons we chose a name we believe people would struggle to nickname or shorten. Either way, just tell them that you don't want them to have that nickname x

I think you're overreacting

My brother does this every time someone has a baby (well... me and his wife, so that's 5 times now) He comes up with a cute little name and how he's always going to call this child that. And then he never does. I actually took one of the nicknames he had for his second daughter and I am the only one who calls her that! It was his name for his daughter but... He just actually uses everyone's name. My long drawn out point is that people are having fun with the name. It doesn't mean that they will actually call your child that. They just only have a name right now to love on. When there's a little squish, nobody cares as much about the name. They'll use whatever name you give them. That being said, once the baby is here if anyone calls her anything you really don't like, call it out! Just say, "Her name is... I'd appreciate it if you would use it."

Totally understand how your feeling. My husbands side all goes by their middle names or a different name other than the first name. I told them what our boys name was going to be they automatically asked what he was going to go by. I don’t understand it either. Sorry you have to deal that!

Everyone on my husband’s side of the family has multiple nicknames. We are naming our baby girl America and we are going to call her Emrie. My SILs already asked me if they can come up with their own nicknames. One is going to call her Meri and the other one Cece (cuz her middle name is going to be Cecilia) I see all the other grandkids with multiple nicknames and none of them seems confused.

I didn’t have a nickname growing up so don’t see why they can’t just call him by his given name. I don’t think he’d be confused with a different name though just don’t get the whole thing. 

I don't think u r overreacting. My MIL decided to come up with a super weird nickname for my LO and it rubbed me the wrong way so much. I tried hinting to her to stop calling him that, I had my husband mention it to her. Then finally I told her straight up not to call my son that nickname because in my native language it was just plain offensive. She tried to ay it off and said she doesn't see anything wrong with it. But she never called him that again. My adive would be to tell them how u feel about the nickname before people get too used to using it. And if people get offended, well then they can stick it where the sun don't shine cuz this is ur child and u r the one naming him/her, and not them.

This is what I fear too. When they are little I think it’s important for people to call your child by their actual name. X

So when we have been thinking of names we've also thought of the nicknames I.e they'll have a fullname but then the name they're known by I.e we like Felicity and the nickname would be fliss or Flick xx

I vet every potential baby name on what nicknames they might get. If I don't like the obvious nicknames I won't choose that name. But also, you're totally within your rights to correct people especially when baby is little. "No, her name is not X, everyone calls her Y"

My SIL told us the other day her mum, gran and Dad don't call her little boy what everyone calls him.. he's called Edward but chose to use his nickname Ned, we all call him Ned because that's what they want him known as but her parents and Grandma refuse to call him Ned and call him Edward which no one else call him lol xx