https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:40:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154543 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 15:46:00 +0000 JennyPenny 2154543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brothers and I all were given formal names with the intent of a nickname. I used my parents nickname (Jenny) until middle school, then decided I wanted to be Jennifer, then in college switched to Jen. It's been nice to be able to pick what I want to go by based on what I feel suits me. I also use Jennifer on pretty much everything aside from communication with friends and direct coworkers. For example all my social media uses Jennifer. My brothers on the other hand use their nickname exclusively and always have. So, long story short - I think the full name does lend a lot of flexibility. My parents did seem a little bummed when I moved away from their chosen nickname, but since you said you would be okay with calling her by her full name if she chose that I think it's fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154325 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:55:21 +0000 Torchwood 2154325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: My cousin's name is Suzanna (she's about 12 now), and that's what we all call her. Apparently her friends at church (she's homeschooled) call her Suzy (sp??), but she likes it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154324 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:55:18 +0000 MediaNaranja 2154324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think Margaret is such a pretty name, and Margot a pretty nickname. I don't think it will be confusing--I know SO MANY people who go by Jenny, Katie, Jessie, or Lizzie, not to mention people who go by Ben, Will, Matt or Mike, plus a million other less-common variations. She'll be fine!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154300 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:45:39 +0000 jape14 2154300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meganmp: my son is named Jack (John) and our dog is Ellie! (If we ever have a daughter, I know I'll wish we hadn't used it up for our dog!) love your taste in names!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154295 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:43:24 +0000 78h2o 2154295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: Yeah, I am really torn about the spelling. My cousin's wife is actually named Margo... that is the spelling that is most familiar to me, though I think Margot looks a little more sophisticated? </p> <p>@anbanan15: I really don't think my husband would go for Margaux. I also fear it would get misspelled a lot? However, I agree that it looks pretty!</p> <p>@Keybee: Thanks, I appreciate your perspective. That was kind of my concern... that if we plan on calling her Margo/Margot, maybe it is silly to call her Margaret. However, I do think that Margaret would give her more options, including deciding for herself how to spell Margo. I like the name Margaret and would be happy to call her that, but DH does not like long names without nicknames.</p> <p>Another name we considered was Susanna, but DH doesn't believe we could ever get people to call her by the full name (I disagree) and he feels the only natural nickname is Susie. I disagree...I think we could get people to call her Sanna, Zanna, Zuzu, Anna, or Suse/Suz if we really wanted a nickname. All the controversy over the nn got Susanna thrown off our list, but I still love it and would use it in a heartbeat if I could get DH on board with the full name or a non-Susie nickname. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154277 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:27:02 +0000 Keybee 2154277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a teacher for a few years and here's my perspective. It's totally annoying if kids never go by their full name/don't even know it. If you are going to call her Margo all the time, don't bother with the full name. It's a hassle to make corrections and causes confusion on paper work.<br /> If you plan on calling her Margaret and Margo as a term of endearment, that's fine. But if you are going to call her Margo straight out of the gate and you are only giving her a longer name for job applications, that's silly. Margo's get hired just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154273 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:25:34 +0000 anbanan15 2154273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: What about the variant spelling of Margaux instead of Margo/Margot? It's SO pretty..French and regal looking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154272 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:24:43 +0000 Torchwood 2154272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chiming in one last time to say that I do agree that Margot will get mispronounced a lot. I keep reading it as mar-got in my head, even though I *know* it's not right, and I can guarantee it will happen with other people who don't know better. I have a great-aunt Margo, so maybe it's regional that that's the spelling I expect? (We're in the South.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name/page/2#post-2154261 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:16:59 +0000 78h2o 2154261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: I think Margot is considered a variant of Margaret and not necessarily a nickname, but I think it could still work. Both Margot and Margaret mean "pearl". I love Maggie, but DH doesn't want to use it because that was the name of his family dog. </p> <p>Thanks everyone for the feedback! Glad to hear that it's not too annoying to go by a nickname and have a longer formal name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154260 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:16:35 +0000 anbanan15 2154260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Full name with a NN. </p> <p>I know a Margaret that goes by Meg and a Margaret that goes by Margo. I MUCH prefer Margo over Margot....one because I am used to it and two for the same reason your sister stated. Looks just like maggot and I think people not familiar with the name would mispronounce it, which having your name mispronounced your entire life is far more annoying than stating your NN the first day of school (FWIW, my name is one of the other names on your short list and while I feel it may be a more common name it ALWAYS gets mispronounced and misspelled). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154191 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 12:31:36 +0000 nana87 2154191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my brother has switched back and forth between going by his full name and a nn (like, in college he switched to his full name)--it's never been a big deal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154117 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:34:23 +0000 looch 2154117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a formal name and my mother gave me a nickname the day I was born, she didn't intend to, but she said I was just too little for the big name they gave me. I never used the nickname in school or work though, which I think is quite unusual.</p> <p>I love Margot, but Margaret, for some reason, not so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154107 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:28:20 +0000 Mrs. J 2154107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: Yea, I know a Margaret who goes by Meg! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154101 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:26:13 +0000 Torchwood 2154101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, and I have a cousin named Margaret who has always gone by Margie, so I don't think you're limited to just Maggie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154096 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:24:27 +0000 Mrs. J 2154096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go with Margaret and then Margot as the nn. As a teacher, I don't think it's confusing/annoying at all that a kid go by a nn...I always ask on the first day what they prefer to be called (minus the kid who wanted to be called Snake!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154095 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:24:14 +0000 Torchwood 2154095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always gone by a nickname, and absolutely prefer it. I changed my nickname several times, and am glad I have a name (Elizabeth) that allows for a variety of choices. I, personally, would never choose a name for a child that didn't give them that flexibility, and DH agrees. LO will go by a nickname unless she asks us to use her full name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154070 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:12:53 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2154070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer using a longer name and having a nickname. Dh prefers just to use the nickname. We've had several debates about it! I plan on winning if we are having a boy. ;) Saying that I prefer Margaret with the nn Margot. I don't like the look of Margo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154057 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:08:05 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2154057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer the name Margaret with nickname options (esp because it mirrors your first daughter's name), but in this case I would use Margo for the nickname. It seems more appropriate to me as an (American) nickname without the T. </p> <p>If you were going with Marguerite as the first name, then the T at the end of the nickname Margot makes more sense to me since they are both the French derivations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154041 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:02:53 +0000 ktdid23 2154041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Margaret was our top choice had our recent addition been a girl! Gorgeous name :-)</p> <p>That said, I have a formal first name and have NEVER been called by it... even by my own mother lol. I've always gone by a nickname, and it's not annoying at all to let teachers, etc know. I love having it on my resume, and it's no big deal to let folks know I go by something else in interviews, jobs, etc.</p> <p>My daughter also has a formal name, and has gone by a nickname from day one. We always planned to call her by the nickname (which actually is a stand alone name these days) but I liked the formality of the longer version for resumes, professional events, etc.</p> <p>My son's name doesn't lend itself well to nicknames (well, it does have a few that are associated with it but I hate them) so he goes by his formal name all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154033 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:58:21 +0000 youboots 2154033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raspberries: that's the spelling I know/prefer.</p> <p>My full name is Alison and my nn is Ali. Personally I internally cringe when I'm introduced by my full name And let people know I prefer my nn.</p> <p>Unless it's an obvious nn, she may has another nn- I've only heard Maggie as a nn for Margaret. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2154020 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:54:35 +0000 birdofafeather 2154020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always gone by a nickname, but now use my given name as business name because it's more formal. It's not really an issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153997 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:45:13 +0000 lamariniere 2153997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally don't like the idea of giving a child a "formal" name if the intention is to only use a nickname. My brother has a name similar to Jonathan, and I've always called him Jonathan and not Jon or Johnny. That said, I really like Margaret. I have a friend who is named Margaret and she goes by the full name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153982 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:39:23 +0000 Truth Bombs 2153982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the formal name with a nickname. But I really really really dislike Margo. It looks like it was spelled incorrectly. It's just not nearly as polished or pretty at Margot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153973 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:36:12 +0000 jetsa 2153973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gone from a nickname of my middle name with family and close friends since day 1 and have never found it annoying. I've actually always used my first name at work and school.<br /> We are giving our daughter my grandmother's name and it's beautiful but we've used a nickname since we decided to use it. I figure it'll be her choice but to us she'll probably always be nickname. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153916 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:17:25 +0000 meganmp 2153916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We named our kids what we did in part because we like the nicknames. They simply have the more formal names because then they have options later, but they will always be Jack and Ellie to me, not John and Elizabeth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153908 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:12:10 +0000 cascademom 2153908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gone by nickname since I was in first grade. It's weird to hear my formal name sometimes. It looks good on business cards though. My kids will probably end up with names that don't do nicknames partly because of DH's preference. As long as the name is strong, I don't see a problem with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153901 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:08:54 +0000 simplyfelicity 2153901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have gone by a nickname my whole life and it has never bothered me. I actually really like to be able to use my full name in formal situations or just whenever I feel like it. It helps that my nickname isn't cutesy (like Susie.) People often assume that I go by my nickname even if they read my full name.</p> <p>This is why we feel really good about naming our son William and calling him Liam. He can decide to go just by William when he is older or in more formal settings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153878 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:57:51 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2153878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should add that I was thinking of Margaret as full name and Margot as nickname in case that wasn't clear :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153873 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:56:03 +0000 Smurfette 2153873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like Margaret better. This is my Aunt's name and she goes by Margaret, Margot, Margo, or Mar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/annoying-to-go-by-a-nn-vs-given-name#post-2153866 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 09:54:17 +0000 sunshineandsushi 2153866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's name is Theodore and we pretty much exclusively call him Theo, we have since day one. (Theodore comes out when he's in trouble :silly: )</p> <p>I like the flexibility of it.</p> <p>DH has a nickname as his given name and it's hilarious when people assume it's a nickname. His name is Billy and whenever we fill out paperwork, etc., people think William is his legal name, but it's legally Billy. In his situation, he is so not a William at all. Maybe once he gets much older, he'll drop the "y."</p> <p>I think it all comes down to your preference as the parent! </p>