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We gave our second daughter a really big name (Magnolia)... and we don't like the nicknames that would normally go with it (Maggie, Nola)... so we picked a nickname that we considered even as a full name because it's so darn cute (Maisie).

And that's why we did it that way. I don't regret the choice

@Dandelion: same exact reasoning - proper name for a resume but might like the nn more.

But C doesn't have a nn.

I have thought about doing something like this. I like the idea of using a certain family name but it is super common, there is a nickname that comes from the name but people would think of two more obvious choices first. If we used that name I would introduce the child in that way- his name is XYZ but we call him YZ.

@sunny: I'm expecting she will grow into her big name and use it as she enters high school or at least for formal occasions ( the same way I use my full name).

I'm a big fan of nicknames. I like shortening names, I think it happens to most people whether the parent instigated it or not. Having a nickname provided also helps prevent against others choosing a nickname for him! Some people wanted to call my son "Jake" or "Jack" based on his name - but we specifically chose his name so he could be called "Cobi" so that eliminated that problem.

I like that it gives him two options for names as well - he can decide as he gets older which name he likes best.

All of the names I consider for future kidlets are longer names with nicknames.

Using a nick name from the start is great if your child's name is long and formal. Katie vs Katherine or Ben vs Benjamin. A nick namr is often more kid-friendly than a full name. In this case I consider the nick names shortened versions of the actual name.

Both my parents have fantastic nick names that have absolutely nothing to do with their first names. My mom was bestowed her nick name by her mother at birth upon seeing her. The name stuck. Only people who know my mom professionally call her by her given name. My dad's HS gym teacher couldn't pronounce his last name and gave him his nickname. Only my dad's family calls him by his real name albeit a shortened version.

Some nick names evolve over time and others are used from day one. I think people who consider the nick names from day one do so because they don't plan to use the formal name anyway.

We picked a four syllable first name for DD. It's a mouthful for a little one, but beautiful for a girl. We were picky about what the nickname would be mostly because my dad has an unfortunate one. His name is Richard and much of our family in South America called him Dicky. No way, no how is our kid being called Dicky,

My name is Kelly and I always wished I had a more formal name (like if you're Liz but your formal name is Elizabeth, etc.) Of course we used a name like mine (Effie) for our DD but we didn't like the "formal" name for Effie (I think it was Euphemia?) and DH's grandma Effie was just Effie- no formal name. I do wish she had a formal name that was a little less cute but we loved the name so much we still went with it.

My parents purposefully their three kids names that wouldn't easily have nicknames. I'm not sure why they were so against nicknames. I guess that way you have a little more control over it than if family / friends sort of choose a nickname for your LO...

One of my son's name is Theodore and we have called him Theo since birth. But we picked the name because we loved the nickname. Sometimes people assume his nickname is Teddy and we correct them immediately.

For the same reason as others have mentioned. I love nicknames and often gravitate towards a nickname first before choosing a full name. A nickname for me is sweet and cutesy, while a full name is something that can be taken more seriously.

Interestingly enough, the nickname I wanted to call my daughter before she was born never fit her. I have never called her by that name and it's one of the reasons why I even chose her name to begin with. Funny how things work out!

Well I purposely gave my LO a name that doesn't have or require a nickname because I have a long name (the name you referenced in your post actually). I don't like when people shorten my name. I always go by my full name. When people ask if I go by the nicknames I always say no...

We picked out the nn Charlie before C was even born. We're not fans of the other, more common, nns that are associated with her name, so we felt like we could head that off by telling people she already has one.

To be honest, we never use it. We call her by her full name most of the time.

My grandmother gave my mother a name with several nicknames but then picked the one she liked best and used that so people would know what to call her.

We named both DD and DS names that have nicknames but have choosen to call each their full name with the thoughts that if they want to go by a nickname that is up to them later in life.

I call my son by his full first name, even though it shortens quite easily. It just fits him, even though I had every intention to use the nickname, it doesn't stick!

It was a big trend when my son was born (abroad) to give kids short names, like Mike and Kim. I don't know why that is!

If Baby S is a boy, we're naming him Ari ... We love the name, but it is a nickname. His full name will be "Aristotle", and I know that we'll rarely call him that. But, for later in life, he might want the option. For a girl, the name we're leaning towards has 5 different nickname options, but that didn't sway our choice either way.

Absolutely the same as @EMG86:. We actually debated making her nickname her legal name, especially with her full name being a little more popular, these days. However, her name is so lovely (in my opinion, of course), and I wanted to give her the option of going by either, especially as an adult.

Our LO is Jackson, whom I call Jack. We gave him a long name because DH felt he should have a longer name, a more adult name (though I thin Jack is an older name, but whatever) I didn't care because either way he's still Jack to is!