Name abbreviations

[Naomi]

I'm getting this a lot lately now that Sophia is going to preschool and doing more activities. Her name is Sophia (obviously) but we often call her Sophie. I have had several people comment on this lately, and someone even suggested to me that I should decide what her name really is Der. We have decided. We know what her name is. She knows what her name is. It's not as if we're giving her a nickname that bears no relation to her given name.

It really annoys me. If we were pedantic about no abbreviations and insisted on everyone calling her Sophia all the time, then people would take issue with that.

This probably should have gone in venting But I'm curious what you all think ... are we setting her up for a life of confusion?

(FWIW, she is fully aware at 3 - and has been for a long time - that her "full" name is Sophia, and if asked, she gives her name as Sophia, but she is perfectly happy to be called Sophie and has no issues understanding this. Unlike many adults seem to.)

Oh also, I'm not complaining that people ask for clarification, I'm happy to explain - it's when they follow up with derisive comments or roll their eyes as though I'm doing something wrong ...

[dizzy lizzy]

as long as she knows her name and she is happy and her parents are happy with it, what does it have to do with anyone else, i cannot see how she is going to have a life of confusion, more like the knockers are confused because they think it is their business.

[mel35]

I agree with Lizzy, as long as she is happy with it I don't think its any of thier business, she knows her name.
My kids all have nicknames that we (family) use
Jessica- gets Jess or Jessie
Sofie - is Sof or Softy (coz she's a bit of a softy lol)
Isabel is Izzy or Izz
Jack is Jacko ( sometimes wacko Jacko coz he's a little bit crazy
Zoe gets Zobo
I wouldn't use any of those names if they didn't like them.

[Melinda]

well they would hate to meet me i call my DD by a name that doesnt sound anything like hers.....
i have always called her something diffrent to her self but if i am talking about her i use her "real" name....
although now she is known as the other name to her friends......
confused.......
say her "real" name is Madeline (which its not)
i call her a totally diffrent name.......
if she writes me a note she signs it the false name......

she knows who she is...

i wouldnt worry about it Naomi......

[Kaylene]

Naomi, I think they are making a fuss about absolutely nothing - some people really like to be called by their exact name - if so, they can say so - some families use short versions or long or other variations of names - sometimes its a special thing that only one person does - my sons have short names but sometimes get called nicknames by their friends, my DH is called a shortened version of his name and a slightly different version of this by his workmates - many people would shorten Jessica to Jess, sons GF does this and other sons GF sometimes shortens Kelly to Kel - they are all well adjusted normal people.

If people ask, I'd say Yes her name is Sophia, but Sophie is fine - if they have a problem with it - Too bad.

I remember when my DD was about 4, and I looked after another girl after kindy whose mum worked - anyway the other girl called me by my first name so DD went through a phase of calling me 'Kaylene' too - fine by me, if she speaks politely I dont have a problem - but so many people butted in and said Its Mum to you. Hey, hang on, if it bothers me, I will say so - its none of your business.

After a while she just reverted back to calling me Mum anyway. No big deal to me.

[SocialGirl]

I really dont see the harm.... I'd take these comments from whence they come!!! My gd has various nick names - spriglet, teecan, tiegie-teegs, tieglet and so on.... she's fully aware of her birth name, so ja

[Mad Old Cow]

Don't worry about those people Naomi, Sophia knows her name & thats all that matters
My daughter called her boy Jacob & everyone was told from day 1 that his name is Jacob & it must not be shortened but he called himself JJ his name is Jacob John lol i thought it was so funny so we can call him JJ all day but never jake it has to be Jacob OR JJ.
I love Sophia's name i also like Soph & Sophie

[old woman]

The only thing I regret about calling my son Karl is that it's a very common name now & when ringing for appointments for him always had to say "karl with a k" He has a very common surname as well ( I don't : ) & there were at least 2 in the same year Did have people ask me why we'd called him that " cos I wanted too :

His Dad for some reason started calling him Kipper or Kip & it's stuck I did get asked once,had I got four sons? She thought Kipper was a real name
So long as Sophie happy,it's nobodys buisness Naomi.
Ps, we are not allowed to call Joshua,Josh or Joshy .........................yet :

[jenr]

Can you call him Roo OW

[sandydee]

agree with the others Naomi...they are not worth worrying about ....Sophie knows who she is and is happy with it all as you are as well...its noones business.

Luke has been called Luke the Duke or Luke the Spook by Mum growing ..it never worried him ..he still about it ..he calls her Nanna Spanner

Luke prefers Lucas over Luke and asks why I didnt calll him Lucas as his mates all do .