I've noticed that a lot of people on this board are obsessed with working out the perfect nickname in advanced. I don't like it when they are too contrived and not very obvious e.g.
Minnie for
Madeleine etc.
On the other hand, I do think it's a good idea to choose a name which can be easily shortened and has a nickname you like because it's inevitable that the name will be shortened by someone. E.g. I like
Benjamin and
Ben,
Alexander and
Alex. It's one thing that puts me off one of my favourite girl's names,
Davina because I cannot think of an obvious short form. I couldn't see myself using
Davie, or
Vina or
Dina. I'd probably use something completely random. It's also a downside for the name
Matthew. I don't like the name
Matt but I think it's inevitable that a
Matthew would become known as
Matt at some stage in his life. And
Matthew to me sounds a bit childish on a grown man.
This message was edited 5/22/2008, 4:30 AM