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thread: The long or short version?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    Melbourne
    832

    The long or short version?

    DH and I are still discussing boys names and it has only been the last few days where we have had this discussion - do we use the long or short version of a name?

    We both really like Olly for a boy but DH wants to call him Oliver on the birth certificate so that if he needs a more "mature" option for when he's older (.ie a lawyer, manager! DH's words not mine!) then he has that choice. I don't agree - I think you should name the baby what you plan on calling them.

    I also don't think Oliver matches Mackenzie as well as Olly does. DH also doesn't think names have to match but I do!!! I think Mackenzie is more modern and Oliver more classic.

    For the record I actually like these other names too:

    Tate
    Flynn
    Campbell

    What do you guys think?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jun 2006
    In the middle of Pink and Blue!!!
    921

    I like Olly better then oliver although i do like oliver !!!
    We named our daughter Abbie and not Abigail because we really like the name abbie.
    Goodluck on your decision

  3. #3
    2013 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    May 2007
    Brisbane
    5,310

    We call Jazz... Jazz lol, but her name is Jasmine. Same reason as your DH, wanted her to have a more serious name for life lol and Jazz is just her nickname. I call her smoosh-head as much as I call her jazz, but probably wouldnt put that on the birth certificate though.

    I think its ok, and normal, to plan on a nickname, and have a 'real' name too. So... sorry... I kind of agree with your DH.

    I think Oliver and Mackenzie go together really nicely!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    Antwerp
    192

    I love all your name choices!

    Personally I tend to agree with you that you should name your child what you intend to call it, and that is one of my own "rules" for name choices, BUT, I love the full version of Oliver better than Olly. I think I prefer Ollie to Olly too, if you do just go the short version.

    I think Mackenzie goes just fine with Oliver, especially since they don't have the same "ie" ending...

    Good luck choosing. Its soooo hard.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Sep 2005
    In the middle of nowhere
    9,362

    Sorry Jordie, I'm with DH too...it's cute for a little bub, but what happens if he's a....I don't know a wrestler or something really blokey?
    I think Oliver and Mackenzie are great.
    Saying that though...we named Nate, Nate - not Nathaniel as Darcy couldn't pronounce it....so I'm really useles aren't I?

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    South Eastern Suburbs, Vic
    6,054

    Is there a different 'Olly' name that you like? Ollian? Ollivander? Ollis?

    We gave our sons one name we considered a bit more conservative (that's Si's first name, and Riv's middle name), so they have options. I know many people who are known by their middle names.
    So you could always go for a more conservative middle name.

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Member

    Mar 2005
    Limestone Coast, SA
    2,671

    I would put Oliver on the birth cert for the same reasons as your DH

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Croydon, Victoria
    1,754

    Im with DH. Name him Oliver for legal reasons and call him Olly as a nickname.

    We named DD Ashleigh and call her Ash for short.....

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    3,562

    Yep, I'd go the full name and call him Olly. That's was the plan with our DD (although she's very rarely called the short version!) and we have the same plan if this bub is a girl.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    Newcastle, NSW
    4,219

    I too agree with your DH. I think that Oliver & Mackenzie sound great together.

  11. #11
    BellyBelly Member

    Apr 2009
    Fulham Gardens SA
    214

    Jordie,

    Im sorry but I think I agree with your DH. And I think Oliver sounds good with MacKenzie

    Although I do actually prefer Flynn to Oliver

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Country Victoria
    1,991

    Sorry Jordie but I tend to agree with your DH and I personally think that Mackenzie and Oliver go well together.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne.
    5,673

    i think if you want him to be called Olly, then that's what you should call him. if you call him Oliver then people will call him Oliver. will that annoy you?
    we went through this issue when naming ds2 and decided in the end to call him the 'nickname' as his fullname, as that's what we wanted his name to be and didn't want to be conservative just to please others.
    Last edited by Ginger; July 8th, 2009 at 03:56 PM.

  14. #14
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Feb 2006
    melbourne
    11,462

    i see both side!!
    im the same as rainy with DD2 name, i liked amelia DH like amelie but we both liked millie so figured why bother with the other names and i didnt want to explain her name all the time...BUT i see your DH's point as well!

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    We are huge fans of nicknames and always tend to shorten peoples names so the names we have picked had to have a short version or they were off the list! Oliver is actually on our list as we like Ollie too.

    Now, to your original question. I tend to agree you should name your baby what you intend on calling them BUT I think some names are cute for kids but not so cute for adults. Olly is one of those names that I personally think sounds a bit strange for an adult. Plus I love the name Oliver

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Feb 2009
    In the poor house...
    1,565

    I actually like Oliver and Mackenzie together !

    Our DS#2 is Oliver - but everyone calls him Ollie. He is Oliver on his birth certificate cause thats the name we had intended for him. I think my Mum was the first person to call him Ollie and it has stuck. The teachers at school call him Ollie even though we enrolled him as Oliver. He rarely gets called Oliver atm but i am sure that will change later in life.

    Hard decision -

  17. #17
    smiles4u Guest

    There is a little boy named Olly in my DD's playgroup ... and the first time i heard his name i don't know why but it sounded kind of silly to me ... I think because i instantly thought of him as an adult with this name.

    So sorry i too agree Oliver on Certificate

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    My girls both have longer names. Jaz has always been called Jazmyne, but Brianna has been Bri since she was 4 months old. & thats what everyone calls her.
    DH was really against calling Jazmyne Jaz when others did it, but was over it by the time we had Bri. Its still awkward for me to say Jaz, but I do sometimes.
    Just remember that most names will be shortened unless the child or parent demands that its not. Even Bri's daycare teachers call her Bri.
    I do agree that Olly won't be great on a 30 year old biker with tattoo's Or a highly professional lawyer TBH. Sorry

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