Don't understand about names..?

Question

I don't understand why parents name their children such difficult names that an adult has a hard time saying let alone a child, the same goes about spelling the name.

Also why do parents name their child one name but go by their middle name. If you like the middle name so much name the child that name?

Also why give children nick names, you gave them a name at birth why can't you use their given name?

I named my son Brian with a middle name of Keith. We call him Brian and everybody else does. My name is Lynn, that is it Lynn, nothing else.

I was just wondering and hope everybody can answer this question.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

There are many different factors that go into the choosing of a child's name --and they aren't the same for everyone. Here are a few.

One major piece to consider is that of FAMILY traditions and connections. There might be the desire of the parents, or expectation, even pressure, from other members of the extended family, to use a name in the family, e.g., to name the child after a grandparent, etc. Or it might be a looser tradition in which all the male children are given the same first name, or at least the same first INITIAL, but you are free to use whatever middle name you choose. To use it is part of saying "this is the family we belong to" (occasionally there may be inheritance issues involved!)

This sort of thing can explain how someone ends up called by a nickname.. though that also "just happens" in the living of life. You might love the full name, but a nickname is easier, or just somehow gets started and "sticks". (It may be the influence of an important family member... it might be the child's OWN preference.) The parents might have been able to foresee this. . or not.

Another consideration -- some people WANT a nice full "formal" name for certain special occasions or uses, even if a nickname is preferred for daily living. Giving the child the full name and using the nickname allows for that in a way that just giving them the nickname AS the legal name does not.

On this point, having a distinctive full name may be helpful for distinguishing an individual, e.g., for legal purposes. (That's part of why middle names are so widely used -- that, and the fact, that THAT name can be a way to satisfy family pressure to name the child "Hepzibah", but half hide it!)

Some of the same factors come into the spelling issue. Names often have long histories, and the spelling-tradition may hang on even if the pronunciation changes. (Incidentally, I've met LOTS of people tired of correcting those who spelled their names in a traditional way, and explaining the "phonetic" spelling their parents had decided would make better sense. Those who sometimes have to explain that their name's spelling IS the traditional way seem to mind it less.)

Answer 2

Well the thing about names is they are what people remember 1st about about you. It sets your identity. Some names aren't meant 2 be difficult just trying 2 be unique. Nicknames are just names that close relatives or friends call you for short. WHY!? No clue yea i understand what you r saying about "you gave them a name at birth why can't you use their given name?"

Answer 3

u know kids are smart and they will learn how to spell their name. no matter how easy and simple a kids name is they will have a hard time learning how to spell it.

my name is maria michaela and i have been called mikki or michaela my who life. its really not a big deal. whats the point of a middle name if u don't use it.

we have a huge country with different cultures which is why the names may be hard to pronounce. we have alot of cultural names now.

Answer 4

My husband goes by his middle name because his father and his first name are the same. The same with my grandmother, her mother and she had the same first name, so they called my grandmother by her middle name.

Sometimes, things happen, and you call them something, and the name sticks. We used to sing "Jeremiah was a Bullfrog" to my daughter when she was little, when we got to the bullfrog part, she would yell "Bullfrogie" really loud. It was also the only thing that would calm her down when she was crying, so her nickname is Bullfrog. All three of my children have nicknames, its just kinda happens.

Answer 5

You asked:
"Also why do parents name their child one name but go by their middle name. If you like the middle name so much name the child that name?"

Because sometimes it doesn't sound right as a first name. Our daughter is "Isabella Kaylee" and she goes by "Kaylee." It didn't flow right as "Kaylee Isabella" so we put the names in the order that sounded best and call her by her middle name. Same with two of our nephews.

Answer 6

I guess some people like giving their children "nice" names, or so they call them. But it is really hard for others to read or spell the names.
It's just their way.

Answer 7

I so agree with nicknames. We named our girls names that could not be nicknamed. We have our little pet names for them but their actual names are what they are called.
By everyone.

Answer 8

My name is Deanna, and I was called Deanna until my little sister was a toddler and couldn't say it, so I was "Dee" because it was easier, and it stuck.

Answer 9

not sure