Naming a child Constance?

[Keli]

I can't think of a single nickname for Constance except Connie. But I do like Constance on it's own. I tend to like older names though.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I love the name Constance - I guess if you had to shorten it - Tani wouldn't be bad - kinda of cute even, Tacy is cute, Stan or Stani if she is a tomboy -

But I always think it ends up being up to the child -

I love the names we picked out for my DDs Victoria and Elizabeth - I was adamit that Victoria would not become a Vicky or Vicki - she latched on to Tori - sometimes Victoria if she is feeling grown up

and Elizabeth was supposed to be Elizabeth - not Beth, Betsy, Liz, or one of the 14 others - now at 7 she will tell you - "My name is Elizabeth, but you can call me Beth."

 

[winniedapooh]

I was in drama with a girl named Constance and they called her Tancy, I loved it and still do!

 

[thewishfire]

My mom's name is Constance. She has always been called Connie. I didn't even think there were any alternate nicknames.

 

[Aisling]

I think Constance is a very elegant name, very British and lady-like. Now Connie, no offense, but that name gives me an image of a woman with curlers in her hair, wearing spandex pants, and driving a huge Buick to Bingo!

My only issue with Constance is that it doesn't quite roll off the tongue.

If your sis decides to go with that name, she can correct people when they use Connie.

 

[Pigeon]

I like it a whole lot better than most "modern" names.

Your sister is living in fantasyland if she really thinks that she's going to be able to control a child's knickname forever.

 

[maelstrom]

I think the name Constance is fine, but people WILL call her Connie. Hopefully they will get the hint and stop doing it, but that's kind of the default nickname for Constance. I liked the nicknames Stan and Stani mentioned earlier in the thread. Also, the child may decide that she WANTS to be called Connie when she gets a little older. I fully believe that people have the right to be called what they want, even if it isn't their given or proper name, no matter what anyone else thinks.

 

[jonestavern]

I named one of my children Margaret and was warned it was old-fashioned and that people would call her Margie (or worse, Marge). Her nickname is Meg. Simple. All I have to say is that Constance is a real name with a legitimate spelling and classic roots. She could do much worse.

I agree, it is a beautiful, elegant name.
Tina is also a nickname for Constance.

Jean

 

[Galahad]

I like it a whole lot better than most "modern" names.

You could do what Mozart did with his wife and caller her "Stanzi".

My mother's name is Patsy. My grandparents did that because if they named her Patricia, too many people might call her Patti. I'm sorry, but how is Patsy, better than Patty? Mom goes by Pat.

 

[MosMom]

When I was a kid I loved the name Constance and wanted to name my baby that one day. I named my Cabbage Patch Kid Constance! Once I was grown I had changed my mind.

Another nick name for Constance could be Ann.

 

[dahirsh]

I like Constance. It's a pretty "old fashioned" name. And yes, she may always be Constance to her family, but nothing will stop total strangers from shortening it, because they feel they can. My name is Debra. I've always been Debra to my family although people started calling me Deb in college. I answer the phone at work "This a Debra. How can I help you" at least 25% of the time the immediate response on the other end is "Debbie...." If it's someone I'm not likely to speak to ever again I usually let it slide. But I really do find it annoying.

 

[Scornelius]

I think Constance is a beautiful name! I love old fashion, classic names. I will pretty much guarantee, however, she will spend the rest of her life telling people not to call her Connie!
I like the idea of Tani. That's a pretty nickname!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I like Constance--I immediately think of Constanza Mozart, who went by Stanzi. My name is Meghan--not Meg, not Maggie, not Meggie, just Meghan. My child will be Katherine and she will not be a Kathy! Maybe Kate or Katie, if it fits her.

 

[KirstenB]

Okay, I'll admit it, I don't like Constance. However, I don't like old-fashioned names in general, so take it for what it's worth. When we named our dd's, we tried to think of potential nicknames, both good and bad. I have to be honest, when I hear Constance, I think constipation...sorry.

 

[C.Ann]

I have a nephew (who is an adult now) and his name is Anthony.. No one has ever called him "Tony" because it simply wasn't allowed.. They were immediately corrected the first time it was said, "His name is Anthony - not Tony.."

If she is willing to do the same, I see no problem with her naming her child Constance and insisting that everyone refer to her as "Constance"..

 

[CDoobee]

My DD (just turned 16) is Katelyn and the ONLY people who ever call her anything different are her brother who sometimes calls her Kate and my father who calls her Katy. To everyone else, she is Katelyn!

My son (22 years old) is Jared and that is what he's always been called. Well, that is until about 3-4 years ago when at work he started going by JC (first and last initials). It was difficult at first....we'd call him or stop by (it was a restaurant) and ask for Jared and nobody knew who we were talking about! Everyone in the family still calls him Jared though, not JC.

My sister is Martha Charlene. Growing up she always went by Charlene. For a while, probably late teens-early 20's, she went by Char. For the last probably 30 years she has gone by Charlee. My parents, sister, and I still call her Charlene, though!

My point is that it's just what you get used to. If your sister only calls her DD Constance, chances are that is what others will call her also. That is, until Constance decides for herself that she wants to be called something else!

 

[summerrluvv]

I don't like it personally. It sounds like such a grown up name for a little baby.

My son is Nicholas and at school they call him Nick, which I don't particularly care for. And now he writes Nick on all his papers..but I think that's because he's too lazy to write his entire name

 

[Stacerita]

I like the name. I went to school with a girl named Constance. No one called her Connie. She was Constance, and thats what we called her.

 

[Daxx]

My DS's name is Andrew. Never Andy, never Drew. If someone calls him Andy or Drew, he corrects them politely saying, "My name is Andrew". He's done this as he's seen me do this. He even says he doesn't want to be called "Andy" but "Drew" would be ok if it were just his pals and not everyone else in the world. In the same note, I'm a Susan. Family often call me "Suzy" but I have never, ever been a "Sue". Do not call me "Sue". I am not a "Sue". When someone calls me "Sue", I always say "Please call me Susan" or "I'm sorry, my name is Susan".

Your sister is right in naming her child Constance and saying she won't have a nickname. her baby, her choice. All she has to do is let her child be aware that her name is Constance and that's what she wishes to be called. If you teach your child to say "My name is Constance" if someone tries to shorten her name, then that's what she'll be known as.

 

[GoodFairies]

Constance is a great name. It is preferable to "McGeorgelynn"-type names. I don't like Connie at all. I agree with those that say why find a nickname at all.