The Name Game: Cut to the Chase
Many expectant parents already have a nickname in mind when naming their unborn child, but for a growing minority the nickname is the name! Linda Rosenkrantz, co-founder of nameberry.com, points out that celebrities like Tiger Woods, Helena Bonham Carter and Mira Sorvino bypassed the full, formal names of Charles, William and Jonathan when naming their sons Charlie, Billy and Johnny, respectively.
What’s more, Tiger and Denise Richards — both of whom have daughters named Sam — are also using the same nicknames for both boys and girls interchangeably. The using a unisex nickname-as-a-name club may include Ethan Suplee and John C. McGinley (with daughters named Billie), Rebecca Romijn & Jerry O’Connell (with daughter Charlie) and Melissa Etheridge (with daughter Johnnie), “but these are miles away from the unisex nickname names of the 60s and 70s like Corey and Jody,” Linda notes. “Today’s versions are mostly short forms of standard appellations, like Joe for Joseph and Gracie for Grace,” she adds.
Other celebrities have opted to depart with tradition somewhat, assigning their children nicknames-as-names but still keeping those names traditionally masculine or feminine. They include Samantha Morton (with daughter Edie), Jamie Lynn Spears (with daughter Maddie), Jon Stewart (with daughter Maggie) and the increasingly popular Gracie, as chosen by both Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, as well as Anna Friel and David Thewles. Baby boys who fit the bill include Charlie Sheen (with son Bob), Julie Bowen (with son Gus), Kate Winslet (with son Joe) and Hank Azaria, who continued a tradition of his own by naming his son Hal; Both father and son are the proud owners of nickname names given at birth!
 Nell Burton, Tiger and Charlie Woods, Busy Philipps and Birdie Silverstein — KTB/Eaglepress; Dom Furore/Woods Family/Getty; WireImage |
Click below to read about the pros and cons of nickname names.
Jeff Vespa/Wireimage/Getty for PEOPLE for use on CBB
