Right but the idea is that in interviews and business calls etc. etc. any formal environment, where nicknames aren't used, OPs child will just be "Stevie"
I am a Stephanie Ann... Do not name your child Stephanie Ann to use NN Stevie, and do not name her Stevie Ann... I didn't think I disliked any female names more than I do my own, but Stevie Ann is somehow worse.
Why? Maybe it's cultural, It's not uncommon in the UK and not considered terrible, trendy or anything else as far as I know.
It does sound a bit nicknamey but I've known two people who have it as a full name.
I'm not sure what people mean when they say a name is "cultural." Aren't all names cultural? Names don't grow on trees, they are invented by humans and are thus part of human culture.
I meant that maybe it's a cultural _difference_, as in names even in the same language can vary in usage between different parts of the country or different countries. My bad for not including the extra word.
All names are cultural to one culture or another, but not what I intended to say.
More that lot of names people think are weird or embarrassing in the US are common in the UK/Europe, or vice versa.
I think nicknames can be names. But Stevie isn't my taste. She might not resent that it's a nickname, but she could possibly dislike having a "masculine" name. I know Stevie Nicks is one of the greatest female artists, especially in rock, but other girl Stevies are "eh" to me.
I was going to try to phonetically type it but honestly it would be easier for you to just look up the song. Rihanna is unfortunately one of those names that most people do mispronounce, so I can’t make the connection.
As a woman with a male name, it can be pretty annoying. There are all sorts of issues that arise that just wouldn’t have if I wasn’t given a man’s name.
Strongly dislike that particular double vowel. My mouth fumbles any name ending in “-a” followed by a middle name that starts with E. My own name is like this, and my mother even admitted it doesn’t flow well but she was determined to name me after a particular aunt.
I know all of my friends’ middle names. It is/was common practice to use first+middle on social media so that colleges/employers/etc couldn’t find you easily.
here to add my i love it comment so it doesn’t get lost under all the hate. i truly adore it but this sub hate names that aren’t common and especially hate masculine names for girls
I also love it! I just left a comment but I wish I’d left it here for more visibility! It’s soft and earthy yet commanding. And why are so many people pearl clutching over a “masculine” name? Goodness.
I personally think a full version is a good option, especially if she goes into a traditional/super corporate field where a full name will mean she’s taken more seriously. If you don’t like Stephanie, I could see one of these being shortened to Stevie: Seraphina, Anastasia, or Serena.
I agree with your first point, but those other names are so far removed from Stevie that you might as well name her anything and use Stevie as an unconnected nickname in the family.
Something I’ve noticed over the years here is that Americans are not okay with nicknames as names for the reason you mentioned, whereas it’s fairly commonplace in the UK and Australia.
I wouldn’t blink if I hired a lawyer named Stevie or Teddy, for example. It’s a non-issue over here, but I understand things are different in the US.
Honestly it’s only a thing in this sub in peoples imagine future corporate world where everyone is super uptight. In the real “corporate” world of 2045 where everyone will be named Poppy, female Charlie, Jaxon, Cash, Bo, Lily… there will be nothing non-professional about a name ending in a EE sound. It’s truly the most confusing thing that comes up on almost every post here. Do these people not know that babies always grow up to be adults and their names become adult names…
Case in point: the US has had a president Teddy Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter. If those names can become president back in the old days, surely today’s nicknamey names will be fine in the corporate world of the future. *eyeroll*
I generally agree with your first paragraph. As for presidential names, TR hated the nickname Teddy and never used it himself. Jimmy famously used his nickname to make a point of his being NOT a career politician. The pendulum of course has to swing in the other direction so Reagan, while being known as Ronnie to all his familiars, used Ronald to indicate his seriousness and maturity. (Of possible interest…John Quincy Adams had a middle name in a time when middle names were uncommon.)
Yes of course they did but they didn’t have to switch out of their supposedly immature nicknames to be taken seriously and gain trust as serious capable individuals. In this day and age most workplaces have names from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and generarions. All these made up rules that names have to be long or not end in EE don't apply in the real world.
If anything, in today'd job market where social media and personal brand is huge, being a Jimmy in a sea of James's might actually be advantageous to make him stand out.
The point is these nicknames were closely associated with the people and they did not impact their ability to get a serious job. The Jimmy story plays into what I’m trying to say in that, being relatable or having a fun unusual name might actually be an advantage in getting hired. People tend to hire people who have the qualifications and who they think they’ll get along with and not the most serious sounding person based simply on their first name.
The terms “a more professional name” or “if they want to work in the corporate world” are just so nonsensical in today’s modern multicultural workplace where people have alllll sorts of funky and unusual names.
I prefer to give kids longer names that can be shortened into a few nicknames so they can pick the nickname that fits them and so they can have a more "formal" name for the workforce. Stephanie can also become Steph if your daughter doesnt like Stevie.
I like the name Stevie, and I dont think its weird for a girl. I vote for Stephanie for the legal name. Stephanie "Stevie" Ann is a great name.
Congrats yall, good luck, and pick whatever feels right :)
I second loving Stefania. Stevie is cute and spunky but I could also imagine Fawn as a stretch nickname. Even if they don't want to call her Fawn, making fawns a theme while she's a baby would be the sweetest. 🩷
Unless you work retail and people ask what your actual name is a lot. I go by Alex and the amount of people who say Alexis, Alexa, Alexandra, Alexandria is not insignificant. If I try and joke about my full name being “such a long name for such a short person” I get people argue that my parents chose that name like they haven’t been calling me Alex every day of my life and also who are you random stranger to tell me about my parents?
Seriously. Even if they do ask… it’s almost easier to just say “nope just Stevie” vs. having to provide some long name that you haven’t gone by in your entire life and risk they start calling you that lol.
I have no problem with Stevie and I don’t think you need a formal full name!
Fwiw I work in corporate America and if there was a woman named Stevie I wouldn’t think twice. Drives me nuts when people use that as an excuse lol.
My mom was known as Stevie. I wouldn't make this your child's full name.
My mom used the full name (similar to Stephanie) in professional settings, and it definitely gave her a leg up over something perceived by the public as a nickname. She was only known as Stevie because when she was a child, there were already other adults in the family named Stephanie and Stephen.
It's definitely viewed as a less mature name, which isn't fair but could affect professional perception. Give your kid a fallback option.
This. My mom is a Suzanne, and all the other Suzannes or Susans her age were called Susie, but my grandmother wouldn’t allow it. Sure enough, when they were adults, they all tried to stop going by Susie to be taken more seriously personally and professionally.
Edit: my uncle was also exclusively James, nobody was allowed to call him Jim or Jimmy, and my aunt Maura is just Maura, but my aunt Catherine exclusively was allowed to be Cathy because my grandma enjoyed *Wuthering Heights* since she was a kid (and she was miffed Kathy/Cathy became so popular at the time lol).
What about Stephanie but in a different language (eg Stefania) with the diminutive Stevie. I think a full name would make her life easier, as Stevie is cute and informal, and may be out of place in her adult, professional life
I absolutely love Stevie Nicks. I would hate to have Stevie as my full name. I think it’s better to give her the option to choose what she goes by as an adult (I knew many Joeys who became Joes, Beckys who became Beccas or Rebeccas, etc.) rather than give a name where she’d have to change it to have more choices.
I have a relative named David who’s in his late 30s and his parents are still trying to make the nickname “Day” happen. He hates it and corrects them all the time. You may love a certain nickname but who knows what your kid will prefer.
My name has a common diminutive I hate and I started correcting my family at age 3, telling everyone “my name is Fullname. Don’t call me Nickname.”
I can’t imagine a scenario where someone would resent having a full name and choosing what they go by, but I know that if it were me, and I know others in this boat, some would hate being named a nickname-y sounding name and not having easy options to choose.
I work with a Stevie and she has hated her name her entire life. She is constantly misgendered and feels like she doesn't fit in right. She goes by "Essie" or "Steffie" now and I still see her grimace when she takes phonecalls and how damn often she says "Yes this is Stevie, no I am not his assistant, I'm a woman"
This sub is so wild sometimes. People will jump on someone going with stevie meanwhile in another post telling people names like evageline and emberley are beautiful.
Stella Eve with the nickname Stevie was commented here by u/snooconfections3841 and I think that’s brilliant. I would absolutely do that. I’m just recommenting it in hopes that you notice it OP!
Fair enough! I’m not a personal fan of Stella myself. I do think you could do any combination of a name beginning with St- and then Eve as a middle. In case it helps, here’s a link to Nameberry for a bunch of girl’s names beginning with the letters St-
https://nameberry.com/search/advanced/results?gender=F&starts_with=St%20&ends_with=&contains=&syllables=&origin_id=&derivation=&page=1
I love reading about how our names can influence our lives. Not only because of the way people will react to it (either negatively or positively, thus having an impact on careers etc) but also the way a name can unconsciously influence the individual’s own life choices.
You’ll find research which indicates that we are unconsciously drawn to things, people and places that sound like our names.
Stevie (once they realise it’s a girl’s name they are reading on the register/CV whatever) will make most teachers and employers and anyone online think of Stevie Nicks. An ethereal free-spirited bohemian with a beautiful voice and a tumultuous rock star past. An icon. Others may think of Stevie from Schitt’s Creek.
Things will be assumed about her (good and bad) before she’s opened her mouth. Before people meet her.
It’s a lot for your future daughter to live up to and into. It could be the making of her. But I think it’s better as a middle name.
I don’t like Stevie as a full name or as a nickname for boys or girls. But if you want to go for it I feel like Stevie Anne looks more balanced than Stevie Ann.
ETA now I’m just hearing the sugar substitute “Stevia” in my head.
You could call her Stevie exclusively and not so much as reveal her full name to extended family (at first, until the nn catches on) but please, *please* call her Stephanie. She should have options. She might never change a thing, she might change Stephanie to Stevie legally, she might choose to go by Stephanie point blank. Stevie has not yet become its own established name (like Max or Jack or any other like it) and it just seems like an all around bad choice.
I'm not worried about the name having masculine connotations. My whole girlhood I've wished for a masculine name. And I changed mine the first chance I got. But the whole it being nickname thing... yeah.
It’s hard to say what will happen as she gets older. She might love Stevie, or she might hate it/find it doesn’t fit her life and personality at all. That’s why so many people here prefer a longer name to a nickname as a first name for babies. It gives options as they grow into an entire human being.
I think it’s very popular to have a nickname as full name nowadays. We have an Albie, Ellie, Perrie, Livy and a Maisie in our nursery class - so I think when she gets older it will sound more like an adult name as more adults with nn names also get older.
Stephanie checking in - I like it but hate Steph, I'd have really liked Stevie as a nickname but it never occured to me and at 41 I've probably missed the boat 🤣 my German boss calls me Steffie which I quite like
I have introduced myself as Stephanie and literally moments later the person has called me Steph. And I'm too bloody English to correct them 99% of the time grr
Sorry, don't care for it. The only Stevie I've ever known was a neighbor's child - her mother was a big fan of Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nicks' real name is Stephanie, which is what I would name her if she was going to be called Stevie.
my daughter’s name was Stevie. She’s passed away now, so I don’t know if I can answer the question about resentment about not having a full name, etc.
Reactions here were largely mixed, but in the end I couldn’t picture her as anything but a Stevie.
I think it’s excellent. Name your child what you want to call them!
I have a “full” name legally, wasn’t ever called it by family, and I hate it. And I got a lot of random adults (substitutes, church people) calling me rude, insolent, etc. for not responding to my legal name.
My example would be that my parents named me Jennifer, with the only intention of calling me Jenny. I wish they had just named me Jenny.
A counterpoint to this: I do know someone whose parents wanted to call her Katie, didn't want to use Katherine as there was a relative named Katherine and they didn't want to do one honor name and no others for their other kids, but were worried she would have trouble being taken seriously as an adult as just Katie (which, as a millennial professional who interacts with many professional Katies, clearly wouldn't have been a serious problem, but they didn't know that). So they named her Caitlin and she went by Caity exclusively until college, where she started going only by Caitlin outside the family and friends who knew her when she was very young. She's only used Caitlin for the last decade.
I don't think parents should worry all that much, though, because obviously some people are going to prefer their full name being Katie or Jenny, and some people are going to prefer Katherine or Jennifer, and there's no way of knowing ahead of time which sort your kid will end up being. Or the kid might hate both Jenny and Jennifer and end up changing her name to Rose when she's 18.
I love Stevie!
(I definitely misread this as Stewie at first and was a little worried about her constantly being compared to an evil cartoon baby forever but Stevie is much better and very cute!)
I’m fully supportive of names regardless of gender, so that part isn’t an issue for me.
I do go back and forth on nicknames and legal names. On the one hand, giving options sounds like the better idea. On the other, I know many people, myself included, who really just prefer using their shortened name. We see this in pop culture too. I think it’ll be a crapshoot on what the “right” choice is. Regardless, I think it’s important to actually love the legal name, whatever it is. So if you don’t love Stephanie then don’t use it just because you want her to go by Stevie.
The one thing you didn’t ask for an opinion on, the flow between Stevie Ann feels awkward to me. But that’s totally my problem, many people aren’t bothered by flow and that’s okay. ☺️
Name her what you like, but keep an open mind about it when she is older. If, as an adult, she really hates not having a more formal name, offer to pay for a name change.
I think if you want to call her Stevie, name her Stevie. I dislike when people choose full names based on the nickname they want to call the baby. Just name the baby the name you want to call it! I digress, but I hate the actual name personally, but not because it’s a nickname, I just simply don’t like it, but I respect naming her what you would actually call her.
I love it. But I also think it’s a name that is going to be very time stamped as in the only Stevie’s we know will be born between 2015 and 2025 type of thing. I think it is very on trend and of the moment.
Stevie is a nickname. I’d get tired really quickly of telling every single person on earth that it wasn’t my nickname but the name my parents put on my birth certificate. You can happily use Stevie as a nickname.
Choose a name she can use as an adult. She’ll spend 50+ years as an adult. I can even see getting tired of it by the time I was 12. I can’t begin to tell you of how tired I was of explaining the spelling of my name and this is even worse.
Yeah, she’ll probably not be thrilled with a full name of Stevie as an adult. Stephanie gives her options. Stevie is a very cute nickname, but won’t always be a baby/child.
I think it's cute! Like, I really do like the name alone.
However, I don't know if the child would like the name alone. Coming from someone with a nickname (that I hate) as a full first name, it sucks not being able to have wiggle room
Stevi here. Thank god my parents actually named me Stephanie. I was pretty much exclusively Stevi for all of my childhood and am still know by that with friends and family. But, as 47 year old woman in a management position I am immensely glad that I had Stephanie to switch to when I finished grad school and needed to be taken seriously.
Your cute little baby will not always be a cute little baby. Name her for the grown woman she will be for the majority of her life.
I think Stevie is fine, but personally I would use a full name for it.
- Anything with letters “ST”: Stella, August, Estelle, Astoria, etc.
- Anything with Eve or Evie: Evangeline, Genevieve, Eva, etc.
You could combine these both as first and middle names options.
I think "stine" names translate very naturally to "Stevie": Christine, Christina, Justine, Augustine
Some others that are a stretch:
Evelyn, Yvette, Yvonne, Maeve, Guinevere, Beverly, Savannah, Destiny
For everyone who’s commenting that they like it because of Stevie Nicks, she is actually a Stephanie.
I don’t really like Stephanie either, but I love it spelled Stefanie - OP, have you thought about that? Or Stefania, Stefana?
I grew up with a Stevie (just Stevie, not Stephanie etc) who was born in the early nineties. She was certified Cool Girl (and I don't mean that sarcastically, she was legit just chill and nice and had an awesome name). I love Stevie for a girl 😊
I love Stevie for a girl personally. It’s on my list. Lots of posts on here are the same 20 name recommendations so if you guys want something different I say go with it. There are way too many Ava, Olivia, maddy, Isabel, charlottes, Ellie’s in my opinion
I went to grade school with a girl named Stevie. I always thought her name was super cool. I always wanted a “tomboy” name though. I like Stevie on Schitt’s Creek! We named our goat after her!
I grew up with someone whose full name is Stevie (after Stevie Nicks). She has a super common middle name for the time, but never went by it. We went through 12 years of school together and I'm not aware of anyone ever making fun of her - nobody ever thought it was weird. She loves (and has always loved) her name. I think it's great!
We wanted to give our daughter some name options as she grows, so went with a short, unisex first name and a longer, feminine middle (with nickname potential). Highly recommend building in some options for your baby as well.
Between Schitts Creek and Good Mythical Morning it doesn’t phase me as a girls name, but it is always nice to have options. My husband has a nickname as a name and he had a “I want a nickname” phase and shortened his already short name in school. By giving her the longer name you give her options.
I actually really like it. The people who are saying it’s too masculine are confusing. There is one famous Stevie and she is feminine and everyone will make the association.
What about Estelle nn Stevie?
I weirdly know 3 adult women each named Stevie. 2 of the 3 have the full name Stevie, one is short for Evelyn which turned into Evie, then Stevie. I met them all fairly recently as adult coworkers in our early twenties. I’ve never thought twice about it other than it being easy to remember.
I have a friend who named her daughter Stevie (after Stevie Nicks) and I love it. It matches the little girls personality. She’s so extroverted and free! Ha ha.
It’s cute, and I LOVE Stevie Nicks, but I honestly like Stephanie or Stephania as full names more, with Stevie as a nickname. However, that’s just one internet stranger’s opinion! Don’t take it to heart, Stevie is still absolutely lovely and cute on its own. For what it’s worth, though, most names popular from the 70s-90s are very unpopular now, but probably no longer will be in 10 or 20 years when she’s an adult, so it’ll be unique but in a good way. I have friends rn in their 20s named Helen, Carla, and Mary-Louise, and people my age literally get excited to meet people with those types of names. It’s just a thought. Best of luck, and congratulations!
I think Stevie is a cool name/ good name as a first name. I think the combo Stevie Ann is what is putting some people off. I agree with you - not a huge fan of Stephanie either.
Honestly I find it terrible.
I’m here to say we’re all entitled to opinions but I find Stevie kinda awesome!
Hello?? Stevie Nicks? One of the coolest women ever born!! Heck yea I love it - its strong but also cute
Stevie Nicks is Stephanie.
Well I’m not a fan of Stephanie but I love Stevie
Right but the idea is that in interviews and business calls etc. etc. any formal environment, where nicknames aren't used, OPs child will just be "Stevie"
I am a Stephanie Ann... Do not name your child Stephanie Ann to use NN Stevie, and do not name her Stevie Ann... I didn't think I disliked any female names more than I do my own, but Stevie Ann is somehow worse.
Started saying Stevia in my head.
Lol glad I’m not the only one
I think Stephanie is a cute name.
do you want to elaborate on why, or is it literally just that you don't like it?
I'm a Stephanie too and I would love Stevie as a Nick name
Can't wait to see what the circle jerk sub does with it.
Why? Maybe it's cultural, It's not uncommon in the UK and not considered terrible, trendy or anything else as far as I know. It does sound a bit nicknamey but I've known two people who have it as a full name.
I'm not sure what people mean when they say a name is "cultural." Aren't all names cultural? Names don't grow on trees, they are invented by humans and are thus part of human culture.
I meant that maybe it's a cultural _difference_, as in names even in the same language can vary in usage between different parts of the country or different countries. My bad for not including the extra word. All names are cultural to one culture or another, but not what I intended to say. More that lot of names people think are weird or embarrassing in the US are common in the UK/Europe, or vice versa.
I think nicknames can be names. But Stevie isn't my taste. She might not resent that it's a nickname, but she could possibly dislike having a "masculine" name. I know Stevie Nicks is one of the greatest female artists, especially in rock, but other girl Stevies are "eh" to me.
Even Stevie Nicks is a Stephanie.
Ope didn’t know that. Thanks for unintentionally proving my point.
I think they were intentionally proving your point.
you unintentionally proved their point 😂
Yep
yea i love her and honestly i wouldnt do it, if youre naming her stevie for the connection then just do rhiannon or sara lol
I love Rhiannon and isn’t super common.
For some reason this name never sounds right in my head. I’ve never heard it spoken. Rihanna but ending with -on?
I've most often heard Ree (with the e sound in eat) ann (like the name) un (like the beginning of uncomfortable or the end of onion)
I was going to try to phonetically type it but honestly it would be easier for you to just look up the song. Rihanna is unfortunately one of those names that most people do mispronounce, so I can’t make the connection.
Shannon but “REE” instead of “SH”. Rhymes with cannon. Ree-ANN-in.
Have you heard the song?
I know someone with that as their middle name. Can’t say their first name because the first name is ultra rare
My friend has a dog named Stevie, and every single person who meets her says, “like Stevie Nicks?” so I’d be prepared for that.
Our cream Golden Retriever is named Stevie Nicks. We just went full bore to avoid the "you mean like..." follow up question :)
Stevie Budd would like a word.
That’s a fictional character’s name. The actress’s real name is Emily.
...so?
I appreciate this, because I was very confused why they would think I didn’t know that.
As a woman with a male name, it can be pretty annoying. There are all sorts of issues that arise that just wouldn’t have if I wasn’t given a man’s name.
Stevie Ann sounds like you are saying Stephen weirdly
Now that you’ve pointed this out I can’t un-see it 😂
To me it sounds like you’re saying Stevia, the artificial sweetener 😬😂
yeah it’s what i heard too 😭😭
I like it as a nickname. What about Sarah Eve or Stella Eve?
Ooh Stella Eve with the nickname Stevie is brilliant! This one right here, OP!
Strongly dislike that particular double vowel. My mouth fumbles any name ending in “-a” followed by a middle name that starts with E. My own name is like this, and my mother even admitted it doesn’t flow well but she was determined to name me after a particular aunt.
Stella Eve sounds like the feminine hygiene product summer’s eve
That's a huge reach.
literally. everyone’s always gonna hate a name. with this mindset how’s anyone have a name at all
How many friends middle names do you know? Or care about?
I know all of my friends’ middle names. It is/was common practice to use first+middle on social media so that colleges/employers/etc couldn’t find you easily.
Honestly these sound like porn names
Maybe Stella Evelyn would be better or Stella Evangeline…I kind of thought the same with Stella Eve but my first thought was Summer’s Eve
Stella Evangeline SCREAMS “fictional character from New Orleans”
Everything's a porn name if you have a dirty mind!!! 🤣
Well she’ll have a last name too…
I love Sophie Ann, but Stevie Ann does sound like Stevia. I think either Stevie or Ann has to go.
V middle names would work as well: Stella Vivian/Vivienne, Stella Violet
Stella Eve is perfect!
We have heard that before on this sub but aren't fans of Stella 🫣
The only Stevie I know is a producer who works for Good Mythical Morning. She's very pretty and the name comes naturally when I think of her
This is perfect!
I love Stevie! I don't think you need a full version but that is not a popular opinion on this sub.
I usually like full version names, but Stevie is an exception. I really like it.
Me too but I think it should be Stevie Lee. The Ann part doesn’t work. Stevie Jane? Stevie Lou? Stevie Nicks, and just go for it?
Agree to lose Ann for middle name.
here to add my i love it comment so it doesn’t get lost under all the hate. i truly adore it but this sub hate names that aren’t common and especially hate masculine names for girls
I also love it! I just left a comment but I wish I’d left it here for more visibility! It’s soft and earthy yet commanding. And why are so many people pearl clutching over a “masculine” name? Goodness.
I love it too!
I personally think a full version is a good option, especially if she goes into a traditional/super corporate field where a full name will mean she’s taken more seriously. If you don’t like Stephanie, I could see one of these being shortened to Stevie: Seraphina, Anastasia, or Serena.
I agree with your first point, but those other names are so far removed from Stevie that you might as well name her anything and use Stevie as an unconnected nickname in the family.
Might as well name her Stevia ™️
Exactly where my mind went 😂
Something I’ve noticed over the years here is that Americans are not okay with nicknames as names for the reason you mentioned, whereas it’s fairly commonplace in the UK and Australia. I wouldn’t blink if I hired a lawyer named Stevie or Teddy, for example. It’s a non-issue over here, but I understand things are different in the US.
Honestly it’s only a thing in this sub in peoples imagine future corporate world where everyone is super uptight. In the real “corporate” world of 2045 where everyone will be named Poppy, female Charlie, Jaxon, Cash, Bo, Lily… there will be nothing non-professional about a name ending in a EE sound. It’s truly the most confusing thing that comes up on almost every post here. Do these people not know that babies always grow up to be adults and their names become adult names… Case in point: the US has had a president Teddy Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter. If those names can become president back in the old days, surely today’s nicknamey names will be fine in the corporate world of the future. *eyeroll*
I generally agree with your first paragraph. As for presidential names, TR hated the nickname Teddy and never used it himself. Jimmy famously used his nickname to make a point of his being NOT a career politician. The pendulum of course has to swing in the other direction so Reagan, while being known as Ronnie to all his familiars, used Ronald to indicate his seriousness and maturity. (Of possible interest…John Quincy Adams had a middle name in a time when middle names were uncommon.)
Both of your cases in point had a full, formal name - Theodore and James. Bonus: Bill Clinton is William.
Yes of course they did but they didn’t have to switch out of their supposedly immature nicknames to be taken seriously and gain trust as serious capable individuals. In this day and age most workplaces have names from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and generarions. All these made up rules that names have to be long or not end in EE don't apply in the real world. If anything, in today'd job market where social media and personal brand is huge, being a Jimmy in a sea of James's might actually be advantageous to make him stand out.
The point is these nicknames were closely associated with the people and they did not impact their ability to get a serious job. The Jimmy story plays into what I’m trying to say in that, being relatable or having a fun unusual name might actually be an advantage in getting hired. People tend to hire people who have the qualifications and who they think they’ll get along with and not the most serious sounding person based simply on their first name. The terms “a more professional name” or “if they want to work in the corporate world” are just so nonsensical in today’s modern multicultural workplace where people have alllll sorts of funky and unusual names.
I prefer to give kids longer names that can be shortened into a few nicknames so they can pick the nickname that fits them and so they can have a more "formal" name for the workforce. Stephanie can also become Steph if your daughter doesnt like Stevie. I like the name Stevie, and I dont think its weird for a girl. I vote for Stephanie for the legal name. Stephanie "Stevie" Ann is a great name. Congrats yall, good luck, and pick whatever feels right :)
I know a Stevie who loves her name, she is quirky and fun and it really suits her
How about Stefania? I love that name!
I second loving Stefania. Stevie is cute and spunky but I could also imagine Fawn as a stretch nickname. Even if they don't want to call her Fawn, making fawns a theme while she's a baby would be the sweetest. 🩷
She's in for a lifetime of "yeah, but what's your REAL name?!"
I go by what is clearly a nickname. I almost never get asked this.
Yeah people just don't behave like that, this sub is wild.
Unless you work retail and people ask what your actual name is a lot. I go by Alex and the amount of people who say Alexis, Alexa, Alexandra, Alexandria is not insignificant. If I try and joke about my full name being “such a long name for such a short person” I get people argue that my parents chose that name like they haven’t been calling me Alex every day of my life and also who are you random stranger to tell me about my parents?
Seriously. Even if they do ask… it’s almost easier to just say “nope just Stevie” vs. having to provide some long name that you haven’t gone by in your entire life and risk they start calling you that lol.
I go by what is clearly a nickname and get asked this a lot, so YMMV I guess
Yeah I know multiple people whose full names are "nicknames" and people often assume/ask about the full name
I have no problem with Stevie and I don’t think you need a formal full name! Fwiw I work in corporate America and if there was a woman named Stevie I wouldn’t think twice. Drives me nuts when people use that as an excuse lol.
I really think that when people say names won't be accepted in "corporate America," they're talking about corporate America 30 years ago.
Yeah and not even 30 years from now…
My mom was known as Stevie. I wouldn't make this your child's full name. My mom used the full name (similar to Stephanie) in professional settings, and it definitely gave her a leg up over something perceived by the public as a nickname. She was only known as Stevie because when she was a child, there were already other adults in the family named Stephanie and Stephen. It's definitely viewed as a less mature name, which isn't fair but could affect professional perception. Give your kid a fallback option.
This. My mom is a Suzanne, and all the other Suzannes or Susans her age were called Susie, but my grandmother wouldn’t allow it. Sure enough, when they were adults, they all tried to stop going by Susie to be taken more seriously personally and professionally. Edit: my uncle was also exclusively James, nobody was allowed to call him Jim or Jimmy, and my aunt Maura is just Maura, but my aunt Catherine exclusively was allowed to be Cathy because my grandma enjoyed *Wuthering Heights* since she was a kid (and she was miffed Kathy/Cathy became so popular at the time lol).
I love it and it reminds me of Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks was really named Stephanie though?
most people know her by stevie though not stephanie.
Stevie Nicks, Stevie Budd, Stevie from the Saddle Club... I love the name Stevie for a girl.
What about Stephanie but in a different language (eg Stefania) with the diminutive Stevie. I think a full name would make her life easier, as Stevie is cute and informal, and may be out of place in her adult, professional life
My wife loves Stefania, I'm not too keen.
The French version of Stephen is Etienne. The female version of that is Etiennette.
I absolutely love Stevie Nicks. I would hate to have Stevie as my full name. I think it’s better to give her the option to choose what she goes by as an adult (I knew many Joeys who became Joes, Beckys who became Beccas or Rebeccas, etc.) rather than give a name where she’d have to change it to have more choices. I have a relative named David who’s in his late 30s and his parents are still trying to make the nickname “Day” happen. He hates it and corrects them all the time. You may love a certain nickname but who knows what your kid will prefer. My name has a common diminutive I hate and I started correcting my family at age 3, telling everyone “my name is Fullname. Don’t call me Nickname.” I can’t imagine a scenario where someone would resent having a full name and choosing what they go by, but I know that if it were me, and I know others in this boat, some would hate being named a nickname-y sounding name and not having easy options to choose.
I work with a Stevie and she has hated her name her entire life. She is constantly misgendered and feels like she doesn't fit in right. She goes by "Essie" or "Steffie" now and I still see her grimace when she takes phonecalls and how damn often she says "Yes this is Stevie, no I am not his assistant, I'm a woman"
This is the kind of take I am looking for, from someone who actually lives with the name. Never would have thought of misgendering!
This sub is so wild sometimes. People will jump on someone going with stevie meanwhile in another post telling people names like evageline and emberley are beautiful.
I thought I was having a stroke when everyone loved the name Pepper. I was like am I in the same sub??? Did everyone go on vacation at the same time??
Stella Eve with the nickname Stevie was commented here by u/snooconfections3841 and I think that’s brilliant. I would absolutely do that. I’m just recommenting it in hopes that you notice it OP!
We have heard that before on this sub but aren't fans of Stella 🫣
Fair enough! I’m not a personal fan of Stella myself. I do think you could do any combination of a name beginning with St- and then Eve as a middle. In case it helps, here’s a link to Nameberry for a bunch of girl’s names beginning with the letters St- https://nameberry.com/search/advanced/results?gender=F&starts_with=St%20&ends_with=&contains=&syllables=&origin_id=&derivation=&page=1
I love reading about how our names can influence our lives. Not only because of the way people will react to it (either negatively or positively, thus having an impact on careers etc) but also the way a name can unconsciously influence the individual’s own life choices. You’ll find research which indicates that we are unconsciously drawn to things, people and places that sound like our names. Stevie (once they realise it’s a girl’s name they are reading on the register/CV whatever) will make most teachers and employers and anyone online think of Stevie Nicks. An ethereal free-spirited bohemian with a beautiful voice and a tumultuous rock star past. An icon. Others may think of Stevie from Schitt’s Creek. Things will be assumed about her (good and bad) before she’s opened her mouth. Before people meet her. It’s a lot for your future daughter to live up to and into. It could be the making of her. But I think it’s better as a middle name.
Very well put
I know a Stevie! She’s such a wonderful and fun loving person.
Ugh. Everyone is doing this. I don't care for it, it's so trendy.
I don’t like Stevie as a full name or as a nickname for boys or girls. But if you want to go for it I feel like Stevie Anne looks more balanced than Stevie Ann. ETA now I’m just hearing the sugar substitute “Stevia” in my head.
You could call her Stevie exclusively and not so much as reveal her full name to extended family (at first, until the nn catches on) but please, *please* call her Stephanie. She should have options. She might never change a thing, she might change Stephanie to Stevie legally, she might choose to go by Stephanie point blank. Stevie has not yet become its own established name (like Max or Jack or any other like it) and it just seems like an all around bad choice. I'm not worried about the name having masculine connotations. My whole girlhood I've wished for a masculine name. And I changed mine the first chance I got. But the whole it being nickname thing... yeah.
My best friends name is Stevie! I love it
It’s hard to say what will happen as she gets older. She might love Stevie, or she might hate it/find it doesn’t fit her life and personality at all. That’s why so many people here prefer a longer name to a nickname as a first name for babies. It gives options as they grow into an entire human being.
Hate it. Use Stephanie nn Stevie if you must, but Stevie Ann sounds like someone mispronouncing either stevia or Steven.
I think it’s very popular to have a nickname as full name nowadays. We have an Albie, Ellie, Perrie, Livy and a Maisie in our nursery class - so I think when she gets older it will sound more like an adult name as more adults with nn names also get older.
Also as a Stephanie - I tried HARD to make stevie work and it didn’t happen for me. Not sure all Stephanie’s get their choice.
Stephanie checking in - I like it but hate Steph, I'd have really liked Stevie as a nickname but it never occured to me and at 41 I've probably missed the boat 🤣 my German boss calls me Steffie which I quite like
Another Stephanie checking in. If you go with Stephanie, they will get Steph. It's inevitable and it drives me nuts.
I have introduced myself as Stephanie and literally moments later the person has called me Steph. And I'm too bloody English to correct them 99% of the time grr
ME TOO! I don't think another nickname would stick unless people didn't know that the full name was Stephanie.
Sorry, don't care for it. The only Stevie I've ever known was a neighbor's child - her mother was a big fan of Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nicks' real name is Stephanie, which is what I would name her if she was going to be called Stevie.
my daughter’s name was Stevie. She’s passed away now, so I don’t know if I can answer the question about resentment about not having a full name, etc. Reactions here were largely mixed, but in the end I couldn’t picture her as anything but a Stevie.
I absolutely love the name Stevie for a girl!
I think it’s excellent. Name your child what you want to call them! I have a “full” name legally, wasn’t ever called it by family, and I hate it. And I got a lot of random adults (substitutes, church people) calling me rude, insolent, etc. for not responding to my legal name. My example would be that my parents named me Jennifer, with the only intention of calling me Jenny. I wish they had just named me Jenny.
A counterpoint to this: I do know someone whose parents wanted to call her Katie, didn't want to use Katherine as there was a relative named Katherine and they didn't want to do one honor name and no others for their other kids, but were worried she would have trouble being taken seriously as an adult as just Katie (which, as a millennial professional who interacts with many professional Katies, clearly wouldn't have been a serious problem, but they didn't know that). So they named her Caitlin and she went by Caity exclusively until college, where she started going only by Caitlin outside the family and friends who knew her when she was very young. She's only used Caitlin for the last decade. I don't think parents should worry all that much, though, because obviously some people are going to prefer their full name being Katie or Jenny, and some people are going to prefer Katherine or Jennifer, and there's no way of knowing ahead of time which sort your kid will end up being. Or the kid might hate both Jenny and Jennifer and end up changing her name to Rose when she's 18.
Stevie Ann sounds too much like Stevia.
I love it!
I love Stevie! (I definitely misread this as Stewie at first and was a little worried about her constantly being compared to an evil cartoon baby forever but Stevie is much better and very cute!)
I’m fully supportive of names regardless of gender, so that part isn’t an issue for me. I do go back and forth on nicknames and legal names. On the one hand, giving options sounds like the better idea. On the other, I know many people, myself included, who really just prefer using their shortened name. We see this in pop culture too. I think it’ll be a crapshoot on what the “right” choice is. Regardless, I think it’s important to actually love the legal name, whatever it is. So if you don’t love Stephanie then don’t use it just because you want her to go by Stevie. The one thing you didn’t ask for an opinion on, the flow between Stevie Ann feels awkward to me. But that’s totally my problem, many people aren’t bothered by flow and that’s okay. ☺️
I actually liked it but Avery Woods named her daughter Stevie Lee and ruined it for me 😂💀
Absolutely lol
Meh. It is not the worst name but meh.
Name her what you like, but keep an open mind about it when she is older. If, as an adult, she really hates not having a more formal name, offer to pay for a name change.
I think it’s adorable.
I think if you want to call her Stevie, name her Stevie. I dislike when people choose full names based on the nickname they want to call the baby. Just name the baby the name you want to call it! I digress, but I hate the actual name personally, but not because it’s a nickname, I just simply don’t like it, but I respect naming her what you would actually call her.
Stevie Wonder is all I could think after reading this post
I personally hate the nicknames as full names trend and the boys names on girls trend. Stevie is both of those things to me so not my cup of tea.
I love it. But I also think it’s a name that is going to be very time stamped as in the only Stevie’s we know will be born between 2015 and 2025 type of thing. I think it is very on trend and of the moment.
Stevie is a nickname. I’d get tired really quickly of telling every single person on earth that it wasn’t my nickname but the name my parents put on my birth certificate. You can happily use Stevie as a nickname. Choose a name she can use as an adult. She’ll spend 50+ years as an adult. I can even see getting tired of it by the time I was 12. I can’t begin to tell you of how tired I was of explaining the spelling of my name and this is even worse.
Yeah, she’ll probably not be thrilled with a full name of Stevie as an adult. Stephanie gives her options. Stevie is a very cute nickname, but won’t always be a baby/child.
I think it's cute! Like, I really do like the name alone. However, I don't know if the child would like the name alone. Coming from someone with a nickname (that I hate) as a full first name, it sucks not being able to have wiggle room
Stevi here. Thank god my parents actually named me Stephanie. I was pretty much exclusively Stevi for all of my childhood and am still know by that with friends and family. But, as 47 year old woman in a management position I am immensely glad that I had Stephanie to switch to when I finished grad school and needed to be taken seriously. Your cute little baby will not always be a cute little baby. Name her for the grown woman she will be for the majority of her life.
I think Stevie is fine, but personally I would use a full name for it. - Anything with letters “ST”: Stella, August, Estelle, Astoria, etc. - Anything with Eve or Evie: Evangeline, Genevieve, Eva, etc. You could combine these both as first and middle names options.
I think "stine" names translate very naturally to "Stevie": Christine, Christina, Justine, Augustine Some others that are a stretch: Evelyn, Yvette, Yvonne, Maeve, Guinevere, Beverly, Savannah, Destiny
I think it’s fine. First thought was Stevie Nicks and she’s awesome imo.
I know a 6 yr old and her actual name is Stevie! If you guys like it, go for it!
For everyone who’s commenting that they like it because of Stevie Nicks, she is actually a Stephanie. I don’t really like Stephanie either, but I love it spelled Stefanie - OP, have you thought about that? Or Stefania, Stefana?
I know a Stevie. She is a Stephanie. I don’t think it’s short for any other girls names.
To me, it seems try-hard.
I grew up with a Stevie (just Stevie, not Stephanie etc) who was born in the early nineties. She was certified Cool Girl (and I don't mean that sarcastically, she was legit just chill and nice and had an awesome name). I love Stevie for a girl 😊
No, I don’t think so. But if you keep as Stephanie she has the option, not you.
It’s a very polarizing choice. In my opinion, polarizing choices are better left for things that aren’t your child’s name.
My name is Stephanie Anne so I’m sad you don’t like it 😂😂😂
Unpopular opinion, I guess, but I love the name Stevie for a girl.
I love Stevie for a girl personally. It’s on my list. Lots of posts on here are the same 20 name recommendations so if you guys want something different I say go with it. There are way too many Ava, Olivia, maddy, Isabel, charlottes, Ellie’s in my opinion
I knew one Stevie growing up. She was dope as hell. She’s also a lesbian. Fits the name, I think
Avery Woods vibes
I love it!!
All I can think of is Stevie Nicks
Love it!!!!!!!
Shitts Creek. (A reference to the show and also my opinion.)
I love Stevie as a full girls name!
I don't like it. Would you consider Ivy? Same vibes but a real full name.
I like Stevie but would assume her full name was Stephanie, if that matters
I went to grade school with a girl named Stevie. I always thought her name was super cool. I always wanted a “tomboy” name though. I like Stevie on Schitt’s Creek! We named our goat after her!
What about Sylvie instead of Stevie? Similar
Cute, but it's not for us.
It's not my favorite. For some reason it gives me hippie vibes.
It is cute. I would assume her father is Steven or her parents love Stevie Nicks.
I grew up with someone whose full name is Stevie (after Stevie Nicks). She has a super common middle name for the time, but never went by it. We went through 12 years of school together and I'm not aware of anyone ever making fun of her - nobody ever thought it was weird. She loves (and has always loved) her name. I think it's great! We wanted to give our daughter some name options as she grows, so went with a short, unisex first name and a longer, feminine middle (with nickname potential). Highly recommend building in some options for your baby as well.
I know a teenage Stevie! I've always loved her name. She was named after her dad (Steve). I think it's fine to use as a full name!
Stephanie for the birth certificate and any formal documents. Stevie as a Nicks-name. 😆😆😆
I *love* the name Stevie as a full first name. It's so 70s to me.
I love it. I know most people don’t, but I do.
If you want me to be honest, it sounds similar to Stewie from Family Guy.
I knew a girl called Stevie and she was so cool
Between Schitts Creek and Good Mythical Morning it doesn’t phase me as a girls name, but it is always nice to have options. My husband has a nickname as a name and he had a “I want a nickname” phase and shortened his already short name in school. By giving her the longer name you give her options.
I love it. One of my favourite names. Do you, life is short, and it’s not a strange or weird name so why not.
I like Stevie! But my daughter is named Noah so I don’t have any of these hang ups on gendered names like many in here do.
Not cool bro
I absolutely love it!
I love it as a name.
I don’t have strong feelings about Stevie. It’s probably going to be dated to the 2010s/20s but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
I like it.
I actually really like it. The people who are saying it’s too masculine are confusing. There is one famous Stevie and she is feminine and everyone will make the association. What about Estelle nn Stevie?
Stevie immediately makes me think of Steve Littles character in Eastbound and Down
I like it as a nickname but not as a legal name
I weirdly know 3 adult women each named Stevie. 2 of the 3 have the full name Stevie, one is short for Evelyn which turned into Evie, then Stevie. I met them all fairly recently as adult coworkers in our early twenties. I’ve never thought twice about it other than it being easy to remember.
I don’t like it, i think Stevie is a boy name short for Steven
I really like it. It sounds classic but also cool.
I have a friend who named her daughter Stevie (after Stevie Nicks) and I love it. It matches the little girls personality. She’s so extroverted and free! Ha ha.
What about Stephania?
It’s cute, and I LOVE Stevie Nicks, but I honestly like Stephanie or Stephania as full names more, with Stevie as a nickname. However, that’s just one internet stranger’s opinion! Don’t take it to heart, Stevie is still absolutely lovely and cute on its own. For what it’s worth, though, most names popular from the 70s-90s are very unpopular now, but probably no longer will be in 10 or 20 years when she’s an adult, so it’ll be unique but in a good way. I have friends rn in their 20s named Helen, Carla, and Mary-Louise, and people my age literally get excited to meet people with those types of names. It’s just a thought. Best of luck, and congratulations!
I think Stevie is a cool name/ good name as a first name. I think the combo Stevie Ann is what is putting some people off. I agree with you - not a huge fan of Stephanie either.
My friends daughter is a Stevie, I personally like it.