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[Opinions] Re: Philip & Joseph
They're just nice. I definitely prefer Phil and Joe over the full names. I don't like the sounds of them. Joseph in particular is ugly to me - it's the S and F snuggling way too close. Philip - 7; Joseph - 5.5 (most generic name ever and more archaic than classic)If I had to name my son Philip he'd be Flip from day one. I think if you were Philip or Joseph you could get people to call you by your full name, but guys usually aren't willing to appear that sensitive about it, that they'd correct people. Eh, I dunno - I knew a William who successfully insisted on William. But it was because he didn't want to be Billy. Eventually he gave in to Will. If you were Philip's or Joseph's mom, though, you couldn't stop the use of Phil or Joe.

This message was edited 4/22/2013, 6:35 PM

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My brothers-in-law insist on Anthony and Christopher, it works for them. Alexander gave I'm and goes by Xander.
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Yeah, I guess you're right, tons of them do insist and succeed at it. I know a Stephen (pron. Steven) who's never Steve, and a Charles who's never Charlie, and a Michael who's never Mike. I have just known so many Steves, Matts, Mikes, Dans, Daves, Joes, Phils, Nicks, Ricks ETC ETC that it is easy to assume they must not care that much. But really I think what I observed is, that the most common man names are more common than the most common woman names, and more of those common male names have a single common short form, than the most common female names do. I rashly generalized and attributed it to gender, because I was thinking of a few guys in particular I know who accepted their nicknames, whose personalities are such that they would not insist on being called by a full name, or even give it the slightest thought when someone used the one usual nickname for their name (Dan, Dave, Steve, Mike, Tom, Joe, Brad etc). While I can't think of any women I know who are like that, I'm sure they're out there.

This message was edited 4/22/2013, 9:04 PM

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I think it's equal. My cousin is Liz even though she grew up with Elizabeth. I know a few other women who accepted nicknames even if they didn't like them. I will let the occasional person call me Have and I know my Mom prefers Susan to Sue, yet goes by Sue.
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