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Leo
Leo has been growing on me lately, but I'm not sure how I feel about using it on its own because it's a nickname. I don't like Leonard or Leon, but I don't mind Lionel (lee-o-NEL) and Leonardo. What are your thoughts on these two names and what do you think about using Leo on its on?
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I don't think of Leo as a nn at all. The Leo people I've known have had it as a full name, and I've known Leon people who only go by Leon (which I dislike). The only nn I've seen in use for Lionel is Li, pronounced Lee. Leonardo only works for me in an Italian or Spanish context.
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I absolutely adore Leo! I actually named my dog Leonidas "Leo". I kinda regret it now because I really cannot find a boy name I love as much! I think Leo can definitely work it's own. I personally prefer longer names (they are fun to say) but that's a personal preference. Out of the two I like Leonardo more but the NARD part in Leonardo always gets me. Other ideas:
Aurelio
Leander
Leopold

This message was edited 4/30/2017, 10:03 AM

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Heh...you could always use Prudencio as a full name, and Leo as a nickname. That's what my great-grandfather did.I would just name the kid Leo, if it were me. No one would think it was weird.
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Leo is not a nickname, though it can be used as such.My grandson is called Leo, but his full name is Leonidas. My daughter wanted to use just Leo, but my then son-in-law wanted it to be a nickname. She suggested Leopold, he wanted Leonidas, and he won the day. Not that my daughter doesn't love Leonidas, she does. But she is like me----no nicknames as full names, so if she initially wanted to use just Leo, you can rest assured that it's not just a nickname, but a full name in its own right.I used to think that Lucy was a nickname, because it can be used as one for Lucille, but it was pointed out to me here on BtN that it is a name in its own right as well. So I've been set straight and can feel free to love Lucy as a full name.I think Leo works as a nickname for Leonardo, but it's too much of a stretch for Lionel. There's also Leopold and Leonidas. But really if you like Leo, there's no impediment to just using Leo, even if you are a "no nickname on the birth certificate" purist like me.
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Thanks! I always thought it was just short for all Leo names. I feel better now about using just Leo knowing that it's a full name on its own.
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