Nicknaming Gavriel "gav" in Israel--Hebrew word fo

We're thinking of using the name Gavriel, but I know I would end up saying "Gavi" or "Gav" half the time. Would that be a weird nickname in Israel since in Hebrew it means back? I don't know if it would be perfectly fine or if it would sound wrong...like a girl I knew called "Toony".

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 07 2007 Posts: 10429

It's fine.

You don't realize it, but American nicknames mean things and no one thinks anything of it. Know anyone named Henry called Hank? Or a Charles called Chuck? Or a Matthew called Mat? Or for that matter a Batsheva called Chevy?

We have a son, Gavriel. We usually call him by his full name , sometimes YES, we shorten it to Gav and NEVER called him Gabi. But when he was little (he is now in his 20s) we called him Guvi. Now he is sometimes called Gavrush . In my opinion Gavriel is a beautiful name.

Posted: Fri, May 07 2010, 11:44 am Post subject:

I know a Gavriel that is called Gavri.

Also, Gabi is a common Israeli name.
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No comment about the nickname really. Just wanted to say that I think it's a beautiful name. It's on our short list if Hashem should bless us with another son.

Gabriel is a gorgeous name. I dislike most nicknames for it.

Tuny is Fortuni (Judeo Greek name).
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Thank you so much everyone for your comments!
And Louche, you're very right--it's just that I feel nervous doing it in another language where I might not know the nuances. Like those threads where someone says, Never name XXX in Israel--here it's used for YYY!
Or something like that.

In Israel most Gavriel's will be either Gabi or just Gavriel. It's not a very common name though, and in Israel nicknames are not all that popular (I don't mean family nicknames) today kids are usually called by their full name whatever it is (at least among DL and chilonim - I don't know about chareidim). There are some exceptions, but they are exceptions.
I mean you will have more Avraham, not Avi, Elisheva, not Shevy, etc.
Edit to say that people will get used to any name in Israel. No one will care that Gav is back, especially since it makes sense to use it for Gavriel.
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