What's in a name?

So I'm not very good with abbreviated names, for people or for objects.  Not just abbreviated names but also nicknames of any kind.  I normally call people by how they've been introduced to me.  I have always been called by my entire first name and it's never successfully been shortened.  So when people told me that Griffin's name would be shortened to "Griff," I shook my head and laughed.  So within a month only a couple of people have called him Griff, but some only to annoy me.  Slowly it's doesn't matter as much as it did, but it still makes me laugh.

Many times I have been reminded how clueless I am when it comes to this parenting stuff, especially the lingo.  Everyday I feel like I learn something, if not a million things, new.  The other day I was asked where Griffin's "binky" was, to which I had no clue what that was.  Thinking it through I assumed it was a blanket, then I learned that it's the pacifier.  Where did this name come from?  Back to my problem of not using nicknames, I can not bring myself to call the pacifier anything other than "pacifier."  I can't say binky or winky or passy--I just can't do it.  I've also learned that blankets can be minkies or possibly a million other names, but what's wrong with "blanket"?  I like just having a clear and concise nomenclature for things so I am not grabbing for Griffin's blanket instead of the pacifier. 

I'm coming around though, and I keep an open mind.  So don't judge me ;) 

*Both pictures were taken two weeks ago.  Griffin is now a little bigger and a whole lot cuter.