So why doesn't Romney ever use his actual first name?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

But Mitt's still a nickname. As you also stated above, his father's cousin Mitt was actually named Milton.

AFAIK, Mitt is an actual middle name. According to all sources, his full name is "Willard Mitt Romney", not "Wlllard Milton Romney" or anything like this. So he uses his middle name. Big deal.

[Free Palestine]

Because he doesn't have to.  Traditional naming conventions are stupid.

[Eraserhead]

Best response so far!

[Reginald]

But Mitt's still a nickname. As you also stated above, his father's cousin Mitt was actually named Milton.

AFAIK, Mitt is an actual middle name. According to all sources, his full name is "Willard Mitt Romney", not "Wlllard Milton Romney" or anything like this. So he uses his middle name. Big deal.

Right, I understand that. I was trying to clarify (and did an exceptionally poor job, in hindsight) that if his name was "Willard Robbie Romney" and he went by Robbie (God forbid), the name Robbie itself is still intrinsically a nickname regardless of its presence on his official birth certificate. Or it is in my opinion; I suppose some may disagree with that.

But of course, this is a complete non-issue.

[Lincoln Republican]

If your  birth certificate name is Robbie, then, for that individual, Robbie is not a nickname, because your real name is not Robert but Robbie.

I happen to know someone whose birth certificate name is Jimmy, not James.  Therefore, that individual's real name is Jimmy.  For that indivudual, Jimmy is not a nickname.

If your real name is Milton, and you go by Mitt, then yes, Mitt becomes a nickname.  However, if your real name is Mitt, as is the case with Romney, then Mitt is your real name, not your nickname.

It is not up to us to determine what is a real name or not.  The parents of the child determine that.

[© tweed]

Willie Mitt Romney sounds like a country singer.  or an assassin.