Informal use of names?

Question

I do like when parents go with a full "formal" name such as Benjamin rather than Ben or Christopher rather than Chris but why does that "rule" (notice quotations) even exist? If you're going to call your son Greg all the time why even bother naming him Greggory?

I guess then my next question is why does a name determine how well you work?

Answer 1

You need the formal name as I've been learning alot lately, My kids know that if I use their full names it means I mean business!

Answer 2

I feel the same way bout the first ?

But i'm answering 2 da 2 1. Anyways, it affects how u work bcause say if u have a totally crazy spelling name but it's pronounced differently. Such as, wat would u do if u were handed some paper work wit da name Shithead
(Pronounced: Sha-teed) or Vagina (Pronounced: Va-geena), Gina wit a Va b4 it, would u really wanna hire dat person? And I'm sorry it has 2 come 2 dis but, once on a resume to get accepted into Harvard or somethin like dat, dis girl had perfect scores, great recommendations, but her name was Shaquanna, they didn't even bother 2 look at her resume, they threw it n da trash! But, here's the thing, the people thought that Shaquanna was of African descent but she was actually Caucasian, and bcause of her name they didn't c y they needed someone wit her name to b accepted!!! Yes these r real names.

Answer 3

To your second question, it's probably based on stereotypes. After watching TV and going on the computer, etc... people's minds are "molded" into the stereotypical world of fiction.

On TV, people named Tiffany are usually ditzy blondes that don't work well and are complete tramps. So, many people usually don't take people named Tiffany seriously.

People named Elizabeth are usually shown as poised figures in society and people give people named Elizabeth more of a chance.

If someone is named... Edith, people will probably sneer at their name because people named Edith are portrayed as old fashioned people or dorks...

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with these names! I'm just saying... I'm not saying these are complete facts!

Answer 4

I know this sounds pretty formalistic, but this is a world where that kind of formalism is important. Someone whose name is Greg, doesn't have the option of using the formal Gregory, which is appropriate in certain circumstances. People need to be allowed to determine what others call them, believe it or not it is empowering, and it should be reciprocal. Telling someone what to call you sends important messages to other people about how they wish to be treated and thus sets important boundaries. How someone introduces themselves let me know that what level of behavior is required when dealing with the person. It can also sends an important message to another person regarding trust when they use the familiar name. People have a need for formality in their names.

I prefer one form of my name socially, but I find it very insulting when someone in a professional context refers to me in the informal form of my name. I actually find it insulting when people leave the proper honorative off my name.

(I know this is all ridiculous coming from a person whose screen name is Poops Magee.)

Answer 5

Perhaps they like the full name of christopher or greggory for their child, but i think its just because "christopher" is too much of a mouthful to use on a regular basis... that's why nicknames come up in the first place...

Answer 6

I have always thought that kids need a "kid" name and they also meed an "adult" name.

Robert is a good example..... he might go as Bobby or Robby as a kid.. then Rob or Bob as an adult, but in formal settings.. like a name on a door at his office... Robert.. Then you always have that one moron.. that is still calling him Bobby when the poor guy is 50.

That's why boy's names are especially important.. Like your examply of Greg.. Gregory.. anyone that tries to call the kid greggy needs to be slapped.

For girls.. it's nice that they have a girl(y) name when they are little.... Ali..... But Alicia sounds a lot more professional at a board meeting.

I don't understand why people name their daughters stuff like Nikki....... Why not Nicole, Nikole.. call her Nikki, but at least as an adult she would have some dignity in the professional world and not have to only use her first initial.

Answer 7

for the second question I'm not really so sure i guess it's just how god wanted it and for the first for most kids there parents use that full name to either embarrasses them or just when they do something wrong so....... um.. well then they totally know they did something wrong but other than that some people just lean towards what name makes them feel more like an individual

Answer 8

I named my son Gregory and never call him Greg I even make a point of telling his teachers his name is Gregory and we dont call him Greg so give the child a name that you dont shorten and stick to it Colton and Julian are two of my boys

Answer 9

That's kinda like, why give them a middle name? You don't use that either. My name is Rebekah, but I've been called Beka since the day I was born. I always knew that if my parents said Rebekah it meant I was in trouble and if the used my middle name that I was in BIG trouble. To this day, noone calls me Rebekah unless they don't know me very well.

Answer 10

I totally agree with you. This drives me crazy. Like you said, I'm going to name him Christopher, but call him Chris. I'm going to name her Elizabeth Nicole, but call her Nikki. It makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Name the kid what you are going to call him or her. Why give a name that no one is ever going to hear. It'll be on your driver's licence and applications and totally confuse everyone as to what your real name is.

I thought I was the only one who thought this way. Glad to know that there is someone out there that agrees with me.