Does it irritate you if people shorten your name, or use an alternative?

Question

My name is Christina and it really irritates me when people call me Chris, Chrissy, Tina 'Teen' (for goodness sake!). I know a lot of people don't let it bother them, it's just a personal quirk for me. Does it ever bother you, particularly if the alternative is something really naff.?

Answer 1

Yes, for some reason I really don't like it and must agree with you. I never shorten other people's names unless they specifically prefer it. I was named after my two grandmothers and have always, but always, been called by both names together. I don't really like either name and would never even answer to one or the other separately as neither one is "me". In recent years I have taken to referring to myself by just the initials of my name (my brother had started it and it just somehow stuck). However, if I wish to take liberties with my own name, that is MY personal choice.

Answer 2

My name is Leyla and people mostly shorten it to Ley. This doesn't bother me at all but I can see why you would get annoyed. I think the longer a name is, the more alternatives people can come up with which I would find irritating. Just tell them you prefer Christina.

Answer 3

Yes! My name is Stuart and move around a lot in a very large team at work. When I go somewhere new I inevitably get called Steve by accident. This I can almost handle but before long I end up getting called "Stevie" and I have to end it there. It can be a bit difficult correcting someone who gets your name wrong especially if you let it slip for a little while!

Answer 4

I have had my name shortened all my life, In fact if anyone gives me my full title I'm usually in trouble.
I had a nickname for most of my teens and twenties and although I now discourage its use it is often used sometimes to my face and I know often behind my back> In a funny way I'm quite happy about that. The reason why I discourage it is that I don't want to be known by two names, it causes confusion. in fact I had to convince one acquaintance that the name he was using was a nickname and not a shortened version of my own name.

Answer 5

I don't really have many alternatives for my name - I'm Karen, when I was little I had some girls calling me Carol or Caroline, and that isn't an alternative! I hated it, I think they did it just because they knew I hated it! Occasionally people call me Kaz, and it doesn't bother me but I think it sounds pretty, well, as you put it, naff!

Answer 6

Yes Christina, I totally agree with you! Your parents called you your name for a reason so people should respect that alone. I like names that can't be shortened (although some people will try to find a way to do it to annoy you!)

Answer 7

Haha!

No - I'm actually the opposite! My name is Emma, and I find that when people say my full name, it feels as if they are either telling me off or not very close to me. I'm quite an open person and I like to be friendly to everyone I know or work with. So most people call me Em, Emsy or Emmie, and I prefer that! :-)

But I can see your point about your name. My mother in law is called Margaret and the first time I met her, my boyfriend forewarned me never, ever to call her Madge, Marge, Maggie or anything other than Margaret! ;-)

xx Emmie

Answer 8

Seems to me, it depends a lot on who does it! If it's somebody you don't like, it's taking a liberty. If it's somebody who doesn't know you very well, it feels like they're claiming a closer friendship than exists between you, and that's annoying. If it's somebody you like, a close friend or family member who knows you well, then perhaps you don't mind at all, and might even like it.

My nephew's name is Thomas, and he's 11 years old. He's a bright, thoughtful and intelligent boy, and we get on very well. His mother's pet name for him, going back to when he was small is "Tonty" - and I once made the terrible mistake of calling him that. He turned round and said very seriously, and very politely "Please don't call me Tonty".

I never did again! For him, that was a name that indicated a very close and affectionate relationship between him and his mother - and he didn't want anyone but her to use it when they spoke to him. That's very understandable, I think.

Nobody ever shortens my name, though sometimes, depending on who it is, of course, I'd be happy if they did. I'm called Joan, which I've never particularly liked, and would be pleased if some of my friends shortened it to Jo.

My children all call me "Small" - chiefly because they're all taller than I am! But it's said with warmth and affection, and I like it. When I was growing up, nobody in my family ever used my name unless they were either cross with me or wanted to discuss something serious. My father was a Yorkshireman, and he and my mother addressed me as "Love" - which got complicated when my brother was around, because we didn't immediately know who was being spoken to!

My son's name is Philip, and most of his friends shorten that to Phil, as I sometimes do as well. When he was little, my father used to call him "Pippin", which I also thought was a delightful variation on the old-fashioned "Pip" for Philip.

My mother's name was Joyce, and my father always called her "Joyful".

So shortened versions of given names or alternative nicknames can be indications of close friendship, love, and terms of endearment. But if someone who doesn't know you well wades in and plays with your name, most people wouldn't like it.

wimsey

Answer 9

Hahaha, my sister is called Christina (Tina usually) and I've called her all sorts in my time - Tina Bean, Weenie Teenie, Teen, etc etc. She hasn't hit me yet, I think she secretly likes it (baby of the family)

You'd have a job shortening my name as it's only one letter anyway, hahaha

Answer 10

I get it all the time , When people ask me which i prefer
I always say " My friends and family call me by my full name"
My sons names are short enough but people still manage to shorten them
It does annoy me