What's in a name?

When I'm in hospital, I ask to be called by my first name when coming round from an anaesthetic, but Mrs. gM any other time. I feel I have earned the right to be Mrs. now! I really get annoyed, but too polite to say so, when it is assumed that it is "friendly" to call me by my first name (without permission).

I had to call everyone older than me by their title and surname, so why shouldn't I be granted the same courtesy? I do get very fed up with the uninvited use of my first name - usually mispronounced as it is French...

"love", "hen" etc., are very English/British. In my French upbringing, though not in France, it was M. Mme or Melle + surname if appropriate... My parents were considered very odd in wanting most people to use their first names.

I hate Hun, babe and sweetie!

I like to be addressed as 'Your Majesty' on first meeting, then as 'Ma'am' thereafter.

Well if they don't know your name I guess they are trying to be polite. The gas man called me petal yesterday.

Hate love,babe all those silly names.also hate have a nice day from shop assiste nice too American.

harrigran, do the people who say 'thang' instead of 'thank' balance it by saying 'somethink' instead of 'something'?

When I was a child, my dad always called me "dear" (still does!) I used to say I didn't realise it wasn't actually my name until well into my teens!

I seem to recall from somewhere that Prince Phil calls HM 'Sausage'. In private.... so the term has good pedigree

Lots of comments here objecting to their first name being used. However, this is the norm nowadays and if I'm referred to as Mrs ... when all around me are on first name terms, it makes me feel as old as the hills!

On princess cruises the waiters call me by my first name! I hate my full name and use the diminutive. On Cunard it's Doctor or Ma'am.
Me a snob?

I hate being called madam, but otherwise I don't mind how people address me.

Daisyanswerdo, funny you should say that but yes they do say 'somethink' and when it comes to the weekend they say 'sarradur' as in ' see you on Saturday'

I don't mind 'love' or 'duck' or similar. However I hate 'guys' or 'you guys' - usually said by over-perky young staff in a certain type of restaurant.

My elderly mother really disliked anyone she didn't know using her first name without asking - she didn't much like her first name anyway. And we both loathed the habit of a lot of so called professionals of referring to her as 'Mum', over her head. Not even 'your mum' or 'your mother' let alone Mrs X. Why do they do it? Have they been told it sounds more 'friendly' ' or something? To me it is just patronising and disrespectful.
We never even called my mother 'Mum' - I know this is unusual though.

My mother used to call me either Katy Floppit or Madam Zenobia..... Neither bears any relation to my given name.

I'm 66 and when I told a young double glazing salesman who came to our door that we didn't want no windows, he replied 'No worries babes' . I was rather pleased!
My mother used to say 'you can call me what you like as long as you don't call me too early in the morning'.

Or "Late for lunch"

we didn't want new windows not no windows

I don't object to Love but wouldn't like Doll. In fact it doesn't usually bother me. The only thing I don't 'get' is being call Guys. I have been know to say to the person 'The last time I looked I certainly wasn't a guy'.

I agree with jennyvg that I don't like being called madam. Nobody should have to grovel to me or anyone else, whatever their job. When I left school I promised myself that I would never call anyone sir or madam ever again.

My Dad used to call my sister and me his little slap cabbages. Never heard that since.

sluttygran ??

I take it back! On Thursday, we were told that my 85 year old Dad had probably no more that 24 hours to live. As we sat by his bed, I listened to how everyone who came into his room spoke to him. They used many of the terms that have been listed on this thread, but were said with care and concern for a dying old man. I have no doubt that he felt nothing but comfort. So, I will humbly eat my words!
As we speak, Dad's condition has stabilised and he is still with us. I feel we are on a bit of a roller coaster ride.

Megram

Thank you harrigran.

Please know I'm thinking of you and your Dad Megram