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Do you find it annoying when people use a diminutive form of your name without asking?

(224 Posts)
25Avalon Thu 01-Feb-24 18:05:00

Some friends call me by my full first name and others a shortened version, such as Susan and Sue. I get annoyed when people I don’t know do this. I am secretary of a sports club and always sign myself with my full first name in a professional manner. Back the emails come nine times out of ten with the shortened version as if we are bosom chums which we aren’t. I sometimes I haven’t even met them.I think it’s rude and presumptuous. What do others think?

Gwyllt Thu 01-Feb-24 22:56:19

When it comes to mispronouncing names you should try living in Wales

henetha Thu 01-Feb-24 23:22:50

No , I don't find it annoying. I can't get het up over things like this.
Anyway, I like my name shortened.
And I find it friendly.

hollysteers Fri 02-Feb-24 00:23:14

I don’t mind the shortened form of my name at all in everyday life, but as a classical singer, I have objected to it being used on concert programmes.

OldFrill Fri 02-Feb-24 00:42:48

25Avalon

These are people connected with my sport that I want to keep at arm’s length. They are not my friends. I am a volunteer. They get paid. They have tried to stitch me up. I don’t want them shortening my name.

They are being disrespectful, demeaning and patronising. It would really annoy me in those circumstances.
How you stop it l don't know, they sound the type that would be pleased it was annoying you. Hang in there.

nanna8 Fri 02-Feb-24 01:46:38

What sensitive little plants. Who cares ? Best not visit Australia. We always shorten names. It is a sign of affection and acceptance.

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 02-Feb-24 06:37:05

The only time I use my full name is on official documents or when I speak to the Doctor.

Apart from my immediate family I doubt anyone knows my real name.

PaperMonster Fri 02-Feb-24 06:38:20

My name doesn’t have a diminutive, people often lengthen it which amuses me!

Bellasnana Fri 02-Feb-24 06:49:52

Here in Malta they shorten everyone’s name. Even Mary becomes Mair.

Personally I don’t like my name being shortened. DD3 on the other hand, has always gone by the diminutive form of her name and hates it if anyone uses her full name.

We’re all different I suppose but I think being told to ‘get over it’ is rather unnecessary.

M0nica Fri 02-Feb-24 06:51:54

25Avalon I completely agree, We have a family first name and my mother and grandmother had (different) dimumitives, and I have the name in full. so if someone used the most common dimunitives they were talking to my mother and grandmother not me.

Thankfully very few people do address me by a dimunitive - and if they do I politely tell them that I am always k own by my name in full.

Curtaintwitcher Fri 02-Feb-24 06:53:14

I dislike any over-familiarity from strangers. I disapprove of the modern trend for first names instead of 'Mrs. Whatever, and I'm not afraid to say so.
My name is Isabelle and I hate being called Izzy!

Bonnybanko Fri 02-Feb-24 06:54:14

I dislike being called Izzie or Is when my name is Isabel but I always tell them off when they do

RosesandLilac Fri 02-Feb-24 07:11:26

My sister and my sister in law both shorten my name to something that isn’t a diminutive because my name doesn’t have one. It really irritates me but I don’t say anything to keep the peace.

Marmight Fri 02-Feb-24 07:33:34

The name I am known by is a derivative of my middle name. It can be shortened to the first 3 letters but rarely is except when I’m in Australia where most names are shortened or have an ‘O’ stuck on the end! I hate my first name and when it is used I always do a double take! Yes, I know. It’s complicated. After 70 years I've given up explaining 😂

Calendargirl Fri 02-Feb-24 07:38:27

Didn’t realise the Princess of Wales was on GN.

Marydoll Fri 02-Feb-24 07:39:09

My name was always lengthened by my colleagues! My Christian name is rarely used nowadays. I'm mum, gran, pet and Marydoll. 😂

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 02-Feb-24 07:57:18

V3ra

It rarely happens as my name is only five letters long. People that know me never alter it.
One chap I didn't know well (I looked after his grandchildren and met him occasionally) did and it seemed a bit presumptuous/over familiar, and wasn't something I'd ever have called myself anyway.
Think along the lines of "Barry" shortened to "Baz." 🤨
I didn't say anything though, he was just being friendly in a matey sort of way 🤷

I don't see that as friendly. It's an attempt to control. Your names is yours, not his.

Calendargirl Fri 02-Feb-24 08:02:59

‘My surname is yours to take, my Christian name is mine to give’.

ginny Fri 02-Feb-24 08:07:41

I’m more surprised when anyone calls ment my full name. I only use it in official situations.

Grammaretto Fri 02-Feb-24 08:27:08

I remember being on an escalator once when a small child behind yelled "mummy!" and everyone turned round!

Sago Fri 02-Feb-24 09:01:06

My name is not common but it can be shortened, I don’t object.
There are however two friends who use the shortened version of my name and add a Y.
It infuriates me!

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 02-Feb-24 09:18:20

How can shortening someone’s name be an attempt to control ? Bizarre.

Nell8 Fri 02-Feb-24 09:26:41

I should have had a first name that went back at least seven generations on my mother's side. Unfortunately when Mum's name was being registered the Registrar misheard and wrote down an altered version. Mum's parents decided to keep it as they quite liked it. Shame.

flappergirl Fri 02-Feb-24 09:27:28

Germanshepherdsmum

How can shortening someone’s name be an attempt to control ? Bizarre.

I agree. As I've already said, in Bristol it is the norm and classed as a form of affection, acceptance even. I suppose it depends on the context though. The poster feels they are doing it in a demeaning way.

V3ra Fri 02-Feb-24 10:00:09

I don't see that as friendly. It's an attempt to control. Your names is yours, not his.

That's an interesting thought.
While it didn't apply to the chap in question, there's someone who makes a point of shortening all our names, when we never have, and it certainly fits with our opinion of them 🤔

Dickens Fri 02-Feb-24 10:07:21

What bothers some people, I think, is not so much the actual diminutive but the over-familiarity of complete strangers in using it.

My name does not have a diminutive. My late ex re-configured its letters to devise a 'pet' name for me; I did object when an individual I'd only just met overheard him and started using it instead of the proper name everyone else used. It seemed a tad presumptuous. Like Mr Darcy, I do not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before.

However, I did - as the current culture now demands - manage to "get over myself" and accept that some people are naturally gregarious.