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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?

jobieP Sun 04-Feb-24 11:13:34

They are probably shortening your name to save typing.

vampirequeen Sun 04-Feb-24 11:13:55

I don't think people are being over sensitive or precious. DH likes to be called his full name but, even when he's just introduced himself, people have a tendency to reply with the diminutive.

This is just bad manners and disrespectful. If someone chooses to introduce themselves with a particular variation of their name then have the decency to respect their choice and don't try to change it.

HowVeryDareYou2 Sun 04-Feb-24 11:14:18

TurtleDove Me too

KaazaK Sun 04-Feb-24 11:16:04

I have no problem with people I know well calling me another version of my name but I cringe at being addressed as “Hun” especially by people I don’t know well. It seems to be a trend these days.

Babamaman Sun 04-Feb-24 11:17:59

Don’t know because my first name is Ruth! My mother said she chose it deliberately so it couldn’t be shortened. But oh help my surname is for some reason impossible for English people to pronounce! It is Nguyen! No not African, it is Vietnamese! And then they are shocked when they see I’m white English! Presumptions!!!

greenlady102 Sun 04-Feb-24 11:20:12

Grandma70s

I wouldn’t like it, but it’s not really possible to shorten the name I am known by (my middle name).

It annoys me when people shorten my sons’ names, but it doesn’t bother them.

I’m interested in names, and like to read any Births columns that list the baby names - the Telegraph, fo example. I’m surprised by how many people use diminutives as given names, such as Alfie, Charlie, even Joey. Not so many girls’ names, but I have known an Annie. I always imagine how a name is going to sound when read out at their graduation or wedding.

It will sound like their name!

Cossy Sun 04-Feb-24 11:21:22

I’m Mary quite hardened to shorten but when at school my mum was furious that some friends called me Mare!! I just really don’t care grin

Cossy Sun 04-Feb-24 11:24:46

M0nica

One's name is personal and expression of who one is.

I think in this modern woke world, not calling someone by the name they want used would be classified as a micro-aggression (don't all roll your eyes)!!!!!

Oooops, just rolled my eyes! (& I’m an ex CS!) grin

polnan Sun 04-Feb-24 11:29:21

no!

Havemercy Sun 04-Feb-24 11:29:52

There are so many more important things to get annoyed about. As you asked.

mae13 Sun 04-Feb-24 11:32:52

Agree,agree,agree!
When I had a recent stay in hospital a nurse - who I had never set eyes on before - came breezing up to the bed one day to change the drip I was plugged into and said "Orright then Peggy?"
What?????
My name has quite a number of derivations and 'Peggy' is one of them.....but I have NEVER heard it used in all my long life until that day. What a over-familiar cow she was!

Fairycakes Sun 04-Feb-24 11:35:02

People only shorten my name if they hear my husband do it. Or they lengthen it to include my middle name, because my husband often does that too 😁. I don't mind. I see it as a sign of friendliness or affection 🤗

grannybuy Sun 04-Feb-24 11:40:18

It doesn’t annoy me if people change my name, but I don’t understand why they do it. I’d assume that when someone tells me their name, or when I’m introduced to them by their name, that is the name they wish to be called. If, for example, I’m told that someone is called William, or Pamela, I wouldn’t immediately call them Bill or Pam.

Knitandnatter Sun 04-Feb-24 11:48:48

mae13

Agree,agree,agree!
When I had a recent stay in hospital a nurse - who I had never set eyes on before - came breezing up to the bed one day to change the drip I was plugged into and said "Orright then Peggy?"
What?????
My name has quite a number of derivations and 'Peggy' is one of them.....but I have NEVER heard it used in all my long life until that day. What a over-familiar cow she was!

I am actually quite surprised by the way the nurse addressed you mae.......all of the hospital I used to visit had a white board for every inpatient stating the patients preferred name, they Consultant and the senior nurse on duty.
The nurse in question would have received very short shrift from me - she was extremely rude imo.

My name is also shortened by a particular man who is a member of a social club that I attend and exactly why I have no idea because it doesn't even commute to a proper name at all in its shortened mode - silly man.

win Sun 04-Feb-24 11:55:23

rosie1959

Germanshepherdsmum

Life’s too short.

Most definitely

most, most definitely

Bazza Sun 04-Feb-24 12:00:04

Yes it does annoy me too. But, as I realised a while ago I tend to do it to other people names so it serves me right!

JaneJudge Sun 04-Feb-24 12:04:33

I don't like my name being shortened either

TanaMa Sun 04-Feb-24 12:05:38

Luckily I have a name that cannot be shortened and gave my daughter a very short name as well. I can remember many of our friends over the years, hated the shortening of their named and, knowing this, I do not use them and address them with their full name. The lady I worked for, many years ago, would have slain with one glance, anyone who shortened her name!!

Damdee Sun 04-Feb-24 12:07:42

In my opinion, life is too short to be called by a version of your own name that you do not like, so maybe put someone right the first time they 'change' your name.

My own name is hyphenated and I don't really like it when people just use the first part.

Recently, my sister had to see a nurse at the surgery who called her 'sweetie' which she told me she did not like, but that would not have bothered me.

petra Sun 04-Feb-24 12:10:10

i always imagine how a name is going to sound at a graduation or wedding
My mother in law was christened and married in Lambeth Palace. Her given name is Bessie.

Peaches7 Sun 04-Feb-24 12:16:18

The only person who used my full name was my mum,when I was in trouble,lol I much prefer the shortened version of my name

Gwenisgreat Sun 04-Feb-24 12:19:14

I use the shortened form of my name, when I used my full name, I was called all sorts!

granjan Sun 04-Feb-24 12:20:12

flappergirl

No I don't but I live in Bristol where every name is shortened.

That explains a lot! My late husband was the first person to shorten my name, and it stuck!
On the other hand, my sister whose name is Margaret, several years ago received a letter from a well known high street opticians it began, Dear Maggie … she wasn’t pleased!

Summysoom Sun 04-Feb-24 12:21:09

We had neighbours for 30 years who became good friends but it’s only recently that they’ve spelled my very uncomplicated name correctly on greetings cards. I also dislike when someone lengthens my one syllable name.

rowyn Sun 04-Feb-24 12:21:14

If it was a very formal letter my heckles might just rise ( what exactly does that saying mean??)
But generally i would empathise with them, assuming that they're just trying to communicate in the shortest form possible as they have other things to do.