Does anyone else not like using names much?

I ask someone's name if it's relevant.

I've never really thought about, but I only use people's names if I'm trying to get their attention, or if I'm referring to them in conversation.

My MIL has the same name as my DD (from a previous relationship) so I know I can't get her name wrong but it feels extra weird to use her name because its my DD's name, so I do the same as you

Ahh I thought it was just me. In my family it goes even further, my mum won't even use our names to get our attention. If she can't catch your eye she'll make a noise like YOUHOO and then say the thing. Or broadcast to the room: "do people want to XYZ?" As a result I find it impossible to address her as "mum", I have to do the same! I only realised as a young adult that I should use people's names to get their attention😂
My DH from a southern European country where they fling names about all the time finds this HILARIOUS. Once I needed to ask his mum something who was upstairs and I was about to go up and he said, why not just ask up the stairs? And I said I can't just randomly ask up the stairs she won't know I'm talking to her. I was aghast at the idea of calling up her name! Thanks for starting this thread!

Totally agree - to the point that when I use my DH’s name, he thinks it sounds really weird and wrong 😂. He’s ‘hon’, ‘honey’, ‘honeybun’ or ‘moron’. Depending on how charitable I’m feeling.

I had a horrible boss once who always used to insert my name in to the conversation, it’s demeaning, as a teacher might talk to a child.

Haha this is me. Been married 6 years and too scared to say my mother in laws name incase I say it wrong even though i obviously know it. Also feel awkward calling her mum as I have a mum so I just sort of wait til we are talking already to say anything 😂

I get what you mean, there's something awkward about it. But hearing other people say my name makes me cringe too 😄

You mean you avoid 'I' and 'you' or do you mean more the 'is she the cat's mother thing?' i.e. if someone is present not referring to them as he/him she'/her.

It's normal to use people names when talking about them or to get their attention. People who crowbar it multiple times into a conversation give me the creeps. Mainly because it's usually been men, that I haven't invited to call me by my first name anyway and it feels like they are so proud they've remembered it that they want to use it several times.
Although tbf I wonder it it is a taught thing to people in eg sales to use people's names deliberately so you sound like you know them? It doesn't work, it's unnatural sounding and weird.
And I don't mean NEVER use a name, if I was greeting someone in a group I might say 'oh hello mary' but you don't then follow it with using their name in every sentence.
Tbf i do

They could just be American. It's considered a good thing over there. They don't know about 'that's my name, don't wear it out'.

They'll even put it in the middle of letters eg. Dear John: and then three paragraphs down again 'John:'

But British people are a bit too much the other way in the sense that you'll be talking to someone for hours before even asking their name.

I've found my people! 😁😁

Yes, same. It's fine to greet someone, it's fine in a group conversation, to clarify who you're addressing. Otherwise it comes across as slightly insincere. I think it may be one of those techniques that people are taught to build rapport? Maybe it works better in other cultural contexts...

Someone once told me that to remember someone's name you should use it straight away and this technique has rarely failed me. I make an effort to remember names and I use names quite a bit because it signals you remember that person and give a shit. However I've noticed others rarely use my name. It often comes across like they just don't care or even know who I am.

Yes I thought this was just me! Using names can sometimes come off really patronising

I had to jump on here, because I thought it was just me who did this!

I know a lot of social advice is to use people's names in conversation a lot but I have always found it really condescending.

"Oh how interesting, Sarah. Have you seen etc etc"

"What I think people don't realise Sarah, is that blah blah blah...."

"Tell me more, Sarah about the art weekend "

I always bristle a bit when people do it to me. I don't tend to do it to others.

I realised relatively recently that hardly the names. Not really sure why.

Each to their own, different from my preference which is to use names and never pronouns if at all possible.

Yes, I hate it too! Except my child, I feel like I say his name constantly.

I find it particularly weird to say my partner's name. Only for when I'm very cross or I really need to get his attention.

I’m ok with names generally but I find myself totally unable to call my husband by his name. We’ve been married twenty years and I’ve never called him by his name. I don’t know why, maybe it feels a bit impersonal? I don’t know. It’s not just him, I couldn’t call my first husband by his name or my long term boyfriend. It feels strange to do it, almost like it’s too impersonal.

I have a really bad memory and I really struggle to remember peoples names so hardly ever use them unless it’s directly to ask something .

When people approach me and say hi * I just say hi back coz my brain is scanning trying to remember who you are lol .

I hate doing it too, so we can be weird together.

you’ve answered your own question

I've never ever called my PIL by their names in 11 years 😂 I never call my DH his name either