Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anyone else not like using names much?

113 replies

Ditaditaddddita · 13/02/2025 07:20

I don't know why but I feel quite embarrassed about this and wonder if it's normal.
I'll use their name if I have to, such as to gain their attention but I've never been the sort of person to say, Hi Sarah, how are you Sarah, etc .. even with my own parents and partner.
However I feel like people use my name all the time, every time they speak to me. Maybe as it's short?

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 13/02/2025 10:57

The only person I know who uses my name multiple times in a conversation is my financial advisor. I'm never quite sure whether it's because he's trying to make me feel important (presumably so that I follow his advice) or because he can't remember who I am and needs to remind himself! But either way I agree it sounds a bit weird.

midlifeattheoasis · 13/02/2025 10:49

DisplayPurposesOnly · 13/02/2025 07:25

People who over use names are weird.

Agree!

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 13/02/2025 08:21

I think this is different in different cultures. On another forum I have seen people asking if it is rude not to use someone's name in every sentence and they usually turn out to be from India. This would be consistent with people in Indian call centres using your name in every sentence (they usually can't pronounce mine either, which makes it all the more noticeable). In the UK I think using someone's name unless you are specifically trying to attract their attention sounds a bit unnatural.

As a kid I had a weird hangup about using someone's name unless they had told me it themselves, as if I might get told off for getting it wrong. That was not normal. But not using people's names all the time in every conversation is perfectly normal.

gannett · 13/02/2025 07:57

I don't avoid using names or dislike it, but every time I do say someone's name out loud in conversation I feel a tiny frisson of weirdness because I suddenly realise how little one ever has to do it. It's almost always when you have to get someone's attention.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/02/2025 07:53

Ditaditaddddita · 13/02/2025 07:24

Waiting to be told I'm weird 😂

Not weird at all. I don't use people's names in conversation and find it a bit uncomfortable when people do it to me.

Zusammengebrochen · 13/02/2025 07:32

DisplayPurposesOnly · 13/02/2025 07:25

People who over use names are weird.

Yes, it always makes me suspicious, that they're trying to 'butter me up'.

Iwontlethtesungodownonme · 13/02/2025 07:31

Yep, I avoid using names.

Catza · 13/02/2025 07:27

I don't think I had ever used my partner's name in three years we've been together. After the split, I dated someone briefly and he used my name every single time he sent me the first message of the day. Cringed every time I read it and binned him after 6 weeks. Honestly, it felt like getting an email from my boss every morning.

Ohmych · 13/02/2025 07:27

I'm the same it's very strange I get so embarrassed if I have to say people's names. I'm ok with close family. If I have to get someone's attention that is ok but otherwise I don't.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 13/02/2025 07:25

People who over use names are weird.

Natsku · 13/02/2025 07:24

I don't like using names much because I have a constant low level fear that I'll use the wrong name and embarrass myself. I've always been really bad at remembering names and faces.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 13/02/2025 07:24

It's very normal in conversation not to use a person's name much - you'll notice it happens much more frequently in things like TV soaps (to remind viewers who the characters are). Once you've greeted someone you wouldn't usually repeat a person's name unless you were inviting them to comment or asking their opinion, especially in a group. Maybe you don't say much and they are trying to put you at ease/inviting you to comment?

Original poster
Ditaditaddddita · 13/02/2025 07:24

Waiting to be told I'm weird 😂

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread