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AIBU?

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Original poster

Calling child the wrong name

37 replies

purplepuffa · 26/07/2026 05:37

Would you be offended if someone called your child the wrong name several times in a row?

At my child's birthday party, I called a 6 year old the name of another 6 year old who was there. They look sort of similar, build and hair etc. I did it quite a few times including directly to the child before the mum reminded me of their actual name 😥

They are both kids of friends I know well, so felt terrible and apologised a lot! Obviously I did actually know the child's name - I think I was just in a bit of a weird headspace with all the party planning and hosting!

I've been awake worrying that I've really offended my friend even though she was polite about it.

YABU - I would be very upset if that was my child
YANBU - Not a big deal!

OP posts:
TheHungryHungryLandsharks · 26/07/2026 07:39

I’m constantly calling DDs by the dogs name and visa versa. 🤷‍♀️ Several people have called them by the wrong name (admittedly not the dogs name, that’s just me) as their names are similar and they look similar. I can’t find it in me to get excited about it.

I wouldn’t give it a second thought OP!

cloudtreecarpet · 26/07/2026 07:32

Not a thing to spend any more time worrying about!
If the mum is offended by something so trivial then she's not someone to be friends with.

I don't mean to be dismissive because I know stuff can play on your mind but, honestly, there are so many things in life to worry about and this is not one of them.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 26/07/2026 07:24

I’m a brownie leader and sometimes forget names I knew ten minutes ago. And called one by someone else’s name. She looked at me and said ‘I’m not …’. I just said sorry it’s been a long day. I blame perimenopause 🤣

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 26/07/2026 07:14

I've got five kids. My younger son, particularly, got called every name in the family (including my brother's and the dog's) before I managed to hit on the right one. With my own child. Whose name I chose. In the heat of the moment it's easily done and at least you used another name, you didn't have to resort to 'hey, you!'

PinkyFlamingo · 26/07/2026 07:13

Nope. I get my own kids names all mixed up at times! 😂

MinnieCoops · 26/07/2026 07:12

Not an issue. Let it goooooo

MassiveOvaryaction · 26/07/2026 06:12

If you got it wrong after you were corrected then I think I might be mildly irritated as the parent (wouldn't hold it against you though), but otherwise no. I get my own mixed up all the time, plus fondly remember Gran going through the names of ddad's siblings (and the cats!) before settling on his name.

PollyBell · 26/07/2026 06:06

Why on earth would i be offended?

Whydoweedsgrowsofast · 26/07/2026 06:05

Parents do it to their own children let alone other people's. Teachers get confused. It happens. No need to fret at all. When I was very into sport as a teenager I had coaches who would never remember my name, it's unusual, I trained there for years but would be called a random selection of names that started with the same letter as mine.

Original poster
purplepuffa · 26/07/2026 05:39

Thank you! It's one of those things that's probably tiny but goes round and round in your head!

OP posts:
Morepositivemum · 26/07/2026 05:38

Of course not- they knew it was a mistake x

AwayWiththeGoblins · 26/07/2026 05:38

Not something I’d think twice about.