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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Would it be wierd to have a work name? If not help me find one.

141 replies

Freakishlycommon · 21/07/2017 19:24

I have the most common name that ever existed. I'm sure you can guess. I've spent my whole life at school, university, work, school playground etc having to add a surname on as there are thousands of us.
Anyway I'm starting a new job next week in a small company. There are about 10 women. Currently 3 share my name. However there is another lady starting in the same day and my heart sank when I found out that yes she also has the name. So that's 5 out of 11. Potentially very confusing and I don't want to spent years being known as short x or old x or just a surname.
Anyway so I wondered whether to just say call me y to make things easier.
So I need suggestions assuming you don't think it's ridiculous. I want a nice normal name for a lady aged 46. But nothing too popular of course.

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NC4now · 29/07/2017 08:41

I get called Smithy at work as my first name is so common. I'm probably more common than you.
Agree about keeping your initial. I know no
Maybe Sara, Sophie, Sam, Sal?

Emma2803 · 29/07/2017 08:27

My mum (68) is called Sarah but has been known as Sadie her whole life. I love both names. I would go with Sadie!! I'm actually considering these names (one or the other, not both) if current bump turns out to be pink!! (though may annoy mil)

BlackStars · 28/07/2017 19:06

I use a not obvious shortening of my (horrible) name at work as well as at home. My work email address is this shortening. Most people working there would not know what my full name is. Payslips and HR stuff is full name for everything else is shortening only. Never been a problem.

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 27/07/2017 13:08

I know a Sarah who became Sarri as she was surrounded by many other Sarahs.

gingergenius · 27/07/2017 07:08

Or sadie, if it's sarah.

Or Shannon if it's sharon

gingergenius · 27/07/2017 07:07

If I stay Susan what about Susie, Suzanna or Suzette.

If it's Jane, what about Janie, Jinnie, Joanie, Jan, Joanna, Jeannie

Mrsknackered · 26/07/2017 23:37

Go for Sadie. No one will look at you and say 'she's too overweight to be a Sadie' you'll be a great Sadie. I'm considering calling myself it after this thread..

I know a sarah who goes by SARS phone won't even let me put it in lowercase and I always think she should really just go by Sarah!

SuperHan · 26/07/2017 21:12

How about Sadie or Sally?

I think both have links back to Sarah.

Beeziekn33ze · 24/07/2017 22:00

Sadie is great!

user1471547428 · 24/07/2017 20:42

Definitely go for Sadie if you prefer it. I have no Sadie preconceptions, think it could suit anyone.

Epipgab · 23/07/2017 11:54

I like Sadie best of the suggestions.

I also like Susie and Steph but would assume they were short for Susannah or Stephanie.

Weathergirl1 · 22/07/2017 23:14

I'm a Sarah too, but a bit younger than you so the popularity had reduced a bit by my era!

When I was at uni, one of my friends was Dutch and used to pronounce various people's names a bit differently ( I'm still not sure if it was the Dutch pronounciation or just her being her!). Anyway Helen was always 'Hell-enn' and I was 'Seraahh'... It sort of stuck with me a bit, especially when we ended up in a sports team with another Sarah!

BicBac · 22/07/2017 20:42

Ooh, definitely Sadie then! You'll become her. Gorgeous name. Sally is nice too but if you change your name get the most of it and form a new persona.

Good luck Sadie!

harasas · 22/07/2017 19:41

Sadie, for sure!

InvisableLobstee · 22/07/2017 19:19

If it's a new workplace it will be easy to say you always go by the name Sadie and they will just accept it.

InvisableLobstee · 22/07/2017 19:17

Yes go for Sadie it will make you feel cool and young!

MrsHathaway · 22/07/2017 19:07

Objectively I think Sally is a better known nickname for Sarah which ought to reduce the practicality issues.

But if you like Sadie why not be her? You can have a work persona that isn't 100% you - most people achieve this with clothing and attitude but why not a name?

Original poster
Freakishlycommon · 22/07/2017 18:54

So best options appear to be keep Sarah or choose Sally or Sadie. Objectively I prefer Sadie. I just think I would suit Sally more. Sally could be an overweight middle aged woman. I imagine Sadie as young and cool and gorgeous. Definitely not me!

OP posts:
Summerisdone · 22/07/2017 17:29

TL:DR the entire thread do I don't know if anyone else has suggested it, but what about Sally?

My great nan was called Sarah but most people just knew her as Sally (I don't know the reasoning behind her using Sally, I just always presumed it must be a variation of the name Sarah).

Bubblysqueak · 22/07/2017 17:01

Friend of mine called Sarah goes by saz.

grasspigeons · 22/07/2017 16:58

Saraya? Sara? Sally? Sadie - some of those are actually nicknames for sarah

I'd worry about not turning round if someone called my new name

Celestia26 · 22/07/2017 16:52

Haha, just read the rest of the thread, sorry!

Celestia26 · 22/07/2017 16:47

Is your name Emma by any chance??

GlitteryFluff · 22/07/2017 15:26

Haven't read everyone's posts only ops so this may have been suggested but could you just drop the h and be called Sara?

Original poster
Freakishlycommon · 22/07/2017 15:24

Ooh Morags much nicer than Sarah. Perhaps too much of a change though.

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