Nicknames. Do you have one or do you know anybody with one ?

[WildRosie]

I have more than one (different for family and work colleagues) which I won't reveal as I'll blow my cover. One I can put up with, the other I can't stand but it's stuck with me for years so I think I've got it for good.

I've known lots of people over the years who have nicknames but I've never used them - just something I'm not comfortable with. I always address people by their first name (if appropriate), even if it appears I'm the only one to do so.

What are your experiences ?

I have a nickname, DH made it up, although he doesn't use it as often now since a close friend had a baby and called her my nickname.

I have nicknames for my 2 DC

I work with the public and it is surprising the amount of people who don't use their birth cert names & also surprising how many names that are used are nothing like their own birth cert names... e.g Lady called Sarah, likes to be known as Maureen

I thought my uncles actual name was Spud until I was about 10. Only ever known him as Uncle Spud, was so shocked to find out.

Dp calls me a shortened version of my name. Alot of people at work used to call me a shorten version of my surname.

I am now divorced and went back to my maiden name. My best friends husband sometimes calls me the shortened version of my married name by accident and apologises straight away.

Surely you can just tell people to call you by your preferred name, especially work colleagues? Or get a new job, and introduce yourself by your preferred name?

My dd is 6 and there’s 8 in her class at school- they have all given each other nicknames and they use them all the time...it’s hilarious!!

I use my nickname I hate my first name no idea why my parents picked it for me. (Arabic name, must of been drunk when they picked it lol). if you don’t like your nick name, just tell them to use your real name? No big deal.

My husband is in the military they've all got them!!

Most commonly a shortened version of my full name (Ally), but also a few other weird versions of my name by specific people e.g. Ally Bally.

Previous colleagues always called me by a version of my surname.

Most guys I know have nicknames, and a few in particular I couldn't even imagine calling them their real name...although most of them sound a bit childish in 40's.

DH and I refer to each other in general conversation using our surnames (he obviously uses by maiden name), including in company of others. As a result, most of our friends also call me by my surname, probably because it’s also quite a funny name. I like it, I’d miss my maiden name otherwise!

We know one of us has pissed the other off if the first names come out. When I hear, “Sacha”, I’m like, “Oh shit, I’ve forgotten to top the electric up again.”

Thankyou for your replies so far. I've asked MNHQ to move this thread to Chat as I put it here by mistake.

DH & I have one for each other. We have loads for DS.

My uncle has a nickname that I’m pretty sure isn’t even a word (would be totally outing to say it) and is known only by that nickname. Everyone calls him it, even his wife.

My name is Louisa and I’m known as Lou by family and friends and my old work colleagues called me that too.

In my new place I’m known as Louisa and it always makes me feel like I’m being chastised

I habitually use a shorter version of my Christian name. Living in Wales, a lot of people actually go by their middle names day-to-day, which is perfectly fine and dandy until someone refers to them by their first name and everyone is

I call my mum and dad by nicknames which is probably a bit weird now I think about it. My brother and sister use them too, but probably not as much as me.

My husband and I had nicknames for each other but they rather fell out of use when we had children (fell into the habit of referring to each other as mummy/daddy).

My best friend calls me Lulu. I have no real idea why except my real name (diminutive version I use) starts with L. I don't mind it at all. No one else uses it.

My daughter has a proper name but we've always called her Bunny since she was a few days old. She was also known as Bunny at nursery. She was astonished to go to school and find her name was actually something else.

I have a family nickname that's kinda stuck for over 10 years now and gets a few odd looks when I'm called it in public
It doesn't bother me though

I won't go into too much detail but think Gene wilder

I know lots of adults with nicknames, but the point is that the nickname is part of the 'terms of belonging' (I can't think of a better word for it?) of that particular friendship group. So my ex-work colleague would never introduce herself to a new person by the nickname I and her old team use for her, for example.

My name is a short form and I would think you very odd if you called my by the long version of my name. Actually, I wouldn't answer if you did because no-one calls me by my full name. I would find that very odd.

Essentially I think shortened names are different to nicknames.

That said, I did have a WTF moment at a wedding once because I didn't know the groom's nickname wasn't his actual name.

DH has a proper nickname (i.e. not a shortened form of his name) used by friends who pre-date our relationship. I never use it, even when talking to them.

I have a nickname based on my middle name from my mum, and various jokey nicknames from friends, none of which have anything to do with my actual name. I love having nicknames, it makes me feel like I belong, especially as my first name is pretty much impossible to shorten nicely.

I do. My dad always called me this “name” growing up and my husband calls me it too. The only time DH calls me my real name is if I’m in trouble!

My husbands family rarely use ANY real names! and they all have multiple nicknames that are known by the whole town. In fact the town is very much one where nicknames are the norm and in many cases the real name is not even known!

My name is two syllable and ends in y/ie/ee. My mother and people who know me but not well enough to know ME and want to call me a nickname use the first syllable plus z/s. Drives me mad.

People who know me either use full name or first syllable alone. Not sure that counts.

I have a nickname that's a shortening of my surname which I don't really like (think Wilko if your last name was Wilkinson), but almost everyone in my life calls me some version of - I'm trying to phase it out but it's slow going, as a lot of people have known me as this name for 15 years or more.

My parents call me a shortening of my first name, my sister calls me a completely made up name.

The only person who calls me my actual name is my OH.

I used to play on a rugby team, so nicknames/tour names were essential. Mine started out from a name I was given at college, which the other students decided to call me as a piss-take. It backfired on them as I actually liked the name. It has stuck with me ever since.