Page 2 | Have you ever successfully changed your nickname/what you are called?

MsWalterMitty · 2021-08-11T21:02:30+00:00

I have a pretty conventional name the isn’t known or usually shortened. It has 6 letters and I have decided on a nick name/shorter version which uses the last 3 letters. I like the nickname and I’d like to test it out as my name, but I’m 37 and have always been known as the longer version. If I try to introduce it I think people who know me will just think I’m weird in a Murial... Marial kind of way!... Esp my husband! Has anyone successfully managed to change what they are called? Thanks!

TheUnexpectedPickle · 11/08/2021 22:24

Ps... I didn’t/don’t think it’s odd though. She he we looked Charlotte so it made sense and Charlie suits her better. Uni was a good time to change though as obviously she moved away and met a bunch of new people. Not sure she could pull it off now

ChicChaos · 11/08/2021 22:27

I have a friend who considered changing her name - planned to use her middle name instead of her first name - and chickened out when she couldn't face telling her family. I was the one who looked a prat sending a card to her with the 'wrong' name on it as she'd already told a few friends to call her by the middle name

What is the reason behind wanting to change your name just now, OP? That friend was having a bit of a crisis (hope it's not that with you) and I think it symbolised a fresh start for her, or the idea of a fresh start because as I said, she didn't go through with it in the end and it has never been mentioned again by anyone.

TheUnexpectedPickle · 11/08/2021 22:27

Ugh atutocorrect!!

She never liked Charlotte.

Not whatever nonsense I wrote!

MyAnacondaMight · 11/08/2021 22:27

It so much depends on your name. Evelyn wanting to go by Lyn is one thing. Lauren wanting to go by Ren may be a lot for people to adjust to. But if they love you and are decent people then they will.

Original poster

MsWalterMitty · 11/08/2021 22:28

@TheUnexpectedPickle

From experience, it’s really hard to get used to calling people a new name!

When I was in year 6, a girl was formally adopted by her stepdad (well, her dad!) she decided while the new surname paperwork was going in to swap her first and middle names over as she’d always disliked her first name. So instead of say, Hannah Louise Oldsurname she was Louise Hannah Newsurname. It was really hard to get used to calling he4 Louise and it never really worked until we got to secondary school. Only about 10 of us went to that school so she became Louise there.

Same with my best friend from secondary school. She was “Charlotte” all through school (with the occasional Shaz). When she went to uni she rebranded herself as “Charlie” and it was soooo hard getting used to not calling her Charlotte. Even now, 16 years on I occasionally go to call her Charlotte. I’m almost there though, I did find it a bit odd a couple of years ago when she had to say her wedding vows as Charlotte!

Maybe I’ll have to keep my longer version with close people and test the new one out on others.

I did actually test it out the other day with a couple of new ladies I met at a sport Ive just joined but it feel like a lead balloon when someone i knew turned up and called me by my name. Then one of the new ladies asked what i prefer and i stuck with my new short version... but said it out of earshot off my old friend 🙈

OP posts:

Squirrel26 · 11/08/2021 22:28

I changed my name from my school nickname back to my full name when I got to uni. I don’t think my school friends thought it was odd, but they do still use my nickname (I don’t particularly mind, so never asked them not to). I think it’d be harder if you’re not also at an obvious transition point in your life.

powershowerforanhour · 11/08/2021 22:30

Well if the PM can do it so can you. It's not like you're trying to make fetch happen- it's your name.

Original poster

MsWalterMitty · 11/08/2021 22:31

@ChicChaos

I have a friend who considered changing her name - planned to use her middle name instead of her first name - and chickened out when she couldn't face telling her family. I was the one who looked a prat sending a card to her with the 'wrong' name on it as she'd already told a few friends to call her by the middle name

What is the reason behind wanting to change your name just now, OP? That friend was having a bit of a crisis (hope it's not that with you) and I think it symbolised a fresh start for her, or the idea of a fresh start because as I said, she didn't go through with it in the end and it has never been mentioned again by anyone.

I actually use the shortened version as my Facebook name, along with a shortened version of my surname as I’m a teacher and didn’t want kids on there. The more I see it the more I like it and then when i went to meet a new couple of people the other day they thought i was called that as I’d met them through a facebook group

OP posts:

ChicChaos · 11/08/2021 22:34

That sounds like a good start to me!

Spongeboob · 11/08/2021 22:40

Dsis changed her first name via deed poll. From a common name to uncommon and everyone who's known her for years, family included find it hard to refer to her as new name. We all trip up over it and it's been a few years now. Sounds like a similar situation if no one refers to you as full first name as it is.

MeanderingGently · 11/08/2021 22:47

I changed my name completely when younger.
Explain to everyone that you want to change, give them the new name and correct them every time they forget. Do it pleasantly but stick with it. Eventually they will remember and you will react to your new nickname and ignore everything else. It will become second nature and be fine. Just depends on how determined you are to do it.