Does shortening of names annoy you?

[JoanThursday1972]

It happens at work where Matthew gets incensed at being called Matt by people not being invited to do so.

My real irritant is when a name is shortened to one syllable and an s added to the end of it. Nats, Debs, Sophs, Ems, etc. And Daz, Baz, Gaz and Haz.

You'd hate me - I tend to shorten and add the S - Debs, Aims, etc.

Unless someone tells me they don't like it, in which case I would stop - just take it in the nice/friendly spirit it is intended.

Don’t visit Australia then … your name will be shortened the second time people use it!! It’s just what we (most of us) all do

It doesn't bother me personally.

I have a name which often gets shortened. I’d never introduce myself that way, but if someone knows me reasonably well then I like it if they do, it feels like a sign of affection.

However if someone I didn’t have any personal relationship with called me York or Yorks I’d give them a Paddington Hard Stare.

I like it. My name can't be shortened but some people call me by my initial which I think is lovely and friendly.

It’s very annoying if the person doesn’t use the shortened version, or doesn’t like it, and whoever uses it won’t stop when asked.

I knew a Philippa who’d never been called Pippa - she really disliked it (twee) and used a different short version - but some wretched teacher kept on using it despite being asked to stop.

I don’t shorten anyone’s name unless I know they’re entirely happy with it.

Personally it feels friendly and affectionate to me.

I have a name that doesn't have a conventional shortening, but family and close friends call me by the first syllable, which I like.

I don't particularly like it if somebody with whom I don't have a close relationship uses it, though, because it assumes a level of familiarity that doesn't exist.

Bit of a friendship shibboleth on my part, I guess!

I don't like it and find it really weird how people do it automatically. I'm glad I've got a name that can't be shortened. Although someone did try once... they said can I call you 'Just'... I said no... they were most put out 🤣 Why would I agree to answer to something that's not my name?

It only bothers me when people don't stop after being asked.

I always refer to others by the way they introduce themselves. If they introduce themselves (or sign off and email) as, say, Philip, I'll refer to them as Philip, and not shorten it to Phil. It's just basic respect really.

Luckily I have a short name that is pointless to shorten further, so I don't really suffer it myself, but sometimes, people do mangle it which quite annoys me. My OH has a name which is regularly shortened and it drives him mad.

The only thing worse is the way blokes and lads call everyone ".....y!" so someone with a surname of Smith becomes Smithy, or Banks becomes Banksy, etc. It's really inane and childish.

Why would it annoy me? There's an abbreviation of my name I use and another I definitely hate, so obviously it would annoy me if I told someone I wasn't called the latter and they still used it, I guess. But other people can do what they want with their names!

Not just names, every word that can possibly be shortened in Australia is! The country is allergic to multiple syllables.

Surely you just ask someone what they prefer to be called?

I worked with a Melanie who liked her proper name used in meetings and if we were with other people but was happy to be Mel with just our small team.

So, new person starts and it's simple. "do you prefer Steven or Steve/Deborah or Debbie or deb etc.

It does not annoy me, but it is something that I do not do to anyone outside of my close family members. My name is never shortened, I just get called something else completely different. I am used to that though, and just correct them (if I can be bothered).

It doesn't happen to me because I don't respond to anything short of my full name. Not deliberately, but just because shortenings don't register with me above the background noise. Someone can yell "Jenny! Jenny! Jen!" all they like and my brain just filters it out, but a whispered "Jennifer" in the next room gets me turning round to see what I'm wanted for.

I don't mind shortened versions (Aims for Amy) but I HATE initials
T for Theodore
D for Derek. Ugh

I picked a name for DS that couldn’t be shortened. I have a longish name with a shortened version that is a name in its own right. My mum has always called me by the diminutive, so I don’t know why she bothered with the full version. It causes problems for me when I start new jobs, etc.

I also get annoyed when I receive work emails signed Rach or some other shortening that seems more for close friends or family.

@taxguru The only thing worse is the way blokes and lads call everyone ".....y!" so someone with a surname of Smith becomes Smithy, or Banks becomes Banksy, etc. It's really inane and childish.

100% agreed! I work in street art and it really hacks me off when hipsters who wouldn’t even recognise me call me Banksy. It’s Ms Banks to you!

I am the same. I don't identify with any shortened version of my name, so I ignore any abbreviated usage, assuming that the person is talking to / about someone else.

If you want my attention, use my actual name. It's neither friendly nor affectionate to decide you know better than I as to what I am called.

My son is Andrew and we don't shorten it. He is now in year 9 but his all friends call him Andrew.

My name you can't shorten. Dh name can be shortened and when we lived in USA people tried to shorten it but he was not having it.

It annoys you when other people shorten their own names? Really?

I think it just naturally happens when you get familiar with someone.

Certainly wouldn't get upset about it, no.

I have a name that has two possible shortened versions - I love one and hate the other. So, if people ask me what I prefer to be called, I always give them the choice of my full name or the shortened one I like.

If anyone uses the hated version (doesn't happen very often thankfully) they get reminded very firmly of the two acceptable choices.