AIBU?
To not want my DS to have his name shortened?
Saibuter · 15/05/2021 10:17
I've namechanged as this will be outing. My son is 5 months, his name is Lucas. He was born a few weeks before we went back into lockdown so he didn't meet any family apart from my mum (I live with her) and my partners mum (he was living with her but now he's moved in with me to do more with DS).
Last weekend, he met my some of my partners family and they kept shortening his name and were calling him Luke and 'Lukey' we don't want his name shortened as a baby, obviously when he's a child he can decide for himself. A few of my family members have also called him Luke.
WIBU to tell them to call him his proper name or will it seem like I'm overreacting?
Aprilx · 15/05/2021 10:22
I might be wrong here, but I would consider Lucas and Luke to be different names, so I would certainly correct those calling him Luke. A bit different with “Lukey” as that is clearly a pet name, I don’t think I would correct people in this case, but would continue to pointedly call him Lucas and hope that people pick up on it.
SunshineLollipopsRainbow · 15/05/2021 10:33
I had similar situations with people shortening my little ones name and when they did it I'd just laugh and say that's not her name, she doesn't suit that we call her x and it's soon stopped and now she only ever gets called her full name. Annoying as it's not even long .
AnnaMagnani · 15/05/2021 10:37
It is totally possible not to have your name shortened!
My name is 4 syllables and throughout school I was asked 'what are you called for short?'
I just answered 'My name' and that was it. I've never been called anything for short.
Just keep saying Lucas and correcting. I recall my Aunts and Uncles sending me birthday cards with my name spelt wrong - it wasn't that difficult, my DM pointed it out every fucking time.
Wannabangbang · 15/05/2021 10:39
Unfortunately people will do this from the moment a child is born for all their lifes. I understand why you hate but it's one of those things, nicknames etc. In the end you'll probably find yourself calling him Luke too. I was the same as you with my first born, loved her name but people always shortened it and i hated it but i got used to it and ended up calling her mostly the short version anyway, much easier when a child is being naughty lol
Thatisnotwhatisaid · 15/05/2021 10:42
Just correct them every single time until they get the point. My DS has a traditional name that can be shortened but we chose never to use shortened versions so when family members tried to when he was born we asked them not to. His name has never been shortened since.
80sballetgirl · 15/05/2021 10:47
I have a longish name, easily shortened, but my parents NEVER used anything other than my full name & did not allow anyone to shorten, reminding people that my name was X . Same for my sibling (also with a name easily shortened). As a child I would not respond to anything other than my full name!!
However, as an adult (really when I started working) I did start to use the short version & don’t mind it at all. This was my choice as an adult.
I have a slightly unusual spelling of my name which i love so do like to use it. I also use my full name for signing documents in my line of work - looks more professional.
My sibling also is known by the shortened version but I can’t use it - just feels wrong 😂 Like me both versions are used.
Our extended family (aunts / uncles etc use our full names to this day & we are both over 50!!
I would just gently remind people of his name when used incorrectly, without drama but with authority. Your child your choice & it’s a nice name.
Pinkdelight3 · 15/05/2021 10:57
I agree with Luke being a different name, but think the Lukey thing is still understandable. It's like called a Jacob, Jakey. Obviously Jake is a different name to Jacob, but it's more natural to cuten it to Jakey as there is no Jacoby, nor any Lucasy, and if they aren't your own DC, it's unlikely to improv unrelated nicknames like mr sausage roll. So I'd let Lukey slide, but if Luke really bothers you and you're immune to eyerolls, then correct them whenever it comes up.
RealMermaid · 15/05/2021 11:02
Honestly if I called a child a shortened version of their name and the mum told me off, I'd think they were being ridiculously precious about it. They're not calling him Steven, they're just shortening the name which is perfectly normal for babies and toddlers.
CarnationCat · 15/05/2021 11:02
Definitely agree with Lukey being a pet name. I wouldn't mind this one.
Luke on the other hand is definitely another name altogether. Like someone calling Sandra Andie.
You could try saying 'call him Lucas please'. I am positive they will raise a few eyebrows but you need to enforce this because it's obviously affecting you.
Pinkdelight3 · 15/05/2021 11:09
Having said that about them being different names, Wikipedia disagrees - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_(given_name):
"Lucas is a Latin masculine given name (from the verb "lucere"), from which the English name Luke comes."
So they're literally taking the name Luke from Lucas, which is what has happened etymologically. Still, if it bothers you, say something.
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