Anyone else been made fun of because of their name/surname?

[Iamsocold888]

It’s a long, European surname. Once a man actually laughed down the phone at it when I had to give my name and address.

Working at a school, a lady asked me, “Really?! So do the kids call you miss _?!”
Well yeah, that is my name so..

Or in other jobs/school I’ve had people read out lists of full names but only read my first name.

Always remember a girl behind me in the lunch queue at school sniggering when my surname came up on the card machine.

Even in some jobs people have said, “Yeah, I’m just gonna call you by your first name.”

It used to get me down when I was younger but I realise it’s their problem. I have no issue with people asking how to pronounce it or commenting on how it’s different.

Anyone else had this? Just find people so rude sometimes.

I think all names get mocked! I have a very English name (think Elizabeth but not) and surname and I always get mocked. I don't think anyone can win on this one.

@SelfHelpPlease of course people can win...some people don't have people teasing them about their names.

Yeah, growing up I can think of plenty of people whose names were never made fun of (to my knowledge)

Yes. I have a fairly unusual name and will never forget the first day at high school. Names were read out for people to go to their new form classes. When my name was read out someone laughed.

A fair bit of teasing occurred through high school.

I fully sympathise OP. I had a double-barrelled maiden name made up of two very ordinary, short names and it was the cause of great amusement and joke-fodder for many people, not including me. I was so happy to ditch it when I got married.

I had a two syllable, English maiden name (which is even a relatively famous place name in the UK) and I still had wrinkled noses and mocking.

Some people are just stupid.

I’ve got a long European surname too and absolute recognise this. A very palpable “WTF?” moment when someone’s reading names from a list and they get to the surname part of mine.

Like you I’ve been told they’re not going to bother with my surname, or can’t I just change it (to fit on a bank card – made a complaint about that one), I should get married so I can have a different one, is there something else they can call me, “come on, no one can pronounce that” – often right after I’ve pronounced it?! On and on and on.

I’d still rather my luxurious multi-syllable name than be a run-of-the-mill Sarah-Jane Bland or whatever.

My family name has rude connotations.

My mum has had perves calling her up and asking questions about it (many years ago and before she went ex directory), and shop assistants laughing out loud when she's handed over her card to pat.

She has to use her maiden name for email and social media as her surname is banned!

I changed mine by deed poll when I was 16.

My first and second names both led to a lot of teasing for me and I hated it. I was only too happy to change my surname when I got married, but I still don't really like my name. I wasn't the only one though, it seemed that everyone's name could be made horrible by those who were inclined to bullying others.

Yeah, a lot of the time they don’t even attempt to pronounce it. I admit working in schools I’ve come across first and surnames that have been unusual or difficult to pronounce but I think sensitivity is very important, not deliberately ignoring it or saying you aren’t going to bother with it

at school my foreign name was made fun of
i married and changed my name but miss my maiden name now

I am a teacher and I hate it when teachers with African/Asian/European surnames get called "Miss LastInitial".

I used to work with someone from Serbia and none of the senior management could even bother to learn to pronounce her (not complicated) first name correctly, never mind her longer last name.

I started a temp job after uni in the uni fees office and was asked my name by the other staff. It’s quite unusual and people normally say that’s nice where’s that from, but one revolting woman’s first comment to me, and I had terrible social anxiety at that time, was “well that’s a stupid name”. I just kind of laughed, but looking back now I’m probably her age, I cannot ever imagine speaking to someone like that and I’d like to see her try now!
It’s their problem if they laugh at you, imagine being that basic.

I have a fab surname and I've never had it mocked . Often say what a lovely name it is ( it is , I inherited it !) so no it's not all names and it's rude !! Tell them to stop it !

i watched Goodness Graciious Me were they had a skit of an indian family saying to an english man, Oh No we can't pronounce your name we shall call you something else
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06rj0hh

and it made me quite aware

I had a capital city as my maiden name and was teased all throughout school. I stuck out like a sore thumb with this name, it was also banned on Facebook as we had to use ‘real surnames’ ffs it was my real bloody name.

I was so happy to ditch it when I got married. I now have another rare name but it doesn’t scream hello I’m unusual when you see it on paper

What is a ‘long European surname’ I’m confused it could literally be anything ?

Yup. Popular name in one area of the U.K. (where I didn't live!) but a nightmare everywhere else.

Giggles when booking a table, "I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" Blah blah blah....

I got married at 27 and kept my married name when we divorced.

I have two friends called Karen- it is not nice for them at the moment….

I had a French teacher that brought it to everyone's attention that my surname rhymes with a french food when she was trying to one of my classmates to remember the French word for said food. Thanks for that! It could have caused some relentless teasing, tbh I didn't really care so just got the odd comment here and there.

I have an Italian surname which is quite common in parts of Italy. Now I live in Spain and people do have a chuckle at it sometimes as it is really similar in spelling/pronunciation to a Spanish slang term for a 'f up' or failure. Very rarely done in a nasty way though as people can see I am not either

Yep, Two boys in my school. One was Titt, the other was Bottoms. Cue lots of sniggering from 13-year-olds.

YANBU - but do you mind if people try hard to pronounce your name but mangle it or ask you how to pronounce it? It is hard if you’re reading out a name that you haven’t seen before to know where the emphasis goes or how it should sound. Not everyone has been exposed to a huge range of names from other languages and cultures.

People probably sometimes laugh because they are embarrassed that they can’t just say a word that’s in front of them. Some people will laugh because they are dicks of course though.

Also worked in an office where everyone had to sign in before they entered. We had a couple of regular contractors, one whose first name was a mans name + etta on the end. It was a bit odd but hey ho. I had to help a couple of workmen sign in and they spotted the name on the list and had a loud snigger about it (loud enough for her to hear). She had probably had that her whole life. It's just a shame that a grown man couldn't resist openly mocking it.

I have a very regular first name but my maiden name used to get made fun of from time to time, even as an adult. It wasn't weird or anything, but a well known actor has the same surname, so there would be jokes relating to that. Didn't bother me though. My married name is Smith, so I don't get jokes anymore.