Being called "Debs"

[ValerieCupcake]

We have had a new director appointed. She is I assume named Deborah, but calls herself Debs.

AIBU to feel I would be taken less seriously by using this as my name in a high level professional role? I think it is too "Twee And Cutesy"!

Well, she’s just been appointed as a director, so it’s not held your Debs back, has it?

She can call herself what she likes. You sound jealous, frankly.

I had a senior accountant at my firm called Rainbow (translated from Taiwanese) and she was always taken very seriously because she was so professional.

I think it depends on the individual. If they are professional and are very good at what they do their name starts to signify "Debs = extremely competent Senior Director".

Just as well you're not called Debs then, eh?

YABU. It’s just a shortened version of her name.

Er, hasn't done her any harm has it?

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.

As long as they are an effective director does it really matter what their name is?

Why does Deb's bother you so much ?
My very good Friend is a Deborah,who goes by Debbie or Deb's she ,s highly educated with a PhD and has her own business ,so it clearly hasent held her back either.

She's managed to get to the position where she tells you what to do despite her unsatisfactory name. Not so shabby really.

Strange that you’re so invested in someone else’s @ValerieCupcake when your username is twee.

Why on earth would you think it would make people take you less seriously when this women has just been appointed as a director?

Debs isn't a twee name it's a short form she uses instead of Deborah. It's no different to Katherine calling herself Kate or Richard calling himself Rich.

I mean as others have pointed out your very first sentence contradicts the your "worry" about it holding her back

Deborah as a name has been around for thousands of years and I expect for most of that time Deborah’s all over the world have been shortening it to Deb/Debs/Debbie.

Of all the things holding women back in life, I don’t think a perfectly normal abbreviation is one of them!

How is "Debs" any different to Liz, Sue, Nicky, Becky or any other shortened common name, none of which would seem out of place at director level to me.

YABU from my pov because I loathe my Christian name and am known by a shortened version of it. I find that unless I introduce myself with the shortened version straight off the bat, whatever situation that is - work or leisure - then I am stuck with the longer version for eternity!

I am a Debs and neither 'twee' or 'cutesy' nor do people treat me as such.

@VoleThenFerret

She's managed to get to the position where she tells you what to do despite her unsatisfactory name. Not so shabby really.

🤣🤣

It seems to work for her.

Yeah really seems to have held her back 😄

I'm trying to think of all the NHS managers I had ,there was a Pat,Liz ,Sue Paddy,Jim loads had shortened names.

I like Debs. I sort of see what you mean but literally no Deborah at my school called themselves Deborah.

Hello Deborah here, who also goes by Debbie & Debs, and has no issue with any of the short forms. I'm not "twee" or "cutesy" and people certainly do not treat me as such.

I've been a Director of a successful coach business for nearly 20 years so, no I don't think being called Debs has held me back. Does that answer your rather silly question?

I think that you should stop making assumptions about people based on their names. That says more about you than her choice of name says about her.

Every single one of the two Deborahs I know goes by Debs.

Your company obviously take her seriously, why do you think they would treat you differently?

Maybe it has held her back and she's actually much more competent than any of the other directors.

Are you a director too? Do you insist on being called Elizabeth? I can't wait to see what Debs thinks of you.