Unwarranted shortening of people's names

[Tiredallthetimeneedsleep]

I work for an agency and people call me by a shortened variation of my name. I feel it's rude to shorten people's names without checking with the person concerned. AIBU?

My best friend of 40 years uses the shortened version of my name. I bloody hate it but it's too late now!

I always sign my full, 5 letter name. I always refer to myself as my full name. But she doesn't get the hint.

Well, my gran was dying and the nurses have this thing for calling older people by their first name. It was Vera this, Vera that, she hated it. The last time someone said it she opened her eyes and said: It is MRS YOUNG to you!

My name has an accepted diminutive, which most people use. But that's not enough for some people and I get a diminution of the diminutive. I find it quite endearing

YANBU. I find it rude and over familiar.

I was at the GP surgery this morning (yes, a real live appointment!). I'd not met this doctor before, but she called me in to the appointment as 'Ms Hat?' instead of 'OldTinHat?' and I was quietly impressed at that respect. I then got referred straight to the hospital for xrays, the hospital just bellowed 'OLDTIN HAT?!!!'. But they were very lovely!

Other healthcare services automatically call me 'Old'. Hate it.

How is Gabrielle “quite a mouthful”? It’s three syllables.

My mum also chose a name for me that can't be shortened (She chose more carefully than Louise which is my middle name!) Doesn't stop people lengthening it though but I don't mind because it's people I like😄

I just find it really extra and a bit uptight to insist on a specific, drawn out name, especially when it's something like Elizabeth or William - something long and pretty much always shortened. I cannot imagine calling a child eg Oliver and then referring to them as that at all times. It's so formal and long!

Parents lose control of names as soon as kids start school. At that point kids have usually picked up a particular nickname or shortened version that sticks. We weren't keen on the version of DS's name that emerged at nursery but it stuck and now we use it too (unless he's being told off and the long version comes out!).

I find it sad when parents try to drum it into kids to insist on their full name, too. I once taught a child who insisted on the French pronunciation of her name and it became a focus for kids to wind her up daily. I know kids are kids and will find something to pick at, but her reaction to the English pronunciation was so dramatic and immediate that she might as well have had a big red button on her forehead and a 'do not press' sign!

It's a pick your battles thing, for me. That said, if someone tells you they don't like being called something, you shouldn't call them that, obviously.

Some people call my me by the first letter of my name ☠️🤣

My name is Alexandra.

And the amount of times I get called ‘Alexander’ (clearly a male name) at work/doctors surgery/etc. is infuriating. So I’m actually pleased when people just refer to me as Alex.

Sorry OP, I know that’s the opposite point of the thread. 🙈

It's frustrating, my 5 letter name used to get shortened to 2 letters. I just refuse to talk to people who shorten it or I ask sarcastically if they are talking to me as I can't stand the shortened version.

Nah I really couldn't give a shit, my sons name gets shortened all the time, I'm not that precious over it to get annoyed by it. I'm sure when he is older, he will go with whatever he prefers anyway, whether it's his full birth name or shortened version. Same applies to my own name, I dislike being called my full name, and always sign off emails at work as the short version, but people who don't know me still insist on addressing me by my full name. However i dont get annoyed about it, It looks like I'm in a minority though with my opinions.

I really hate it and do find it rude. I always correct people now
i let people away with it at school none of whom I’m in touch with but they would probably still use shortened version.

what iv found though is that there is a pattern, people who shorten my name also are the type who are not great in other ways or rude or cf’s etc especially the ones who do it after a polite request not to.
personally I think it’s indicative that they are more than likely just a bit of an all round arsehole.

Mine is shorter, and still gets shortened. I hate it .

Why does being friends with someone make you think it's tiresome to use their, or worse their children's, proper name? Doesn't strike me as very friendly finding it too much effort to say their name.

It doesn’t bother me at all, people shorten my name all the time, most of the time I don’t even notice.

Quote Richard Gere's line in 'Pretty Woman' when Julia Roberts asks if she can call him Eddie, he says 'Not if you want me to answer'. I would develop selective deafness any time anyone used a shortened version of my name then just go 'Oh, were you talking to me? That's not what I answer to'

People always have and always will shorten names.

I hate names being shortened.
I hate being called Lou

My kids all have four letter names that can't be shortened at all

I don't particularly object to my name being shortened but I'm just one of those people who always gets the full version. I find it more offensive when someone who I have never met in real life addresses me in an email with the diminutive of my name.
Once a colleague answered my phone in the office and someone asked for me using the shortened version - she just told them no one of that name worked there and put the phone down!

DS is Joseph. People invariably call him Joe. Normally he politely replies with " my name is Joseph" but some people wont listen.
He once got a detention for eventually refusing to answer to a teacher persistently calling him Joe,even after he had asked that his actual name be used.
Teacher's response was " I'll call you what I like,boy!"

However I must admit that his adored,and recently deceased grandmother,called him " Cake brain"

I think it's best to call people what they prefer.

I hate my full first name and go by a nickname/shortening with everyone I know, and even in my own head. My actual name is an awkward mouthful and I use the end of it - like, Ana from Victoriana.

Only one ex colleague, a loathsome assistant head who had it in for me, used to call me by my full first name at my last school. Everyone else has always got it right, my whole career.

Now at my current school they changed my email label to my preferred name (without asking, but I'm so glad they did! Someone must have tipped off IT)

So if this affects you at work, I'd look into changing your email, name badges etc. It makes such a difference

i prefer a shortened version of my name which has only two letters however people insist on calling me my full 6 letter name and I always feel like I’m in trouble at school. I don’t think my husband has ever called by my full name, he might not even know what it is!

My husband “Robert” does not like being called Robert, prefers Rob. But introduces him self as Robert so then that’s what people call him?! I don’t get it?! Asked him why, “Rob sounds chavvy”.

Not called Robert, but name is shortened in the same way

I hate being called by my full name, and always introduce myself by the shortened version. In return, I make a point of using the name that anyone uses to introduce themself. But please just tell them what name you’d like them to call you by. Most people are pretty amenable, with simple communication.

Somone at my work not only shortens my name but they add an extra letter to it! ..Think as an example if my name is Elizabeth and they send me emails calling me Lizz.. 😶