To think you shouldn’t call your child Alexander if you don’t like the name Alex?

[Suchsharpteeth]

I met my boyfriend who introduced himself to me as Alex. His friends call him Alex, if we go anywhere and book a meal or book a hotel etc he gives the name Alex.

His family call him Zan. When I’m around them if I call him Alex they go crazy. They say he’s never been an Alex and it’s just not his name. I say well that’s what I call him because that’s how he introduced himself and he doesn’t mind that I call him that. His mum gets annoyed when I call him Alex so I have started referring to him as Zan when I am around her just to keep the peace, but sometimes I forget and she goes into a huff saying “it’s just not his name, i hate the name, I should’ve called him xander” is it just me or is it daft to call your child Alexander and not expect people to shorten it to Alex?? And if he’s fine with Alex then it’s not really her business?!

Call him Babycakes or something instead, see how they like that!

Me too. Much more friendly

He tells her Alex is his name and that’s what everyone calls him and to stfu basically. But she is adamant that he has been zan all of his life and THAT is his name. To her, calling him Alex is along the same lines as me calling him rupert. She sees it as a completely different name. Of course she’s bonkers

I know a Spike because of it!

The 90s kid in me is now thinking Xander is definitely cooler than Alex lol

Also it’s not just his mum, it’s his whole family. Every single member of his family calls him zan. He only started going by Alex at college

My son has a name that can be shortened but we never did. Ex h cousin did and I said no. At secondary school his name was shortened and when school rang me I did so oh, you mean full name? Now his mates mainly call him his full name but I'm sure some use a shortened version. I soon learnt that once they leave home one can't dictate. Call him Alex. Don't pander to her.

I personally love the name Alex! (and Alexander!) All the loveliest people are called Alex so you have a keeper there in your boyfriend! 😉👍 I know a few Alex's, have a few in the family too, and I've never met a nasty Alex 😊

I was wondering if maybe he's named after an Alex that his mum no longer likes? (his dad??/cousin?/mums friends?) Or maybe there is some recent history with an Alex that the mum doesn't like?

Yes, agree it's weird to call your son a name you actually don't like!

Could also call him Sasha

Phew 😅

I once self my husbands house (when we first met) and my MiL denied there was any one of his shortened name there. The name he told me he was called.

Can't blame him for wanting to distance himself from this bunch of prats!

You could alternate at random between Al, Alex, Ally, Lex, Lexi, Exan (I made that one up), Zan, Xander and maybe even Anders. See how long it takes for one them to actually go purple 😉

It is very silly... but my mum called me a name with a very common nickname, which I prefer, and she loathes it. She wouldn't be so rude as to tell people off, but she really hates the name and certainly wouldn't call me it. My family are the only people who use my full name (and even then, my 'cool' much younger aunt and uncle use my nickname).

She says it didn't occur to her that people would use the nickname.

I have an Alexander. He's been known from day 1 as Xander. I'm not a fan of Alex but love the name Alexander / Xander. Ultimately if he wants to be known as Alex when he's older than that is absolutely fine and totally his choice (he's only 3). The only people that call him Alex currently are health professionals as he's obviously down as Alexander at the doctors.

some of these comments are really making me laugh 😂😂

The shortening I despise is Al. I mean Al? Really?

I don't think I could be arsed with this. If she's this over bearing is she someone you want long term in your life?

I'd go the other way and use it constantly. So every time you speak to him you use his name. If they say something just say 'i call him Alex like all our friends do' Everytime.

Ive made this mistake with my son called Benjamin...
But he currently uses the derivative we picked so it isn't an issue yet.

Jamin? 'and I hope you like jamin too....' (Bob Marley?)

Start calling him Weird Al and see how his mum responds

I can call you Betty

This is just the tip of the iceberg tbh 😬 but I won’t go into that. My boyfriend is so great though that I don’t want her to spoil it so I choose to just distance myself as much as I can and ignore her

Ooh I like that.

It's like the name that keeps on giving!

I almost split up with my boyfriend when I first met his mum! She's v v overbearing! But he's now my husband (of 20years!) so I'm glad I didn't end our relationship over a mil! Stick with him and don't worry about her 😉

Isn’t that Boris Johnson’s actual family nickname? Big Al.

Sandy, Sasha and Ali are all better than Alex IME, but if your DH likes Alex his DM will have to get used to it.

DS goes by a nickname, and if he ever swaps to the full version (or a different nickname) it will take me a while to get used to it but I’m sure I’ll survive. I certainly wouldn’t take it as a personal affront.

Never seen the point in naming someone one name eg Alexander and never actually using it - bonkers - why didn’t they just name him Zan?