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?!

@AmateurDad
Sandy is contained in the name, is you use xandy part it's easily becomes Sandy, probably the most commonly used shortened version in men probably over 40.
Because you're not familiar doesn't mean it isn't a thing!

Jonathan and John are two separate names, would you call Steve Andrew because you prefer it? bloody odd

I kind of see it from her point of view, to them he isn't Alex, he's Zan. What he calls himself elsewhere doesn't matter.

My brother's name gets shortened everywhere (work, his wife, friends etc) apart from at home. Calling him his shortened name feels odd as we've never called him it.

I have a nickname that my family and close friends calls me. But If people shortened my name to what a lot of people go by my mum would rightly say that's not my name because it isn't. I actually put up with people shortening my name but I hate it (only my grandpa got away with it,and my boss does too), I'd rather be known by my nickname if anything.

It's his name. He needs to tell his mother that he actually doesn't mind Alex and actually prefers it to Xan.

did you even read the post that you are responding to? The only person who gets to decide what someone else is called is the person whose name it is, and he clearly prefers Alex. Even if he didn't, the OP's version and the mum's version are BOTH shortened versions! Nobody calls him 'Alexander' and that was never part of the question.

Why go off on a bizarre rant about a completely different circumstance? People might not call your Alexander Alex but I bet they have a few different nicknames for his mother if you get this angry and misinformed on a regular basis...

what a load of shite indeed (your comment)

I do not understand all the ridiculous precious comments on here from people enraged at their child's name being shortened. I choose not to shorten my son's name but his friends call him a couple of variations of it and he is happy with that and prefers it. It's his name, his choice, I wouldn't dream of correcting people on his behalf. I don't own it.

I know a Jonathan who is known as Jon to pretty much everybody except his mum who prefers the full version.

His full name was Jonathan, I didn’t just make it up! He never complained.

My DS is Alex and so is my DF. I call DS Monstrous because he looks like Cato from the Hunger Games

My dad calls himself Zander tho

Mine was Ally Bally after the Scottish nursery rhyme

This is why I picked a name that can't be shortened.

And then they lengthen it 😆
Speaking from experience, I have a 3 letter name!

This.

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