DP friends wife, AIBU?

[MooreMooreMoore]

DP has a big group of former colleagues and their partners who regularly meet up. They are all really nice, one woman insists on prefixing my name with ‘young’ eg. Can you pass the wine to ‘young Emma’. I am the only Emma, so she’s not differentiating between old and young Emma.
We are all within a 4 year age range, I’m the same age as half the group including her husband, we all have comparable education and success levels.
I need a nice retort to put a stop to it, but something that won’t highlight me as the problem, but it’s annoying me, she’s ever so nice, but it still feels I dunno belittling.
AIBU? Is it me? Would this annoy you?

Oh for the love of God - why is the conclusion always that someone is jealous? There’s an absolute multitude of reasons why she might do it.

Thanks Magnificent Millie. Every time. Nobody can object to being called Magnificent, right!?

I think I’d go with either asking her “I’ve been meaning to ask, why do you call me ‘young Emma’? Is there an ‘old Emma’ I’ve not met?” Ideally in a quiet moment at dinner, not nasty, just ask. Or start calling her “young [her name]”.

I haven't heard anyone use 'young' before someone's name for decades, it's a very old fashioned term of endearment.
Ask her if anyone in her family previously used the word that way and she may just say she was called it by her dear Aunt etc and she liked it. At least you will get to the bottom of her intention when she uses it and might be able to tell her you prefer it not be used on you.

Are you sure you don’t look considerably younger than the 4 yr gap?

I’d get in there first “Hi Old Rachel” when you see her.

I don't get it, you say she's lovely and you get on, so it's obviously not a dig, but a term of endearment on her part. However if you don't like it, just have a quiet word?

Moody Margaret 😆

To who?

Oh Donna you're too kind! There's a Botox voucher in your Christmas stocking this year! 😂

Just call her Mummy M ! After all if you're so young she could be your mum 😉

🤣

I have a family member who used to add “young” before people’s names. It was social awkwardness due to being neurodivergent. A weird attempt at being humorous to cover up the awkwardness.
It may be because she doesn’t know you as well as the others?
Just ask her not to do it or refer to her as “old chap” next time.

She might be trying to flatter you because you look young for your age? My BFF and I met a girl at college who was so great and lovely we called her Perfect Katie (including to her face). She knew we adored her though (at least i hope, I'm paranoid now!). I wouldn't do that now cos (a) it's a bit much (b) they might wrongly think it's sarcastic and (c) it kind of tells everyone else you're with that they're not as perfect - or in your case, young looking!

But I would be open to the idea that she is genuinely being nice. If you're going to do anything do the first jokey suggestion about giving her a nickname - but only suggest nice ones.

I'd just say laugh next time she says it and say thank you, you flatter me too much Brenda.

This!
Don’t make a serious issue out of it, asking why turns it into something contentious and could make you look difficult.

I’d call her out politely I think. ‘How flattered that you think I’m young but I’m as old as the rest of us here and I’m perfectly fine with it, thank you’.

Use all of these kinds of names
”Pass the wine, Patronizing Patsy…”
”Ancient Annie”
”Mad Margaret”
”Kinky Kate”
”Sloppy Suzie”
”Moronic Marjory”
”Bellend Beth”
”Knobby Nora”
”Silly Sally”
”Elderly Edna”
”Dopey Dora”
”Wrinkly Renee”

Just saw her name starts with “M”
Here you go…
fifthelementlife.com/blogs/blog/negative-words-that-start-with-m

What about "You don't need to call me young Emma, I don't think you're much older"?

Sorry but in actual life you’ll look like such a bellend doing this. I agree with “old Suzanne” every time!

Might work if she does it to the tune of 'What's my Name" by Rhianna? OOOO-NANA

I would just say “who is young Emma?” every time she said it just to annoy her until she (hopefully) stops

“Thanks Mum!”

“Thanks Nanna!”

OP Does she just think you’re much younger?

I had similar with a colleague who’d call me ‘sweetie’ ’sweetheart’ ‘flower’ and other names which an older woman would say to a younger one. She’d say ‘I bet you’re too young to remember xyz’ or ‘Octopuses won’t remember this but…’ when that song or TV show was part of my childhood. It took a lot of me saying ‘That was on when I was little’ or ‘I had that toy as a toddler’ before she realised I was just a year younger than her, got all awkward and embarrassed and never said that stuff again.

Call her 'kiddo' - I find it the most patronising thing ever!

"have a drink young Emma"
"Ah cheers Kiddo..."