To start using my initials as a nickname because I’m sick of people saying it wrong?

[stronglemonbunting]

I have a name which is very common in my home country, however I no longer live there and people in the country I live in now can’t pronounce it.

It’s not an English name but I am a native English speaker and live in an English speaking country. The spelling is admittedly hard but the pronunciation isn’t and it’s very similar (rhymes with) many other commonly used English names

I always explains my name the first time I meet people - e.g Anna - like Hannah

People consistently struggle with it. I’ve posted before about having it pronounced wrong in professional environments however as I’m now living away from my home country it’s an every day issue of meeting new people who continue to struggle with it.

I’ve got a “Starbucks name” but I can’t use that in normal settings as it’s an entirely different name

Is it weird if I start introducing myself as my initials? The initials together (if said as a wrong rather than the letters themselves) sound like a common nickname for another name so it may give people the impression that my name is something else rather than it being a nickname which feels like lying but I’m just so sick constantly being called the wrong thing

or should I keep correcting people? I love my name, I just hate being called the wrong thing so regularly.

I think that if you want to have a simpler work name, because it reduces stress, go for it. My DH has several Chinese and Singaporean staff who have ‘English’ names. He has asked if he can use their chinese names, as he felt it was disrespectful not to try, but they were all insistent that they wanted to be called by their English pseudonyms as this was part of their professional identity. In a way, I think they consider their birth names to be precious/private for sharing with close friends and family and their work/English names to be part of their professional uniform. Perhaps if you frame it this way, it will be easier?

Do what makes your everyday life easier and you happier.
If it helps, I once worked with THREE people (Brits) who used totally different names to what was on their paperwork. And they originally had common, conventionally spelt English names - so imagine my coworker, Hannah, was known as Ashley. No big deal, plus you’re just using your own initials.

@GoldDusteri guess I mean like “oh Jo short for Joanna?” Or calling me Joanna because they assume.

My friend did this at work (not because it was an unusual name, it was just habit). Eg Elizabeth Madeleine McNeil was known as Em. Or Dorothy being known as Dee.

Plus a friend who just used an entirely different name in adulthood as she liked it better. Think Andrea being called Lily.

Don't think it was a big deal.

I’m assuming you’re Irish, OP? In your shoes, I just corrected people over and over again. But your call, obviously.

Not Irish. I think I might start using it with customers at work as they ultimately won’t really care or see me again but it saves the hassle of “oh that’s an unusual name, how do you spell that, where are you from, oh people must struggle with that” etc etc etc which happens all the time. I used to work in a call centre and you’d be surprised how many people you’re never showing to speak to again want to make absolutely sure they have your name correct regardless of if you say it doesn’t matter - it’s nice they want to get it right but I don’t want to have a five minute conversation about my name every time I say it

I use a shortening of my own name, both professionally and personally, and nobody has ever asked what it's short for or requested clarification, certainly not at work. Nobody is that interested, I promise.

In that situation I don't think they're asking for clarification of your name for your benefit, or to be polite. If they're speaking to someone in a call centre, they're asking you to spell your name so they can make a note of it in case they need to reference who they spoke to.

Do you mean like your name is actually Kirrily Thomas and you are thinking of saying "I'm KT" assuming they will think you have said "I'm Katie"?

I would go for it.

People will get names wrong - they will “read” it one way and then hear it another and get confused and sone people have worse aural memory than others - that’s just life

sp go with whatever make you happiest

My friend was called Marianna. Hated it

Called herself ''M''
That evolved into Em

I know two Howards- one known as Aitch, one as Woody

I really want to say it's not weird, but for a couple of years, I used my middle name instead of my first name - not for any other reason than that I love my middle name and find my first name quite "meh" - but people did react pretty weirdly when they found out. Lots of people had reassured me it was a pretty normal thing to do, but that wasn't my experience!

I'd probably stick to correcting it, if I was you, it's your name and people should get it right. If you become widely known as a nickname, especially in a new place, you are going to "lose" your name a bit in that it won't be being used or associated with you... but it is absolutely your call and you can call yourself what you like.

I made an announcement at work and explained that instead of saying it wrong I will now be LJ.
great reception.
the first time I was introduced as LJ it felt fantastic.

SIL goes by her initials-EM. Her first name is often mispronounced but EM prounced like the Em in Emma is much easier for those who claim to be unable to pronounce her name.

@DazedAndConfused321these are the initials, good to hear of an example where it works!

I’ve been known by my initials for a long time! I have a really short first name, but most people I went to school with still call me AJ.

My boss, who has no connection to anyone I went to school with, called me AJ one day as we had 3 women with my name in our team, and it’s stuck at work now too. I quite like my initials

I would suggest write a pronunciation on your email signature.

@ArielaI work in a face to face role, I don’t have a work email

Go for it. My kiddo is known by his initials, nobody bats an eyelid.

No, it's not weird. People do it a lot. My sister is mostly known as just her first initial by her friends as she has an unusual first name (British born and bred but my mum just chose an odd one no one has ever heard of)

I hate using her first initial and always use her full name. She doesn't mind being called either but is bored of explaining it