First name vs Mrs X in professional settings

[Watermelonsugarcube]

Catching up with a friend today and it popped up in conversation that her new (much younger) dentist, addressed her on meeting her as Linda, rather than Mrs Smith (not real names). This irked my friend, who said it felt overly familiar and presumptuous.

I’m the opposite, I prefer to be called by my first name because well… it’s my name. Title surname just feels unnecessarily formal and stuffy to me.

Curious to know the general consensus, is my friend right or a bit stuck up her own bum?

My first job was in a bank and the manager was always mr, everyone else was first name. It was a good way of doing things and respecting their position.

These days things are very less formal and sometimes as an old git it erks me to be called Jabber rather than Mr Wok, however, in an intimate situation where someone is looking at your fillings close up I think it's more than acceptable to use first names

depends. someone i just met and is offering me a professional service Mrs X. my hair dressers, beautician or financial advisor i have known over 10 years first name lol

Newly married so I must admit I do enjoy hearing my new title and surname but, like you, I generally prefer first names, especially with someone you’ll be seeing regularly like a dentist!

I'm always a bit taken a back when someone refers to me as Mrs 4Legged Beasts. The only time it really happens is by the teachers at school actually. I'm first name everywhere else and I prefer that.

Always first name, I never want to be referred to as Miss/ Ms/ Mrs Surname in any setting. My nan used to know people as Mrs Surname, she’d be well over 100 now, I thought that kind of formality had long since died out.

I absolutely hate my surname so I dont like being called Miss Surnane, I would much rather be called Firstname

Lol it would make me feel ancient to be called Ms.Pigtails. Respect doesn't come from titles, although I remember having been super-excited getting my degree amd being called Dr.Pigtails. I was thrilled to fill out forms for about a year with my title till the novelty wore off.

I work in a pharmacy and we are told to use title and surname unless told otherwise - the problem is when you dispense 8000 items per month it’s difficult to remember who wants what. It’s personal preference obviously but the ones who have told me to call them by first name are the regulars and we chat every week - so it shows we’ve moved on from formalities due to knowing each other a little bit better.

I would like people to ask me what I would like them to call me. What I really REALLY hate is my dentist's receptionist calling everyone 'my love', even on the phone. She is all of about 23, she doesn't know me (or, presumably, most of the other clients) from Adam, it feels presumptuous and patronising.

I was always taught to err on the side of formality, but these days I think that seems a bit outdated.

Seems very old fashioned to call another adult Mrs or Ms anything, unless you're like in court or other legal trouble where a bit of distance is a good thing...

I prefer to be called by name.

Saves also having to use personal pronouns and all the fuss that comes from some people.

i arrived somewhere the other day to see someone and the receptionist called me Dr Julian on the phone when telling them i was there. It really threw me! I would usually expect first name.

I really don't like being called Mrs x, feels really ridiculous. And my surname is long and double barrelled and honestly halfway through people tend to give up

I like to be called by my first name, which I usually am. Personal titles (so ones other than professional ones) aren't used in my country any more really so I'm never called by a title but I am all called by my surname without a title in places like doctor waiting rooms. Don't mind that either.

It doesn’t bother me either way

Far, far prefer my given name. People invariably address me as ‘Mrs’ and it irks me.

If someone doesn’t know a woman’s title, surely a generic ‘Ms’ is more appropriate, just as ‘they’ is used for someone whose sex they don’t know.

I’ve no idea what earthly use titles are, anyway. Surely by 2025 they are obsolete.

Medical culture has changed. Most of my patients know their regular consultants by their first name, I'm Dr Anna, not Dr Magnani. And yes I'm using the patients' first names too.

Nurses will always ask what you want to be called and it's incredibly rare now to see anyone insist on Miss/Mrs Surname.