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Original poster

Little rant about name shortening

118 replies

PickasillyChristmasName · 09/12/2004 08:41

This isn't an important rant but it's something that bothers me a bit so I wanted to share it Smile.

DS is called Benjamin and DH and I call him that ie not Ben. We have no objections to the name Ben, but we call him Benjamin.

So why if we introduce him as Benjamin do people automatically call him Ben? Am I the only person with this problem? And is it Benjamins who always get shortened by other people?

Any other names that get shortened when you'd rather use the "long" version?

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 09/12/2004 09:18

miam, JanH, I don't think it's because it feels over-familiar, it just sets my teeth on edge. I hate the name Tracey anyway (my mother thought she was being so original - ha!) but Trace just seems to be even worse. I'm not an automatic name shortener (I tend to call people what they call themselves), partly because I hate it done to me and partly because I think it's better to call someone what they call themselves.

Although I do shorten my dd's name - she's Abigail, but I call her Abs or Abi - and because that's what I call her, I don't mind others doing it.

WigWamBam · 09/12/2004 09:21

PASCN, my sil is called Kathleen, which she sortens to Katie and woe betide anyone who calls her Kate!

Tommy · 09/12/2004 09:23

Know how you feel Pickasilly... my DS2 has a long name, which we shorten and everyone calls him it - even the priest throughtout the christening (although he did say the "proper" name and the relevant point!) but my MIL and FIL insist on calling him by an even shorter version (e.g. Tom and not Tommy) and then wonder why he doesn't respond. I don't think it's friendly I'm afraid - a bit annoying TBH Wink

Tommy · 09/12/2004 09:24

Sorry - shortened your name there.... Blush

Original poster
PickasillyChristmasName · 09/12/2004 09:37

Tommy - I like being shortened on here. Definitely does feel more friendly Smile.

And I don't think anyone normally has as long a name as PickasillyChristmasName do they? Grin

OP posts:
stinky · 09/12/2004 10:01

we have the opposite problem DS is called Tom and people (particlarly teachers) keep caling him Thomas which he finds very confusing.

StNickschik · 09/12/2004 10:06

I'm Nicola but my friends/family call me Nikki or Nick. In fact if anyone ie. my parents or now dh call me Nicola I know I'm in for a talking to! DD is Emily but calls herself Emmy so that's what what she is at home.

snowdonim · 09/12/2004 10:10

My mum used to go mad if anyone shortened my name and I just refuse to reply to the short version. Often I don't even recognise that they mean me, tbh! Though thinking about it, it's a long time since anyone's shortened it.Smile Ds1 has a one-syllable name which has been lengthened by lots of people. I guess you can never win.Grin

spacedonkey · 09/12/2004 10:11

Personally I think it's a bit rude to shorten someone's name without checking with them first - I usually say something like "are you a Benjamin, a Benny or a Ben?", then whatever they answer I'll stick to. Surely that's the polite thing to do?

spacedonkey · 09/12/2004 10:12

My ds has a monosyllabic name but he also has lengthened pet versions of it snowdonim (he's called Guy, and my pet name for him is "Gee-gee-gee-geeeeee-gee-gee-gee-geeeeee-gee-gee-gee-gee-gee-geeeee-gee-gee-gi-gi-geee"

NotQuiteCockney · 09/12/2004 10:17

Both my sons names are un-shortenable. I don't like shortening names. Obviously, if someone introduces themselves as Steve, they're Steve, but otherwise ...

My name can't be shortened, so people assume it's actually short for another name which I don't like at all. And DH's name is shortenable, and hence gets shortened, even though he doesn't like it.

It's worse in Canada, there's some sort of obsession with shortening names in North America. I remember telling an American colleague DS1's planned name. His first name is a bit unusual, but Henry is one of his middle names. My colleague was quite disapproving of the name, until he said, with great relief: "He can be Hank!". No he bloody well can't.

Blackduck · 09/12/2004 10:20

My mum is called Mary - pretty difficult to shorten you would think - but my dad manages it.... I, too, am an Elizabeth (family), Liz (pretty much everyone else), Lizzie (rare and only VERY close friends..)..My dp, on the other hand, will not answer to his full name as he hates it...DS has a name that can't be shortened

JoolsTide · 09/12/2004 10:24

I only used to get my proper name when I was naughty!

Kittypickle · 09/12/2004 10:24

My MIL would sympathise with you totally on this. DH is Benedict and she can't stand it being shortened to Ben. He introduced himself to me as Ben and I struggle to call him Benedict -it seems weird whenever I'm talking about him as Benedict to MIL - good thing they live in Spain and we never see them -I'm sure DD will pipe up one day and ask me why I'm calling him Benedict when his name's Ben !!!!I'm no better though as I've called DD Katherine and really don't like Kath or Kathy (again, no offence to anyone called that)

sponge · 09/12/2004 10:24

My SIL is called Vicki (christened as this) and people are always calling her Victoria which is daft as it isn't her name and makes her v cross.

joashiningstar · 09/12/2004 10:24

DD1 is Rebecca, we've always called her Rebecca and suddenly in her 20's she decided that she was Becca. Still call her Rebecca, but I think we're the only ones who do (She gets Becky, Becca, Berks, Busby (?).

DD2 is Sarah - as with DD1, we use her full name - everyone else calls her Saz,(hate that one)Sares and someone used to call her sprout (another ?).

DS is Ashley and most people call him Ash, apart from us.

GS is Joshua - and I have to admit that everyone, including me and DH do call him Joshua or Josh. Seems odd when we've made a point of using all other childrens full names.

joashiningstar · 09/12/2004 10:25

Dh is Nigel and that's what everyone else calls him apart from my brother who uses Nig (uuurrggghh) - so common Grin.

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 09/12/2004 10:34

BTW DS is called Joe (Joseph on birth certificate and when in trouble) .. I hate it when people call him Joseph though .. cos he's my Joe Grin

ChristmasCracker · 09/12/2004 10:50

My Dd1 is called Lauren and gets called Lolly or Lol most of the time, which i don't mind.

Dd2 is called Chloe but gets called Chlo

Ds is called Harry but sometimes people call him H which i HATE.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 09/12/2004 10:53

If you don't want your child's name shortened call them Kay Wink

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 09/12/2004 10:56

or Jay

As in Homer Jay Simpson Grin

ThomCatsAreNotJustForXmas · 09/12/2004 10:57

I actually like it when people call Lottie a version of her name.

One of her Godmothers call her Charl, and while I don't like the name as such I like it that that is her little name she calls Lottie.

When people say is she Charlotte or Lottie I always say, whatever you prefer.

ChristmasCracker · 09/12/2004 10:58

Oh i love the name Joseph, Twig, think it is absolutly gorgeous name.

ThomCatsAreNotJustForXmas · 09/12/2004 11:00

Twigs (see how I've shortned your name there!) I LOVE the name Joseph, that's waht I would have called Lottie if she'd been a boy, ooohhhhh, what a strange thought, not having Lottie but a Joe in my life!

Twigglet, you are being more and more my mumsnet twin!

WigWamBam · 09/12/2004 11:00

I went to school with a girl called Kaye. She ended up being called Kaylie (pronounced Kay - lie) - like the sweetie powder.

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