If you choose a nickname for your child...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

You'd be surprised. It's the reverse, but I always introduce myself as Katherine and at least 50% of the time, I am asked if I go by Katie, Kathy, Kate, etc; or better yet they just start calling me by one of these names. It used to drive me nuts as a child because I was taught it was rude to correct adults. Now, as an adult, I just politely say "actually, I go by Katherine." (While thinking to myself "duh -- that's how I introduced myself.")

My son uses a nickname and people often use the diminutive of the nickname (like Bobby instead of Bob). It annoys me but doesn't seem to bother him, so I don't say anything. I figure if it ever bothers him, he'll say something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

You'd be surprised. It's the reverse, but I always introduce myself as Katherine and at least 50% of the time, I am asked if I go by Katie, Kathy, Kate, etc; or better yet they just start calling me by one of these names. It used to drive me nuts as a child because I was taught it was rude to correct adults. Now, as an adult, I just politely say "actually, I go by Katherine." (While thinking to myself "duh -- that's how I introduced myself.")

My son uses a nickname and people often use the diminutive of the nickname (like Bobby instead of Bob). It annoys me but doesn't seem to bother him, so I don't say anything. I figure if it ever bothers him, he'll say something.

Yes! Another Katherine here who gets called Katie moments after I introduce myself as Katherine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

My parents tried this approach. It took me years to get them to call me by my given name - Christina. You can try to insist on a nickname, but if your child isn't bothered by being called her full name, don't push it. If you really don't like the first name, just name them the nickname.

I agree with other people. As an adult many people try to call me Chris, Christy, Christine, Tina, etc. I've even had some pretty bold people say, "well I prefer Chris", or "Christina is too long". It's really quite ridiculous how pushy and stubborn some people can be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

It happens to me all the time. All. The. Time. I have a normal formal name (like Elizabeth) and my parents have always called me Lizzie. I introduced myself as Lizzie. Fill out forms as Lizzie. I go by Lizzie. It often reverts to Elizabeth or Liz (which I never ever go by), especially in work. I stopped fighting it or being offended by it soon after college when I entered the work force but it still rankles a bit.

This is why I gave my kids names that don’t have a nickname.

+1

I have gone by my nickname as long as I can remember. I can look back on my kindergarten stuff and see I signed NN. I introduce myself by that name, sign off all emails, even professional, with that name. I think IIC, it might even be on my diplomas (not in a profession where I need to display).

I constantly have people call me by my full, or Heat they think is my full name (sometimes they’re wrong). I correct them once or twice, but then let it go.

This is why you don’t pick a nickname. You pick a name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

It happens to me all the time. All. The. Time. I have a normal formal name (like Elizabeth) and my parents have always called me Lizzie. I introduced myself as Lizzie. Fill out forms as Lizzie. I go by Lizzie. It often reverts to Elizabeth or Liz (which I never ever go by), especially in work. I stopped fighting it or being offended by it soon after college when I entered the work force but it still rankles a bit.

This is why I gave my kids names that don’t have a nickname.

+1

I have gone by my nickname as long as I can remember. I can look back on my kindergarten stuff and see I signed NN. I introduce myself by that name, sign off all emails, even professional, with that name. I think IIC, it might even be on my diplomas (not in a profession where I need to display).

I constantly have people call me by my full, or Heat they think is my full name (sometimes they’re wrong). I correct them once or twice, but then let it go.

This is why you don’t pick a nickname. You pick a name.

I do this at work. If I can't remember if it's Bob or Rob, I'll call him Robert because it's better, in my eyes, than calling him by the wrong nickname. If Robert/Bob/Rob gets offended that I didn't remember his preferred nickname, then he seems like an easily offended type and, well, you can't please everyone.

My DD has a name with a lot of nickname options. We call her one, and friends, neighbors, and teachers all call her by a variety of different nicknames. If/when she expresses a preference, then we'll follow her lead. Her name, her choice. Name your kid Sarah or Emily if you don't want people giving her a nickname.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind when people use her full name, but it's strange when they use a completely different nickname that we don't. DD doesn't respond because she doesn't know they are talking to her.

Her name is Rosemary and we generally call her Rosie or Ro, but some people try to call her Rory or Romy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

It happens to me all the time. All. The. Time. I have a normal formal name (like Elizabeth) and my parents have always called me Lizzie. I introduced myself as Lizzie. Fill out forms as Lizzie. I go by Lizzie. It often reverts to Elizabeth or Liz (which I never ever go by), especially in work. I stopped fighting it or being offended by it soon after college when I entered the work force but it still rankles a bit.

This is why I gave my kids names that don’t have a nickname.

+1

I have gone by my nickname as long as I can remember. I can look back on my kindergarten stuff and see I signed NN. I introduce myself by that name, sign off all emails, even professional, with that name. I think IIC, it might even be on my diplomas (not in a profession where I need to display).

I constantly have people call me by my full, or Heat they think is my full name (sometimes they’re wrong). I correct them once or twice, but then let it go.

This is why you don’t pick a nickname. You pick a name.

I do this at work. If I can't remember if it's Bob or Rob, I'll call him Robert because it's better, in my eyes, than calling him by the wrong nickname. If Robert/Bob/Rob gets offended that I didn't remember his preferred nickname, then he seems like an easily offended type and, well, you can't please everyone.

My DD has a name with a lot of nickname options. We call her one, and friends, neighbors, and teachers all call her by a variety of different nicknames. If/when she expresses a preference, then we'll follow her lead. Her name, her choice. Name your kid Sarah or Emily if you don't want people giving her a nickname.

Emily will definitely get nicknamed. Sarah, maybe not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one would know our kids given name based on his nickname.

Same. Also, my older one's nickname could be her formal name. Is Tali short for Natalie, Natalia, or the hebrew name Tali? My friend's daughter's full name is Mila. I have a Mila also but her full name is Camille.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind when people use her full name, but it's strange when they use a completely different nickname that we don't. DD doesn't respond because she doesn't know they are talking to her.

Her name is Rosemary and we generally call her Rosie or Ro, but some people try to call her Rory or Romy.

People use different nicknames for my kid than the one we do. She knows who they are talking to, and doesn't seem to mind having multiple nicknames.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I do this at work. If I can't remember if it's Bob or Rob, I'll call him Robert because it's better, in my eyes, than calling him by the wrong nickname. If Robert/Bob/Rob gets offended that I didn't remember his preferred nickname, then he seems like an easily offended type and, well, you can't please everyone.

My DD has a name with a lot of nickname options. We call her one, and friends, neighbors, and teachers all call her by a variety of different nicknames. If/when she expresses a preference, then we'll follow her lead. Her name, her choice. Name your kid Sarah or Emily if you don't want people giving her a nickname.

Emily will definitely get nicknamed. Sarah, maybe not.

First PP, that is bizarre. If you can't remember someone's preferred name, just avoid saying it until you can figure it out.

I worked in a small office with a Susan. She goes by Susan. Her friends and family call her Susan. She refers to herself as Susan (e.g., answering her phone, signing emails). Our male boss and three male coworkers all referred to her as Sue. It felt disrespectful to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:... and introduce your child with a nickname, do you get bugged when they call her her formal name?

You presumably also chose her formal name, no? Don't name your kid something it would upset you to hear them called. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Would I be offended if people used the name I gave my child? No.

She has a three syllable given name, but a one syllable nickname that we usually use. If people want to want to use her three syllable, given name, why on earth would that offend me? If I found the name offensive I never would have given it to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I do this at work. If I can't remember if it's Bob or Rob, I'll call him Robert because it's better, in my eyes, than calling him by the wrong nickname. If Robert/Bob/Rob gets offended that I didn't remember his preferred nickname, then he seems like an easily offended type and, well, you can't please everyone.

My DD has a name with a lot of nickname options. We call her one, and friends, neighbors, and teachers all call her by a variety of different nicknames. If/when she expresses a preference, then we'll follow her lead. Her name, her choice. Name your kid Sarah or Emily if you don't want people giving her a nickname.

Emily will definitely get nicknamed. Sarah, maybe not.

I have a Sarah. When she started daycare as an infant, her teachers immediately started calling her Say-Say. I didn't see that coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I do this at work. If I can't remember if it's Bob or Rob, I'll call him Robert because it's better, in my eyes, than calling him by the wrong nickname. If Robert/Bob/Rob gets offended that I didn't remember his preferred nickname, then he seems like an easily offended type and, well, you can't please everyone.

My DD has a name with a lot of nickname options. We call her one, and friends, neighbors, and teachers all call her by a variety of different nicknames. If/when she expresses a preference, then we'll follow her lead. Her name, her choice. Name your kid Sarah or Emily if you don't want people giving her a nickname.

Emily will definitely get nicknamed. Sarah, maybe not.

First PP, that is bizarre. If you can't remember someone's preferred name, just avoid saying it until you can figure it out.

I worked in a small office with a Susan. She goes by Susan. Her friends and family call her Susan. She refers to herself as Susan (e.g., answering her phone, signing emails). Our male boss and three male coworkers all referred to her as Sue. It felt disrespectful to me.

Do you WOH? You can't just avoid interacting with coworkers. How would you write an email? If their email signature says Robert, then it is not bizarre or disrespectful to call him Robert, even if you know he goes by a nickname.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I do get annoyed. I expect my child to be called whatever I write on forms or introduce her as. My parents are the worst offenders.

If an adult introduced himself as Bob, no one would call him Robert and write emails to Robert.

You'd be surprised. It's the reverse, but I always introduce myself as Katherine and at least 50% of the time, I am asked if I go by Katie, Kathy, Kate, etc; or better yet they just start calling me by one of these names. It used to drive me nuts as a child because I was taught it was rude to correct adults. Now, as an adult, I just politely say "actually, I go by Katherine." (While thinking to myself "duh -- that's how I introduced myself.")

My son uses a nickname and people often use the diminutive of the nickname (like Bobby instead of Bob). It annoys me but doesn't seem to bother him, so I don't say anything. I figure if it ever bothers him, he'll say something.

Yes! Another Katherine here who gets called Katie moments after I introduce myself as Katherine.

Why do people do this?! I'm Katie (not a nickname, my full name) and I sometimes have people call me Katherine!