If you choose a nickname for your child...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If the email signature says Robert, then I would assume he is fine with using either the full formal name or a nickname. If someone really wants to go by their nn all the time, they should put that in their signature block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m always confused by this. I’m an emily and have never been nicknamed? What are you choices?

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m always confused by this. I’m an emily and have never been nicknamed? What are you choices?

My cousin Emily has frequently been called Em or Emmie.

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

[Anonymous]

I go by my nickname, never introduce myself by my formal name, but some people still insist. It is what it is, I can't spend time getting annoyed about it. Bonus, I know if somebody doesn't really know me if they ask for my formal name.

[Anonymous]

My DD named her baby Elizabeth which I love but has decided to call her Ellie. I don’t like Ellie - sounds like Ellie May Clampet and there are a zillion Elle’s and Ellie’s out there right now. But, my DD is the parent -not me- and I call the baby Ellie.

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

"What's it to you?" Seriously? You're very upset that people are calling the child what you named the child. That's why people are asking why you named the child something that you find it so upsetting to hear the child called. Your position doesn't make sense. Period.

Not the PP, btw.

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

"What's it to you?" Seriously? You're very upset that people are calling the child what you named the child. That's why people are asking why you named the child something that you find it so upsetting to hear the child called. Your position doesn't make sense. Period.

Not the PP, btw.

I told you what I named my child - call him what I said! It makes no difference what his formal name is!

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

+. Our son is a Fourth. DH is Trip. His grandfather and great grandfather are still living and one is using a nickname. When I tell you my son’s nickname that is the name we want you to use.

[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.

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.

I would not like that and would ask them to stop. I would not want my Sarah self-identifying as Say-say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

"What's it to you?" Seriously? You're very upset that people are calling the child what you named the child. That's why people are asking why you named the child something that you find it so upsetting to hear the child called. Your position doesn't make sense. Period.

Not the PP, btw.

I told you what I named my child - call him what I said! It makes no difference what his formal name is!

As long as you're aware that you're nuts. My guess is people are calling your kid Robert and not Bobby because you're a bit of a martinet and it's more fun to wind you up than to try to stay on your good side.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Nicknames are mostly for family and close friends, only. School etc call them by their full name. I don't mind.

[Anonymous]

My parents bestowed a nickname on me and in high school several teachers called me by my legal name. I realized I prefered that and dropped the nickname when I left for college and haven't looked back.

[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.

Then why bother with a formal name??

Because you want to give your child one. What’s it to you? I introduce my son as Bobby and expect him to be called Bobby. Period.

"What's it to you?" Seriously? You're very upset that people are calling the child what you named the child. That's why people are asking why you named the child something that you find it so upsetting to hear the child called. Your position doesn't make sense. Period.

Not the PP, btw.

Birth certificate or bust!!!