question

[Windigo]

I thought I'd ask a question on the subject of nicknames. You know how there are some full names that have nicknames automatically given to them. Do you think people w/ these names go by the nicknames because they kind of think they are suppose to? Although I will admit I have met people w/ these such names who choose not to go by the nickname. For instance, I knew a guy named Michel. He prefered to go by his fullname but people would call him Mike w/o asking his opinion on the subject...:twitch: On the other hand, his brother, Maxfield, prefers Max.:bubbles: I think it's fine if the person wants to be called by a nn, but I feel sorry for those people who seem like they didn't have a choice. Like, just because he was named Michael, he automatically became Mikey w/o his consent.

[Kyra Kismet]

well Im called Tasha rather than Natasha, but I think it suits me better, cause im short.
My mate is called Chod....not quite sure how that happened though!

[jodarius]

My name is Joshua but I always go by josh.

[Tabby]

My mother named me Heather. One of the reasons is so that I couldn't have a shortened name.. My brother is Mark..same deal with him.

I have run across both. I usually ask what the person prefers to be called. Then I know... It is impolite to not respect a persons wishes especially with something as simple and personal as their name.

[Aowyn]

Mia...but for some reason people occasionally want to call me MiMi...don't know why its longer than Mia and it doesn't make sense to me. I don't particularly like it since I have a great aunt who goes by that and she and I are like oil and water but if I like the person enough I tolerate it. I really don't mind most things people call me beleive it or not alot of people mispronounce my name and call me Maya, which I will answer to just because they sometimes do.

[Earthy]

My name is Carol and one of my friends calls me Caz...and i absolutely hate it!!!!!!!!

[jelly.belly]

Well, since my name is Samantha, people usually call me Sam and it's also usually the way I present myself, tho it does annoy me when people I don't know call me Sam ( ex. When I'm working and people see my name tag and just call me Sam... even though I like being called Sam, thats just annoying!)

[GEBS]

I'm Candice and I always get called Candi. When I was growing up I didn't mind it but once I got into the business world it didn't seem to fit. I always introduce myself as Candice. Once someone knows me well enough I don't mind if they call me Candi.

I did have a client call me Candi once as soon as he met me. I was not comfortable with that at all.

[Brónach Druid]

I never call anyone by a nickname unless they are presented to me that way. I always introduce myself by my full name, only close friends and family call me by it's shortened version. My one daughters name is Samantha (my husband picked that name), I do not like the it shortened to Sam or Sammy so I do not use it and others do not use it around me for her. People just seem to like to change others names, my grandmother gave my mom her name Fay, because she didn't want nicknames. This backfired because people just ended up lengthening her name, she was called Fay-Fay, Fayest, and Fayalina by her friends. :lol:
I also know a few people who where named shortened names like Dan or Chris and people tend to assume that their names are really Daniel or Christopher.

[~Broken Lily~]

My hubby calls me FACE or LITTLE FACE. Why I have no idea. It's not if he just uses it in private, he calls me it all the time. I think friends and family have now got uses to it.
If someone else besides John called me face, I would have to ask them not to do it.

[shimaura]

My sister was named Jessie and everyone assumes her full name is Jessica (my parents REALLY don't like that name). I don't especially like being called a nickname, because my name is MOrgan... my boss in the only one who really shortens it... Morg! (ugh) However, people do lengthen it; they've started calling me Morgan Ann (look it up for a cool story).
I don't think nicknames are appropriate for people you've just met; I view them as more pet names. :spinner:

[*Rain*]

I tend to use the name people introduce themselves by. I know quite a few people who really dislike the shorter versions, so if in doubt I ask.

[Catiana]

I use shortened versions for both of my kids, Kev for Kevin and D for Derek (a friend started it when he was baby), but I really don't like when people use a shortened version of mine, Kel for Kelli and everyone I know who does it, has never asked me, they just automatically start doing it.

[Karma Chameleon]

I thought I'd ask a question on the subject of nicknames. You know how there are some full names that have nicknames automatically given to them. Do you think people w/ these names go by the nicknames because they kind of think they are suppose to? Although I will admit I have met people w/ these such names who choose not to go by the nickname. For instance, I knew a guy named Michel. He prefered to go by his fullname but people would call him Mike w/o asking his opinion on the subject...:twitch: On the other hand, his brother, Maxfield, prefers Max.:bubbles: I think it's fine if the person wants to be called by a nn, but I feel sorry for those people who seem like they didn't have a choice. Like, just because he was named Michael, he automatically became Mikey w/o his consent.



I used to always go by a nickname because I hated my first name, but I never really liked the nicknames either. I disliked my entire name so much that I went and had the whole thing completely changed legally even having my birth certifcate changed. Now I realize that seems odd particularly given that alots of people thought I had a pretty name but I just didn't think it suited me in the least and got to the point were I hated hearing my own name. So I picked a new first name where I really like both the full version and the nickname for it.

As for people taking nick names when they really don't want to, I can understand that. It's hard to have to correct people constantly when they are trying to call you a nickname instead of your full name. (It can be done, but not without getting on people's nerves unfortunately.)

[Darakash]

My name, Theresa, is often given the nickname Terry(Teri) whatever, and I have hated that nickname since about puberty....when i started seeing it used as a boy's name....this dislike has grown in me over the years, and now NO one calls me Terry, except, on occasion one of my older brothers slips, since they called me that while we were growing up...Them, I forgive....strangers, I correct immediately! If someone I barely know refers to me as Terry, I usually say something simple like, "oh, I don't like that nickname at all, if Theresa is too much of pain to say, just call me 'T'" which most people fall into calling me quite easily, since it fits my personality...short, simple and to the point!

[Philbo]

Traditionally, names are given to you, without your say in the matter. People didn't choose what others called them, unless they were so powerful and influential that they could make such demands. The English are probably to blame for the habit of nicknames. It was just a fun and easy way to refer to their friends informally. In today's society, we seem to expect more, that we should be able to choose what others call us. (Just look at all these online usernames that we choose for ourselves!) While it is more respectful to call someone by their full name, nick-names seem to represent how the rest of our community sees us. We are sometimes given shorter versions of our full names, and we are sometimes given different names based on past actions or personality traits. The only way to change some of these names is to change how others see you.

[LadyAutumnCat]

I go by Ali (sounds like Alley). My full name is Alejandra which is a bit tough to say in English and I DESPISE the way people say it with an American accent. Very few people call me by my full name, actually only my parents do. I do use my full name on applications or when dealing with school stuff, however my employers, friends, professors, etc all know me as Ali. Despite the rarity of its use, I actually love my name, it represents my ethnicity and fits me! :p

[Lost_Sole]

I go by Street. It is a shorten verison of my last name.

[Angelus_Errare]

Umm well you can't shorten my first name.. it is Amber. So I am stuck that way.

[CuriousOntarion]

I never call anyone by a nickname unless they are presented to me that way. I always introduce myself by my full name, only close friends and family call me by it's shortened version. My one daughters name is Samantha (my husband picked that name), I do not like the it shortened to Sam or Sammy so I do not use it and others do not use it around me for her. People just seem to like to change others names, my grandmother gave my mom her name Fay, because she didn't want nicknames. This backfired because people just ended up lengthening her name, she was called Fay-Fay, Fayest, and Fayalina by her friends. :lol:
I also know a few people who where named shortened names like Dan or Chris and people tend to assume that their names are really Daniel or Christopher.

I couldn't agree more, I too will address someone in the way they were presented to me, at least until that person changes it. It's like emailing a person, and signing it Andrew, then having the person call you up and address you as Andy. If you wanted to be called Andy, you would put the signature that way! :D

It's not usually a big deal to most, but you may run into someone who politely corrects you when you missuse a nickname (Mike, Michael)... At that point, we should make the mental note to not do that again LOL.

The nicknames that are given to you for whetever reason, and don't necessarily come from a shortform of your name, unfortunately, are not your choice LMAO. You must grow to live with'em suckers (I have one too :))

Finally, you cannot go looking for a nickname people!!! It ain't going to happen (don't you watch Seinfeld). It will just come to you. :P

[LadyTrinity]

My name is Jenny. It says so on my birth certificate. Most people call me Jennifer and my mom and brother call me Jen. I dont mind Jen because it is short for Jenny but Jennifer is a totally different name from Jenny. Jenny is short for Jennifer not the other way around. That's why I perfer when someone calls me by Jenny or Jen.
My father told me once that he will NEVER call me by any other name than Jenny because that is my given name. It made me think about it.
I know personally I call my son by his full name but then u would have to think.. if people dont like having their names cut short.. do they like to have pet names? Like sweetie, hon, bud, princess etc :smile:

[Tzhebee]

My bosses wife is named Susan, and she will tell you in no uncertain terms that her name is SUSAN, no sue, no suzy, no anything except Susan. And believe me, you only forget once! :lol:

On the other hand, I have a slew of nicknames, chas, chaz, cj, spaz, sis, mom, c. etc. I really dislike chaz. Chas is fine and dandy, but chaZ is annoying. My name is phonic there are no hard z's in my name!!!! In college, our very first term paper due was on our name. Over half my paper emphasized my dislike of chaz...guess what the teacher called me the entire semester, despite my verbal and writen correction?!?!?! :razz:

[Karma Chameleon]

Umm well you can't shorten my first name.. it is Amber. So I am stuck that way.


Actaully, I knew a kid in first grade that had the name Amber, she went by the nickname Amby.

[memnoch]

I believe it depends on many things. I have many friends into different forms of performing, I met them with their stage names, people with names such as jacarutu, frack, and Kat...then I found out their real names...I don't find many people who get offended, even with an unwanted shortening of their name. As for my nicknames, they are personal, they have meaning, and when the meaning is lost they disappear...just for amusement I will list some of them here, Snoop, Assboy, Thok, Manlove, and mem or memnoch

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

you wouldnt believe what people seem to come up with for my name instead of Amanda.... I get mandy, man, manda, amandy..while everyone else was trying to shorten my name my dad was the only one to actually make it longer.. he calls me Amanda C.. hes about the only person to get away with that one lol..
I hate my name so i really dont care too much if I get called other names..
my husband gets shawny (from his mom) its a bit hard to shorten his name lol
my brother gets gazz and his wife gets mel or melsey my cousins get bazz chris kate and mark gets markus (god knows why) damo, gav, cind or cinders.. my uncles and aunts are vic, lyn, les and kris in fact about the only ones in my family who do get a nn or some sort is my dad and his wife and my grandmother...
it has always amused me how people feel the need to change anothers name just a little bit

[ajna]

Most everyone calls me Jackie, profs call me Jacqueline and my boyfriend calls me anything from Jacqueline to Kathleen -- from him it's endearing, from anyone else I don't know I would appreciate the unasked about use of my middle name though it is my favorite. I didn't even know my name was Jacqueline until I was at least 6. It messes a kid up when you always call him/her by a nickname. I thought my parents had another kid.
My boyfriend's name is Vincent. He goes by anything people wish to call him Vinnie, Vince, one guy keeps trying to call him Vincey. I call him Vin because no one else has yet and I like to know it's mine. I'm not big into pet names.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I'm learning to accept Kenny as a nick, but I refuse to be called Ken. :eyez:

[Jenne]

How about Barbie, Flaire? *ducks*

I'm Jennifer to many (my given name), and Jen to most. In fact, I pronounce my user name here as "Jen"--I just decided to take a VERY unoriginal name and make it "original" by adding an "ne" at the end in h.s. (hey, I was President of the French club, so I was inspired, lol).

Now, my dad has ALWAYS called us nicknames suited to what he thought were our personality traits and/or just plain bastardizations of our given names. They were cruel as well (mine all had too do with stinking, which he knew I was very self-conscious of, even to this day), or some were rather, others were just weird.

My hubby's culture in Afghanistan has a name taboo. They don't usually call people by their given names...instead they give them a nickname by which to refer them. It's a sign of disrespect to use anything other than a title or the person's nickname, unless they are a child.

So hubby calls me "honey" or "dear." Never to my face has he called me "Jennifer" or "Jen." So weird. And I reciprocate, lol. I don't know why exactly, but we've gotten into this habit that tickles and annoys people who know us in turns. So, he's always "Honey" or "Dear." When we holler at each other in the house, it's HOONNNEEEY! or DEEEAAAARRR! LOL

And I usu abbreviate his name when speaking of him in typed text as well, as he does for himself. He signs his e-mails and letters as "H)" (without the quotes). The H with the ). So I refer to him as H most of the time. His given name is Ahmed Haroon (another cultural thing--they get two names, but the second is your "real" name, the first sort of like our middle name). He is "Haroon" or "Aaron" to others.

Well, I wrote a book, lol. One more example: I have nicknames for my kids, and they are ALL bastardizations of their given names.

Alexander: Alex, Zander-Dander, Alleybaxis, Baxis, Alexis, Alleywax

Robin: Robby, Rob, Bob, Bobbo, Robinbobbo, Jeebah, Gigi, Jabeebah, Jeeb

and so on. LOL:whatmewor

[DVCara]

i have always loved nicknames, ive had my share too!

my mom and dad named me Rachael, you would be surprised the kind of nicknames i would get for Rachael growing up, from Rae Rae, to just Rae to Rach, or Rachie, Rachael-Bachael!

my friends in high school called me either Rachael or Devi (it was always pronounced "Deevee" by my friends, don't ask me why, it stuck), and Devi carried over into screen names and my time as a candy kid (if you know what that means)

and im called Elizabeth or Liz, my middle name at work, or Liza (say "leeza!!", as said by my Romanian/Greek cousin and boss *giggle* Mihaela is awesome!)

[Philbo]

The nick-names that have stuck with me the longest are Philbo, Flipper, and Philipe (pretend there's an accent over that "e"). I have had many others, but I won't bore you with those, especially since they're not used anymore.

[GEBS]

I had some of the worst nicknames thanks to my older brother.

I was Coon Dog (still don't know why) and that was shortened to Coon. Every now and then he still calls me this when we have not seen each other for a long time. Now I think it's sweet just because it reminds me of when we were little. Every now and then he addresses my emails to Coon.

I was also Sook (female crab). I was always "crabby" as a preteen.

I was Shoo-shaw which later became shooshee dooshee. That was later shortened again to just doosh (yeah - like the other word with different spelling. I refuse to spell it that way!)

I was also KiKi and KiKi Dee.

My son is Brandon but likes Brando. My brother also started that one. I call him Brandito Mosquito among other little cutesy names he doesn't especially like. He calls me Momster.

and Mistress_Ravenshadow, my sister is Amanda but I call her Suzie. :whatgives No idea why!

[DaNcInG_WiNd]

My name is Kathleen but most call me Kathy. Some even call me Kat...but I don't like being called Kat verbally...I just use that short nick for online purposes. Weird huh?

[Angelus_Errare]

Actaully, I knew a kid in first grade that had the name Amber, she went by the nickname Amby.
Okay I am supposed to be lurking more if anything, but I happened to see this and had to post.

Amby?? Why would anyone want to be called that on purpose. 19 years with the name Amber and I never heard that one.

Note to those who know me: Don't call me that! :p (yes, that includes you, Lost Sole, and Tabby)

[BelovedDru]

I go by the nickname Dru only when certain people use it--it's my name with them because they reside with me in our story...Not really relevant, just thought I'd put my two cents in.

[Naiad]

Well my mum named me and sister with the thought that they wouldn't get shortened into nicknames. Unfortunately they both did. I'm Vanessa and it eventually became Ness. I don't mind that at all what I DO mind is being called Vanny because well it sounds like...you know. My sister is Davina and it eventually became Divvi or Davino depending on who you are. But she isn't at school yet so she's free from teasing. :)

I think it's quite good when people give themselves unexpected nicknames derived from their names. Like Xander from Alexander as opposed to Alex.

[Karma Chameleon]

Okay I am supposed to be lurking more if anything, but I happened to see this and had to post.

Amby?? Why would anyone want to be called that on purpose. 19 years with the name Amber and I never heard that one.

Note to those who know me: Don't call me that! :p (yes, that includes you, Lost Sole, and Tabby)


Hey don't ask me, I have no idea why or how some folk come up with some nicknames.

[ravenmyst]

My name is Victoria, and I hate the name, Vikkie, isnt me dont call me that. Been tori or Toria since birth, that is what I go by, although I went through High School daring anyone to shorten it! Named my kids Sarah and Kyle, trying to avoid shortening, however I call them cerabellum and kylelee, go figure. or worse, sakyle and kysarah!

[Brielle LaLune]

My name is Jacqueline-Faye, but I go by Jacqui... For one thing my full name is way too long...I could go by Jacqueline, but its just waaaay too formal and doesn't really suit me.

[memnoch]

Come to think of it I know 3 people who do hate there birth names. 1 went from being known as shawna to kaivalya or kai for short. She changed this because she changed who she was. She was an outcast with a horrible self image who was a victim in many senses of the word. She moved to Ohio and changed all of that, making it to where Shawna was a description for who she was and Kaivalya being a name of who she was going to be. The second legally changed his name to Raziel, the reason he gives is that he found out his biological father was a gypsy and wanted to be more true to his heritage. The third's name is Jenny, she hates it because it is normal, she goes by twiggy, a nickname she was given because she resembles the former model. She does hate that goths assume it has to do with Twiggy Ramirez.