[Closed] Who dislikes the diminutive of their name?

Think yourself lucky to have a choice. Not much you can do with Neil!

Just another call me Dave here. Not the world's greatest name but what can you do?

You could move down under Neilo?

Try having in-laws that have got the diminutive form of your name wrong for nearly 30 years and when corrected say "Oh, he doesn't mind..."

Yes. Yes I ****ing do!

Yeah, 'Pist' would annoy me too 😁

Mine can't be shortened so no issue there. Just tell em 'I prefer to be called 'Amorous' or whatever it is. It's your choice but of course, 'they' don't need to comply. Specially if 'they' know it winds you up... 😉

Buddy pal bud mate are all worse than having your name shortened.

I was only called Nicholas by my mum, and she's died so Nick it is.
The thought of 'banter' at work if I was called Richard is something I am very grateful to have avoided.

Yes. Yes I **** do!

So say that.

I had my name shortened for years, to something that’s not even a shortened version of my name!
I told everyone I hate it and after a while people stopped calling it me.

I had a lecturer called Cecil Pitt, he told us he didn’t like his name being shortened......

So say that.

I have. Repeatedly. As has my wife. Seems to make no difference. I suspect it's stupidity rather than malice.

I very rarely get called by my full name. If someone uses it I normally don’t respond straight away as, for a couple of seconds, I genuinely assume they’re not addressing me. I don’t care either way though. Not bothered by being called buddy or mate or anything like that either.

Mine cant be shortened so all the in laws add JY on the end. Really peas me off.

I have a friend called David. He doesn’t mind Davey (WTAF) but dislikes Dave. Do Disco it is 😀

Me.

I hate all diminutives of my name and tell everyone not to use them. People respect this apart from when joking

Some people do use my surname which I don't mind

Think yourself lucky to have a choice. Not much you can do with Neil!

You've never had someone call you Knee? 😆

Much prefer the shorter version of my name, but it took me a while to get my family to use it as we had one male in every generation with the same name but a different diminutive, so for a long time as a kid I was left with the horrible Bobby as all the other variants were taken.

My wife and her sister were told by parents that they both were given their names because they couldn't be shortened. Those same parents are now the only people that call them Ams and Zo...

Apparently I'm Stephen with a "ph" as my mum said it couldn't be shortened. I've been Steve to everyone but her and her side of the family for 50 years now. Apart from a Canadian aerobics instructor I knew many years ago who liked to call me "Stevie", in a voice like Janice from Friends.

Both our kids have 1 syllable names to try and prevent the shortening. Both went through a stage of friends adding "y" in the end 🤦‍♂️

Mine has no diminutive but most people use the alternative pronunciation (even after asking or being corrected). Some even tell me I've spelt it wrong (multiple spellings which can both be pronounced either way). Doesn't help my surname is also a first name so get called that at times instead.

"The thought of ‘banter’ at work if I was called Richard is something I am very grateful to have avoided."

After many years you get used to it. However the IT chap at a place I used to work shared the same Christian name but his surname was Head.

Edit: can't get the quote thing to work on mobile

Double whammy for my real first name, can be shortened or elongated to different names! Used to bother me when I was a kid, couldn't care less these days and like it when people decide which version they like and go with it.
RM.

Full name is Jonathan. I go by Jon. I ****ing hate being called Jonny

Not me. I'm good with Chris and deeply suspicious of anyone who would prefer to be called Christopher.

Tjagain, what's wrong with Tan?

I don’t like the commonly shortened ‘Andy' and tend to say so.

BUT don't mind mate, pal, bud whatever. And bizarrely, when living in South Wales, didn't mind the super-diminutive, and mono-syllabic ‘And’ which seems to prevail with most names: Gav, Stace, Nes, Dave. Have to say though that ‘Neil’ even stumps the South Walians.

Not me. I’m good with Chris and deeply suspicious of anyone who would prefer to be called Christopher.

I’m kind of with you on this. People that insist on being called by their full name are usually suspicious (looks up at TJ with suspicion). The only friend I have that doesn’t have their name shortened is an Adam.

Given name of Robert: brother and cousins all use that, everyone else uses Bob. Other than one person who'd use Robbie or Bobby to wind me up in a friendly way, usually said in a false American teen accent for extra effect.

The only friend I have that doesn’t have their name shortened is an Adam.

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"Language Timothy" put an end to the long names, so Tim it is.

"There are some who call me, Tim"

Michael here. I don't really mind Mike but if I'm asked which I prefer I say Michael coz I dunno I don't really feel like a 'Mike' but I still respond to it and most people I know call me Mike. What I do hate is not being asked.. like with work we had a new log in thing I logged in the first time and my name comes up as Mike and I'm like well no one asked guess I'm stuck with Mike on the log in for ****ing forever now eh, thanks for asking.

I feel like I’m getting told off by my parents if some uses my full name.  With regards to others, I go with text or email sign off, or just ask.

I’m definitely a Phil and not a Philip. I hate the name Philip.

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He tried that and everyone just said no. He normally gets referred to by his surname tbh.

Can’t believe somebody prefers being called Andrew to Andy. I’m Phill, never Phillip to anybody that knows me and always introduce myself as such. Just seems a bit old fashioned to me. Each to their own though.

“Language Timothy” put an end to the long names, so Tim it is.

Same here. Couldn’t stand that programme as a kid.

My name's Adam, as you can probably tell from my user name I don't mind being called by its diminutive. Ads, Ad, Adam-o, Adamski, I'm not bothered. Mate, braw, bud, geez are all fine, can't ****ing stand chap though for some reason....

I know two Peter's, one prefers Pete, the other is either Peter or his last name-y.

I've been called Tony my whole life. Mrs Spekkie calls me Tone when she's in a particularly good mood and I had an old boss (he's Welsh, if that makes any difference) who also used to call me Tone. We have a friend in SA who always calls me Tones (she puts an "s" on the end of everyones name) which I like too.

Tony is derived from my middle name - Anthony. I am never refered to by my first name. In fact very few people even know it.....

Apparently my parents wanted to put Anthony first but my initials would have been ARS, so they decided to put Anthony in the middle "to make life easier for me".

I and my wife both choose to use the diminutive.

I've named my children in a way that can't be shortened. Youngest is often correcting people who use an extended version of his name, not his real name.

My first name is James. But family have always called me Jamie. I detest it. At work and to girlfriends im always James which causes confusion when they meet the parents.
I had a boss who we would wind up with his surname as it drove him insane. His surname was Pitt and at work we send something called a stop message. Combining “From watch manager Pitt stop” fast enough would irritate him enough to cause much merriment. Simple things.

It’s Andrew, not Andy!

The people that shorten it tend to be less familiar, trying to sell me something and generally use it from the off.

Grrrrrrr!

It’s Andrew, not Andy!

The people that shorten it tend to be less familiar, trying to sell me something and generally use it from the off.

I find that it’s normally older folk that use my full name. Never had somebody use the shortened version to try and sell me something. It’s normally sir or Mr Funk. Both of which can **** off and will earn scorn from me.

Mrs F sometimes calls me Pip which makes me smile. Sounds like I’m a cheeky pickpocket or a chimney sweep.

My first name is James. But family have always called me Jamie.

I get the opposite! Jamie is my given name, when introduced to people and they immediately call me James right boils my piss!!

Full name is Jonathan. I go by Jon. I **** hate being called Jonny

Same name here, except I like being called Jonny by family and mates. Doesn't really work for a 50 year old professional at work though. And being called John on emails boils my piss, I passively aggressively reply to them inserting a random H in their name.

Dear Helehn

Dear Sueh

Dear Mhark

etc.

When people ask me if it's David or Dave I just say up to you, your the one using it not me

Not being a German I wouldn't like to be called 'Willy' but I guess it rather depends on the context.

I've just remembered - I also have a small group of friends who call me "T" because that's how I signed off work emails back in the day and I have one friend in SA who calles me Mr T. Nothing to do with the A Team - I called her Mrs J once, she replied with Mr T and it stuck.

I think I like pretty much all the variations of my already shortened middle name.

Most of my Scottish mates call me Andy and everyone else uses Andrew (or Marra 'cause I'm from West Cumbria... 🤣) so I think it is also partially down to 'habit' in a given area.
To answer the OP's question though - no it doesn't bother me but I get why it might bother other people.

Think yourself lucky to have a choice. Not much you can do with Neil!

Nell
Nee
Enn
Nelly

I get them all and don't like any of them! Never say anything though as I know they're not being nasty.

Full names Terry

Often get Tel or Ter

Not met many Terry's over the years so tend to answer to either.

Jeremy here

the diminutives are Jerry - where my family come from that is slang for chamber pot
Jezza - just no way due to Clarkson and anyway it sounds silly
Jem - my childhood name - so no thanks as it reminds me of being a rather wet child
Jed - I am not an american redneck

So you either call me Jeremy ( which I hate but the least bad option) or simply just by my surname - Not "Mr Again" but just "Again" Even my father sometimes calls me by my surname and a number of friends do as well - and before you ask I did not go to a posh school 😉

Doctor / dentist / hospitals etc bug me because you have to register with full name or that's what's on the medical record, so they use that when they call you. Feel like I'm being summoned into court, or the heads office at school.

My parents name me one thing and all my life call me a shortened version, the full version being a bit of a joke nerdy name of late! Obviously prefer the shortened version as I almost see it as my name... but then at work, I use my actual name, dunno why, always have done!

Another Michael here, I'm known as Mike professionally. Out of hours all but Mick are tolerated.

I learnt pretty quickly, if you don't like a nickname or shortened version, don't let on in a non formal environment. Any hint of dislike will mean it sticks.
Jimbo is the only name I'm not keen on but not that bothered these days. Been called far worse.

Another Michael, I hate Mike and Mick, to be honest I actually dislike my name. Most of the time I am either known by by last name (it can also be a first name depending on spelling) or one of the various nicknames I have acquired over time.

I’ve named my children in a way that can’t be shortened.

I was a victim of this policy, as were my two brothers. We are named Glen, Craig and Grant and we were known for years among the other wider family as the “3 Whiskys” as the joke was that you could combine any two of our names and it’d make a reasonable name for a single malt.

After many years you get used to it. However the IT chap at a place I used to work shared the same Christian name but his surname was Head.

Neighbour over the road is another Richard Head, my surname makes it even worse but after 40yrs of ribbing you kind of get used to it, upsets me a bit that being a dick seems to have become a universal insult over the years.

Another James here. Old man is also James, but known to everyone as Jim or Jimmy.

I was always called Jamie by family, other than when I was in trouble with mum in which case it was James.

GF calls me Jamie/Jay. With oder friends is usually Jay.

Tend to introduce myself as Jamie or Jay depending on the company.

At work it's a mix of Jamy (Germans have trouble with Jamie despite Jamie Oliver being a thing here), Jay, "Mr James" (lit), Jimbo/Jimbob and recently Jesus due to the beard, unkempt hair and being a carpenter.

Richard Head, my surname makes it even worse but after 40yrs of ribbing you kind of get used to it,

Rub?

Small?

Wad?

Cummings?

My full name is Lee Roy, only the sister in law calls me that, she still thinks it's funny to put on a West Indian accent when she calls me by it.

Just as bad with a short one. Ian goes to Ianey Wiany, or just ****..

I adopted mine around uni time.

Family mostly still calls me James (e.g. my brother), but his wife calls me Jim.

To mates I'm Jim or Jimbo.

Fortunately, I was able to get Jim in my email address at work so that has reduced usage of James a lot...

Andy, And, Rosey.... All good

l stop people calling Andrew by pointing out.... "Only my mother calls me Andrew, or the wife if lm in trouble!"

Another James here.

Always been called that. Never Jamie or Jim. Primary school, got the "Jimbo" but other than that, James.

Working in the bike shop, there were two James' in the workshop and the head mechanic got bored of saying "James?" and both of us turning round so I was 11 (cos I was tall and skinny) and the other James was 88 (cos he was shorter and fatter). As an aside, the "crazy-legs" came from the bike shop as well when a someone said "How can you have legs that skinny, they're crazy legs!" and after that it sort of stuck.

Always called Gibby ,Gibbo or Gibb as a kid/yoof by mates,Not fond of Mark at all,Mainly called Sparky,Sparkles these days anyhoo.

My Posh Mrs is a Sharon but i have always called her Ron, she likes it as I’m her bit of rough

re the comment on Drs offices and other officialdom . . .

same here - I can happily sit reading a magazine while the receptionist calls out my actual first name and it doesn't register with me.

Cummings?

Close but no cigar, think of cum Staines

Not much you can do with Neil!

My sister calls me "Nee"

I don't mind but i detest crap pronouncing joshua craply. The other issue is very occasionally i've got the religious nut jobs get all excited.

To be honest though a yourguitarhero probably confitm (as the only person who might know it on here) can confirm anything that detracts from my surname is a bonus. Its a belter for pisstaking. And to be honest I've always found it amusing.

I prefer my shortened name to my full one; Greg rather than Gregory. I think I have only have a couple of aunts left that call me it. My parents apparently chose it so it could be shortened. What does grate is when folks spell it Gregg, despite it being correct in my email address and signature. Our son is Patrick, Pat or Paddy, depending on who is saying it. He likes all of them. In fact if he's asked what he prefers it's always Paddy.

I prefer the diminutive, as I don’t think Victoria suits me. It sounds a bit too posh!

I'm from a generation where every 5th boy was called the same. There were 5 of us in my primary school class. Later on there were three of us in our late teens which didn't cause any confusion because we were all know by something else.

I've been a shortened version of my surname since secondary school, all through my working life, even logins for work systems, etc. It was only the now ex HR manager that would call me by my proper name. It's only my family that call me by shortened first names, half of them using the South Wales version.

I hate it when people call me Ho.

Most people shorten me by default it really doesn't bother me I only know one person who is particularly concerned about being abbreviated, he's a 'Stephen' and will tell most people that's his preferred way to be addressed just once or twice within a few days of being introduced, and then not go on about it.

What you do then notice though is most people still call him 'Steve' without realising, me included, I make an effort not to, and often correct myself when I do it, but it's surprisingly hard not to do it at least 25% of the time, as most Stevens/Stephens don't object to being called 'Steve'.

Nelly has stuck since childhood- tho my Sis and Dad changed it to Welly and then Welly Boot so it got longer.

I simply refuse to answer if called by the diminutive form of my name. I hate it. And frankly, considering the etymology of my name, would actually prefer to use the more original form than the one I have.

But I'm a bit of a word/name/etymology nerd, so I'm not the best person to comment.

Folk try kev with me but it just doesn't suit so it stops through awkwardness.

Used to work with a guy from Gloucester called Wes took years to find his name was actually Lee but he was always late. So where's Lee? Ended up W'es Lee..

In the borders George becomes Dod but in Hawick it can become fuddy. Which always raises a laugh with those from outside the area.

My name can't be shortened, sometimes it gets an 'o' on the end but it doesn't bother me.

My son is called Seth, which I lengthen to Setharus, that may wind him up on the future 🤞

My name can't really be shortened but I do get people adding y or o on the end, both of which I dislike. I'm happiest being called P.

Christopher here, so Chris or surname with Y on the end. Though some people call me Christ, quietly... behind my back.