[Closed] WTF - using a different name

Well, I'm not overly fond of my given name.

When I used to temp, I'd ask people to call me 'Mike' - which is an easy name to remember, although I kept forgetting it. 😳 Reason being, my real name is weird and Welsh.

In my ideal world, I'd be called Earl.

There was a guy in one of our offices with the surname 'Daniels' and insisted on being called 'Jack', even though it wasn't his name.

Hilarious 🙄

LOL but there is a lot of stigmas around names - how many directors do you know called kevin?

That's nothing. I've just found out that almost all of the married women in our office use a completely different surname from the one they were born with. Madness!!

On a Sunday, I'm called Susan...

I've just found out that almost all of the married women in our office use a completely different surname from the one they were born with.

Devious things, them women. No wonder I can't understand them 😉

I've just had RAC spam on my fictitious email name I only use for this place 🙂 😕

Well, I did know a girl called Dorothy who went by the name Megan as that name is so hilariously bad. I don't blame her.

I employed a guy called Wilf once, turns out as new recruit in the army there were 2 Pauls' in his billet since he was Paul #2 the drill sergeant named him Wilf - 20 years later even his wife called him Wilf!

what's in a name [url=

Big Yin and the Name song - keep the sound down at work![/url] stay with it it builds up.

I have worked with a bloke who insisted that everyone called him JJ, amazingly everyone did. Still don't know what his real name is.

I went on a darts beano with my pub team to Eastbourne about 10 yrs ago. This included one of our (long time) mates called Paul. When we checked in at the hotel he signed himself in as Adrian. The rest of us looked at each in confusion before asking what he was doing. He admitted Adrian was his real name but he preferred being called Paul. Odd.

A new guy started at our school about the time when those British Gas privatisation adverts were on telly - "If you see Sid, tell 'im". He told people his name was Sid and it stuck with kids and teachers. When they'd tell him off (frequently) they'd use his full name Sidney.. it was in fact Steven.

I recently found out that several of my cousins use their middle names instead of their actual first names. My Dad does this, but I had no idea how widespread it was. Everything I thought I knew turns out to be a lie!

No idea why my parents christened me 'Footflaps'. I go by the name of 'Ben' when I'm not in here....

When any bloke start work at our place, you get 'given' a name. Nobody gets referred to by their proper first name. I have absolutely no ****ing idea what the criteria are for the name you are given. I think its just random. but I get called Steve. My name is not Steve, or anything remotely like it.

Its like Trigger on only Fools and Horses always referring to Rodney as Dave. This has been going on for so long that none of us think this is unusual, and we just answer to our work 'names'

All my mates just call me Binners, and have done since I was at school

Very common for people to go by their middle name. Dunno about just choosing one though! Perhaps this week I shall be known as Mordecai.

It is also very common in the Navy to be given a completely diferent forname, and consequently for people who have left the Navy and are so used to their 'given' name. If your surname is Armstrong, expect to be called Louie whatever your first name really is. An old ex naval colleague named Tug Wilson told me there are dozens more 'mandatory name change' examples. iirc the same is true for some fire brigades.

I also know a lady at work whose 'given name' is a contraction of her maiden (sur)name, and despite occupying a rather senior position in our organisation, no one knows who it is when an email comes in with her proper name on it.

I recently worked with an oriental chap (Chinese I think) whose family name was Li. As is common he'd chosen a Western name for simplicity - Christopher. Took me a couple of days to get it 🙂

Very common for non-indigenous natives, especially from India.

... and Popes.

I spent a very happy six months working in Bristol and living in a shared house with three other blokes. I seem to remember that two of them were called Paul, so they just decided that everyone in the house should be called Ted instead to cut down on confusion. Strangely, it worked. Even Aussie Ted managed to cope, which must have beed tough.

My old man is full of laughs.

When we were a lot younger he convinced my older brother that his name was Sidney Mincin (real name Steve) and following on from that several years later that my name was Sidney Sideboard (Simon in real life). This was purely for my dads own amusement. Comes in handy when trying to think of a forum name.........

Very common for people to go by their middle name.

Middle name? You only have two forenames? Oh, how quaint!

Isn't the number of forenames you have inversely proportional to the breadth of the gene pool that led to your existence? 😉

My grandmother, mum and brother all used their middle names instead of their first names. Mum and grandmother because they didn't like their first names, brother because he was named William as all the first sons in my dad's family were for about 200 years, but my parents didn't want to actually use it so used his middle name instead.

I caused offence a few years ago when my mother-in-law informed of the birth of my wife's brother's son.

'They've had a boy and he's called JJ'

'Oh very nice, what's JJ short for then?'

'That's what I thought, but apparently it's not short for anything. His name is JJ'

Turns out it's actually Jay-Jay which is after a football player (Association Football, obviously).

Can occasionally cause problems.

A few years ago a group of us booked a trip to Italy, flying over with bikes. One guy organised the trip, booked the flights, etc.. Another member of the party, known to all of us for many years by his first name (which was also the name he was called by his wife and in his business) was booked onto the flight in that name. Of course, when we check in for the flight we find out that he has a totally different first name! He wasn't allowed to board on that ticket and had to book and pay for a new ticket. Luckily, they allowed him on the same flight.

I once had a phone call from "Bruce", took me a couple of minutes to realise it was someone I'd know for about 10 years, he'd just started at uni and decided he wanted a new name.

Only recenly discovered that my Grandmother doesn't use her real name!

My brother goes by a contraction of his middle name, because my mam thought the names sounded odd the other way round.

I know a few people who go by their surname, or a shortening of it, to the point that their parents refer to them by that name: Vinnie is actually called David, and Jollie is actually Neil.

A friend at uni was called Sid by everybody, because when he first wrote his name as a kid it looked more like Sid than Simon.

I know someone else who got a passport in a name different to the one on his birth certificate, based on a note from his mum saying that was the name he used.

Related: idly watched "One Born Every Minute" last night and raised an eyebrow that one young mum (Bianca) had chosen to name her baby "Kale" 😕

Really? You're naming your precious first born child after a cabbage?

I suspect he'll be going by a different name later in life 😀

Think it's reasonably common in Scotland, lots of people whose first name is their dad's name so they always use the middle.

One of my old motorbike group went by a completely different name- first and last. Only found out because he left his wallet in a bunkhouse one time, I checked it for ID and here was driving licence etc with his pic but different details. Obviously a spai.

'That's what I thought, but apparently it's not short for anything. His name is JJ'
Turns out it's actually Jay-Jay which is after a football player (Association Football, obviously).

Mmmmm, I'm not sure 😉

[img] [/img]

I use my middle name all the time. My parents always used it and its stuck. I'm never sure where I stand from a legal perspective or if it even matters. Its my 'known as' name, but it is actually my official name (but not)...

Obviously a spai.

[img] [/img]

A spai, m'seur?

It's very common lots of people like to known by a different name see it regular at work. I go by my middle name always have use to think it was odd myself but know others who do the same.

We had a chap in work called John E. Thomas who insisted on being called JET. Signed off e-mails using it and everything.

Sort of ruined my childhood memories of Gladiators though 🙁

Two young lads on my first ship were named thus;

Surname, Dring. Nickname, Pucker.
Surname, Lloyd. Nickname, Mongo.

I don't know half of the first names of people at work.

We had a chap in work called John E. Thomas who insisted on being called JET.

Surely to christ if you request that people call you something, especially something as cockish as that, then that just ensures that no-one ever calls you that, ever? And instead simply refer to you as bell end, or ladyboy, or nob jockey, from that day forward

Where I work a lot of people are either Navy or Ex-Navy. Barely any of them use their real name. They have a stock nickname dependant on surname/nationality/build.

http://www.godfreydykes.info/NICK%20NAMES%20IN%20THE%20ROYAL%20NAVY%20-%20and%20elsewhere!.htm

We had a chap in work called John E. Thomas who insisted on being called JET.
Surely to christ if you request that people call you something, especially something as cockish as that, then that just ensures that no-one ever calls you that, ever? And instead simply refer to you as bell end, or ladyboy, or nob jockey, from that day forward

Perhaps, but not as cockish as John Thomas, which may have been what he was trying to avoid.

My mothers maiden name is Emanuel. It was only recently she discovered that when her fathers oldest brother began work at the pit, they mistakingly registered him as Emanuel rather than E. Manuel.

When the subsequent brothers started at the pit, including my Grandfather, they continued to be recorded as Emanuels, so our family name changed.

So you're saying Emanuel is your slave name...? 😉

I remember an article in the Scotsman years ago by a columnist who brought his English bride back to Edinburgh where she found a job at the Infirmary. She could not understand why all the porters were apparently named James and sought his advice..............

[i]not as cockish as John Thomas[/i]

Pun intended? 😉

I'm not if this is a Welsh thing either but its something I've only noticed since living in Wales, but lots of Welsh tend to use their middle name as their forname. e.g Susan Jane Williams would be called Jane.

I've also got 8 members of staff, 5 of which are called Paul. I really should rename 4 of them...

My dad uses his middle name.
He only found out it wasn't his first name when he needed his birth certificate to join the Navy. Apparently, no-one knew except his auntie who'd been the one that registered the birth. she'd added his uncle's name on the front. 🙂

I'm not if this is a Welsh thing either but its something I've only noticed since living in Wales, but lots of Welsh tend to use their middle name as their forname. e.g Susan Jane Williams would be called Jane.

Well it's my Welsh family that does it.

Well, I did know a girl called Dorothy who went by the name Megan as that name is so hilariously bad. I don't blame her.

I got called Des at school (surname related). This caused confusion when a teacher who wasn't in on this asked me whether I was called Derek or Desmond (er... Andrew).

I know a bloke who everyone calls Sid, but is really Stephen (mother wouldn't allow father to register him as Sid, but dad called him it anyway).

I also know of a colleague called Claire who is known to one and all as Bob.

Andy

[i]Well it's my Welsh family that does it.[/i]

I always, like myself, had you down as an immigrant to these shores Mol 😛

[i]I just found out that at least 3 more senior people at work use a completely different first name than their given names. [/i]

Quite common where I come from (East Yorkshire); most of my Dad's family had names other than there own, and I'm known by my middle name and only found out when in my teens.

I always, like myself, had you down as an immigrant to these shores Mol

Immigrant? I live in Cardiff 🙂

I am called Scott even though my real name is John, my Dad missed my first birthday due to Villa playing away and getting lashed, so after that my Mum started calling me Scott, after one of her exe's.

After 3-4 years, even my Dad gave up calling me John and started calling me Scott 😉

Sad but true..

Scott (ski)

Went through my phone the other day, I've got Dogger, Spud, Gimp, Harry the pig and Harry hairy arse, amongst others.
Mates in the forces where Mush, Toss, Smudge, Button(mushroom) to name but a few.

My Mum's first name is Margaret, but she has always used her middle name, which is much more fun - Merry

I chose my own name; I added Adam in 1992 when I was 26 and moved to Nottingham; clean break.

Just fancied it. Though I am still called by both of my other names: Charlie and the-one-I-don't-really-like. 😀

My late dad was known to everyone even my mum by an abreviation of our surname. When crankbrat was born we named him after his grandfather using his first name it took my mum 4 hours to realise that his name was the same as her husband's (he got his maternal grandads as his middle name)

I'm not if this is a Welsh thing either but its something I've only noticed since living in Wales, but lots of Welsh tend to use their middle name as their forename. e.g Susan Jane Williams would be called Jane.

Welsh family - both my Dad and I use our middle names. Neither are funny or embarrassing, but it's a pain when booking flights with work. Not my choice, just always been called my middle name.

Ross is my middle name. I'm not Scottish. Or Welsh.

I spent a bit of time in a South Wales village a while back due to a then-girlfriend. People were commonly known by a memorable feature in place of a surname. Eg, Dave Taxi (drives a minicab), Steve Keys (has a lot of keys). Some were legacies going back decades; a clean-shaven bloke could still be known as Huw Beard because he grew a beard once in 1985.

Most of the people I spoke to had known each other most of their lives and often had no concept of what their neighbours' actual names were.

When we were young, a girl used to babysit for me and my sister, she was called Tass.
Her real name was Catherine but her younger brother couldn't say that as a baby, the nearest he could get to it was Tass-in. So the name of Tass just sort of stuck right into her adult life.

I've got a mate called Ted for the same reason.. His younger brother couldn't say Nicholas, just Ted, so it stuck.

I spent a bit of time in a South Wales village a while back due to a then-girlfriend. People were commonly known by a memorable feature in place of a surname. Eg, Dave Taxi (drives a minicab), Steve Keys (has a lot of keys). Some were legacies going back decades; a clean-shaven bloke could still be known as Huw Beard because he grew a beard once in 1985.

Seems eminently sensible and I guesss it is probably how most surnames came about. I've known similar in Wales but often a little variation being the use of the surname with the descriptor; Jones (inevitably) the Post for example.

Confusingly I have 2 completely different names.
Work name and Married name, not just the surname but the Christian names too. Got used to it now and will answer to both.

It was only earlier today, at work, that we were discussing the same sort of topic. I knew - for three years - a 'Scotty' at uni, and always assumed that either his first or surname was Scott. It was actually Stuart, but his friends in his hometown of Brighton called him Scotty because he was born in Carlisle. Which isn't even in Scotland... Bloody southerners 😉

in liverpool if your surname is Hughes you get called Yosser, no idea why

I am still called ziggy by a few members of the family, it was a nickname from when I was very small (like 1yr old) and talked gobbledigook, someone said it sounded polish and called me ziggy

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosser_Hughes ]Explanation of Yosser Hughes[/url]

APF

My old man is called James.

Many know him as Peem. He calls folk up and tells them it's 'peem'

I still don't get it all.

I managed to call the apprentice Harold when he turned up about 15 yrs ago. He is still referred to as Harold by those who know him from back in the day. This stemmed from the turd firm we worked for that couldn't be bothered introducing new members of staff. We even had a smelly Len for a while 😆
Where I work now everyone is called Dave except the manager who is called Jeff and the cat that's called Trevor even though she's female 😯
That's the motor trade for ya

When I was at school I told a nurdy teacher my name was Ivor Nestegg after a character on TV advertising Post Office savings. It was a bit obvious but he continued to call me this name for several weeks - to our huge amusement & not getting it!

I work in a school now & the odd kid thinks 'Ben Dover' is new..... I've heard most of them now. Paul McSkinback?

my proper name is funny and foreign sounding, so I get called Matt at work

Had to replace a mate's BB spanner some years ago.
Imagine the Postmans reaction when faced with delivering a CRC parcel to Gaylord Micronob Jones. (Surname changed to protect the guilty).
I have lots of work colleagues in China, pretty much all have adopted Western first names. Peter Pan always causes a stir when the conference call voice thing announces he has joined. He's a really nice chap.

[i]Peter Pan always causes a stir when the conference call voice thing announces he has joined. [/i]

When my old company first outsourced to India, a lot of the Indians were given nicknames along these lines chosen pretty much at random. Burt Lancaster, Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen. The indians loved it, made them feel part of the team.

It is also very common in the Navy to be given a completely diferent forname, and consequently for people who have left the Navy and are so used to their 'given' name. If your surname is Armstrong, expect to be called Louie whatever your first name really is.

Isn't that a bit dated? Surely Neil, or, er... Lance (IGMC) would be more appropriate?

People were commonly known by a memorable feature in place of a surname.

Traditionally there weren't many surnames, and being a pious lot not that many forenames either.

That's why you end up with Jones the Bread, Jones the Steam, Jones the Post etc.

It's actually only in the last few years that several of my friends' parents have stopped calling me by my childhood nickname, which is taken from my surname. I'm nearly 36.