Saturday, 13 June 2009
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What did you call me?
My name is not one of those names that is easily shorted, and unlike a name such as Jessica, it is not common for people to use the shortened form of my name. My name is more like Rachel, some close friends use Rach, but most people use Rachel (no my name isn't Rachel...). The few people who call me by the shortened version of my name are my sister, my best friend, my oldest friend and my coach, everyone else calls me by the long version of my name.
I was at rowing the other morning and was sitting in front of a girl who does rather annoy me. Anyway, we were all a bit out of time and she hit me up the back with her oar and apologised, addressing me with the shortened version of my name. Aside from knowing her just a few weeks, I don't consider this girl my friend, and was almost stunned that she took it upon herself to call me that.
A few days later my sisters boyfriend was standing in the living room when I got home. I've only met him once before (my parents don't like him so he very rarely comes to our house) and the first time he met me he called me by the wrong name completely. I greeted him as I walked through to my room and he once again called me by the wrong name. I smiled and corrected him, and laughed to let him know I didn't hate him for having a crappy memory and it was no big deal.
The next time I saw him he called me by the shortened version of my name.
I know it may not seem like such a big deal to those of you who usually shorten your name, but it is a big deal for someone to call me that, because aside from me liking the full version, I feel like they need my permission to call me something else. I never mention anything, but it really bothers me. How do you guys feel about this?
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Comments (10)
i can understand how you feel! my name can't be shortened, but i do know what you mean. i guess you just gotta point it out when they do. :D
I seldom introduced myself by my full name. Even if people asked for my full name I pretended that I didn't heard them. Normally I introduced myself as a Rez or Ina.
I can see where you're coming from. Personally, I don't care too much as long as they are aware what my real first name is haha
My real name is Jean a name that really can't be shortened. Since my name can't be shortened for some reason they add to it, thus, Jeanie, Jeanne and alas Jeanmarie. Maybe I'm just too much for such a simple short name. As long as it is given in the spirit of endearment I'll take it.
i know what you mean. i never introduce myself by my full name (i go by my first and middle initials), but i have had people call me various nicknames in the past if they heard someone close to me do it and it bothers me (ie if someone hears my husband call me by my middle name, which he often does, and then uses that themselves it is kind of irking because it's special that my husband calls me that). it's totally natural to associate a nickname with familiarity, so i can see how it's a little odd at best (and insulting at worst) when people who are little more than acquaintances presume to call you that.
:)
I'd speak up. I mean, if people don't know that bothers you, then they wouldn't really know that they should stop, right?
My first name isn't really able to be shortened, but people often pronounce it incorrectly (and, frankly, I gave up correcting people after the first or second grade). Especially if they read it before they hear it. Heck, one of my closest friends still does because she mispronounced it for ages before we became close friends — old habits die hard.
@follow_home - oo i'd hate that too! my best friend has her own spelling of my name so I hate it when people copy that because it's personal.
@jeanmarie26 - Haha yeah, it's so weird how people are determined to change your name, even if they have to make it longer to do so!
@Knight_of_Renown - :) Ugh that must get annoying, I guess a lot of people would assume Ben is short for Benjamin...good luck with the mountain thing :P
@trickery19 - I thought you were going to ask me what's for supper?
I feel the same. My name is actually Rachel, but just the same, I'm not used to random strangers addressing me as "Rach"...to me, nicknames are earned by actually associating with the addressee on a close, personal basis. You don't meet a Robert and start calling him "Bob" just because you don't feel like saying the full name, even if you're trying to be friendly, because sometimes it's just uncomfortable. I wish more people realized that. :P