# Dads: Do you call your kid's SO by the wrong name on purpose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234 "2005-11-22T13:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Seren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Seren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/1 "2005-11-22T13:37:07Z")
My dad has a habit of calling my boyfriends by the wrong name. Then, magically, after we break up, he’s always able to remember their real names. This has happened with all of my relationships, from the shortest (1 month) to the longest (3 years). So, is this a habit other dads have too? Do you consciously make yourself say the wrong name, and if so, why exactly do you do it? ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/2 "2005-11-22T13:59:47Z")
I am not a dad, but it sounds like a fun game to me. Are you sure he is not just teasing you, or perhaps he is letting you know he does not approve of your taste in men ? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/3 "2005-11-22T14:03:04Z")
No, never have done that. Of course, when they’re not around they’re all known as meathead. ---
**Author:** ![Seren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Seren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/4 "2005-11-22T14:08:09Z")
> [@simple homer](#): > > I am not a dad, but it sounds like a fun game to me. Are you sure he is not just teasing you, or perhaps he is letting you know he does not approve of your taste in men ? Maybe… I thought he approved of the last one though. I know Mom wanted me to marry him. Of course, that says nothing about how Dad felt. Guess I oughta try asking him sometime. I’m pretty sure he’s not just teasing me, as he genuinely seems to think the guy’s name is something else. There’s never a wink or anything to show it’s just in fun. Oh, and weirdly, he always calls the guy the same wrong name, no matter how many times we correct him. Like, if the boy is Josh, and Dad calls him John…he’ll always call him John. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/5 "2005-11-22T14:27:10Z")
My husband did that with my much younger sister’s dirtbag, piece of trash, drunken and abusive ex. He was Justin; my husband called him Jason. According to my other sister, the younger sister HATED it. Haha! ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/6 "2005-11-22T14:42:57Z")
[QUOTE=Seren] Maybe… I thought he approved of the last one though. I know Mom wanted me to marry him. Of course, that says nothing about how Dad felt. Guess I oughta try asking him sometime. Yes, why don’t you try asking him ? ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/7 "2005-11-22T15:04:39Z")
> [@Seren](#): > > Oh, and weirdly, he always calls the guy the same wrong name, no matter how many times we correct him. Like, if the boy is Josh, and Dad calls him John…he’ll always call him John. Has he called anyone “Durwood”? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/8 "2005-11-22T15:20:44Z")
Not yet. But my daughter is only nine years old, so give me time. I imagine I might, especially if her SOs have annoying names. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/9 "2005-11-22T15:34:52Z")
My friend Joe is waiting with baited breath for his daughter to be old enough to date. He plans on making many a boyfriend nervous. It’s just what princess daddies do. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/10 "2005-11-22T16:31:31Z")
My daughter is married to a fine young man named Eric. Now, my other daughter is engaged to Derek. I’m sure that there will be much un-intentional wrong name calling in the future. In fact we have already slipped up a couple of times. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/11 "2005-11-22T16:44:39Z")
I used to do this to my little sister all the time. In my family, it was a teasing thing. Drove her nuts! ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/12 "2005-11-22T16:59:24Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No, never have done that. Of course, when they’re not around they’re all known as meathead. When they’re _not_ around? You’re a better man than my girlfriend’s father, Bob. Well, more polite, at least. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/13 "2005-11-22T17:11:36Z")
> [@Seren](#): > > My dad has a habit of calling my boyfriends by the wrong name. Then, magically, after we break up, he’s always able to remember their real names. Stage a break-up, and then reconcile. See if he switches back to using the wrong name. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/14 "2005-11-22T17:23:41Z")
> [@Seren](#): > > So, is this a habit other dads have too? Do you consciously make yourself say the wrong name, and if so, why exactly do you do it? My daughter is only nine and she doesn’t have a boyfriend, yet \. But already she has boys in her class/school who like her. In preparation for the inevitable, I’ve already started mangling their names and teasing her (with a knowing wink) about it. She’s in on the joke and I plan to carry it out until she’s fully grown and married. It’ll be our inside joke. Woe to the boy who asks her out to her prom. The interrogation will be merciless. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/15 "2005-11-22T18:57:03Z")
> [@Seren](#): > > My dad has a habit of calling my boyfriends by the wrong name. Then, magically, after we break up, he’s always able to remember their real names. This has happened with all of my relationships, from the shortest (1 month) to the longest (3 years). Well, I do it to my daughter. But then again, she’s 12, boy-crazy, & has a new crush every other day. It’s my subtle hint that I’m having trouble keeping up with the sheer number of "One True Love"s she’s discovered. Your father may have a different motive 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/16 "2005-11-22T19:11:41Z")
My dad used to use reverse psychology, and say something like “He seems nice enough, why don’t you marry him?” --though he only did that with halfway decent guys, just in case! ---
**Author:** ![6\_6\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e0b2c6/32.png) [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/17 "2005-11-22T20:08:30Z")
> [@Knowed Out](#): > > My friend Joe is waiting with baited breath… \ **bated** breath\ [The Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbated.html) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/18 "2005-11-22T20:24:49Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No, never have done that. Of course, when they’re not around they’re all known as meathead. They’re known as meathead when they are around and I’m being polite. Actually, if they’re just a meathead, that’s a good thing.\* My own father constantly mixed up my brother’s and my names. That he couldn’t remember other names was not odd. [size=1]\* Actually, my daughter is 13, so she’s not yet dating and certainly doesn’t have an SO. I’m just practicing. Also, I’m working on my [aim.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6823020&postcount=49) ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/19 "2005-11-22T20:25:20Z")
My dad has never done anythingl like that. ---
**Author:** ![Seren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Seren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234/20 "2005-11-22T20:31:26Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Stage a break-up, and then reconcile. See if he switches back to using the wrong name. Brilliant 😃 I can’t wait to try. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dads-do-you-call-your-kids-so-by-the-wrong-name-on-purpose/332234.md?page=2)