# Do you use the full form of your first name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111 "2001-11-13T13:59:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/21 "2001-11-13T15:37:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*My mother calls me Philip. Everyone else calls me Phil. I insist. > \*\* [mild hijack]Ha! That is my son’s name, spelled correctly and everything. I am constantly having to correct people who want to spell it with two "l"s or,even worse, a “u”.[/mild hijack] As far as my name goes, I’m with Scarlett. People are alway’s asking, “so what’s that short for?” I had a teacher once who called me Darcella, (my name’s Darcy) saying my given name was too _informal_. Of course the whole class picked up on it ever-quick. I hated that teacher. bella [Edited by Ukulele Ike on 11-13-2001 at 09:42 AM] ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/22 "2001-11-13T15:39:55Z")
::banging head against wall:: ahhh! Preview is my friend… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/23 "2001-11-13T15:45:45Z")
As much as I dislike “Bill,” I’m stuck with it. I think “William” is pretentious. And “Willie” sounds like somebody who shoots billiards for a living, as well as being a popular nickname for a portion of the male anatomy. My wife suggested called me “Liam” while we were in Ireland, but she cut it out pretty damn quick. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/24 "2001-11-13T15:54:18Z")
I’m a Kristin. While I was growing up, I was continually called Christian, Kerstyn, Crystal, et al. I got in the habit of asking people to “just call me Kris”. Kristin was not a common name all those years ago. Nowadays, if I am in a crowded room and someone yells out either ‘Kris’ or ‘Kristin’, I’ll look up just the same. So will about half of the room.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/25 "2001-11-13T15:55:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LaurAnge \* > \*\*No one has ever managed to come up with a good contraction to my name (Lauren). > > Hence, that is what I go by. \*\* No one’s tried “Lauri” on you? (Not Lori, Lauri, with the “awwww” sound from Lauren. Or Laurie for that matter.) I thought that was the standard shortenation. Shows what I know. You know what would be a bad name for a woman? Wendy. It’s not a bad name in and of itself, but when your 35 and trying to be all grown-up, you’re still “Wendy”. The name that was invented for _Peter Pan_. It won’t grow up. Or Polly. But that’s generally short for something. Isn’t it? Pollyester? -Rue. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/26 "2001-11-13T15:59:51Z")
HIJACK Yeah, I just read in some other thread that “Wendy” was invented by James Barrie for the novel PETER AND WENDY, later to become the stage play PETER PAN. But isn’t it really short for “Gwendolyn” ? Didn’t Barrie just invent the nickname? (Yeah, I know about “Gwen,” thank you. Tell it to Margaret and Maggie and Margie and Peg.) ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/27 "2001-11-13T16:01:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > **As much as I dislike “Bill,” I’m stuck with it. I think “William” is pretentious. And “Willie” sounds like somebody who shoots billiards for a living, as well as being a popular nickname for a portion of the male anatomy.** I’ve always liked “Will” as a short form of William. > [@](#): > > \*\*My wife suggested called me “Liam” while we were in Ireland, but she cut it out pretty damn quick. \*\* My mother’s name is Judith. Normally she goes by Judy, but my sister started calling her “Dith.” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/28 "2001-11-13T16:06:21Z")
> [@](#): > > But isn’t (Wendy) really short for “Gwendolyn” ? Didn’t Barrie just invent the nickname? It may derive from Gwendolyn, but it’s a name, not a nickname. For example, “Lisa” derives from “Elizabeth,” but “Lisa” isn’t a nickname. I go by Chuck. “Charles” just isn’t me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/29 "2001-11-13T16:06:24Z")
I used to go exclusively by the short form. Then we lived in a country where the people had a lot of difficulty with the short form of my name, but could pronounce the long form. So now I use both as the situation suits me. I am also called Daddy or Dada quite a bit now. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/30 "2001-11-13T16:08:54Z")
I can’t recall ever introducing myself as anything other than Ed - even in court. I sign my name Edward (including the middle initial.) At times my wife, my sisters, and a few close friends call me Eddy. I like to fool myself into thinking they do so affectionately rather than derisively. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/31 "2001-11-13T16:27:49Z")
_Jemima is my name, But oh, I have another; My father always calls me Meg, And so do Bob and mother; Only my sister, jealous of The strands of my bright hair, “Jemima – Mima – Mima!” Calls, mocking, up the stair._ – one of Walter de la Mare’s vaguely spooky children’s poems > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > **I can’t recall ever introducing myself as anything other than Ed - even in court.** Well! I’m glad to see that the authorities have finally caught up with you! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/32 "2001-11-13T16:45:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > I used to go exclusively by the short form. Then we lived in a country where the people had a lot of difficulty with the short form of my name, but could pronounce the long form. So how did you enjoy living in Ephraim? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![P.W.Doodle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f14d63/32.png) [@P.W.Doodle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P.W.Doodle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/33 "2001-11-13T16:52:04Z")
The only ones who usually shorten my name are family members or very, very, very, close friends. I had a principal once who shortened it in a way that I didn’t like at all…and I told him to never call me that again…Who did the red head jerk think he was?? But, on to nicer thoughts… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rue DeDay \* > \*\* [snip…snip]Or Polly. But that’s generally short for something. Isn’t it? Pollyester?_\* Polly That’s not short for Pollyanna, Paulette, Pollyesther, or Pauline…it’s just Polly 😉 [Thumper voice]But Rue, you can call me Pollyester if you want to. [/Thumper voice] ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/34 "2001-11-13T16:54:58Z")
My name is Lea. Not much you can do with that. Weirdly, my brother is only called Patrick at home – he’s Pat to the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/35 "2001-11-13T17:00:06Z")
My first name has all of TWO letters in it. I really don’t want to be known as my initials\*, so there’s no shortening to be done there. And people are always trying to figure out what it’s short for, too, so I’m also in the same boat as **Scarlett**. 'Cept I don’t wish I had a name like “Catherine”. (I’m just not that elegant.) In the past I’ve put up with people making my name _longer_, usually in jest, but I call a halt to that when they get to “Typhoid”. My brother-in-law refers to me as “Ty-stick”, which, I’m told, is a drug-culture referrence I’m too sheltered to understand. \*But when giving my name in any business situation for some reason I always include my middle initial. My signature has it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Frumious\_Bandersnatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Frumious\_Bandersnatch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumious_Bandersnatch)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/36 "2001-11-13T17:11:15Z")
I introduce myself as David. I sign my name as Dave. If you wish to refer to me as Dave, I’m OK with it. If someone calls me Davey, I usually think they are talking down to me, and don’t appreciate it. Princess Bandersnatch refers to me by my middle name. ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/37 "2001-11-13T17:17:20Z")
Clifton. Call me anything other than that and I won’t respond. And if you think calling me Clifford the big red dog is funny, so did the other million people before you, it frickin’ isn’t! ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/38 "2001-11-13T17:25:07Z")
I use Elizabeth at work and when I first meet people. Generally, it starts to erode with usage, and I’m content to let the speaker decide what works best for them. Liz, Beth, whatever. I know enough people from online that many people call me Del in person, and that works for me, too. Someone told me once that not having a strong feeling about what people call you is a sign of mental instability. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/39 "2001-11-13T17:37:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*HIJACK > > Yeah, I just read in some other thread that “Wendy” was invented by James Barrie for the novel PETER AND WENDY, later to become the stage play PETER PAN. > > But isn’t it really short for “Gwendolyn” ? Didn’t Barrie just invent the nickname? > \*\* Remember in The Shining, when Jack introduced his wife to Dick as “Winnifred”? And Dick asked her, “Are you a Winnie or a Freddy”? She answered, “I’m a Wendy”. Given that Stephen King is the Master of Everything, Wendy can also be a nickname for Winnifred. 😉 And I’m an Amanda. Never Mandy. A drunk, obnoxious guy asked me my name once in a bar. After I told him, he said, “How about I just call you Mandy”. And I responded, “How about you don’t call me at all”. (I’m don’t come up with witty responses very often, but I’m quite proud of that one) ---
**Author:** ![Soda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soda)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111/40 "2001-11-13T17:38:49Z")
I’m **Jenny**. No, that’s not short for Jennifer. Or Virginia, or Genevieve (however that’s spelled). If you’re nice, you might get away calling me Jen, but only if you speak English. If you try calling me Jen is Swedish, I’ll shun you forever. Seriously. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-the-full-form-of-your-first-name/93111.md?page=3)