# How Many Names Will You Answer to in a Crowded Room? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482 "2010-08-07T04:04:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/1 "2010-08-07T04:04:51Z")
Let’s say you are in a doctor’s waiting room with lots of people. A nurse opens the door and calls out a name. How many of those are yours and you will stand up for? Variations count. I count nine for me. I go by my extremely rare middle name but I will answer to variations on my very common first name. I will also answer to my last name and it isn’t hasn’t come up but I am pretty sure Shagnasty would catch my attention as well. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/2 "2010-08-07T04:05:58Z")
In a Doctor’s office, 3. Joe, Joey or Joseph Anywhere else, just Joe or Joey. ---
**Author:** ![Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blut_Aus_Nord)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/3 "2010-08-07T04:25:16Z")
“You there, with the face.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/4 "2010-08-07T04:38:37Z")
Two…my first name and Ms./Mrs/Miss Lastname ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/5 "2010-08-07T04:41:14Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Two…my first name and Ms./Mrs/Miss Lastname Me too. My first name doesn’t have any nicknames, so… ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/6 "2010-08-07T04:43:49Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > > > Two…my first name and Ms./Mrs/Miss Lastname > > Me too. My first name doesn’t have any nicknames, so… My first name has a ton of them, but I won’t answer to any of them. I would seriously sit there and not answer if someone tried calling me by one. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/7 "2010-08-07T05:03:44Z")
Any of the various names that happen to almost rhyme with mine. Also the mispronunciation of my name, and just any time I was given the impression that someone was trying to talk to me. For the last one, not doing so is rude, if not stupid, since there’s no way for them to know my real name unless I tell them. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/8 "2010-08-07T05:16:40Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Two…my first name and Ms./Mrs/Miss Lastname Same (only with the honorific changed). In a formal setting, nobody will use any of the informal variants of my name, and I won’t respond to them in an informal setting (except from family, who I can’t get to grasp that I don’t like them). ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/9 "2010-08-08T00:33:24Z")
My full first name, two possible nick names (I went by one when I was younger and another since I was about 22 or so), and Mrs./Ms./Miss Mylastname, so … 4. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/10 "2010-08-08T00:54:03Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Let’s say you are in a doctor’s waiting room with lots of people. A nurse opens the door and calls out a name. How many of those are yours and you will stand up for? Variations count. > > I count nine for me. I go by my extremely rare middle name but I will answer to variations on my very common first name. I will also answer to my last name and it isn’t hasn’t come up but I am pretty sure Shagnasty would catch my attention as well. Why would the Doctor call you by anything other than your first name or surname? BTW, lots of my friends call me Skinley, or Skin, some don’t even know my proper name. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/11 "2010-08-08T01:04:22Z")
My first name is not unknown in the US, but rare enough that I am not accustomed to hearing it addressed to anyone else (I’ve personally only met seven other namesakes in 50 years). So, if I hear my name (which really doesn’t have variations), I’m responding to it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/12 "2010-08-08T01:31:35Z")
[quote=“Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper, post:10, topic:549482”] > [@Shagnasty](#): > > Why would the Doctor call you by anything other than your first name or surname I have gone by my extremely rare middle name since birth. Anyone that knows me at all calls me by my middle name including doctors but my first name, James, is a family name and that comes up in some settings. Some people take it a step further and call me ‘Jim’ and I even heard ‘Jimmy’ once. Those aren’t my names but I know enough to listen for them. I will answer to my last name as well. That is five right there. Some people like my younger brother have designated nicknames since birth and some people take on assumed names. The possible combinations can be pretty high in some circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/13 "2010-08-08T01:47:57Z")
[quote=“Shagnasty, post:12, topic:549482”] > [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](#): > > I have gone by my extremely rare middle name since birth. Anyone that knows me at all calls me by my middle name including doctors but my first name, James, is a family name and that comes up in some settings. Some people take it a step further and call me ‘Jim’ and I even heard ‘Jimmy’ once. Those aren’t my names but I know enough to listen for them. I will answer to my last name as well. That is five right there. Some people like my younger brother have designated nicknames since birth and some people take on assumed names. The possible combinations can be pretty high in some circumstances. I see. In my country you register with a Doctor, using your legal name, (the name on your certificate of birth) therefore that is what the Doctor calls you. I’d be shocked if I was in a Doctors waiting room and I heard “Skinley, go to room nine.” I’d still get off my arse and go to room nine though. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/14 "2010-08-08T04:17:37Z")
Interesting question. In my case, there’s my first name (Ian), the common womens’ name that deep-southerners and Wisconsinites pronounce such that it’s a homonym for my first name (Ann), and any of the various bizarre pronunciations that people unfamiliar with my first name will come up with (Eye-an, Ion, Yon, Yan, Lan [it’s happened], Een, Inn, Ine). Do those count as one name or ten? Also, my last name, of course. A few people in the Air Force took to calling me by a diminutive of my last name, but I honestly don’t know that that would catch my attention anymore unless it started happening regularly again. Other than that, I don’t think I really have any nicknames. I’d be interested to find out whether I’d respond to “Hey, Roland!”…I’d probably at least turn my head. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/15 "2010-08-08T04:29:53Z")
first name, or last name, or both. there’s 2 variations of my first name, so i guess 3 total names i would answer to. 4 if you count first+last together. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/16 "2010-08-08T04:36:04Z")
Why would you answer to your middle name if you don’t go by it? And why would a doctor call you by a nickname if you don’t put it on forms? What a bizarre question. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/17 "2010-08-08T04:45:53Z")
I have one Doc who knows at least 5 of the names I answer too. Some online & real life friends know at least 4-5 of my different screen names If the person is close to me and is trying to get my attention, any noise will do just as a nurse looking right at me and says anything in a questioning way. Out on the street I will notice any of the names and a few extra that are unfunny but I know they would be addressing me. Maybe 14 - 16 names I would respond to if called out of the blue while walking down a street or in an office. I won’t talk to or call or even warn of deadly danger any person I know who will not answer except to some exact name that they decided is the only way anyone can address them. Life is way too short for that foolishness. YNMV Gus Gus “Last Name” 4 other variationas of my first name ‘August’ Last name Many variations of my last name as some feel that if is a bad word so they mispronounce it. 8 different screen names Maybe 6 different aircraft identifier numbers I flew for many hours ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/18 "2010-08-08T04:58:07Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Some online & real life friends know at least 4-5 of my different screen names > 8 different screen names So doctors offices are now calling out patients by their Internet screen names? And you’d answer to that thinking nothing of it? OK, now I’m just weirded out. I’m leaving this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/19 "2010-08-08T06:56:53Z")
My first name, my first name + my last name and Miss/Ms Last name. (Not Mrs Last name. I might say “I’m her daughter, can I help you?” but I’d be more likely to assume there was someone else there with that name.) Oh - and there’s a mispronunciation of my last name that I’d answer to as well if it was attached to my first name or no-one else responded within a couple of seconds. If it was a room of Guides, or if I’d gone in with one of the girls from my unit, I’d answer to Echidna, my guiding name. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/20 "2010-08-08T12:00:58Z")
Im a middle name kinda gal too, (been called by it since birth, and its to honour a relative that was way cool) so I will listen for FirstName, Middle name or Ms lastName, and if I am paying attention, very common first syllable nick name of Firstname. Oh and some people diminize my middle name (but only once) so if someone calls me that one I would say “do you mean me?” So 5. What is bad is when Im in ER in agonizing pain, or Labour or some such and Im waiting to get called and someone gets cute with my firstname and uses an uncommon diminutive. (For instance, and this isn’t my name but if it was Margaret\*, instead of saying Marg they said Gretta, or Rita) chances are high I will not answer because it will never occur to me you are calling my name. DO NOT CALL PEOPLE DIMINUTIVES UNLESS THEY ASK. \*Margaret is not my real first name. If it was I would use it gladly, it is one of my very favourite names. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482.md?page=2)