# 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:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/21 "2010-08-08T14:24:20Z")
First name, (Mr.) last name, or first half of my (rare) middle name, as those are the only names by which I am known to anyone in this solar system. There are no common diminutives to my first name. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/22 "2010-08-08T17:07:17Z")
In a doctor’s office? Only my real name, first, last or both - is that three? In real life I go by an assumed name, which has three possible diminutives, so that’s another four. People have occasionally attempted to address me by my middle name, but I wouldn’t automatically answer to it unless there was no-one else there they could realistically be talking to. Also two screen names, either of which would attract my attention if shouted in the street. I presume we’re not including pet names used by family members/SOs. So… ten possible names, of which three would attract my attention in a doctor’s waiting room. Oh, there are diminutives of my real name. If I heard one of those in the street I’d probably run, since only people I went to school with ever called me by those. Another three there. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/23 "2010-08-08T17:13:21Z")
First name, Ms/Miss Last name or First + Last. The doctors around here frequently have a spot on their forms for you to specify a different name you want to go by if you’d like, but I never do. The only people who ever call me anything other than my legal first name are my parents. ---
**Author:** ![Crackrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Crackrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crackrat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482/24 "2010-08-08T18:32:08Z")
My first name is uncommon, so if I heard it or any variation, I’d respond. Also, my nickname, Crackrat, I respond to, though that doesn’t get used as much as it was in high school. That said, if I’m in a conversation with someone, I will respond to them if I know they’re talking to me, even when they use the wrong name. There have been many occasions where a friend calls me by another friend’s name. My best friend and roommate in college and I were so often mixed up by other people that I once responded to him calling me by **his** name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-will-you-answer-to-in-a-crowded-room/549482.md?page=1)