# So, No One Shortens Their First Name Any More? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414 "2010-02-02T18:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/21 "2010-02-02T19:34:36Z")
I am guilty of this. Apparently it irritates my husband too, but he didn’t bother telling me that until 10 years into our marriage. His name is (not really but similar to) Matt, and I have always, since our first meeting called him “Mathew”. My son, “Kenny” (also not his real name) has always been “Kenneth”, my acquaintances have always been Johnathon, Michael, etc…despite what shortened forms they use. I will stop if asked, though. I do know one Michael who hates it, so I call him “Mike”. Why do I do it? I am not sure. It isn’t a pretension nor is it anything I consciously think about or do on purpose at any level. For women’s names I frequently add the middle name also without thinking…My friend Deana, I always call “Deana Louise” even though I am the only one who does so. I never really gave it much thought at all, but I will now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/22 "2010-02-02T19:41:16Z")
I have four children. The three males (ages 32, 30 and 24) all go by shortened versions of their names. The female (aged 28) has a one-syllable given name, so it can’t be shortened. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/23 "2010-02-02T19:45:35Z")
I have not noticed this trend. That said, meh, whatever works for folks. I’m just glad people are still called Stephen, as opposed to ridiculous names like “Cooper” and “Easton,” the two kids I heard called by their names in the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years ago. No joke. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/24 "2010-02-02T19:48:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Who the hell wants to be called Jonathan all the time instead of John? > Who goes by Cynthia, instead of Cindy? Who the hell wants to be identified as a Leafs fan? 😉 > [@Leaffan](#): > > Sure, how about more phony or pretentious? I don’t see how going by your full name is pretentious, let alone “phony”. By definition, wouldn’t a nickname be more “phony”? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/25 "2010-02-02T19:50:41Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I’ve noticed that almost all of my gay male friends go by their full first name which, I suppose, is apropos of nothing. Just something I’ve noticed. Totally true. I’m pretty sure that’s why I do it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/26 "2010-02-02T19:50:44Z")
Oh, and since the issue of work e-mail has come up, what do you folks that prefer the diminutive of your names think when addressed by your full name? At my office your e-mail system is set up by IT and contains your full, legal first name. Same with the name ID on the phones . Some people set up separate signatures which would obviously reflect what they prefer but just as many only have their e-mail address. Just this morning I had to call “Cynthia” who answered her phone “this is Cindy”. I took it to mean that’s what she prefers to be called but what if I was replying to her via e-mail? Should I address her as Cynthia until otherwise instructed? If no one ever calls her by her full name, do I then sound like a dork? If you prefer a nickname do you invite people to use it? ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/27 "2010-02-02T19:50:45Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That said, meh, whatever works for folks. I’m just glad people are still called Stephen, as opposed to ridiculous names like “Cooper” and “Easton,” the two kids I heard called by their names in the Hockey Hall of Fame a few years ago. No joke. Heh…I know a kid named Cooper. Everyone but me calls him “Coop”. 😉 One of my kids’ best friends at the moment is “Ashton”, but I only ever hear him called “Ash”. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/28 "2010-02-02T19:50:59Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > … and even a Matthew who dislikes being called “Matt” (maybe he’s heard that joke about “whaddya call a paraplegic lying in front of a door” one too many times)… For a long time I had [this](http://angryrobotsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/hi-im-mat.jpg) in front of my door. I loved it. When people are forceful about what name they people to use, I assume they have negative mental connotations of other versions of their name. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/29 "2010-02-02T19:53:41Z")
I know a few who have gotten into the habit of using their full name to distinguish themselves from other people who already “own” the short version where they work (or in their class). For instance, we have three Joshes in our department, so one is Josh (first hired), one is Joshua (second hired), and when the third one was hired he was dubbed Schwa (though only in our dept). My boss goes by his full name at work but apparently a short name everywhere else. Sometimes it’s the option that makes the most sense if they’re one of many people with the same name. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/30 "2010-02-02T19:54:25Z")
This would have made an interesting poll, broken up into categories including gender. To **Taomist** : (cool username BTW) As far as using Outlook goes, since the user generally gets to set their own signature, its exactly what they want it to be. It doesn’t (at least not at any company I have worked) automatically come from your full name. People may use their full names to be professional (as do I) but I have not seen it be done or dictated by the company. ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/31 "2010-02-02T20:03:49Z")
In business situations, I use my full name. I consider any work emails to be like written correspondence, and sign them off as such. In person and in casual correspondence I usually use the shortened version. Most people don’t even ask, they just jump straight to using the shortened version. However, I do understand why some people would prefer their full name. It’s just a personal preference. I’ve know Andrews who only liked being called Andy, and some who would give you a death stare if you didn’t say Andrew. The same with Steven/Steve, etc. Something that has confused me in the past has been people in a business setting (clients, venders, etc.) who call me “sweetie”, “hon”, “kiddo” and even a few times “babe” or “baby”. Am I the only one who finds this unusual? I’ve gotten it from both females and males (and I am female). For me, I just use the name of the person as they introduced themselves. If someone introduces themselves as Steve, I wouldn’t call them Steven, and vise versa. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/32 "2010-02-02T20:14:01Z")
I used to get “kiddo”. Now I miss it cause I’m too old to be a kiddo! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/33 "2010-02-02T20:15:29Z")
For me the shortened version was due to not feeling happy with myself and wanting to separate me from me, so to speak. Now knowing who I really am, and liking that, and really understanding the meaning of names, I desire to be called by the full given name, and it is the one I put out. Some people I know know my name as the shorter version, I’m OK with that, and just go on using my given name. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/34 "2010-02-02T20:15:46Z")
I don’t really have a dog in this fight, since my name (Trepa) is pretty much unshortenable, but if some guy is referred to as Mike half the time, and Michael the other half, it’ll take me a while before I connect the two. My opinion, pick one and be consistent. > [@RickJay](#): > > I have not noticed this trend. > > That said, meh, whatever works for folks. I’m just glad people are still called Stephen, as opposed to ridiculous names like… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/35 "2010-02-02T20:20:47Z")
The short version was what I was called as a kid. My full first name is what I use as an adult. I don’t mind when friends shorten it now, but in a business setting it ticks me off. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/36 "2010-02-02T20:26:13Z")
I’m sad I missed the true era of real nicknames. When I was growing up and old men told stories all the guys had a nickname. “Oh that was the time Me, Red, Slats, Stretch, Torkie and, Snelly snuck out and went to the ballgame” My stories are all of the “Me, Joey, Stevie, Jon, Dave and Marty snuck out and went to the ballgame” And as you mentioned today’s kids. “Me, Joseph, Stephen, Jonathon, David, and Martin snuck out and went to the ballgame” Life is losing it’s color ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JerseyMarine2092](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyMarine2092](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyMarine2092)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/37 "2010-02-02T20:28:31Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What is it with kids these days? And by kids I mean anyone under the age of, say 30’ish. > > Today I sent emails to two people at work: Steve and Mike. When they responded, the emails were signed Stephen and Michael. This is a trend I have noticed for about 10 years now. Back in my day (I was born in 1962) everyone, and I mean everyone shortened their name, well unless it was already one syllable, and even then most of them found a way. > > Who the hell wants to be called Jonathan all the time instead of John? > Who goes by Cynthia, instead of Cindy? > Hell, even James instead of Jim. The list goes on. > > There’s no factual answer to this so I think IMHO is the right place. > > If you are one of these non-name-shortening people, why? Do you think the longer version sounds more authoritative? More grown up? Sure, how about more phony or pretentious? My name is Matthew. I go by Matt. Only my sister and my mother call me Matthew. I also go by my last name. I’m 27. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/38 "2010-02-02T20:30:56Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > A followup: when I lived in New Mexico in the early 1990s, I found that many Mexican-American men had what I can only call a formal nickname. In newspaper articles or on business cards, it was fairly common to see something like “Jesus ‘Chuy’ Baca”, “Roberto ‘Beto’ De La O”, or “Francisco ‘Paco’ Montoya”. Chuy Baca? Really? Was he tall and hairy? My folks named us kids names that didn’t have shortened versions. (Though mine can be shortened to “Al”, which I don’t mind.) (slight highjack) My family has a history of naming jiggery pokery. My father shares the same first name with his father- neither of them use(d) it. My father’s mother used her middle name. My uncle was named O.B. It didn’t stand for anything, but in our geneology there was an ancestor named something like Ogliothus Bonaparte, so I think he was named after him. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyMarine2092](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyMarine2092](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyMarine2092)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/39 "2010-02-02T20:35:07Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > For a long time I had [this](http://angryrobotsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/hi-im-mat.jpg) in front of my door. I loved it. > > When people are forceful about what name they people to use, I assume they have negative mental connotations of other versions of their name. Funny you should mention this one. This [American Dad clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0883kwckSs) had my friends in stitches. Who’s Matt Barry? I am 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/40 "2010-02-02T20:43:43Z")
I’ve worked with scads of Dans, Matts and Mikes. I can’t remember any of them wanting to be called by their full name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414.md?page=3)