# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/101 "2010-02-03T17:25:53Z")
When I was in school, I kept being asked if I preferred my full first name or the shortened nickname. I didn’t have a preference, but since people kept asking, I decided I should get one. I realized my family called me by the short version, so I picked the full name. My mom and my little bro still call me by the short version and my dad and older sis call me by my full name. Everyone calls me by my full name except my mom and bro and some of my mom’s friends who have known me my whole life. At work, there is another guy with the same name as me, not just first name, but first and last. We started about the same time and HR kept getting us confused. He goes by the nick and I go by the full version, so people eventually got us straight. Also at work, we have a Mike and a Wes. Everyone calls them that. My boss calls them Michael and Weston. We also have a guy with an unusual name that most of us call by his full name and the same boss calls him by a one syllable nickname. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/102 "2010-02-03T17:32:06Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > That…really weirded me out. I had to check the timestamps to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Huh. How the hell did that happen? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/103 "2010-02-03T17:36:24Z")
Angelique is a beautiful name, I always thought. I agree with you on Angel though. DiosaBellissima, I thought maybe you were pulling an Airplane joke. “I just wanted to let you know we’re all counting on you.” ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/104 "2010-02-03T17:43:16Z")
Gagundathar was a very common name where and when I was decanted, and I typically go by my last name at work (Dr. Inexplicable) or by my nickname, Hawk, pretty much everywhere else. Shortening a person’s name in my culture is a shooting offense so I don’t have to endure being called ‘Gag’. This is true except for online, of course, where I can’t physically chastise the offender. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/105 "2010-02-03T17:45:15Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Angelique is a beautiful name, I always thought. I agree with you on Angel though. > > **DiosaBellissima** , I thought maybe you were pulling an Airplane joke. “I just wanted to let you know we’re all counting on you.” I think you meant to direct this to **DianaG.** Either that or I’m starting to have my own “Skippy” hallucinations. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/106 "2010-02-03T18:07:14Z")
Well, Leafy, it is an affectation du jour to get a little too precious over decrying the un-permissioned use of a diminutive. There is a small control pleasure which enters into the equation when permission to use a diminutive is taken unilaterally by a relative stranger. _“Pardon; it’s James, not Jim. Thank you.”_ It’s my personal observation that the trend is driven by historic preferences of the wealthy and privileged–or at least a perecption on the part of the masses that that is how the rich do it. An unscientific observation, certainly, but the polloi have never been shy to pick up on free affectations which associate them with education and means. The tide will turn and Bo will return as soon as the trend is so pervasive it is no longer special to be Beauregard. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/107 "2010-02-03T18:43:24Z")
The fun part about my nickname is that it’s a boys’ name (Think Billy or Bobby). So sometimes salespeople call and hear me answer and assume I’m the assistant. They give me some BS line about how “Mr. Harmonius is expecting my call and said for you to put me right through.” I always then chuckle and say - “how weird. I’m Ms. Harmonius and I don’t remember doing anything of the sort . . .” I do end up with a lot of Mallard Duck stationery and swiss army knife presents from vendors . . . ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/108 "2010-02-03T18:56:27Z")
I was Julie until I was hired here. There was another Julie already, so I became Julia, and use it everywhere now except at home. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I use the less-formal “Julie” because the accent around here turns “Julia” into “Joalya” and it’s so damned ugly that I can hardly stand it. And now I’m just used to Julie. I recently changed my pronunciation, too! It seemed that people had difficulty understanding “Joolya” on the phone, but I noticed it always sounded so pretty when my Mexican co-worker pronounced it. Now I say “Joo-lee-yah” like she does. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/109 "2010-02-03T18:57:03Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I think you meant to direct this to **DianaG.** Either that or I’m starting to have my own “Skippy” hallucinations. Of course she did. And don’t call me Skippy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/110 "2010-02-03T19:08:27Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Of course she did. And don’t call me Skippy. 😃 Choosy dopers choose Jif anyway. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/111 "2010-02-03T19:10:13Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I’m naming my kids good, strong classic names (that aren’t super common, so they’ll be unique without me having to resort to pairing random prefixes and suffixes). We did that with. Then, right after we did that, everyone in the world named their baby with our name. So in \*\*Attacklass’ \*\*school, there are fifty zillion other **Attacklasses** in the years below her. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/112 "2010-02-03T19:18:42Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > We did that with. Then, right after we did that, everyone in the world named their baby with our name. So in \*\*Attacklass’ \*\*school, there are fifty zillion other **Attacklasses** in the years below her. Someone in my mom’s prenatal class heard the name my mom was thinking of and named her daughter that name 3 weeks before I was born. Realizing that we would be classmates, my mom changed my name enough to keep my name different from hers - hence why she always calls me by both of my first names. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/113 "2010-02-03T19:26:28Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I think you meant to direct this to **DianaG.** Either that or I’m starting to have my own “Skippy” hallucinations. Of course I did. Diosabellisima has the stripperiffic name. DianaG’s name is Skippy. Got it! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/114 "2010-02-03T19:32:44Z")
> [@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. I’ve heard of this stereotype too. I guess I’m the exception, along with my friend Drew who _refuses_ to go by Andrew under any circumstances less formal than his university diploma (partly because he changed it in order to break away from his parents). > [@](#): > > 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. Interesting, my situation is the same (apart from the last name) and I’m 28. Only my family calls me Matthew, as well as people who are taking liberties and calling me by my first name when I didn’t invite them to do so. When I introduce myself by my first name (in English) it’s always as Matt. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/115 "2010-02-03T19:35:21Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I was Julie until I was hired here. There was another Julie already, so I became Julia, and use it everywhere now except at home. > I recently changed my pronunciation, too! It seemed that people had difficulty understanding “Joolya” on the phone, but I noticed it always sounded so pretty when my Mexican co-worker pronounced it. Now I say “Joo-lee-yah” like she does. 🙂 My family always said Joo-lee-a. But the surrounding people said “Joalya.” I can tolerate “Joalie” but not “Joalya.” It makes me cringe. Someday, I’ll get that A excised. Or move. I guess moving would be easier. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/116 "2010-02-03T19:55:16Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Of course I did. Diosabellisima has the stripperiffic name. DianaG’s name is Skippy. Got it! At least I know I’ve got a solid back up career if need be. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/117 "2010-02-03T19:56:01Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > At least I know I’ve got a solid back up career if need be. At least it’s better than whatever career you get being named “Skippy”! ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/118 "2010-02-03T20:01:29Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > At least it’s better than whatever career you get being named “Skippy”! Peanutbutter salesman is a very lucrative career nowadays, I’ll have you know. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/119 "2010-02-03T20:54:42Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I was Julie until I was hired here. There was another Julie already, so I became Julia, and use it everywhere now except at home. > I recently changed my pronunciation, too! It seemed that people had difficulty understanding “Joolya” on the phone, but I noticed it always sounded so pretty when my Mexican co-worker pronounced it. Now I say “Joo-lee-yah” like she does. 🙂 I sometimes get the three syllable pronounciation. I firmly let them know that if they use more than two syllables, they need to give it the full Spanish (hoo-ly-a) treatment. 😛 Most people get it right though. Amongst my closest friends and family, I mostly go by the first syllable only. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414/120 "2010-02-03T23:44:12Z")
I have an un-shortenable one syllable first name, so no nicknames for me. But my brother-in-law is a different story. He has one of those WASPy sounding “Buckminster Nathaniel Winchester III” kind of names. For his own reasons, he has decided that he likes his full first name and refuses to let anyone shorten it; which is completely his decision, so everyone respects it and calls him what he wants to be called. Except his parents. They decided long ago that he would get both the WASPy full name and an official nickname, whether he likes it or not. Though no one else in the world calls him anything but his real, full name, they call him by their preferred nickname and he and everyone else can go to hell if they don’t like it. I have no idea what their problem is, but I do know that this falls pretty low on their list of “problems” anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-one-shortens-their-first-name-any-more/527414.md?page=7)