I’m a Natasha who’s worked with other Natashas in the past. At my first job, there were three of us, all of whom also went by Tasha. This got confusing really quickly, as we were often scheduled to work the same areas on the same days. We’d just all turn around until the person calling us told us which one they were asking for.
I’ve also gotten a number of diminutive versions of Natasha as nicknames over the years (my username is one of them), so I generally respond to a variety of names, with the exclusion of Natalie, Natalia, and Natty; none of them are an acceptable form of my name, and the last one is just weird. Strangely enough, though, I did answer to Anastassia for a couple of days when out partying with people who’d misheard my name and had an easier time pronouncing Anastassia. That said, I’m fairly easygoing with nicknames and have put up with a few that were variations on my last name or an inside joke.
My cousin’s son totally got his teacher’s attention when he started the first grade. His name is Marcos. He lives in a state with a huge Latino population, but his teacher kept calling him “Marcus”. He protested, but she kept calling him Marcus. So, he decided to totally ignore her unless she pronounced his name correctly, pretending he couldn’t hear her. She got the message and called him Marcos thereafter.
Phony and pretentious my ass. I’ve gone by Jonathan my entire life. Many other people who prefer to be called by their given name instead of a nickname have done the same. You can get off your high-horse before I take you to the pit.
Anyone know why Dick is an acceptable diminutive for Richard? I can see Rich and Rick easily, but do not understand how this became connected. And who chooses to go by Dick anyway?
Except in no cases, you mean. If a Jonathan is shortened, it’s Jon, no “h.”
I know a Jonathan whose father is named John. Why they thought that was a good idea, I still don’t know.
And, as it happens, I go by Robert IRL, so thanks, too.
I had limited nickname options when I was growing up. My father was also Robert, but went by Bob, though his family called him Bobby. My mother’s name actually is Bobbie. My grandmother (Og bless her) saved me from “Little Bob” when I was an infant by reminding my parents that if they started calling me that, it would stick. So I got “Robby,” which I went by until 4th grade, when a teacher told me that “Robby” was a little boy’s name, and if I ever wanted to be a man, I’d better start going by Robert.
I’ve been Robert ever since. I will answer to “Rob,” but there are only a few people I actually encourage (my brother and I have a deal: he calls me Rob, I call him John; when he slips, I call him Johnny). My mom and my sister still get a pass for Robby.
I normally ignore anyone who calls me Bob.
I apply my thinking to others. I have coworkers who answer to shortened versions of their names all the time, but they’ve never said “Call me Nick” to me, so I call them by their full names. My g.p. introduced himself to me by his full name when we first met, and then said, “Call me Pete.” I call him Pete.
I’ll be sure to tell the dozen or so Johns I know that it impossible for them to be spelling their name the way they do then. Most Jonathons I know go by John. Three others go by Jack. and Two spell it Jon. And one of the them only spells it jon to differentiate from his dad who spells it John.
Me, goddammit. The name “John” is not my name. It’s not even close. I can barely even see the similarities. I like the name Jonathan. I realize that three syllables is often too much for people to pronounce, and I sometimes end up with other nicknames or going by my last name. That’s all fine, just don’t call me John.
Except in no cases, you mean. If a Jonathan is shortened, it’s Jon, no “h.”