[Opinions] Joan vs. Joanie
Lately I've been wondering if I should start going by my FN, Joan. Ever since I was little everyone has referred to me as Joanie, but now I'm wondering if I'm getting too old for Joanie (I'm 19). So, do you think that Joanie makes an okay name for an adult? or is Joan better? I get called by both names (my family calls me Joanie, but my best friend calls me Joan) so it wouldn't be that confusing.
Replies
Well, I agree with others, it depends on your comfort level.
It will be difficult to have people who have known you all your life to call you something else. And it is their affection that is being expressed in the nn. I'd find it strange to tell someone, "Stop showing affection for me." But for work and new people you meet it shouldn't be too difficult.
And I wouldn't worry if you have two sets of people that call you two different names. I know a women who goes by her birth name Janet professionally. But her family still calls her Midge (short for midget).
May I just say that I love your name(s)? Joan is so regal and refreshingly strong. Joanie is an adorable nn. Heads you win, tails you win. :-)
It will be difficult to have people who have known you all your life to call you something else. And it is their affection that is being expressed in the nn. I'd find it strange to tell someone, "Stop showing affection for me." But for work and new people you meet it shouldn't be too difficult.
And I wouldn't worry if you have two sets of people that call you two different names. I know a women who goes by her birth name Janet professionally. But her family still calls her Midge (short for midget).
May I just say that I love your name(s)? Joan is so regal and refreshingly strong. Joanie is an adorable nn. Heads you win, tails you win. :-)
I think Joanie is fine....any how, your family is going to call you Joanie no matter what. Introduce yourself to new people as Joan to sound more grown up.
It's kind of strange. I have two sisters who are named Patricia and Pamela. When they were children, they went by Patty and Pammy. As they got older, Pammy became just Pam but Patty stayed Patty. Having her named shortened to Pam wasn't something that Pam insisted upon, it was just something that naturally happened. Patty seems fine for an adult woman, but Pammy doesn't. But why, exactly? I can't really say. It just IS that way.
Anyway, my older sister's best friend as a teenager was named Joni. Her name was actually Joan, but that's how she spelled Joanie. She always continued to be called that and never shortened it to Joan. Maybe that's why I think Joanie is perfectly suitable for an adult.
Anyway, my older sister's best friend as a teenager was named Joni. Her name was actually Joan, but that's how she spelled Joanie. She always continued to be called that and never shortened it to Joan. Maybe that's why I think Joanie is perfectly suitable for an adult.
I'd say, if you weren't really attached to the name Joanie, that it's not really an "adult" name. I've heard of some adult women who went by Joanie or Joni, but I never thought it looked that good ona grown-up. Kind of like Katie or Missy might work ona little girl, but when she grows up she probably should switch to Katherine/Kate or Melissa.
I like Joan better in general, but it's up to you.