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HelpChanging Nicknames
The Robert post reminded me of it, but I've been thinking about this for a little while. I lot of people in name communities talk about names as having "so many nickname options for a child to choose from!" but I cannot really imagine choosing my own nickname. My name is Margaret, since birth I've gone by both Maggie and Margaret but those are the only names I can imagine going by. I can't imagine introducing myself as Meg or Maisie or responding to that.
Also, when I think about it, I can't really think of anyone else I know that goes by another nickname than they used to - except really similar ones, ex. Lizzie becoming Liz. So what do you think? Have you ever decided to go by a different nickname? Would you? Is there a nickname you want to go by but can't imagine making the switch to?
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/87410
Also, when I think about it, I can't really think of anyone else I know that goes by another nickname than they used to - except really similar ones, ex. Lizzie becoming Liz. So what do you think? Have you ever decided to go by a different nickname? Would you? Is there a nickname you want to go by but can't imagine making the switch to?
http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/87410
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It's funny - I sort of had the opposite experience. I had a formal legal name at birth that was quite respectable, but was called exclusively by a very childish nickname. I went through school registered under the name, the whole shebang. When I went to university, I decided I would try going by the full version. It felt bizarre at first! Like I was only pretending to be a grownup. It took some effort to not giggle whenever I introduced myself because it felt so strange. And responding to it took some time too. But finally it sunk in that, duh, these people hadn't grown up with me, so it wasn't weird for them to hear the name - just for me. And eventually, the people who knew me by the full version outnumbered those who knew me by the childhood name, and it became odder to hear myself called by the old name than the new one.
I also once worked at a large store where there were like five people with the same name, so they made me call myself by an unfamiliar nickname so I wouldn't get mixed up with the others. It ended up being more trouble than anything because I never knew anyone was talking to me and totally ignored everyone accidentally.
I also once worked at a large store where there were like five people with the same name, so they made me call myself by an unfamiliar nickname so I wouldn't get mixed up with the others. It ended up being more trouble than anything because I never knew anyone was talking to me and totally ignored everyone accidentally.
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My first name is Jessica-Kate. As a child I always went by Jessie (started by my parents I suppose). When I hit highschool, it became Jess (started by my friends). My dad often calls me Jessa.
I prefer Jessie but it's weird to introduce myself as "Jessie" even though that's often what I think of myself as, so I introduce myself as "Jess". While I respond to any of these names, I find it really odd when someone tries to use a form of my name that they don't usually use, eg. to my brother, sister and mum I'm Jessie so them calling me "Jess" is odd, it's the opposite for my friends who call me Jess if they try to call me "Jessie".
I don't know if that 100% answers your question but that's my experience =)
I prefer Jessie but it's weird to introduce myself as "Jessie" even though that's often what I think of myself as, so I introduce myself as "Jess". While I respond to any of these names, I find it really odd when someone tries to use a form of my name that they don't usually use, eg. to my brother, sister and mum I'm Jessie so them calling me "Jess" is odd, it's the opposite for my friends who call me Jess if they try to call me "Jessie".
I don't know if that 100% answers your question but that's my experience =)
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There are no nicknames for my name, so I'm stuck with it. I have at times wished I could be called by a different form of it instead, but I never tried to change it.
I agree with you - it's hard to imagine asking people to call me anything but my name. Even if there were a nickname. It seems like it's just not my own thing to control. My name is a handle for the use of others, which was given by others and belongs to them, not to me - it's not a self-expression. It's an arbitrary description of me. Like, I could tell everyone that my hair is chestnut, but they would still say it was brown, and I'd feel about the same way correcting them about that, as I would telling them to call me by a different name.
I agree with you - it's hard to imagine asking people to call me anything but my name. Even if there were a nickname. It seems like it's just not my own thing to control. My name is a handle for the use of others, which was given by others and belongs to them, not to me - it's not a self-expression. It's an arbitrary description of me. Like, I could tell everyone that my hair is chestnut, but they would still say it was brown, and I'd feel about the same way correcting them about that, as I would telling them to call me by a different name.
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My cousin Morwenna was known as "Wenna" (or even more informally "Wenny") growing up. When she started secondary school (high school) she, somewhat understandably, decided to start going by "Mo". Outside of the family she is Mo or Morwenna but for us she's still just Wenna.
In the past I have thought about changing my nickname. I considered changing my nick name before I went to university, just for a change. I wussed out in the end. The main reason being I couldn't think of a name that could satisfactorily (in my name nerd brain) be used as a nickname for my full name, other than the one I already used!
eta: Just for context, my name is Elspeth "Elsie". I considered Ethie / Effie but thought it was slightly contrived in the end.
In the past I have thought about changing my nickname. I considered changing my nick name before I went to university, just for a change. I wussed out in the end. The main reason being I couldn't think of a name that could satisfactorily (in my name nerd brain) be used as a nickname for my full name, other than the one I already used!
eta: Just for context, my name is Elspeth "Elsie". I considered Ethie / Effie but thought it was slightly contrived in the end.
This message was edited 5/2/2015, 1:50 PM
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I have a family member named Christine. Throughout the time when she was growing up, her family called her Christy. Once she got into college, she started introducing herself as Chris. I guess Christy sounded to juvenile to her. Anyway, everyone knows her as Chris now, and most people don't even realize she was ever called anything else.
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