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HelpRe: Adults with "childish" nicknames
in reply to a message by Laslow
In general I think it's silly. I don't approve of grown men going by Billy or Bobby or Jimmy (Carter notwithstanding).
In my family, my brother was called Johnny as a child, but once an adult, he wanted to be called John. However, my sisters and I still call him Johnny because we can't think of him any other way. But at least everyone else calls him John.
OTOH, the name didn't seem an impediment to Johnny Carson and Johnny Cash.
And then sometimes leaving behind a childish nickname happens naturally. That's what happened with my sister Pamela. As a child, she was called Pammy. It just happened naturally that as she entered her teen years, we all started calling her Pam. I don't know why that didn't happen with Johnny also!
My sister Patricia was Patty as a child and has stayed Patty as an adult---never shortened to Pat. But for some reason, Patty doesn't seem childish the way Pammy does.
Wow this subject was more complicated than I thought it would be.
In my family, my brother was called Johnny as a child, but once an adult, he wanted to be called John. However, my sisters and I still call him Johnny because we can't think of him any other way. But at least everyone else calls him John.
OTOH, the name didn't seem an impediment to Johnny Carson and Johnny Cash.
And then sometimes leaving behind a childish nickname happens naturally. That's what happened with my sister Pamela. As a child, she was called Pammy. It just happened naturally that as she entered her teen years, we all started calling her Pam. I don't know why that didn't happen with Johnny also!
My sister Patricia was Patty as a child and has stayed Patty as an adult---never shortened to Pat. But for some reason, Patty doesn't seem childish the way Pammy does.
Wow this subject was more complicated than I thought it would be.
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Replies
Yes by what you've stated, you did not honor your brothers intent & continued to call him by your greater or more natural association--even familiarity--although this disagrees with your own idea. The "childish" portion i.e. "ie" or "y" soften the formal edge.
I remember you've stated that you are not a fan of your name, yet that you'd never change it due to respect. I hope you play with the idea of shortening your name to the first syllable--then adding an "ie" to the end, not necessarily legally, but just as a pet name among friends--perhaps introducing yourself with this new informality. This is not a choice that needs an immediate decision. Whether you do or not is only up to you, as it only concerns you; yet if it does not resolve the complications you reference in your last sentence, it may just add harmless enjoyment for someone who simply loves names.
I remember you've stated that you are not a fan of your name, yet that you'd never change it due to respect. I hope you play with the idea of shortening your name to the first syllable--then adding an "ie" to the end, not necessarily legally, but just as a pet name among friends--perhaps introducing yourself with this new informality. This is not a choice that needs an immediate decision. Whether you do or not is only up to you, as it only concerns you; yet if it does not resolve the complications you reference in your last sentence, it may just add harmless enjoyment for someone who simply loves names.
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I feel like, in the English-speaking world, it's slightly more acceptable for a woman to have a "childish" nickname than a man.
This message was edited 5/25/2017, 6:26 AM
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