View Message

Full name. After that, it's up to them. "This is my son Peter", and if it turns into Pete or it doesn't, he's quite easy with it. "This is my daughter Beatrice" similarly, except she tends to say "Please call me Bea!"

If I had kids, I'd probably make introductions with their full name. My parents didn't, but that's what I do with my own name. I feel like acquaintances don't need to know my NN; family and friends can use my NN.

---

If the kid wanted to correct it later, they could.

This message was edited 11/22/2022, 1:45 PM

Definitely introduce other people by whatever they actually use. Kids especially don't bother to correct people. Last year was my first time teaching kids and I was always introduced to them by full name (unless it was the parents introducing them, but usually it was someone with their full names on a clipboard) so that's what I called them, and NOBODY ever corrected me so I just assumed I was right. But one time a kid was introduced as Madison and I asked "Do you go by Maddy?" and I was right. But I think she never would have told me unless I asked, and I probably called a bunch of other kids by names they didn't use because I didn't ask and they never bothered to tell me!

---

(These were like one-day classes, the most I ever saw the same kid was once a week for 5 weeks and most of them I only saw once. So I assume they would have told me if it was a longer class, but still! I want to know what I'm actually supposed to call you!)

This message was edited 11/21/2022, 2:30 PM

It depends. If the shortened name is what they prefer, so be it. Vice versa as well.

---

Say I had a daughter named Beatrix and her friends and family call her Trixie at times. Whether she wants to be called Trixie as her everyday name is her choice as soon as she’s old enough. If she wants this, I’ll introduce her as Trixie. If she prefers only close ones calling her that name or something like that I’ll introduce her as Beatrix.

Usually by their shortened names, but in my daughter’s case I sometimes mention that it’s short for her first name as it’s not an obvious shortening.

Full name, it's why I named them those. Other people do other things, but full names are my thing.

I normally introduce people by their full name. They can say, if they prefer the shortened name - or it just happens.
But I don't like the nicknames people tried to give me and hated, when they used it to introduce me. Always corrected that to my full name.

---

But people are different. My sister would correct, if I introduced her by her full name😂 She prefers the shortened name.

As a Rebecca / Becki, I didn't know my name was Rebecca until around kindergarten. I'm not sure why, I just thought it was a word that meant I was in trouble. I remember excitedly asking my mother if I had any other "secret names." Introducing her as Rebecca but saying she prefers Becky works perfectly, or just Becky itself (most will assume she's a Rebecca). As an adult, I usually introduce myself as Rebecca in professional and formal settings (work, government, medical appointments, etc.) so that there's less risk for confusion. As a child it never really caused any confusion with others, and I preferred Becki.

---

Until she's old enough to know her own preference, do what feels right and don't worry too much about it! She'll let you know what she wants in time, as all children eventually do :P

If she's not old enough to say which she prefers, and she's usually called Becky unless she's in trouble, you should introduce her as Becky. In a situation where her full (first and last) name is going to be noted, like for signing up for school or something, you should say "This is Rebecca, we call her Becky."

I’d ask Becky how she felt about it. If she wants to be introduced as Rebecca, do that. If not, just keep calling her Becky (or any other name). Considering, this is her identity that you’d be introducing to others.

What does your daughter prefer? It should be her choice.

Their full name, but they have short names, 3 to 5 letters