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Etiquette when shortening peoples names.

24

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    Akrasia wrote: »
    Captain Spazmo?



    Boobie McTits.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,512 ✭✭✭Muise...


    Boobie McTits.

    stuck in my head now. :)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,363 ✭✭✭✭cantdecide


    I am always sensitive to pronouncing someone's name properly. I know lots of non-Irish people and I would never shorten a Jacek to 'Jack' as some people think is perfectly acceptable.

    I once worked for an elderly gent called Dermot. People in the organisation would call him as such but as it was a business to business organisation with lots of regular customers, we had lots of people that got it into their heads that calling him 'Derry' once they got know him was the done thing. It became a standing joke eventually- a customer would leave the office and he'd muse 'Derry? Who the fcuk is Derry? Did my mother have another son called Derry'!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    My name is one syllable so I am off the hook.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    Any ideas for shortening Graham?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    Any ideas for shortening Graham?

    Hamo?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,378 ✭✭✭daRobot


    Ciaran_B wrote: »
    Can't shorten Ciaran. Well, I suppose you could use Ciara. Although that would be ridic.

    You sure can, bud.

    Al'righ Ciar (Keer)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,244 ✭✭✭✭bnt


    When it comes to names, my attitude is to do whatever the owner wants. Getting the name right is a fundamental sign of respect for the other person. That goes for spelling, too - unless it's unavoidable, misspelling someone's name is completely unacceptable.

    Government resting upon the will and universal suffrage of the people has no anchorage except in the people's intelligence.

    — Grover Cleveland



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,562 ✭✭✭eyescreamcone


    Hamo?

    The "h" in Graham tends to be pretty silent (Grey-am) so I'm not sure if Hamo works.

    Gramo as in Grey-mo maybe?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭CardBordWindow


    I work with a guy who NEVER calls anyone by their actually name. If he can shorten it, he will. (Sandra becomes San ; Pat becomes Pa)
    But if the name is already short, he will make it longer, often in the most stupid way. Ed becomes 'The Ed' ; Chris becomes 'Chrissie Boy'

    An irritating individual!


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  • Posts: 53,068 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I get called

    The first letter of my name
    The first letter of my name, doubled
    Half the first syllable of my name
    The first syllable of my name with an s at the end

    Also occasionally my actual name :D

    Doesn't bother me in the slightest, I quite like them actually.

    In work, I tend to call people by their full names unless I know them well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    The "h" in Graham tends to be pretty silent (Grey-am) so I'm not sure if Hamo works.

    Gramo as in Grey-mo maybe?

    I always deliberately pronounce Graham as Gray-HAM. I like to annoy Grahams for some reason.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,230 ✭✭✭Merkin


    I work with a guy who NEVER calls anyone by their actually name. If he can shorten it, he will. (Sandra becomes San ; Pat becomes Pa)
    But if the name is already short, he will make it longer, often in the most stupid way. Ed becomes 'The Ed' ; Chris becomes 'Chrissie Boy'

    An irritating individual!

    He sounds like a twat. Maybe start calling him "twa" and see if he gets it....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,433 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    Ciaran_B wrote: »
    Can't shorten Ciaran. Well, I suppose you could use Ciara. Although that would be ridic.

    Ya you can, I've a mate Ciaran who I call Cere.


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 6,005 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    English people seem unable to say "Thomas", it always gets shortened to "Tom". It's not a big deal but it's annoying. If I wanted to be called Tom I'd introduce myself as such.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,094 ✭✭✭wretcheddomain


    Any ideas for shortening Graham?

    Gram

    Doesn't help that my shortened name is Wretched...:(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭ash23


    My family and close friends use a shortened version of my name but I find it strange when work colleagues or people I don't know well use it.
    For my family and friends it's a term of endearment or affection. So when used by someone I don't know that well it just seems slightly strange. Like calling a workmate "hon" or "babe".

    I introduce myself by my full name so would expect it not to be shortened.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,094 ✭✭✭wretcheddomain


    ash23 wrote: »
    My family and close friends use a shortened version of my name

    23?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,791 ✭✭✭ash23


    23?

    Har har ;)


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,496 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    cantdecide wrote: »
    I am always sensitive to pronouncing someone's name properly. I know lots of non-Irish people and I would never shorten a Jacek to 'Jack' as some people think is perfectly acceptable.

    I once worked for an elderly gent called Dermot. People in the organisation would call him as such but as it was a business to business organisation with lots of regular customers, we had lots of people that got it into their heads that calling him 'Derry' once they got know him was the done thing. It became a standing joke eventually- a customer would leave the office and he'd muse 'Derry? Who the fcuk is Derry? Did my mother have another son called Derry'!

    I think you'll find his correct name was Londondermot.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭Precious flower


    Having a name that no one can shorten is great, however, it can be spelled about three different ways which is frustrating for me! As a result whenever I meet someone with the same name I always ask how they spell it and don't assume it is spelt the same as mine :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,574 ✭✭✭HalloweenJack


    My name is Finbarr. I prefer being called Fin. Finny I can live with but Finby drives me nuts. Finbarr sounds like an old man's name to me.

    I don't live in Ireland anymore so I just introduce myself as Fin as it saves a lot of hassle with spelling, nobody seems to get it right.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,925 ✭✭✭✭anncoates


    I get called four different variants of my name (if you include the actual full name) depending on who (family, friends, or colleagues) is addressing me.

    Don't really have a preference which is probably why it's proliferated.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,900 ✭✭✭rannerap


    I get called ranne buy a few different people, they took it upon themselves to shorten it not me, I dont mind it though :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭The Pheasant2


    I get called by my second name, the first syllable of my name (don't like that), the first syllable with "ers" after (preferred), or the first syllable with "zer" at the end


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,424 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    I'm only known by my two nicknames and I wouldn't answer to my own name as I'm not used to anyone referring to me as it, which is a pity as I'd actually prefer my own name to what people call me but it's what my friends started calling me at school and it stuck.

    Im like that too. I never anwser to anyone who addresses me as robert becuase im not used to it anymore and dont expect it. I only ever use it when signing things!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,775 ✭✭✭✭kfallon


    All my mates call me by the shortened version of my first name. Some of them refer to me from time to time by the longer version of my surname (simple add an 'r' at the end!)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 531 ✭✭✭blackbird98


    So I was walking down the stairs at work a short while ago and I met a work colleague who incidentally has the same name as I, and he greeted me "Lando" to which I replied "Hi Lans"
    He seemed to take offense to this as he turned around and requested that I call him his proper name.

    ah the old "familiarity" problem.....He's a work colleague and obviously does not want to be your friend!!!

    I think when meeting people for the first time, or during work, you should be addressed by your proper name. Friends can abbreviate it or call you what they like.

    If I am introducing myself to someone, I will use my proper name, but most of my friends use some form of abbreviation for me


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,372 ✭✭✭LorMal


    I work with a guy whose real name is Cornelius. He shortened it to Niall (but pronounced Neil). This is very confusing. Should I just call him Cornelius to annoy him?


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  • Posts: 26,219 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    anncoates wrote: »
    I get called four different variants of my name (if you include the actual full name) depending on who (family, friends, or colleagues) is addressing me.

    Don't really have a preference which is probably why it's proliferated.

    Steve?

    Stephen?

    Steve-o?

    Stevie?


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