Abbreviating your name
 

Does your name have abbreivations/short versions/nickname versions? (James -Jim, Margaret -Peggy etc) And if so, do you like them/use them?

My name has three syllables, I generally like to hear them all. Beest shortens it a little to the most commen nickname version in the UK (two syllables). Since I moved to the US. some people try to use just the first syllable. That s toally not happening. I get quite precious about that.

yes it does and my Nephue HATES it when i call him Topher ( He Has the same First name as me )

I don't but my boy Charlie has taken to being called Carlos for some reason.

people call me jimhelm

It's because he's WINNING!!!

He's got tiger blood and Adonis DNA!!!

I only get called by my full name at formal occasions and if my father is pissed off with me (still). Other than that I go by a single syllable of my three syllable name.

I only have a two syllable name, but it's okay, I'm not suffering from syllable envy.
I use a derivative of my formal birth name as my chosen name.
I haven't changed it on official documents, but most everyone uses it (except the 'rents, and even they do sometimes - it was one of Mum's pet names for me when I was a babba after all).

Sometimes I have to explain it to people.
They would never question why a man called William would be called Bill, or a woman called Margaret might be called Peg. But change Cheryl to Cherry and people think it's odd because you suddenly have two names - one for everyday use and one for best maybe? No, it's an accepted contraction. Especially if you have big red cheeks.

And have had to correct people on the pronunciation all your life (no, CHeryl, not SHeryl) because your awkward parents decided that was the way your name was pronounced. Backed up by the Oxford Dictionary of names, it's true. But you would be surprised how many people are prepared to actually argue with you about your own name!

Chip on my shoulder? No, just a vast cauldron of French Fries.

Still, even my formal name is miles better than being called Cheggers, which I was when I was at school Keith Chegwin was on TV and used the same sobriquet.

I still get called Chez or Chezza (grrrrrrrrr), but I can deal with those. In fact it would almost be nice to hear those again - it would mean I had friends confident enough to tease me. [/pathos]

My brother is generally called Steve these days - even by his wife.
I refuse to butcher his name in this way.
I started calling him Ste years back and that will do for me.
(Stevo if I'm feeling particularly pleased with myself)
Bless him, he's so sanguine I dioubt he even notices the stand I've taken.

There are a couple of shortened forms of mine. One I use here: Dana. Mostly at home my family call me Dani (pronounced Daynee). Amongst mates I prefer Dani (pronounced Dannee).

I have an abundance of names if I wanted to use any of them. Danielle, Sara, and Eleana.

I honestly don't mind what people call me. They can call me Danielle, Dana, Dani (either version) Dan. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I find it depends on context as to what people use. I have a mild preference for Dani (Dannee). But if my surname is also used, then I prefer Danielle, as Dani sounds odd with my surname.

As a kid I hated my name: Danielle. It sounded clumsy and too rounded/big. That first syllable especially sounded round and clumsy. Maybe it's to do with the accent that was saying it, surrounded as I was by people with broad Lancashire accents (it basically came out as Dan|yell). But when my family used it, it didn't sound as rounded and clumsy (Daneeyel). Possibly because my family have quite slight accents, and on Dad's side a very correctly pronounced, but slightly exotic anglo-Indian swish. Gran for instance sounded almost like Deniel.

There aren't really any abbreviations for my name. I've always wanted a nickname. For a while in college my friends decided I could be Otis, but it didn't stick, and it has nothing to do with my real name anyway.

(Otis)

Andy Griffith?

Infi, there are pet names for every name out there, even if they aren't abbreviations.
The family who lived next door to us when I was growing up had a daughter with the same name you have. It was longer than her given name.

Leecee-lou

Oh yeah, I am 'sis' or was 'sissy' in my family. Brother couldn't pronounce my name quite yet, and it stuck. I hated it when I was younger but I love it now. Only girl, you know.

'Vana, actually Animal House, when they walk into the bar and the band is Otis Day and the Nights. "OTIS, my man!" they'd yell. :)

My mother calls me 'Ree' and spells it as such, my friends sometimes call me 'Annie' and since I set up home with my partner my daughter has started calling me 'Dad'.

Like Dana I have a selection of other names I could use if I really wanted.

That made me smile.

Most people just end up calling me Les. I think. Its usually only when someone says Leslie that I notice. It doesn't roll off the tongue as naturally as Les. As a young girl I always thought it was cool that Les was also my initials. I thought my Mom planned it that way.