Tonight I asked someone their name.
He replied Jammy. I was momentarily confused, then it clicked.
Ah, your name is James, yes He replied. I stopped myself from laughing.
I realised I have other friends who have silly nicknames. In both instances I call them by their proper name not their nickname.
Is it just me who finds nicknames silly and don’t use them.
I am happy to use a nickname if the individual prefers that, why not, it looks pompous if you decide the person is being 'silly' - it doesn't hurt you, so why make it an issue.
A friend of my sister-in-law has the surname Lemmon, and he was introduced to me as 'Jiff', which is what everyone calls him, including his wife.
I have no idea what his actual name is, and if he is happy to be called Jiff, who am I to say he can't.
One of my friends prefers to be called ‘Shaggy’.
Trouble is, he is pig ugly and I have never seen a woman anywhere near him. I suspect he is living in the distant past. I call him Darren (his given name). I consider it a reality check rather than disrespectful.
Absolutely hate nicknames, always have. They're bad enough in children, but with adults it's just plain embarrassing, and I make a point of using their proper name.
I used to watch my local rugby union team, and there was a good young (18) player who finally made the first team as prop. When I heard his teammates calling out to him as 'Slug' I thought how sad it was that that was him stuck with that horrible nickname for at least the rest of his playing days, if not a lot longer.
Mamy, from her it is without malice and acceptable. Little brother calls me Crazy Cat Lady or Crazy Auntie Susan - his kids tell him that he is being cruel.
I have to add, my third friend hates his nickname. It was given to him by his elder sister, and he hates it.
He has been stuck with it for 40 years, and when everyone say hi **** and I call himby his real name, I can tell he approves.
I’ve had a nickname since I was seven and it is the name I use apart from on official stuff. It is an actual name but one that is unusual for a 50+ woman.