Most Darling Internetz,
Those of you with un-nickname-able names are lucky. With a name like Jennifer, I have a plethora of nicknames of which to choose. Perhaps “plethora” is a bit of an exaggeration, but there are at least two nicknames that I’ve been called.
When I was a baby, I was called Jennifer. Sometime during my childhood, Jennifer was reduced to Jenny. Most everyone I know from my childhood, all the way up through college and a few years beyond knows me as Jenny.
My parents call me Jenny. My husband calls me Jenny.
A few years ago, I decided that I’d prefer to be called Jennifer. This wasn’t a decision that I announced like, “hey people who’ve called me Jenny for over 20 years! Yes, you! Call me Jennifer now, mkay?” Nothing like that, I just started introducing myself to new people as Jennifer. Whenever Tate introduces me to new people, he does so as Jenny. This has caused some hard to explain moments.
At Carson’s recent birthday party, my people-who-call-me-Jennifer friends were brought together with my people-who-call-me-Jenny friends. Each was surprised to hear me called by the other name. “But I thought you hated Jenny?” (I do kinda.) “I didn’t know you preferred to be called Jennifer?” (Yep) While I’d prefer to just go by Jennifer, it would be odd to hear my childhood friends or my parents to start calling me Jennifer at this point. This seems to make people feel weird, though, when they find out about my double name possibilities.
To further complicate manners, there are people who call me Jen. The funny thing about this is if complete strangers automatically ASSume they can just shorten my name and call me Jen, it irritates me to no end. I don’t feel this way if a friend up and decides to call me Jen, even if they’ve never asked.
A final thought on names…since Ella has become a thumb sucker, can I keep the “Binky Bitch” moniker? Is that breaking some sort of sacred Internet rule if I’m continued to be called by a name that no longer accurately describes me?
Your (hot as hell) friend,
Jen
Jenny
Jennifer
Binky Bitch
Just happened across your blog today, and enjoyed looking around. Great blog!
I have a friend named Jennifer. I’ve heard her called by other nicknames, and wondered if I should too. I’m glad now that I have stuck with calling her Jennifer.
Also – wanted to let you know that I recognized your blog on mine. Here is the link
Plethora is on my list of favorite words. And have you seen The Three Amigos? “Do not tell me that I have a plethora, if you do not even know what a plehtora is!”
I would just like to call you, “J.” Is that okay? Okay.
Binky Bitch has to stay. Thumb Twat just doesn’t ring the same way.
oh, i soooo know your pain! my full name is Cathryn, and when i introduce myself as such, most people say “Hi Cathy, nice to meet you!”.
grrrrrrrrrr! i. hate. being. called CATHY! i’ve always hated it, and i always will hate it.
actually, no one even calls me Cate IRL. i go by Cathryn IRL….i just used Cate when i started my blog because i felt i needed some sort of separation and anonymity from my real life….and i’ve sort of grown fond of it.
but i will NEVER like being called Cathy!
and i truly believe, once a Binky Bitch, always a Binky Bitch. you went through and survived that phase, so you deserve to hold on to that well-deserved moniker!
I totally understand! My name is Alison but my close friends and family have always called me Ali or Al. There was even a point where I was going to change it permanently to Ali to kind of have that fun and fancy free attitude. I thought better of it. But now, I CANNOT STAND IT when someone who I am not close with or who I really don’t like calls me Ali. You’re not my friend, we’re not close, that nickname is a term of endearment- kind of- don’t use it.
I’ve nicknamed my husband Booger- like from revenge of the nerds. I caught him picking his nose once when we first started dating and he hasn’t been able to shake the name since then!
JENNIFER-
My daughter’s name is Margaret. Her nickname is Meg. People take it upon themselves to call her Megan. When I tell them it’s Meg and that her real name is Margaret-many of them inform me that “Meg is not a nickname for Margaret.”
OH REALLY?!!!
Ah, nicknames. I’m really Andrea (shh, don’t tell anyone), but hate it when people I know and love call me it. I only use it at work and in certain professional situations.
And I know of your Jennifer, Jenny, Jen pain. My sister’s real name is Jenny. People try to convince her that she is Jennifer. It really pisses her off.
As a fellow Jenny (let me guess- you were born btw. the years of 1974 and 1979? … uh-huh…), I can relate to your point of view, but even though there are 50 million of us and it’s shortened against our will, I’ve always had a great appreciation for the name. I am not originally a Jenny or a Jennifer, no, not even close. I am Charlotte by birth. How did my parents go from Charlotte to Jenny? Well, it’s a long, boring story, so I usually just tell people that it’s like when a redneck names their son John William but calls him Bubba or Cooter. It really makes no sense, it just IS.
Sure, keep going by Binky Bitch. Why not?
I feel ya about the names. My husband is Michael, to me, because that is what he said he wanted to be called. I think I am the only person that call him that, though. To everyone else, he’s Mike.
LOL:)
when i was 12 and suddenly became the adult of my family i changed from being called jenny to going straight for jenica. i announced it. i sent invitations. i had stationary made up. and while my extended family received all of these *memo’s* i still to this day am called jenny. and i cringe each time.
for a short while i went by jen. and during that short stint i made some of my dearest friends, who still call me jen.
but truly, i prefer jenica. or mama. or little one (the nickname the hubs gave me). rather than a knock-down of my given name.
I have a certain fondness for “binky bitch” .
I hate it when people shorten Rebeccas name without asking – her playgroup teacher keeps calling her “Becky” and i finally asked her not to call her that as it was not her name, really bugs me
I’ve got the same Vicky/Victoria conundrum. Except Warrior now intro’s me as Victoria. Which is awesome.
Just call me V or VDog and be done with it! (Just don’t call me Vicky!!)
(Hopefully I’ve not pissed you off by calling you Jen before!)
(And dontcha just hate it when worlds collide??)
Jessica is the name but I also go by:
Mommy
Jess
Annie ( middle name Ann Dad calls me Annie, gave therapist lots to go on)
Honey
Jessica Ann ( my mother still calls me that when she gets pissed at me)
Never ever go by Jessie!
My sister was Becky all growing up. When she went to college, she wanted everyone to call her “rebecca.” The first time I went to visit her in college (I was 14) everyone was calling her Rebecca and I thought I would die laughing. It’s been 18 years and it still sounds weird, but even I don’t call her Becky anymore. It’s usually “Aunt Rebe” now!
The Jen thing gets me too…only people I’ve just meet call me that. It makes my skin crawl.
I was born in 1970 and I think 25% of the girls in my class were some form of Jennifer and the another 25% were Tracy.
[...] Last November I told you of my name dilemma. [...]