Last November I told you of my name dilemma.
I’ll quickly recap that post and save you from having to click over and re-read:
I grew up being called “Jenny.” I decided several years ago that I prefer to be called “Jennifer,” though people who’ve known me for a long time call me Jenny. My parents call me Jenny, my inlaws call me Jenny, Tate calls me Jenny. I don’t mind being called Jenny, but when I meet someone new I introduce myself as Jennifer. I sometimes get in sticky situations at gatherings where some people know me as Jenny and some people know me as Jennifer. People feel awkward when they think they’ve been calling me the wrong name.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “Oh! I thought you were a Jenny (or Jennifer)!! What should I call you?”
Mostly this problem was resolved when we moved to Indiana, with the exception of a few of Tate’s coworkers to whom he introduced me as Jenny. This wasn’t a problem because my “Jennifer” friends never really had an opportunity to co-mingle with Tate’s “Jenny” friends.
Now that we’ve moved back to Tennessee, though, this name problem is rearing it’s ugly head.
When we lived here before, I went by Jenny. Now that I’m reconnecting with old friends, I’m having to remember that they knew me as Jenny. I continue to introduce myself to new people as Jennifer, but have already run into the problem of an old friend saying, “Oh! I thought you were a Jenny (or Jennifer)!! What should I call you?”
That sound you just heard was the sound of me deflating in defeat.
It’s EXHAUSTING I tell you, trying to remember which name to use. When I sign emails, when I call someone, it’s a neverending hassle.
And don’t even get me started on the whole OTHER facet of my name dilemma. Jen.
I don’t know, maybe I just need a whole new non-nicknameable name like Kay or June or Mary. What do you think, do I look like a Hazel?
Hey, my name is Mary, and people do try to shorten it! Most of my close friends and family call me Mare, like the horse.
I just found your blog and had to comment! I am a Jennifer as well. I have the same problems. Grew up as a Jenny/Jen, but my husband is the only one who calls me Jennifer. Decided Jennifer was the appropriate name at work. I just gave up and just let people call me whatever! And curse my mom for giving me my difficult name! Just kidding!
Jennifer´s lastest post..Best Christmas Commercial ever/Back to school
I have this issue too. Most of my immediate family and close friends (with the exception of my husband and his side) all call me Nastassja. Which is my “real” name. But most everyone else (and his side) calls me Stassja. Which is fine, and I can’t seem to remember which I go by when I introduce my self. On the one hand, it’s easier for people to pronounce Stassja right off, but then they hear my full name and I get the “What do I call you?!” questions. Oy!
Stassja´s lastest post..Tired of the fight
My dad had a the similiar problem of switching to his middle name, then having people who knew him by the childhood diminutive of his first name (which he hated) or the people he knew in army years who called him by his actual first name, cause the army is like that (he hated that name too.) As a result, he gave us all un-shortenable names.
He then proceeded to call us all infant-like nicknames, all our lives, even in public.
I think it’s bad enough being called ‘Princess’ in public at my age, but my brothers, Pooh and Toot really suffer. And Tiger so does not fit my curmudgeonly older brother. Esp now that his hair is silvery and/or gone.
But I cried a little when my daughter was born, and he began calling her ‘Little Princess’!
(Yes, we are southern and yes, I am the only daughter.)
I grew up desperately wanting to be renamed Jennifer Kathleen. Then I could be Jenny or Kate or just Jennifer.
Instead, I was named Margaret at birth and it brought on a slew of awful short versions. For years I was Maggie, and I could handle that. But then it transformed magically into Magpie, Maggot, Marg, Margo. Very frustrating.
When I moved back to Canada 8 years ago I just started introducing myself to people as Meg. What could wrong there right? HA! Now people call me MEGAN! I think I shall join you in that sigh of defeat.
MadWoman´s lastest post..Here’s to cheesy clichés
I was going to suggest Roxanne, but I like Hazel too.
Roxanne has nicknames that go with it, though, so maybe Hazel is your best bet.
Or, you could just start calling yourself Playgroupie to really throw ‘em off.
AMomTwoBoys´s lastest post..It’s F*cking December?!
I have friends that are Jen, Jenny’s and Jennifer’s damn it to hell if I don’t always screw it up!
If I had to choose a name for you, I’d say you’ve always looked like a Sydney (that’s a compliment)!
MamaGeek´s lastest post..Season’s Eatings. Let The Holidaze Begin.
Oh and then there’s a couple Jenn’s to (two n’s). Just HAD to get that off my chest.
Over. out.
MamaGeek´s lastest post..Season’s Eatings. Let The Holidaze Begin.
Me and my oldest son both go by our middle names. UGH – nightmare.
I just happened across your blog for the first time today and the whole Jennifer thing caught my eye. Being an 80′s child, there was always a handful of Jennifer’s in school. I couldn’t go anywhere with out hearing my name and turning to find out it was not for me! In highschool I went by my last name because their was 4 Jennifer’s in drama. After that I shortend my last name to Moly, no one could pronounce it, and that lasted till I left that job. No I am Jenny to my grandparents, Jen to friends, Jennifer to aquaintences and all I really want to be is Moly again! LOL It was a wonderful 2 years that I was Moly, LOL. Pick out a name and if you stick with it, most people will eventually pick up on it,
good luck!
Jennifer´s lastest post..Chatty Kathy
Moral of the story then is to not call your kids Jennifer.
I like Hazel but i agree with the other poster Esmerelda would suit you perfectly
Laura McIntyre´s lastest post..Silly Video
My friends have always called me Diane and my family has always called me Di. Now, all of them are starting to call me Momo!
off topic but I SOSOSOSO may go to blissdom JUST to hear you speak.
sad? may be
true? yes
MizFit´s lastest post..Who’s the new MotorolaMizFit?! (& other random Friday chickenbus)
From one Jennifer to another … I feel your pain.
moo´s lastest post..the first sign of bulimia? Or gagging on the commercialism of the holiday season?
You could really throw them off and tell them your name is now Jim.
I live with a Michael. Not a Mike. Don’t even try it. word.
designhermomma´s lastest post..In theory it was a good idea (until someone aqua dumps)
I feel your pain..but I have the added pleasure of being a one N Jenifer and a 2 N Jenny. See if my parents can explain that one (or 2).
I hear you. I’ve noticed I prefer “jennifer” too. My family has always called me Jennifer anyway. But my husband and school friends and in laws all call me Jen. I hate when the two meet, it’s awkward! I have a friend who says I’m being pretentious by liking my full first name (the hell?) if I call my in laws and they ask who it is and I say Jennifer they go “WHO?” (true story)
I don’t even truly care , but I will introduce myself as Jennifer, because if I say Jen, the other person inadvertently says “Jan?” “no. JEN, the nickname of the most popular name of all time?” “Janet?”
Oy, the nicknames. So frustrating! I’m “Andi” in social/family situations, but only use “Andrea” in work situations. The problem is when the two worlds collide – or when Jason, who works at my old office, thinks that people there won’t figure out who he’s talking about when he says, “Andi” so he calls me “Andrea” to his co-workers. The whole thing makes me feel icky.
New nickname for you? What about “Jen” backwards? Nej (but with a soft j at the end)? Sorry, I’m totally grasping at straws.
Kristi has many spellings, as you know. I was complaining to my dad about how frustrating it is (he’s the one who picked the spelling), he thought a minute and said, “Henceforth you shall be known as Pam.”
Pam.
Can’t mis-spell or shorten Pam. Want to be Pam with me? Doesn’t seems as bad now that The Office came along…
Hello long comment from a stranger. He.llo.
kristi´s lastest post..Uh Oh
I am also a Jennifer, with the same problem. People I met later in life know me as Jen or Jennifer while people I have known since I was a kid, call me Jenny. I use Jennifer at work as I feel it is more professional but it doesn’t bother me if people shorten it to Jen. I would prefer to get out of the Jenny name, though. A new, different name, that no one else has that can’t be shorted would be my ideal, however.
The Mrs.´s lastest post..Thanksgiving To Christmas In One Weekend
I am a Krissy/Kristen with the same problem. I grew up Krissy but switched to Kristen in elementary school. But, my family never made that switch so they all still call me Krissy. I lived with my sister in college, and my friends all heard her call me Krissy, so that is what they all started calling me. Even my husband calls me Krissy, I don’t think he has ever called me Kristen. Now I am only Kristen at work. The whole thing is frustrating, at least I have finally learned to embrace the name Krissy. I don’t even want to go into the Christine/Crystal/Kirsten/Christina/Christy issues that I have.
Well – I’m glad I’m a ‘Colleen’ then. No nicknames to remember! (Unless you count the fact that I was so skinny growing up people called me “Leanie” – bah!)
Colleen – Mommy Always Wins´s lastest post..Enough uber holiday cuteness to make ANY Grinch’s heart grow three sizes
I kinda like “dude” Can I just call you that ?
I feel your pain! I’m Jenny to ALL of my family, Jen to most others even though I introduce myself as Jennifer. People take it upon themselves to shorten it to Jen and I’m too much of a chicken to stand up and say “It’s Jennifer.” Oh well. Could be worse, I suppose.
I was always Mandy until I went to school. Then my teacher called me Amanda and I was too shy to correct her, and tell her it was Amanda. And anyway..I was going to write a long comment about this, but I think I’ll just a write a post about it and link to you. haha.
Amanda of Shamelessly Sassy´s lastest post..Criss-Cross Applesauce
PS. one year, one of my best friends decided that instead of her seemingly normal name, Leslie, she wanted to be called Nelle (her middle name backwards). Yeah…I could not make this shit up.
Amanda of Shamelessly Sassy´s lastest post..Criss-Cross Applesauce
i have the same Ali/Alicia problem…with the added bonus that some people like to call me by my hebrew name (i.e. my mother) yeesh.
ali´s lastest post..oh, Sean Avery. alternate title…Mommy, what’s sloppy seconds?!?
My cousin, Jenny, to me, and Jen to everyone else totally feels your pain.
I, on the other hand, get my name confused with Terri, Larry, Mary, Barry, Harry, etc. So, you see? You are not alone!
Carrie´s lastest post..Notes From the Embarrassing Files
Wipe the slate clean and become a “Jenn”
That way if I ever meet you I won’t annoy you because I have a terrible habit of only calling people by one syllable nicknames.
Melizzard´s lastest post..Extreme Cuteness
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Have been going through a similar issue for many years. But I made it a whole lot worse. Given Name: Joseph. But when I got my SAG card years ago, my name was already taken so I had to change it, so I just used the initial J. and my last name. And thus became known as “Jay” except for those that new me as Joseph, Joe, Joey (hated that one), and even Guiseppe (yes I am Italian). Now, I introduce myself as Jay. Those that know me by other names eventually catch on, and for those that don’t, well I just don’t worry about it.
JayMonster´s lastest post..Why is wishing someone well offensive
Why not just go with J-Lo?
Ha! Kidding! Ok-bad joke…sorry
The name game has always been an issue within my family. Every one on my Dad’s side of the family shortens names. My mother was determined not to name me or my sister with a name that could be shortened. She was going to name me Melanie, but she knew I would become Mel and she could have no part of that. She went with Michelle thinking we were out of the woods. However, I became “Chelle”.
Hey Al! or Jen, or whatever your name is…
No posts for a week? is this part of the identity crisis?
Your loyal readers are beginning to worry!!!
Rabbi’s Wife´s lastest post..smells like Hanukkah…
I am just happy Yuri doesn’t have a shorter way to be told (the shorter way would actuallt be longer: yurivsk (or some;t like that)).
hehehehe
Wow, I didn’t realize that Jens, Jennies, Jennifers went through such anguish! My mom always told me that one of her criteria in naming me & my sibs was unshortenability….hence Heather, Shawn (girl) and Jeremy. Yeah, we called each other Head and Jer (Shawn was just Shawn). But, those shortenend names aren’t REAL names to go by. So, I kind of did the same thing when I named my kids Jordyn, Liam, & Owen – who I often call Jor, Li, & O. Again, not real names, so hopefully no identity crises lie ahead.
Heather´s lastest post..The Baby Trucks
You write very well, to support you. I have time to look at the station.
I have the same problem with my name. Grew up “Becky” in university decided I prefer “Rebecca”…
It worked out easiest to just use Rebecca (although everyone who knew me as Becky, still calls me that and they know I’m ok with it