Is it better to go by a nickname if some people find it hard to pronounce your name?
Posted by UnusualOstrich8568@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 97 comments
Hi. I’m South Asian. I don’t think my name is hard to pronounce, it’s pronounced exactly how it’s spelt. It doesn’t have silent letters in it or pronounced any different to how it’s spelt. However, there are some people at work who haven’t come across any Asian names before, so they seem to mess my name up a lot.
Should I go by a nickname instead?
ARobertNotABob@reddit
I recently worked IT for a multinational data centre group with APAC holdings and the vast majority of staff we onboarded there provided "western" names (James/Julie) for their accounts.
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
All languages have trouble pronouncing certain names.
172116@reddit
Unfortunately English has numerous different pronunciations for every letter, and other languages add more.
I did a gaelic course where the instructor said that Brits have a tendency to try and pronounce all foreign words as if they are french!
silly_capybara@reddit
I am from the Baltics and changed my name to a English spelling because I found it's easier bot to correct people every single time. Honestly you do whatever makes you comfort. You can also change your decision later on, try what feels natural for you
-aLonelyImpulse@reddit
I have one of those long ancient Irish names with all the silent letters. Nobody knows how to say it right away and I wouldn't expect them to, as it's a name in another language. But everyone gets it after one or maybe two tries. It doesn't take long and nearly everyone I've met has been fine about it.
You shouldn't change your name if you don't want to, especially not for other people's comfort. It's your name. People can learn, and if someone is rude or lazy about it, you can treat it as a quick guide to identify those you shouldn't waste your time with.
NoisyGog@reddit
I’m comfortable enough with saying and hearing Irish names, but because the spelling logic differs so completely from Welsh, I can never remember the written form.
Further to that, I very rarely come across Irish names written down, so I struggle to remember the link between the written and spoken forms.
When I see Siobhan, or Saoirse, for example, it takes me a second to recall the name - despite being very familiar with the spoken name.
-aLonelyImpulse@reddit
Spelling my name after I've said it out loud is endlessly entertaining lol. I love to watch people's expressions. First letter, fine. Second letter, expected. I can see they're anticipating the third based on the sound... nope! Silent letter. Surprise. Next lettters, fine, but why's there a double set? Next set, they're lost. Silent letters with a clump that forms another letter entirely when together in that order. Aaaaand... last letter makes sense again. By the time I'm done they look like a kitten that's just had a narrow escape from a washing machine.
NoisyGog@reddit
I feel I need to apologise, but I entirely understand what you mean. I have a nephew from Ireland with the name that would be “Ifor” in Welsh, but it’s spelled the Irish way.
I cannot for the life of me remember the spelling, and need to look it up whenever I’m writing birthday cards or the like.
It will eventually sink in.
But yes, I feel the need to apologise.
Majestic_Plankton921@reddit
I have an Irish name too. English speakers don't seem to get that different languages have different phonetics so you that shouldn't pronounce the name with English phonetics. I mean English has silent letters too but people just can't seem to handle silent letters in other languages!
-aLonelyImpulse@reddit
It can be so frustrating! I've seen downright rude comments on some of the name subreddits, saying that Irish names "make no sense." They make perfect sense if you read them in Irish, because you know... they're Irish names, not English ones.
People can understand that Louis is "loo-ee" and Jorge is "hor-hay" because they're in French and Spanish respectively, but start frothing at the mouth when they see Aoife as "ee-fa" or Caoimhe as "k(w)ee-va." I wonder why. (We know why.)
Schlurff@reddit
No, once one person abbreviates your name, everyone will. If they can say Daenerys Targaryen they can say Romesh Ranganathan.
I made a point to a colleague once that she was very good at naming all different dog breeds but would frequently mix up myself and the only other south asian person in the office. She was horrified.
They must learn.
Doubleday5000@reddit
And if your name is Jonathan Ranganathan you can also go by your middle name of Romesh if you want.
Romesh Ranganathan - Wikipedia
GrownDandilion@reddit
Love this !! Well put and I say that with a easy british 5 letter name that gets dropped to the first syllable
Tetracropolis@reddit
How often is that name misspelled or substituted out for Khaleesi (which is itself often misspelled) or Dani?
Different dog breeds look totally different, people often look similar. When people mix up people of the same race it's because they're face blind and rely on obvious characteristics like race to differentiate people. She was horrified because you were bullying her for having a disability, and doing it in a way that other people would side with you.
Schlurff@reddit
Interesting that you immediately diagnosed someone as being disabled when mixing up the only two South Asian co-workers instead of considering that racial bias exists. She wasn't disabled, she was incredibly senior and she knew she could do better. You diagnosed a stranger with being disabled and having face blindness so you could avoid the actual point.
People should notice patterns in what they effortlessly remember versus what they don’t bother learning. Giving someone a boost to continue to advocate for themselves in getting their colleagues to say their name correctly is entirely reasonable here.
Tetracropolis@reddit
If someone struggles to differentiate the faces of two people I don't know how you could possibly argue that that's not face blindness.
Morganx27@reddit
If they can tell all of the white people in the office apart, they're not being bullied for having a disability. You can distinguish between people of other races unless you have genuine prosopagnosia (in which case you'll also struggle to distinguish between people of any race), and you can pronounce foreign names, I promise. Simply ask and repeat.
Tetracropolis@reddit
How would you even know if they can tell all the white people in the office apart? How do you know they're not doing it based on other obvious differences like age, height, weight etc. which may not be present with the two people who are non-white?
Dismal_Fox_22@reddit
No, this just doesn’t wash. She can do the dogs and the white people because she’s cares enough to. Don’t make excuses for ignorance. I bet after she was called out suddenly her face blindness got better.
Dismal_Fox_22@reddit
Brutal but perfect!
AlucardVTep3s@reddit
Amazing, I’ve never even watched GoT but knew how to pronounce that name!
karataimo@reddit
really good point!!
Vixrotre@reddit
I'm Polish, my name isn't hard to pronounce but 1 letter (W) is pronounced differently (V sound) and some people find it oddly hard to wrap their heads around.
I chose a very short nickname for work, literally just 1 letter. I grew tired of correcting people every time. I have my full name on my name badge at work, but most people don't even dare to try and read it out loud.
Sometimes I do get a little sad my fiancé is the only person who calls me by my name (tho he usually uses a pet name), but right now the rare sadness is much better than constant annoyance for me. Might go by my name in a future job for a change.
Tetracropolis@reddit
Yes, or learn not to care about it. I know from experience that correcting people is an utterly futile battle you'll be fighting your whole life.
MidnightOrdinary896@reddit
I disagree . If westerners can learn to pronounced names like Tchaikovsky or Czechoslovakia then they can learn south Asian names
Tetracropolis@reddit
I can't believe you're using Tchaikovsky as an example. He was born Чайковский, Tchaikovsky is an anglicanisation, which he didn't use. He spelled his name as Tschaïkowsky or Tschaikowsky.
If you asked the average westerner to pronounce his name, how many do you think would do it accurately?
MidnightOrdinary896@reddit
So funnily enough, I looked up the spelling and that’s the version I got
I didn’t even know there was an original spelling. Ironically your reply is even more proof of why we should make more effort to learn proper names and Not rely on nicknames
If you asked the average westerner to pronounce his name, how many do you think would do it accurately?
vicarofsorrows@reddit
Difficult to understand what you mean by “Asian names”. There are huge differences between say, Japanese names, Chinese names and Mongolian names….
Theal12@reddit
doesn’t matter where the name originates.
YouSayWotNow@reddit
If you prefer your actual name (and that is very reasonable) then stick with that. It's perfectly acceptable to correct people when they pronounce your name incorrectly. Especially when it's one that's very easy to say.
Unless it has the त then I think it's OK for them to pronounce that as hard t since the soft t doesn't exist in English.
If you would like to have a nickname, that's also fine but don't do it because other people are refusing to make the effort to say your actual name correctly.
I've seen Brits pretend they can't say remember or say names like Sanjay, Geeta, and Shalini before now which is ridiculous. It's a micro-aggression, sometimes subconscious, sometimes deliberate. But it's not OK.
PigHillJimster@reddit
Basically it's up to you.
I used to work for a Japanese company and the Japanese people working there were about 50/50 with using 'western' christian name or a Japanese one. It seemed to be personal preference.
I don't think anyone of us non-Japanese thought anything of it to be honest. Akiko was Akiko and Roji was 'Roy'. We actually had two Akikos but one Akiko said her's was a 'posher' version which caused them both to laugh at this!
On my first trip to Japan for business I was asked by someone I was working with to select a western name for them. I considered this an honour and gave him the name Mathew!
chefshoes@reddit
i get my name said wrongly as its welsh and the welsh alphabet is spoken differently to english but english folk anglicise the name and butcher it.
im 52 and people still get it wrong.
i used to work with a latvian whose name was Jevgeņijs
but our boss decided he was eugene and he accepted it
turtleship_2006@reddit
Most south asians I know (who have asian names) have an English-ified version of their name, that's the same namee but easier to pronouce, including me.
There are a few different ways people say it (mainly whether the "a" sound is stretched or not, think Tar vs Tap) but as long as I know they're talking about me I'm not too fussed, (and the pronunciations aren't different enough that people think they're just different names/people)
However, your name is yours! I grew up with an Asian name in england, I'm used to the english version, but if you like your name, you're allowed to just correct people, it's not rude
Alternative-Emu9189@reddit
Depends if you would prefer people to call you by a nickname or keep mispronouncing your name.
People should make an effort to learn how to pronounce people's names but that doesn't mean they will. I can still remember how to pronounce an Indian's name I worked with over 10 years ago whose name wasn't at all spelt how it was pronounced, but I asked him and said it back to him a couple of times until I was right.
Intrepid_Bearz@reddit
Just teach them how to say it, correct them when they mispronounce it and after a certain number of failures, don’t respond to people who are being blatantly stupid and ignoring your corrections.
Shoddy_Pilot_2737@reddit
I think there are two issues here.
Firstly your name is your name. Anybody who gives you a nickname because they can't, or won't, say it properly needs a lesson in respect. Maybe get their names wrong for a while and see how they like it. I'm in the UK and not only find foreign names difficult to pronounce, but also difficult to identify gender in e-mails. I normally either Google it in case a celebrity has the same name or, if possible, ask a colleague. If you working with them in person it's really easy to just ask them how it's pronounced and if they think that is rude then that's on them.
Secondly, people who give their children strangely pronounced names, or move them to a wildly different country/culture need to also be preparing them for what to do when someone pronounces it incorrectly. They are literally in direct control of that situation.
Hope this helps
ErrantBrit@reddit
Just gonna chime in, I'm English, my surname is the name of an English city, people have got it wrong my whole life - you get used to correcting.
Oghamstoner@reddit
Towcester?
ErrantBrit@reddit
I'm not going to say it, but you'd be surprised!
fickle_tartan@reddit
I have a British name that's not super uncommon or difficult to pronounce, but I've spent my entire life correcting people on it.
I understand the sentiment of all the comments saying people should be getting OPs name right, but a) some people suck and no matter how many times you insist it doesn't always help, and b) having to correct people all the time is exhausting.
VincentVan_Dough@reddit
I’m Asian but my parents decided to give me my uncles French ex-girlfriends name with a letter that doesn’t exist in my native language. So I spent my whole life having people in my home country mispronouncing my name.
Then I married a French man (the irony) and decided to give our daughter a French name. We picked one that is pronounced exactly like it’s spelled, with no tricky silent letters. But people think there are and still mispronounce her name. My husbands name has been mispronounced since he moved away from France 30 years ago. First name has two silent letters and surname has two silent letters and an X. Even Siri can’t pronounce his name. It’s complicated as fuck.
So, here in the UK, my name is finally pronounced correctly. My daughter and husbands is not. We don’t have nicknames and have given up. We stick to our birth names and it is what it is.
ohnobobbins@reddit
No. They need to learn your name. It really isn’t that hard.
I have a very dull 4 letter English name that is perfectly simple to pronounce and still people get that wrong.
NoisyGog@reddit
Welcome to the pain of the Welsh. Our language is (almost) entirely phonetic, said exactly how it’s spelled, and spelled exactly how it’s said.
Despite that, we suffer endless pisstaking from the English for, basically, just having a language.
masked_gecko@reddit
Language has literally have two extra dedicated vowels. Saeson: "hur dur this word has no vowels in it".
(Jk, I get my kicks from watching their minds break trying to ask directions to Llyn Vyrnwy)
LaraH39@reddit
Don't let them. Correct them and keep correcting them. And if they refuse to get your name right go to HR.
My name is Lara. I get called Laura almost every day of my life.
It doesn't matter how simple your name is or how complex, people are lazy and rude. If they can pronounce Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff they can say yours.
Neddlings55@reddit
Go by whatever you prefer. Dont pander to others, just correct them until they get it right.
I have a piss easy name - just 5 letters. People have got it wrong my entire life.
Simplifying it may not get the result you want.
Middle--Earth@reddit
That's easy for you to say, Szygc, but not so easy for everyone else!
Wind-and-Waystones@reddit
Are you my ex girlfriend? It was only at the end of 2.5 years together she told me id been pronouncing her 5 letter name wrong. The second letter was O and I'd been pronouncing it as a long O when it was a short o, thing Sow Vs Sophisticated.
PrinceBert@reddit
And remember that it's your name, it's not rude to correct them. Be confident and polite. Using the correct name for someone is the polite and respectful thing to do so others should want to use the name that you prefer to use.
Converzati@reddit
I have a hard to spell and pronounce Celtic name that most people have ever heard and personally I prefer to shorten it, at least at work. It just makes introductions a lot easier for me as I have anxiety and I wish I’d done it sooner.
IncongruousKamble@reddit
If people can learn to pronounce ‘Tchaikovsky’. They can learn your name. If they can pronounce ‘Chopin’. They can learn your name. If they can do whatever but not pronounce your name, they don’t respect you as a person.
Your name is who you are and it contains multitudes.
THEY CAN LEARN.
Ok_Vermicelli1545@reddit
This is not entirely true.
Your palate adapts to the sounds you make when learning to talk as a baby. Some sounds become almost impossible to pronounce correctly if you don't learn them early enough.
I have a name that the English speaking world will never get correct. I even introdice myself with the English way of pronouncing my name because it actually causes less issues then trying to get people to say it correctly.
It is now almost a shock when I get back home and hear my name said correctly.
Point is, it isn't entirely true that people can learn to pronounce every name in the world.
pandasnw@reddit
no, people can learn to pronounce your name like they can learn to pronounce michaelangelo
terryjuicelawson@reddit
You realise it is Michelangelo, and people tend to pronounce it differently to the Italian, right.
noxwiitch@reddit
I’ve never understood why people can’t pronounce names properly. It’s not difficult and it doesn’t cost much to learn. It’s pure ignorance and arrogance. I’ve experienced this myself. My name isn’t particularly common but it’s easy to pronounce and yet people still mispronounce it simply to be obstinate.
masked_gecko@reddit
I'm going to buck the trend here and say that there's nothing wrong with going by a nickname if you're happy with it. People underestimate how much extra effort is spent on every interaction correcting people or putting up with hearing your name butchered. Going by a nickname of your choosing can be a way to get some control back. It's a personal choice, down to the individual and there's no right or wrong answer.
I'm British but have a surname from eastern Europe so it gets mispronounced a lot here. What works for me is using another word or name that people a familiar with. So I go with '[name], a bit like Djokavic' because he's famous enough that people get his name right. Equally though, some of my extended family have just lent into the British (mis)pronunciation because they don't see the fight as worth it.
Hard to be more specific without knowing your actual name, but obviously understand if you don't want to share that on Reddit.
lavayuki@reddit
I think it’s fine, tons of people use nicknames and there is nothing wrong with that.
I know people who choose a completely different name or an English name, and also those who shorten or use a part of their actual name.
My first name is an English word so no one has issues with that, but Yuki isn’t my real name however all my Japanese friends call me Yuki, so it stuck. While all my English friends call me by my actual name.
Pixie_UK@reddit
Your name is important, and to be called the name you want to be used, is a firm boundary you should set for yourself.
If you don’t mind a friendly nickname, say for instance, some David’s like to be called Dave, then it’s entirely up to you to decide if it sits right with you. If you feel uncomfortable, or it’s not appropriate for you, reinforce your preference. If people are getting it wrong without malice, gently but firmly correct them. I have a friend called Faduma, and people kept calling her Fatima. She simply said “it’s FADUMA”. And, most importantly, don’t apologise for correcting someone when they KNOW your name, but still choose to say it incorrectly.
Some people get landed with a nickname in relation to what they are like, or a shortened version of their last name.
I’d rather call you exactly what you want to be called.
Shot-Candidate4772@reddit
It’s up to you and it’s a choice you’re entitled to make. As others have said, you’re also entitled to get to use your given name too
hadronmachinist@reddit
When I moved to the UK, I decided to go by a three-letter nickname in the hopes of making it easier for folks. Hilariously, this ended up backfiring because people somehow found it easier to catch my full first name rather than the nickname which they’d almost always mishear. Although, my nickname was a truncated version of my first name rather than the phonetically closest “common” name, so that might’ve contributed. Do with this what you will.
cuppateaangel@reddit
I'm Irish and have a very easy name to pronounce (I don't use the Irish spelling, it's spelt exactly as it's pronounced in English).
People still get it wrong because people are annoying.
Not_AI_Yet@reddit
It’s a personal choice, if you want people to use your full name, educate, insist and stand your ground.
You can add a pronunciation to your email signature/badge/name plate and encourage people to call you by your real name.
Or, you could ask people to call you ‘Thunder’ instead.
SionnachBaineann@reddit
Thunder would be a spectacular nickname.
'CAN THUNDER COME TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE PLEASE'
Cold_Philosophy@reddit
No. Make the lazy and insolent bastards do a bit of work. My wife has a South Asian name. Not difficult, phonetic. We're both getting on a bit. It was only last week someone she met asked her name. She told them. The response was almost automatic: 'Oh, I can't say that. I'll call you (whatever she thought the equivalent was)'. My wife, used to this sort of thing, said 'No, don't. It's not difficult. Repeat after me...'. I suggested she should have responded by asking her name and saying that that was too difficult and saying she'd call her Vijayalakshmi or some such.
See also The 'Going For An English' sketch from Goodness Gracious Me. [About 1 minute in.](https://youtu.be/H-uEx_hEXAM?si=SGUuOj4BXb3CMZ3Y)
random_username_96@reddit
Only if you like the nickname, if you don't then politely correct people each time.
I have a name that can be shortened to a very common name/nickname, but I don't like it at all. Think Elizabeth to Beth, Thomas to Tom, that sort of thing. People always default to the shorter one, but that isn't my name! I just say "I actually prefer [my full name], thanks you."
iamdecal@reddit
hard to say without knowing your name, but in general It's not difficult to learn someones name, so if its important to you, keep it. I struggle with Irish names when i see them in writing, but once you hear them I know what it is and it should be fine to say it after a time or two.
if not - use a nickname you like, or - more realistically, use a nickname you are assigned 😉
oddly i'm the other way round - work people use my real name, everyone else in my life uses my nickname because ive had it so long and thats how they know me.
nicknames - especially random work nicknames - are a very british though i think, and geneally a sign that people are comfortable with you (assuming its not a blatently insulting nickname anyway)
mrdibby@reddit
Go by what you feel. Don't be afraid to correct people.
My name isn't common in the UK but it's really easy to say (though also has 4 different pronunciations depending on what culture you're from). I tend to introduce myself in social situations as my shortened version, introduce the full name at work, and use "Harry" or "Tom" when ordering food (except at coffee places I frequent where I'd rather they get to know my name lol).
Even though my name is easy to pronounce, part of the reason why I lean towards using my shortened version is because my name has cultural implications which I don't actually associate with and I'd rather people not get an idea about me before they get a moment to know me.
CuriousCatkins96@reddit
One of my loveliest friends is Polish. For most of our friendship, she went by an Anglicised nickname. She now uses an easy to pronounce, shortened version of her Polish name. But her full first name, and her surname, are pronounced very differently from the spelling in English. I love her, and want to be respectful to her, so I asked her to say her name several times, and repeated it back to her until I'd got it right. She's happy for me to call her whatever I like, but I love her too much to not take the time to understand her name properly.
ckmgma@reddit
I'm going to go against the grain and say I think its thoughtful if you makes yours and your colleagues lives easier. Workshop a nickname, maybe a anglicised version of your name, so that people have a choice. Those who make the effort say your full name, people who struggle, say your nickname.
I personally come from a Chinese background and my Chinese name is hard to pronounce, however typically British Chinese people have an official or unofficial English name which makes life alot easier. I wouldn't expect most people at work to pronounce my Chinese name so I always go by my English name in an English speaking environment.
KeenBlueBean@reddit
It's a very personal choice. When I first moved to the UK, I tried to explain to people how to pronounce my name correctly. Then for about 3 years I just accepted everyone saying it wrong. Then I got sick of it and started going by a nickname, and I'm less frustrated now.
Reasonable-Key9235@reddit
Do whatever you’re comfortable with mate. Maybe your work colleagues are a bit thick?
RockasaurusFlex@reddit
British born and bred and I'll expendany effort to say your name how you prefer. Just because others are ignorant, shouldn't require you to bend your identity for them. Be you.
curlyhead35@reddit
Yes, save yourself the hassle. If you want to that is. I find cutting out unnecessary conflict and hassle from life quite worth it. Your choice at the end of the day.
Princess_sparkle2478@reddit
Depends if you care a lot about the pronunciation or correcting people. I am English. I have a slightly unusual name for the UK. It is 2 syllables, it is very easy to pronounce. For whatever reasons most people add an extra syllable to my name. When I was a teenager I would correct people. I got bored of correcting people. Now my very good friends pronounce it correctly but most people say it wrong and I don't correct them but I do respond as if it's my name. I stopped correcting people as they would never remember. I would have a conversation about it being the 2 syllables they would repeat it correctly then the very next time I see them, they would go back to pronouncing it incorrectly. So I don't bother anymore.
spynie55@reddit
It's up to you at the end of the day.
But it does annoy me when people are too lazy to try to understand and say a name or a word they're not familiar with - so I think you should persevere with correcting their pronunciation and enrich their lives.
If I mis pronounced someone's name, I would want them to tell me how to say it properly and I wouldn't be offended.
BalthazarOfTheOrions@reddit
I have a name that English speakers cannot easily pronounce. I don't think it's better to have a nickname and I don't amend it at work or in official contexts, people can try their best and that'll do.
In more transitory contexts (e.g., café, taxi, orders, etc.) I give a made up name because I'm fed up of:
[say my name] --> [person taking the order goes "huh?"] --> [repeat my name over and over until they get bored and write it wrong].
katvoira@reddit
I have a British name that gets mispronounced so often (and which I hate hearing mispronounced) that I don't tell my job what it is any more except for payroll. Some people will make the effort if you tell them once or twice, but a lot won't.
I'd personally go for sharing a pronunciation with your name (like in your email signature or in your internal messaging system) if you don't want a nickname - the laggards will look pretty bad if they ignore it when it's written down in front of them!
I've additionally seen someone in a previous role who had gone by a nickname for ease (also South Asian) decide to reclaim his actual name - he just told us all what he was doing and had his email updated - so you can always change your mind if you do go for a nickname.
At the end of the day we're all supposed to be grown ups - choose for yourself and don't let anyone try to undermine that choice.
LostCtrl-Splatt@reddit
I shortened my name for this reason. It just gets confusing for people when they try to email me at my work email since for some reason they decided to use my full name.
DuckCritical@reddit
If people can pronounce Zach Galafinakis they can pronounce your name. To not accept your name is racist and lazy on their part. If you WANT a nickname, ok otherwise stay firm. Your name can’t any more difficult than some of the monikers white folks are naming their kids these days!
Agentparsnip@reddit
I have one of the most common names for my age group & have still had people get it wrong. If you want to use your full name use your full name, it’s on them to get it right not on you to change your identity to appease them
Puzzleheaded-Low5896@reddit
Only if you feel comfortable with it.
British people can pronounce foreign names they can just be really lazy and sometimes it is an unconscious bias/racism (or conscious - but we hope for the best).
Wonderful-Bonus5439@reddit
Im Asian and really hate when people give me nicknames, but don’t mind at all if people mispronounce my name or have to ask me lots of times what it is.
elgrn1@reddit
It really depends on how you feel about your name/identity and whether you believe people are being at best lazy or at worst racist over their mispronunciation.
It also depends how often you want to correct people or allow them to say your name incorrectly.
A passive aggressive approach would be to say their name wrong intentionally to get the message across.
xenaarcteryx@reddit
No, only if you prefer a nickname. They can learn. But also sometimes they just never do. I have friends with European names that coworkers have still been pronouncing wrong for 7 years, some people just will always mess it up, even if it's not that difficult.
Pedantichrist@reddit
Do what you prefer.
barriedalenick@reddit
Nah! My name is only 6 letters long, and although British or Irish in origin, it gets mispronounced all the time. I just correct them, saying "Not quite - but it's actually ....."
Oghamstoner@reddit
It’s completely up to you, it’s your name after all. If you want to abbreviate it to something shorter or adopt a nickname, it should be your call, not something you feel pressured to do by other people making mistakes.
Most of the people who are making mistakes pronouncing your name probably do so because they are just unfamiliar with it. I work with South Asian people and sometimes find their names take a little practice, but it’s good manners and people should be making the effort to get your name right.
YragNitram1956@reddit
Only one of your chosing!
front-wipers-unite@reddit
A friend of mine Czech. His name is really hard to pronounce, and everyone gets the pronouciation wrong so he likes to go by "George". Nickname, anglicanized name, or your real name. The choice is yours. What I will say is if you go by your real name the vast vast majority of people will make the effort to pronounce it as best they can.
atomic_mermaid@reddit
If you're happy to have a nickname go for it. If you're doing it to appease people then maybe don't. But that's easy for most of reddit to say who don't have to deal with that issue daily.
sunheadeddeity@reddit
No. Just insist they get your name right, with a smile. The English are famously ignorant about foreign names.
duskyduchess@reddit
What’s your name? Maybe shorten it or leave it as it is. They will learn how to pronounce it eventually
Special_Turnover1961@reddit
I’ve been waiting on that eventuality for 9 years now
Most_Lingonberry_409@reddit
I’m also South Asian and do that but I don’t mind the nickname at all, so as long as you don’t mind it it’s fine. But this is usually easier to do in a new job, I had the same issue and introduced myself as the nickname after I changed roles. They may be a bit surprised if you start asking them to call you something else after they already you know you as your name.
Decard_Pain@reddit
Almost everyone I know goes by a nickname.
RedLiorx@reddit
No - unless you prefer a nickname it’s not hard for people to learn to not be ignorant (as they should)
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