Full name or nickname?
I was just watching succession and there’s a scene in which Greg tells everybody to start referring to him as Gregory.
And it got me thinking…
Is being referred to by your full name more prestigious than your nickname (shortened name, not nickname like big dick nick) in a high finance kind of workplace? Does it bring more respect; make people take you more seriously? Even marginally?
Would be interesting to read other people’s thoughts.
The simple answer is that this is very case-by-case. Going by Charlie when your name is Charles is likely to be less prestigious, but there are instances where the opposite is true. I’ve known people named Winston who have gone by “Win,” which I thought was preppy. Other people can go by names like “Kit,” “Trip” for the III in a family, “Teddy,” and it can be a step up for them.
I think nicknames are generally a downgrade, but sometimes WASPy or preppy nicknames can be a prestige upgrade. I hypothesize that this is so because in that context, it implies that the person is well networked and that people in high places call them that nickname in a country club or at the beach house. When other people use nicknames, it just comes off as a personal preference.
All of this is intricately tied with class and historical conventions.
EDIT: You didn’t ask this question, but as a follow-on, nicknames can raise prestige in a rural context as well. Rural politicians in local elections frequently run with additional nicknames like “Big Daddy,” “Bubba,” “Bear,” “Buck,” “Chick,”“Frosty,” “Hotshot,” “Junior,” and “Rabbit.”
Fraternity rules: you have no full name. Your "nickname" is your last name. End of discussion.
If you do have a nickname, do what my pod did and name one of you Chief, one of you is Jeffe, and another is The Don or Honcho. Spread it around.
Spot on. If my name were Andrew Hamilton, for example:
I would also argue that it would depend on the stage you are at in life. Many of my friends go by their shortened first name early on in their career - maybe to appear more hip or young, fresh even.
Then, when seniority comes with experience and maturity - they suddenly go with their full name.
A young guy in the team would go by "Alex". But the Director would be named "Alexander".
Same with Ben / Benjamin
Tom / Thomas
etc
I love how "Richard" transforms to "Dick" in the English language. Nothing beats the line when someone says "Hey, I'm Richard, but you can call me Dick." Thanks Dick.
Other fun ones are how William becomes Bill or Robert becomes Bob and not just Rob.
When I was in highscholl friends only called me by my last name, that count?
"highscholl"
I don't think the number of letters in their name have an impact of the level of respect I'd have for the person in question. If they're inept, no fancy, long-tail names will prevent them for revealing their true self to the world... Also, I'd say that the shorter the nickname of someone gets, it's an indication of how useful they are to the people around them so they start shrinking the time required in order to call them, like, "Mike, can you come over and take a look at my boiler?" "Joe, a hand with this Ac, pls?", etc.
The new Onex CEO goes by Bobby
Just be glad your name isn't Richard. We all know how that goes. Also... funny story... I knew a guy years ago named Richard Eaton. Just keep that in mind when you talk about nicknames.
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