Stupid name question

[AdamMLP]

When is it appropriate to use the shortening of your name?  Obviously legal documents are full name deals, but what about on post, introducing yourself to peers, naming school work etc?

My birthname is 3 letters long so I've no experience with this, but always wanted a name that could be shortened (the male name I would have been given was also going to be commonly shortened.)

[ford]

I'm in the US if that matters, but I use my shortened name on EVERYTHING except legal documents. Schoolwork, official correspondence etc...shortened name. Never had a problem. I think the only things I've used my full name on are my mortgage, marriage cert., IDs and with my bank. Plus I still have investments and things in my old unmarried name; it's been that way for years and never caused a stir.

[Blaine]

I used a three-letter derivation of my female middle name for about eight years and I put it on everything short of my Social Security card. I even used it on college exams because they don't look at your name, anyway. It's only the ID numbers that count.

[sneakersjay]

When I noticed I would tell people my name, and they immediately shortened it.  I just went with it.  I'm not overly fond of my name, but it is 1000x better than my old name, so any version of it is better than the old.

Unless you don't want it shortened.  I know people named Richard who prefer to be called Richard, not Rich, guys named Andrew who loathe Andy or Drew, and guys named Robert who prefer to be called Robert, not Rob or Bob (or Bobby).

Jay

[DriftingCrow]

Basically, you really only need to use your full name on legal documents, or on something like an application to a school or job. It'd sound weird to introduce yourself as "Alexander" to your peers unless you dislike the name shortened to "Alex", or to write the full name out on non-legal documents.

Though, my husband's middle name was "James" and on legal documents he would sign it as "Jm" which is apparantly quite acceptable to do with the name James, though on the line where he had to print his name he'd print it as "James". My husband's first name can also be shortened, and he'd also print the full first name out, but shorten his first name in the signature as well. I also had to look at some very old records on some microfilm, and on the censuses they would just write "Jm" instead of James, and often shorten Alexander to "Alex", and so on, but only if it was a middle name.

[AdamMLP]

I'm not planning on only being called Alexander, it's only my name on here because I found that although I was recognising Alex as being me, as I never used it in full it wasn't sinking in.  It's interesting that they used to shorten middle names on records but not first names, I suppose they'd only be used to narrow down people if needed and so weren't as important.

[Soren]

(In America, right?) There are two legally recognized names a person has, the one attached to their social security number, and the one they go by. Generally speaking if there's paper work you need your SSN on, you use the name attached to it. For literally everything else you can use your nickname or shortened version or whatever.

[AdamMLP]

(In America, right?) There are two legally recognized names a person has, the one attached to their social security number, and the one they go by. Generally speaking if there's paper work you need your SSN on, you use the name attached to it. For literally everything else you can use your nickname or shortened version or whatever.

I'm in the UK sorry. I know that you need to use your full name legally, was just wondering what people normally do when meeting someone, labelling school work etc.

[Soren]

I'm in the UK sorry. I know that you need to use your full name legally, was just wondering what people normally do when meeting someone, labelling school work etc.

Ah. Use whatever version you want for meeting people, and just let your teachers or professors know what you'll be signing your papers with before hand so they don't get confused.

[Lord of the Dance]

As long as tutors, lecturers etc. know it's your work you can sign it whatever you want. There used to be a girl at college who went by nickname only; not even her student ID had her legal name, but I think it largely depends on the individual institute. Introducing yourself, same deal; you're really allowed to call yourself anything you want informally. You could introduce yourself as Manly Pecsson Sr. if you really wanted!

[Hikaru]

I think in the UK you have to use you full name on official documents but your signiture can be your shortened name if you prefer. I always introduce myself as my shortened name and all my school work has my shortened name on it except exams which have my full name. At my school they ask you what your preffered name is so that the school knows what name you use and changes the registers and stuff to match it.

[DriftingCrow]

I just had an experience where introducing yourself to someone with your full name would be best -- when you're meeting an attorney/paralegal/legal secretary whatever, or anyone else doing official stuff to you, like an accountant.

Like, we just had this whole ordeal at work where we had to have someone sign some papers, his mom told us his name was "Robert E." but then he told us he legally changed his name to "Rob E.", then later told us no, it was "Bob A.", then no it was "Bob E."... 2 amendments to official documents later and after finally just having him send us a copy of his SS card, we find out it is now legally "Rob A."  Crazy people.... why change your name from Robert to Rob?

[aleon515]

I am actually planning on going by my middle name and my first name will be legal and not the one I am called. Get it? If not, oh well.


--Jay

[Liminal Stranger]

I just had an experience where introducing yourself to someone with your full name would be best -- when you're meeting an attorney/paralegal/legal secretary whatever, or anyone else doing official stuff to you, like an accountant.

Like, we just had this whole ordeal at work where we had to have someone sign some papers, his mom told us his name was "Robert E." but then he told us he legally changed his name to "Rob E.", then later told us no, it was "Bob A.", then no it was "Bob E."... 2 amendments to official documents later and after finally just having him send us a copy of his SS card, we find out it is now legally "Rob A."  Crazy people.... why change your name from Robert to Rob?

His last name wasn't Bank, was it? 

[DriftingCrow]

His last name wasn't Bank, was it? 

lol, unfortunately no