At work, should I ask before calling people by the cute version of their name?

[Bethany22]

Do you get offended or flattered when people call you by the cute version of your name? How should I gauge whether it's appropriate to try calling someone by a familiar form of their name? Can I start doing it shortly after meeting the person, or do I have to wait until I know them better? I would think calling an acquaintance by the familiar form of their name would help build a bond, but maybe some people think it's condescending? Examples like, someone's actual name is Jess, but you call them Jessy.

[FunkyMonkee]

Nobody ever asked me, they just did it.
SOME people might get pissed by it but, I can only recall one person in all of my various jobs get pissed about NOT calling him by his chosen version of his name. His name is, William and he wanted everyone to call him that and wold get VERY pissed if anyone called him Bill, Will, Willy, Billy, dickhead or any other name everybody PREFERRED to call him!! He annoyed EVERYBODY so, we all wanted to beat the shit out of him!! One of the first jobs where I met him, we had this midget woman working there. She hardly had any contact with him at all and even SHE said she wanted to kick his ass down the 28 flights of steps up to that office!! If you know who Eddie Deezen is, that's pretty much William! I used to call him White Urkel. All the black people in the office got it and thought it was quite appropriate!!
Check out the guy with the glasses and you pretty much have William!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GfJJk7i0NTk

[SwellStroke]

There really isn't any cute version that can be tied to my name. So I have never had to experience it. Though, because of my name I had to deal with a lot of superhero jokes. That got old really quick. However, on one hand being in a work setting I would say it might not be as good of an idea, at least until getting to know them better. While on the other hand, if its a real casual environment I would say feel the room and see if you can determine how it would go over. Side question, does your work have any guidelines in regards to behavior of this nature? Find that out now so that it doesn't come back to be a problem later in case.

Best of luck to you regardless!!!

[SwellStroke]

To give ya a little expansion, I have had one nickname that stuck to the point I use it on some sites as a handle. It was a result of an annual Gaia Festival we would hold in May. Where about 30 of us would get together and Mario and Luigi would visit. My friend for some reason while we were "Adventuring" to scout out the invaiding dino bone army *yes I live in an area where they find a lot of fossils* She called me Claurgin, to which I responded Yes Winjanich? Later she told me Claurgin was Gaelic for leprechaun * I know it isn't* Her name I took from White Witch Ninja. Kinda like we were all worshipers of YaLeekee because of how much Yawning, Leeking out of our eyes from laughing in addition to if once you took your first piss, you were doing it more often the rest of the night. Kee being something we said after we took off. Fun times. lol

[Guy13]

People will call me nicknames and that catches but no one has ever "cute versioned" my Name-This is unprofessional.

Call me Nerd from Hell or Mr. Ambassador or Clodhopper... I don't care BUT call me by my formal name when it is Business related.

[musicbrain5]

I HATE it when anyone but my close family and friends call me by the shortened version of my name. Coworkers, casual acquaintances, people I just met, etc… I make it known to them to please use my full first name, especially if they just randomly start using the short name.

Please call people what they want to be called, name wise. Not what YOU want to call them, that’s not up to you.

[Chazmatazz269]

I used to get very touchy about people taking liberties with my name. Once i learned that i had neither the right nor the responsibility to dictate to others how they should behave short of putting their hands on me or my property, i gave up that silly campaign. Call me whatever you like. Just know that i don’t have to respond to anything you say either. If you want my attention, you’ll address me with respect.

[SnowedIn]

I'm not bothered by it, in general, although there's one form of my name that I detest. I'll politely let that person know my preference by stating, "I prefer to be called XXXXXX". I don't make it an issue and it's not that I'm offended.

I don't think anyone should do it other than when they're invited to. Some people do get offended. Take the cue from how they're introduced or how they introduce themselves and go from there.

[jamesgoldman]

Probably

In the restaurant I was very often just J-ay because when you're all in the weeds it's faster than way and everyone dropped to one syllable as much as possible so we had Kam, Joe, Ron, Jay, Kate, Bri, Ty, Guy, Hay, Matt

I say say don't call me late for meals because hell another group of friend have very derogatory terms as names for cach other of which I am bastard that much I'll reveal

[AlexEfron]

You'd call Jess, Jessy? 🤣 I'd call Jessy, Jess.

I don't mind if someone gives me a pet name as long as they're close enough to be considered Friends. No by acquaintances. Can't give an opinion about it at work. I don't seem to be doing well making friends at work. So I'd say never at work

[Anonymous]

People always ask me whether they mind if they call me buy my short name (which happens to be 4 letters long) and I always reply "I've been called worse 4 letter names". This always throws receptionists off thier game. I think you're worrying too much about this. If you feel some connection with them called it. The worst thing g they can tell you is stop it. Anything else and they're an a**hole. And why care what a a**hole thinks of you.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I don't mind people calling me by the cute version of my name, I actually think it's awesome. They can call me Dagwood, Daroon for Darren

[AviatorTom]

Call them what you think they'd like to be called, and that you can easily remember. If they don't like it, they'll tell you.

[Alex8736]

if your friends outside the workplace then it's cool but the issue lies with you having an A and B conversation but you will always have some nosy busy body a$$hoke with no life and 10 cats at home take offense

[slatyb]

Don't do this. Address them by the same name everyone uses.

[Fireguy17]

Yes, you really should be professional, depending on where you work.

[Kabluie]

Yes, should ask because if it bothers them that can be considered harassment.

[sheikalana]

Some people don't like being called cute names especially at work.

[Staximus]

I think that is something people usually do with others that they already know and are friends with

[TheSpaceGnome]

I never really considered it a cute version, just the shorthand version.

[pizzalovershouse]

Always ask dont want a persons feelings hurt

[Anonymous]

Asking is good practice. And seeing how others refer to them.

[Guardian45]

Yes, I'm careful about using someone's nickname, unless they have told me to call them that.

[KrakenAttackin]

Definitely ask them. Some people really hate that.