Being called by my first name

I call my dentist by his first name and he calls me by mine. We even had a group hug after one awful time in the chair! (Me,him and the dental hurse, also called by her first name)

I think things are changing in Germany Margaret. I was watching a German video yesterday and it seems that young people almost without exception "duzen" though by mutual agreement. Here, of course, we have dropped the familiar thou in favour of you, but at least everyone is you. Mussolini apparently tried to do that in Italy, but it didn't catch on !

Its no secret that in Germany people are more formal but formality is not sign of distance as you can call people by their surname and be on very friendly terms.
I call some neighbours Herr or Frau XX but for their children who I knew as toddlers i use their first name.
In care homes and in hospitals and in GPs surgeries second names are used almost without exeption. The GP would use first names if his patient had been to the same school or belonged to the same sports club, as once first names have been used there is no going back.

All this took me many years to get used to and now as an older person I hate being addressed by my first name by firms who have sold me goods.

30 plus years of teaching left me almost believing that my first name really was 'Mrs'! When I retired and people started calling by my Christian name I found it really difficult to adjust.

I dislike being called by my first name as I am known by my middle name & have been for nearly 62 years, of course on official forms it is easy to assume I'm I..... When I was taken in with Pneumonia n 2015 my DD rang the Hospital to check on which Ward I was in & asked for me by the name she's always known me as (but never called me) to be met with confusion despite my surname being very unusual, she did then use my "official" name.If it's a Hospital Appointment or similar where I am not going to be in contact for long I just let it ride.

Several years ago my GP after 10 years asked me what I preferred to be called, he said we are lazy & asssume, so for the next 12 years he used my middle name.

In Hospital I prefer to be asked, I will say please call me ... although my First name has to be on records.

I hate the use of Ms, I am Mrs & have been since the age of 22 (3 different Husbands though). I prefer formality when dealing with Builders etc until I get to know them. As for cold callers using my First name Grrrrrr.

It is lazy to assume that your First name is how you're actually called, 1 Aunt was Cassie, real name Kathleen another was Polly, real name Mary. Names are often shortened

I object to machines (like a computer) greeting me by my Christian name, don't mind humans doing it.
My mother had three Christian names and was known by the middle one, which had to be pronounced the correct way. Her surname was unusual and constantly confused with another (common) name. If any unfortunate got through these possibilities for mistakes and asked how she would like to be addressed she would say, "YOU may call me Mrs Bloggs".
I'm glad the old formality is gone.

Thank you, Grans, for your messages, this is the first time I've started a discussion so I was a bit unsure about doing it

The person with the unisex name who wrote 'Morning' followed by my first name described his/her post as 'Business admin apprentice' - I have emailed the professional body involved to indicate the familiarity was not professional nor welcome. No reply so far.

I am at a loss to explain this repetition which seems to happen to my posts more frequently than to any others. Apologies!

All manner of organisations such as gyms and estate agents address people by their first names in written communications, as if they've known the addressee for ever. When I was working it was normal to address the person you were writing to as Mr, Mrs or Ms unless they initiated first name terms, otherwise it sounded impertinent, I'm not sure that's something that resonates anymore with certain set ups. Although professional bodies such as solicitors for example would not adopt that approach with a client unless they were pretty familiar with them.

I did however drop all formalities with my childrens' friends when they were young it was first name terms, still is with those that we are in touch with.

Usually when I have taught mature students, I have asked them to call me by my forename but when I was teaching Iranian and Afghan students, they demurred at the idea of addressing a (much) older woman in that way. After they had conferred, they decided on the compromise of calling me Mrs Anno which I must say I liked very much.

Usually when I have taught mature students, I have asked them to call me by my forename but when I was teaching Iranian and Afghan students, they demurred at the idea of addressing a (much) older woman in that way. After they had conferred, they decided on the compromise of calling me Mrs Anno which I must say I liked very much.

Usually when I have taught mature students, I have asked them to call me by my forename but when I was teaching Iranian and Afghan students, they demurred at the idea of addressing a (much) older woman in that way. After they had conferred, they decided on the compromise of calling me Mrs Anno which I must say I liked very much.

I have a very unusual surname, and it causes such problems. When asked my name I always say 'My surname is Lilliendahl' Most times the reply is 'Oh, right Lillien', then there follows conversation where I have to explain that that I am not Lillien, nor am I Mrs Dahl. So I like to be called by my first name.

I wouldn't call you prim for having a naming preference, grandmama. It's a very personal thing. I'm happy for almost everyone, whatever their age or position, to call me by my first name. My daughter's school teachers and my GP use my title and surname. Cubs (8-10 years old) and the kids I taught in Thailand (mostly 8 year olds) used my first name.

I'm about to become a great grandmother for the first time, and as I'm Gran to my grandchildren, and my expectant grand daughter and I have decided that I will be Moregran!

My 4 yr old niece calls me by my first name , I would have preferred Aunty Fay but wasn`t asked . I always put Aunty Fay on her presents and cards to try to give her parents a hint but up to now it hasn`t worked . I also dislike being called my first name by people who don`t know me from Adam but I suppose I am just behind the times .

When I am asked (usually on the phone) I say 'yes' but then every sentence contains and it annoys me so much I usually say 'please don't wear my name out' and they fail to understand what on earth I mean!

When I was young, a very long time ago, we didn't know even our neighbours first names. Only aunts and uncles were addressed so. I do still get shocked when comparative strangers call me by my first name and feel it is a lack of respect but am getting used to it. Times change.

Sorry, clicked send too quickly! If I get a cold caller using my first name I ask 'Do I know you?' When the answer comes back 'No' I then say that they must address me as Mrs ...

I always ask to be called Mrs ... by business people. I think it is common manners and courtesy.

My dentist asked why I preferred not to address him using his nick-name. I explained that as he was a professional man, he should maintain a gap between patients and himself. I am very happy to call him whatever he likes, having been asked to do so,in an informal situation but when I am looking for expertise he seems to me to be more professionally qualified when he retains some distance

Although I said upthread that I like to be called by my first name, that's only after I've invited someone to do so. I don't remember cold callers (we don't get many) using my first name, but they do struggle with my six-lettered Italian surname. That's probably why I prefer to give my first name over the phone as it saves spelling it out with the international code, often (if they're especially thick/hard of hearing) more than once. If a cold caller did know my name and used it I would probably just not engage with them. On the whole, though, I feel quite happy with people calling me by my Christian/fore/given name. Uninvited use would put my back up. As a child I knew everyone's surname in our road, as we would always meet them walking, and they were always Mr or Mrs to my parents. I remember my father being really put out when young neighbours moved in next door to him and called him Frank! He was about 65 then. I only know my neighbours' first names except for those on our local FB site.

I don't mind being called by my first name. Around here youngsters seem to call everybody "Hun", I can't abide that nor "lovey" as I was addressed at my last blood test.

I have just finished reading Anne of Green Gables, Anne later marries a doctor so her housekeeper addresses her as; Mrs. Doctor, dear. Quite cute, I think.

I prefer being called by my first name by anybody except children and grandchildren. What I really hate is being called madam!