Alex is a NO-NO

Warning: this is just a small rant about professionals addressing clients/ customers using nicknames. 


For those of you who don't know, my husbands name is Alexander. He goes by Sandy, as it is a family tradition and a family nickname. Legally it is Alexander, though, so on forms, accounts, cards etc it shows up as Alexander. When we go into banks, doctors offices, registries or anything of the sort I am constantly annoyed at how the professionals refer to him as Alex*. Im sure you are thinking, "harmless, don't be so uptight" but why it bothers me is that he doesn't even go by Alexander, so please don't shorten the name further and use a nickname. Nicknames are reserved for close friends and family and have usually been agreed upon by the person being called that nickname. It irritates me because if they are trying to create a friendly, comfortable  atmosphere they would know to call him Sandy, the nickname he has chosen to go by, not Alex,  something a distant acquaintance  has chosen for him. By calling him Alex, it makes the professional exchange feel even less personal because it is such an inaccurate reference to my husband. 

Tell me this, if your name was Richard and you commonly went by Rich, and you went to a bank teller and they addressed you as Dick, would you not feel slightly offended? It's just weird. Don't shorten my name, if anything address me as Mrs. or Mr. McLaren. Alexander is even fine, I just cringe every time I hear them say to me "Alex". Lets leave name shortening and nicknaming to family and friends. Full name , Mr. or Mrs., or even sir or madam can be reserved for professionals in the work place. 


To top it all off, we have named our son Alexander as well. We, his family and some friends, have come up with little nicknames for him, but to make very very clear, Alex is NOT one of them. Please refer to our beautiful little boy as Alexander, or Al or any other nickname that you know we are ok with (Billy as Daddy calls him, McDuff as Grandma McLaren calls him). When he is old enough he will decide what he is comfortable with as well. ALEX is out of the question as it just gives me that cringey car salesman, trying to chum you up and be buddies with you, kind of feeling.


End Rant


* Please note that I don't have any problem with the actual name Alex, I think it is a lovely name I just don't prefer to call my husband or child by this. Please take no offence if your name is Alex as my feelings about the name are based purely on emotional response to situations described above.