Just Don't Call Me Late for Dinner

I stayed after church on Sunday to help decorate for Vacation Bible Camp. At the beginning we all introduced ourselves, although I never really count on anyone actually remembering my name (probably because I never count on me actually remembering anyone's name).

Later in the afternoon, one of the women came up to ask me a question. "Jessica?" she inquired, her voice indicating her uncertainty that my name was, in fact, Jessica.

"Stephanie," I helpfully corrected her.

"Well. That makes sense. You look like a Stephanie." (Hooray!)

"No problem...most people call me Stacie."

The woman I was working with turned around and said, "That's what I always want to call you!"

It's true. Most people--friends and family aside--want to call me Stacie. Two of my co-workers who really ought to know better consistently call me Stacie. I've stopped correcting them; now I even respond to the incorrect moniker.

Nine times out of ten, when someone calls me the wrong name they call me Stacie. Occasionally I get called Jennifer (must be because of the middle "f" sound Stephanie and Jennifer share). I've now been called Jessica.

But for whatever reason "Stephanie" doesn't stick in the brain of a new acquaintance. "Stacie" does. Some people say it's because my last name sounds similar to "Stacie"; others say it's the similar beginning and ending sounds. Whatever it is...it's a bit mysterious. Familiar, but mysterious.

Yesterday morning as I was helping out with registration at Vacation Bible Camp, I was telling my friend the Stacie/Stephanie story. As I finished, the pastor of my church walked by and greeted me. "Hi Stacie!"

Does this happen to anyone else, or am I the only one who has a name no one can remember?

Comments

[ally bean]

Yes, this happens to me all the time. My given name is "Alice" but all my life people have wanted to call me "Alison." Somehow, it's from this experience that my nickname "Ally" evolved. And my husband has the same sort of three name thing going on in his life too. Weird, huh?

[Donnelle]

No one ever remembers my name, but it isn't as common as yours. People usually call me a variation of my name. My favorite was Bryan's approach. The next time he saw me after we had been introduced he pointed at me and said, " It's a D word, right ?" Lots of love to you cuz.
Donnelle

[Jen @ The Short Years]

I think it's the similar first letter sounds. When I was in college my friend Jessica and I had several classes together. Although we look nothing alike whatsoever--she's 8 inches taller than I am, different hair, different eyes, different everything--professors often got our names mixed up. Jessica and Jennifer. Just too hard for people, I guess.

[Katie]

I think that's hilarious! I wish I knew someone else named Stephanie so I could ask them if they are called Stacie as well. It seems like there are a host of people who aren't good at remembering names but for them all to call you the same thing seems pretty crazy.

[Margaret]

Margaret is a pretty hard name to forget since I mostly share it with women in rest homes! I love the name Stephanie and wish I had named one of my daughters that. The older one looks like a Stephanie.

[Rachel]

Rebecca. I've been called Rebecca many, many times in my life with a tone of absolute certainty that it is in fact my real name. It doesn't help either that my parents act as though they can't remember my name and call me all sorts of nicknames. A kind lady that moved into the neighborhood in the past year was thoroughly confused by the fact that my mother seemed to call me different names every day. Finally, she was sure she had it right and confidently called me Gertrude. I felt terrible when I told her that was in fact another nickname.

[Sarah]

Amy. People call me Amy whether or not they know I have a sis-in-law Amy. Actually sometimes Micah calls me Amy which is a little wierd.

Anyway, I just have to say Thanks for posting your frosting a cupcake tip on your blog. I microwaved the frosting and it worked like a charm. Less messy and looks fabulous!!!

Sarah (T-Uttle) Miles

[Andrea]

I get Amanda all the time. I actually often see it written that way when my name is on some sort of list - at church, work, sports, etc. I usually just respond to it. : )

[Kelly]

I've got a good one. My name is, of course, Kelly, and when I got married my last name changed to "Beck". So now everyone I know calls me "Becky". I guess the reasons why are obvious. It happens so much that I, too, have stopped correcting people.