Message: "I want to change my name to Alexander but don’t like Alex"

[Opinions] I want to change my name to Alexander but don’t like Alex

by Username7

1/8/2022, 4:15 AM

I want to change my name to Alexander but want to be called Alexander not Alex. Is that possible? If I introduce myself as Alexander would that make it more likely for people to call me that, or is Alex an inevitability?

Truth be told, Alex is a fine name but it feels like every Alexander gets called Alex and that nickname just has zero originality. If I were to have a nickname it would be Sasha.

#namechange

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- Dracotorix nsi (guest)

1/8/2022, 9:59 PM

Introduce yourself as “Alexander, not Alex” or “Alexander, if that’s too long you can call me Sasha, but not Alex”. Some people will assume they can call you Alex if you just introduce yourself as Alexander but if you specify “not Alex” they should get it.

- Bex +1

1/8/2022, 6:48 PM

I taught a boy who was Alexander and they were very firm about not shortening it. He's now 20 and still prefers Alexander. It's doable, you'll just need to correct people. Also if you introduce yourself as Alexander, people will more likely use Alexander not Alex.
I love Alexander it's so handsome, I wish it was used more frequently in full.

- Username7

1/9/2022, 2:26 AM

Thank you! I think it's unfair that many beautiful long names are shortened just because some people are too lazy to say the full name. I mean, just because their name is short doesn't mean mine ought to be.

- Mokoš Ní Boii (Samantha Carter)

1/8/2022, 1:09 PM

Do you like Aleš?

What about Aleš?

This message was edited 1/8/2022, 1:09 PM

- Manipura (glaucous)

1/8/2022, 1:00 PM

I have a 4 syllable name, and I don't think it's possible to 100% avoid a NN, so I'd suggest picking a NN to offer as an alternative to Alex (which does seem the default NN for Alexander), if you dislike that so much.

If people still call you Alex when you've told them your NN is Sasha, they're just being jerks, and jerks are usually avoidable.

This message was edited 1/8/2022, 1:04 PM

- Pelops (blaaarg) +4

1/8/2022, 10:54 AM

Sure... I know an Alexander that goes by Zan.

Why not pick a more original name overall if you are turned off by Alex's "unoriginality"? Alexander is a VERY popular name.

- A (guest) +3

1/8/2022, 11:23 AM

But it's not really that popular, not where I live. The world is a big place and just because you know many Alexanders doesn't mean everyone in the world does too. I've liked this name since I was a kid and I haven't found one which I like more. Plus, you haven't actually answered my question.

- Pelops (blaaarg) +2

1/8/2022, 12:29 PM

I did answer your question, I said "Sure."

If you don't meet many Alexanders, then what's the issue with being called Alex? Lol

- Dracotorix nsi (guest) +1

1/8/2022, 10:02 PM

Not sure about OP, but I live in a place where Alexander is way too popular and I still think it sounds good, but Alex sounds uninspired.

- Username7

1/9/2022, 2:22 AM

That's what I mean, Alexander sounds handsome and dignified whereas Alex doesn't really.

- Anneza

1/8/2022, 8:53 AM

Give it a trial run. Introduce yourself to new people as Alexander: tell your friends and family that you are in the process of changing your name, and ask them to use Alexander so that they'll be used to it when the paperwork has been done. And give it a month or so. Then you'll have facts to work with instead of just opinions.

- RoxStar

1/8/2022, 6:49 AM

There's no originality in Alexander either, and in fact it's more popular than Alex.
But It's not at all uncommon to be called Alexander in full form. Or Al, or Xander. (Only use Sasha if you are Russian; otherwise you will be seen as pretentious and that's unique in the wrong way.)

- Ninor (Frozten)

1/8/2022, 5:42 AM

I think it's possible, but it will be a hassle especially in the beginning. Maybe Al, Lex, Xander would be possible nicknames too?

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