How do you tell someone to stop calling you a nickname you dont like?

Question

What the polite way to tell people you dont like a certain nickname? Is it rude to say "Please dont call me that." Because if I put myself in their shoes, I would get offended if I called someone a nickname with no bad intentions and they told me to stop.

Answer 1

Just say 'I don't care to be addressed by that name. You can call me _______'. If they don't get the message, be blunt, "Don't call me that". If they continue, it is time to not see them as much. They obviously don't care about your feelings.

Answer 2

If they don't desist, make up a nickname for them that is also insulting and use it consistently until they stop.  Ashole is a good one if you can't think of something better.  Avoid racial or sectarian slurs but something generically offensive like "Duckwad" or "Mr. John Prick" works nicely.

Answer 3

tell them "i'd prefer if you called me_____."

Answer 4

Tell them you don't like being called whatever.  It's not rude.. it's just factual.

Answer 5

I understand how you feel awkward about it. I'd never be able to straight out tell someone I don't like a nickname. If the name doesn't really upset you, next time they call you by it laugh and say, "Hey, that's cool and all, but I really like being called ___ instead. I think this is a better name because _____!" (or insert similar conversation here.) However, if the nickname truly upsets you, I hate to be hypocritical but I would try my best to tell them straight up that you're upset by it. Good luck!

Answer 6

You've got it. Just say "please don't call me that". You need offer no explanation why; your request should be sufficient. If you have another nickname you like, add "I'd rather be called (nickname) instead".

Answer 7

My mother didn't like her first name, so she told everyone to call her the middle name. If you don't like it, then tell them. If they are nice, then they will understand.

Answer 8

Some years back, I had a male friend who was 9 years older than I was.  He was approaching 40, remembered the Vietnam War, protested the war, had a draft card, got a deferral because he was in grad school. I was still 20-something, too young to understand Woodstock or Kent State, and the war was something I saw on the news that was over by the time I finished junior high.  So that 9 year difference was actually pretty significant.  To tease me, any time we were on the phone, he would end our conversations by saying, "I luv ya, kid."

I HATED that.  I asked him nicely to please stop calling me kid.  I got mad.  I threatened.  And he persisted.  Finally I realized that I knew his weak spot - he was sensitive about his age.  So the next time we were on the phone and he said, "I luv ya, kid," I responded with, "I love you too, Old Man."

After that, it turned into a joke and then it really did become an endearment.  He passed away about 5 years, only mid-50s and much too young, and I sure do miss hearing him call me "kid" now.

As for other nicknames that my brothers and their friends came up with through the years, I just ignored them.  Didn't respond at all, acted like I wasn't even listening.  They got bored with it pretty quick.