customers and their questions

[JambaBamba]

My first name is Suzannah and I have "Oh Susanna" sung to me all the time. It's annoying and no, it's not original. Everyone also misspells my name or calls me Susan or Suzanne or Sue. None of these are my name (Every time someone calls me by the wrong name the Ting Ting's song "That's Not My Name" runs through my head - it keeps the murder rate low ). My last name is also a very common word and a very unique last name. I was teased about it all through school. I got the "Is that really your last name? Really?" too. People can be idiots.

[EvilEmpryss]

I knew a girl named April. . . because that's the month she was conceived in. TMI.

[KellyHabersham]

The only time I've gotten that sort of thing has been with my last name - it's a fairly common word, but for some reason, people often mishear it and can't pronounce it correctly.

[Sapphire Silk]

So I dunno how many of you out there have customers ask questions about your real names?

I get asked about my middle name, which is a color. They ask if my parents really liked that color.

No. I was named after my great grandmother.

[dog_mu]

My ex-wife's last name is a common first name, and people sometimes think that's her first name. Plus, it starts with "T", and she has to spell it phonetically to make sure they don't think it starts with a "P".

[Marmalady]

My name isn't very common over here - it was only a couple of years ago that I ever met someone else with the same name. (It does seem to be gaining in popularity, though).

Apart from being frequently misspelt or mispronounced, the thing I hear time after time after time is 'Oh, you're Superman's girlfriend!'

Yes, hilarious, nobody's ever thought of that line before.... sigh.....

[Dasota]

Could be worse. I get asked all sorts of questions.

Were you named after Hitler's wife? (No. Her name is spelled differently)

My Uncle is always asking me why my mother didn't name me Jaja instead. I just tell him that my mother had at least a little bit of class and I wasn't named after her sister anyways.


Anyone remember those 10-10 numbers for calling collect? Or the 1-800-Collect ones? Yeah, middle school sucked cuz of those commercials.

[wolfie]

Not by customers, but some tactless people ask me if I have telekenesis and am going to go on a killing spree.

I usually respond "Yes".

My name isn't even spelled that way, what makes you think that's even remotely clever or funny?

From other posts, I believe that you're from a state which another poster has described as "the land sobriety forgot". If I'm thinking of the same Stephen King story you are, another joke answer would be "No, but I'm going to smash up a few bars" - there was a radical prohibitionist (in Kansas, I believe) with the same name.

[Ayche]

My first name is a letter. A single, solitary letter. Whenever I give my name, I have usually hounded by a group of questions. The top five:

1: How do you spell it?
2: Were your parents high?
3: No, really, what's your name?
4: So can I call you (random name starting with that letter)?
5: You going to name your kid (random letter)?

[Mycroft]

My name is a very common biblical name that is traditionally shortened - it's not David, but assume it is. I don't like - to the point of "refuse to answer to" - Dave "I'm sorry, I thought you were calling someone else. My name is David". I tend to get physically violent when addressed as "Davey". I *never* get David, unless I specifically correct people - and even then it slips.

So, no, you get something else. It's not my name either, but I consider it "me", so that's okay. My last name is another story, and I'm not getting into that - let's just say I can spot a telemarketer immediately :-)

Not by customers, but some tactless people ask me if I have telekenesis and am going to go on a killing spree.

My answer would be "no, and yes, if I get that question too many more times. I'm keeping records." And I would SMILE.

[simplyanother]

My first name is a slightly less common spelling of a common name. Normally, I wear my nametag in such a way that it's not exactly visable (but I'm wearing it, and I'm NOT hiding it, because that's against the rules, and would be in violation of the dresscode...it just somehow ends up being covered), so they don't usually even see my name anymore.

But when they do, either people attempt to make my name way more complicated than it actually is (it's ...just a vowel change, and it's not like it's a weird "my momma made this up" random spelling...). Or they ask me if I'm of German descent, or other randomness, and then proceed to educate me about the origins of my name. Because, I haven't had it for 30+ years, so I am completely ignorant to the origins of my own damned name, being a stupid retail employee and all. @@. Heh, I usually just tell them that my mother couldn't spell.

It's why my kids have names that are spelled the most common way. I was traumatized as a child. I never found a pencil, coffee mug, plastic vanity plate, keychain or anything else with my own name on it, this has scarred me for life. I still can't find anything with my own name on it. I might still be bitter about that...



I know of a woman named September, called Stevie. While I could never use that name, I find that freakin adorable.

[MoonCat]

I also have a sister named Marcia, which of course means every other idiot starts with the stupid Brady Bunch thing: Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! This is a good way to induce my sister to give you one of these

She also had a customer at work look at her name tag and tell her that her name was "spelled wrong."

[EvilEmpryss]

She also had a customer at work look at her name tag and tell her that her name was "spelled wrong."

Meh. I saw "Marcia" and read it "mar-SEE-ah". When I got the the part about the Brady Bunch I had to back up to make sure I was reading it right.

I've always seen it spelled Marsha, but I'd never have the gall to tell someone their name is spelled wrong, even if it is.

I tried going by my middle name when I was a kid. I remember the time well. It was 1983, and the movie "V" had just come out. I thought it was awesome!

Unfortunately my middle name is the same as the name of the little girl born half-Visitor, half-human. My grandmother insisted on calling me "Lizard-Breath" and that was the end of going by my middle name.

[Tsiyeria]

My first name is the most common female name in the USA. (It sounds like a word that means "jolly" or "happy".) It's spelled in a very straightforward way.

I still get so many people who misspell it. It's four letters! Really? I kinda collect the misspellings now...I'm trying to find unique ones.

Also, the children's singsongs about my name? Little lambs and growing gardens, and all that crap? Please. Don't. Do. That. I may have to perform physical violence upon your person. Ditto for biblical references, past queens, and bathroom mirror "spells". Just don't do it.

[MoonCat]

Actually, you know what the funniest thing is? Over the years, phone customers have gotten my name wrong so many times it's unbelievable. I used to keep a list of the names they thought I said. I stopped when it got to about 34 different names, many of which don't even sound remotely like my actual name. I've been telling my co-workers for years that one of these days I'm going to give my name as "Gwendolyn" or "Hortense" or something, and see how that works...