I'm Tim, but call me Tom

[DavieW]

Only one person doesn't call me David, Dave or Davie. He's always called me John for some unknown reason.

[tmk2]

Tim here never really been called Tom but a friend use to call me Tomothy

[HRL]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

To all Tims, do you keep getting called Tom as well?
For all my life, someone will call me Tom at least once a week - even people who have known me for years.
It's OK - I've learnt to deal with this - but feel free to set up a crowdfund if you want to help.

It's just one of those things now, but I wonder if Tom's get called Tim

Are there any other names that regularly get confused with similar sounding names?

Funnily enough there’s a Tom at work that gets constantly called Tim. It’s got to the point where even his boss has called him Tim!

[Skyedriver]

valiant said:

I’m Rodney but seem to get called Dave a bit...

I'm Spartacus but get called Ronny Pickering

[GM182]

There was a bloke at school whose name was Richard but who early on got the nickname Frank - I don't remember why - but it stuck so well his housemaster once came up to him and asked him: 'Have you seen Richard ****** anywhere? He's supposed to captain the house cricket team this afternoon...
"No sir, no idea. I'll let him know you're looking for him," came the reply.

[edthefed]

Mother in Law called me Dave for about 5 years. It was pointed out to her i wasnt called Dave...her reply "well he looks like a Dave"

[Tim330]

tmk2 said:

Tim here never really been called Tom but a friend use to call me Tomothy

I first heard Tomothy on the TV show Fresh Meat.

Tom330

[languagetimothy]

My nephew is called Tom, and I get that sometimes from my elderly mother, although she does correct herself.

[Bullett]

Shakermaker said:

I get the exact same

I though Alex was a much more common name than Alec as well, or were there a lot more people called Alec in the olden days?

And another here.
My best mates dad called me Alec for years, I gave up correcting him. Still get the Alec think occasionally.
I had an argument with someone once who wanted to spell my full name with a Z in the middle.
My most common wrong name is Clay, usually by Americans and usually in emails. I appreciate that is my surname but we don't even use the backwards email format and I sign with my name.

[3013buz]

geeks said:

You have a strong accent by any chance?

I am Dan which occasionally means I get called Dave, Darren or on one very confusing occasion, Peter!

Not just me then, I’m usually Daniel and occasionally Darren! Although when much younger I wrote my name so scruffy even I thought I’d wrote David!

[jdw100]

I'm Jeff but for some reasons people from Australia or New Zealand often call me Jiff.


I get James quite a lot, because 'I sound like I should be a James'?

I even used to get emails from people I had met saying 'Hi James', in response to an email I've sent them; clearly with Jeff in the signature block.

This has happened lots of times....ever since about my mid-twenties or so.

Some American chap owns a local cafe here - 'Hi James!' every time I walk in....I've corrected him once or twice but have given up now.


Where I live I get called by the local population: Jepp, Mr. Jepp, Pak Jepp or, my favourite, which is Papa Aryana.

[CypSIdders]

Obviously I want to remain an international man of mystery, so I'm not going to reveal my real name.
However, 9 times out of ten, if someone doesn't know me they call me Simon.
Simon doesn't sound or look like my real name, no one in my family is called Simon, I've never known or met a Simon, I'm not simple, I'm not a pie man and I'm not inclined to say 'Simon says'!

[StressedDave]

A Dave here, but for some reason I'm getting called Steve a lot by prospective clients on the phone. I blame the VOIP phones and not my complete and utter lack of diction.

[hondafanatic]

I get Dave a lot especially by people I work with.

I'm David...I know I know...I'm being fussy...however, I've never introduced myself as Dave and I don't sign my emails Dave or on presentations but people instantly refer to me as Dave. And I'm not.

Funny thing is I'd very rarely correct someone myself as it does sound a little pompous, however my family and close friends will instantly correct anyone who calls me Dave, sometimes in quite a corrective and protectionist manner. I had one close colleague who even mentioned it in a whole staff briefing after I was mentioned several times as 'Dave'.

[Jasandjules]

jdw100 said:

I'm Jeff but for some reasons people from Australia or New Zealand often call me Jiff.

Are you sure that is not just the accent?

[captain_cynic]

Jasandjules said:

jdw100 said:

I'm Jeff but for some reasons people from Australia or New Zealand often call me Jiff.

Are you sure that is not just the accent?

Pssst... I think that's the joke.

[Shakermaker]

hondafanatic said:

I get Dave a lot especially by people I work with.

I'm David...I know I know...I'm being fussy...however, I've never introduced myself as Dave and I don't sign my emails Dave or on presentations but people instantly refer to me as Dave. And I'm not.

Funny thing is I'd very rarely correct someone myself as it does sound a little pompous, however my family and close friends will instantly correct anyone who calls me Dave, sometimes in quite a corrective and protectionist manner. I had one close colleague who even mentioned it in a whole staff briefing after I was mentioned several times as 'Dave'.

One of the guys who used to work for us, sadly now passed, always introduced himself as Dave, everyone called him Dave, his name badge said Dave, the works. He was "Dave" and that was that, and he would happily work all day all night all week with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.

This meant he was always a prime target for overtime and holiday cover of other staff. But if you ever called his house phone and his wife answered, she would never accept anyone asking to speak to Dave. She would say "No, it is David, there is no Dave here" and then hang the phone up.

[gareth_r]

Richard-390a0 said:

I work with a Daryl & his phone calls always seem to start "No I said Daryl"... As people hear it as Darren!?!

I used to work with someone who had a Welsh first name, a Norwegian surname, and lived in a street that had an English name that is not spelled how it sounds, in a Welsh village.

It would take about fifteen minutes if he had to give his name and address over the 'phone.

[Kermit power]

I have to say, OP, your information gathering exercise is going pretty well! Just keep a little database and move on to "Why do people always misspell my surname" and "Is your credit card number hard to read out over the phone" and you're on a roll!

[mangos]

I sometimes get called Jessica or Vanessa, my name is neither of those.