I’ve been thinking about this, how people instinctively respond to their own name when called, as it’s often engrained in us, or at least trained to. But does anyone else have a certain name or names that they would react to that weren’t their own?
For me, [name_f]Jillian[/name_f] is definitely one of these. I’d probably react to it quicker than I react to my own name if I’m being honest! I’d also react to [name_f]Kate[/name_f] if called - [name_f]Jillian[/name_f] and [name_f]Kate[/name_f] are definitely the two names that really feel engrained in me without being my proper name.
Does anyone else experience this phenomenon? And if so, what names would you likely react to?
Thank you.
This is something I’ve never thought of before! I think I sort of react this way when I hear a someone being called bri or brianna. I think I especially would if I heard someone being called brianna pronounced like “bri-ah-na” because this was almost my real name another one I feel like would be taylor because it was one of my first friends, my first doll, and first favorite name. I also heavily associate both these names with brown hair, which I have! Not sure if that rambling made sense, but what an interesting topic!
Wow, that’s especially cool, since it was almost your real name! [name_f]My[/name_f] “almost” name is unfortunately quite common (I think I’ve met nearly 10?) that I doubt I would ever respond to it. [name_f]Bri[/name_f] / [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] is a lovely name! There’s also something super special about your first favourite name
I love learning people’s “almost names”! I also love to think about if my life would be any different with a different name! I doubt it, but I guess you never know!
[name_u]Aubrey[/name_u]! It’s super close to my name, and people are always mixing my name up for that one. If I hear someone say [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u], I always look to see if they are talking to me haha. I think it’s funny that you said you might respond better to [name_f]Jillian[/name_f] than your actual name, because that is how I can be with [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u] depending on the context haha. If I am in a public place, especially where there are children present, sometimes I won’t look if I hear my name being called because I assume it’s a parent calling their child since [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] is so common for kids.
I instinctively respond to anything with an “anna” sound—-Anna, [name_f]Brianna[/name_f], etc. But if I’m being honest, if you shout any name across the room, I’ll probably look over (and maybe even respond!).
I’m [name_m]Bryan[/name_m] so I’ve spent my entire life turning my head when someone says [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. Honestly, if any name has a prominent long i sound I tend to respond!
@Youssarian I actually know a [name_m]Bryan[/name_m] with a twin named [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]! I can’t imagine how confusing that would be because they sound so similar. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband’s brother is [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] and his uncle is [name_m]Bryan[/name_m], and we’ve had miscommunications when someone misheard which name was said haha.
Gosh that must be a pain. I can’t imagine having a sibling much less a twin named [name_u]Ryan[/name_u]. We have a lot of similar names in my family. Some by coincidence, some not, so I get it, but [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] is just too close.
Summary
[name_f]My[/name_f] younger brother is [name_m]Brayton[/name_m], while my stepdad is [name_m]Brian[/name_m] and my stepsister is [name_f]Brianna[/name_f]. Two of my siblings’ middle names are also [name_m]Briant[/name_m] and [name_f]Brynn[/name_f]. And then to top it off, my sister just started dating a [name_u]Rayan[/name_u] (pronounced Ryan).
a lot of people will misread my name as jemima (and a friend calls me it as a joke) so i will often respond to that! another one is emma, especially in loud settings the ‘j’ sound can often disappear, so i’ll at least semi-react to that.
For me its ‘lee’ names like [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], [name_u]Ollie[/name_u], [name_u]Holly[/name_u], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] etc.
I also will at least look around when I hear a name I love like [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f], [name_f]Apolline[/name_f] etc. just because Im curious to what a [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] would be like in real life!
I think I would react instantly to being called [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], [name_u]Jess[/name_u], [name_u]Jessie[/name_u].
I get called every flower name under the sun so I’ve learned to react to being called [name_f]Lavender[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilac[/name_f] I hate it.
Definitely [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]. People have misheard/misremembered my name as [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] a lot of times, and I’ve always gone to school with Hayley’s, so when I hear that “Hay…” sound, my ears always perk up!
I’d also turn my head if I heard the name of someone I knew—but only the more unique names. If I heard someone calling out to Sarah-Claire or [name_u]Royce[/name_u] …I’d look around and instinctively assume it was the one I knew!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is J@den, so I answer to [name_u]Jade[/name_u], [name_f]Jayda[/name_f], Jaydie, [name_u]Brayden[/name_u], [name_u]Hayden[/name_u], [name_u]Aiden[/name_u], & [name_u]Kayden[/name_u].
I also answer to [name_f]Katie[/name_f], [name_u]Taylor[/name_u], & [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] / [name_u]Charley[/name_u] as those are my sisters names & [name_f]Marinda[/name_f] (Miranda) as I look similar to my mother.
I’ll respond to [name_u]Reagan[/name_u] if I mishear it as [name_f]Megan[/name_f], and I’ll respond to [name_f]May[/name_f], which is my nickname.
Such an interesting topic! There aren’t too many similar-sounding names to my own, but I will instinctively respond to my sibling’s name because we get paired up so often. I’ve even accidentally called myself it!
I instinctively respond to [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f], [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] + [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f]. [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f] + [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] because for some reason people always think my name is actually [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f] I have been confused for this name throughout my life. Apparently I look like a [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f]. [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] is also a name people call me. I think because it’s similar to [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] (my actual name) I remember when I did cash in hand waitressing jobs when I was younger my boss of one restaurant I worked for used to put [name_f]Veronica[/name_f] on the envelope that had my money in! [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] is my Hebrew name when I’m at the synagogue or seeing my more orthodox relatives they will call me [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f] so of course I respond to this name.
I also instinctively respond when people call [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] + [name_u]Rose[/name_u]. [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] because it’s my daughter’s name so when I hear this name I do respond as most the time it’s people calling out to her. [name_u]Or[/name_u] on the occasion it’s someone else I have to see who is also named [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] as she’s rather rare where I am. [name_u]Rose[/name_u] is one my favourites I love her so when I hear that I always respond. [name_u]Rose[/name_u] pulls at my heart strings!
Really interesting topic.
I would respond to anything that actually sounds like my name: [name_f]Lois[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] (more so because [name_f]Luisa[/name_f] is my Spanish name so I actually do use it.) This catagory also extends to names that just have the S sound at the end of the name. For example, in my class there is a girl called [name_u]Reese[/name_u], and whenever anyone calls her, I think they’re saying “Louise.”
Also [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] and Taivi, probably, because I’ve never met someone with the name and do sometimes use it as a first.
Probably my middle name, [name_f]Norma[/name_f]!
I had many, many medical appointments as a child and in Belgium, where I’m from, it’s somewhat common for pediatricians to simply call out a patient’s first name (instead of surname) when it’s your turn. For some reason, instead of simply calling me [name_f]Wendy[/name_f], they never failed to call me [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] [name_f]Norma[/name_f], as if my name was double barrelled!
[name_f]My[/name_f] children’s names, but that’s probably quite obvious? I feel like I react to those even faster than to my own name
I also respond to names that have been confused with mine: [name_f]Lisanne[/name_f], Rosalie… But also almost any variant of [name_u]Rose[/name_u]: [name_u]Rose[/name_u], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], Rosa…