, he yells from across the promenade.
Morning Harry, I chirp back trying my best to hide the huge smirk across my face.
We’ve been greeting each other on our early morning works for over five years now. I spotted him one morning, before the sun had risen, sitting on a park bench along the beach. His breathing was laboured and my heart sank. I stopped for a moment and asked if he was okay. He was. His heart was aching and he had trouble breathing, but he would be just fine in a moment, he promised me. I waited for a while longer. He insisted I keep on walking.
I walked to the end of the beach and by the time I returned he was up and walking. He was right. He was fine. We exchanged names and a handshake, and became friends from that moment on. Him, a 90 year old man who acts in his spare time, loves golf, swims everyday without fail and is filled with life. Me, a twenty-something girl who never swims, hates golf and couldn’t act to save my life.
He called me by the right name for the first month or so, and then out of nowhere I became Estelle. He’ll walk along with his mates and so confidently call my name, and I can’t bring myself to correct him after so many years. I actually kinda like it. It makes me smile. Or smirk.
Many people get my name wrong. After years and years I stop correcting people. I just don’t care enough to bring it up. We had a cleaner at work last year that called me Charlotte for the whole time she was with us. A lady I met at the kid’s school called me Siobhan for years, even after I had corrected her a few times. The man at our local corner store calls me Shane. And I let him.
I know some people would be extremely bothered by this. Part of me knows I should be too. It’s never caused any problems. Except for this one time.
Last year one of the parents from school started to call me Charlotte {after I had introduced myself as Chantelle}. She’d text me and call me, addressing me as Charlotte… and after a while too much time had passed for me to do anything about it. To her I was Charlotte.
One day I needed to call her and arrange something important, and there came the dilemma. What would I say when I called? Hello it’s Chantelle? I couldn’t. To her I was Charlotte. Hello it’s Charlotte. I couldn’t. I’d be a fraud.
Instead I wimped out and said Hello, it’s X’s Nanny.
Her response: Oh, Charlotte?
And all I could muster up was a big, fat lie: Yes. Yes it is.
That's hilarious!
My name is pretty easy, but I was once called Jade for two days by a girl at work before I even realised she had it wrong.
My mum has a funny name, Asian in origin and hard to pronounce. At the hairdresser, she has given up and now makes her appointments under the name Julie.
Sometimes its easier just to let it slide! xx
Hehe. I get Kylie an awful lot. I usually correct though. That or people tend to think that Carly is short for Carolyn (i think).
When I was little I would correct all the time. Then I stopped. Now I usually just say “like Carly Simon” when I tell people my name. It is easier. Plus then they know the correct spelling too 🙂
When I was working in a call centre…50% of the clients would get my name right on the phone…and the other 50% would call me anything ranging from “Ho” to “Hop”. My name is Hope. I have no idea why they would confuse Hope (Ho-Pe) with Hop (like the motion).
I tend to use my partner's name whenever I make reservations. However, these days, I am trying to use my name more and more for reservations. No point in trying to avoid, I guess?
I'm always having to spell my name over the phone. But if I say it most people get it after they say, “What?” and I repeat it.
However, my doctor of 7 years calls me Tia, which is how some people pronounce Thea. I'm am Thee-ah, but I didn't correct him on that first day and haven't been able to since. Guess I wouldn't be seeing him that often or that we'd move, but after 2 babies that's lots of doctor's visits and I guess I'll always be Tia to him. Can't correct him now, how stoopid would I feel?? hehe 🙂
When I introduce Amelie people will often say “oh pretty name Emily”. I find myself practising different ways of pronouncing her name so people will understand it first time and I don't have to resort saying “no with an A”. Unlike you Chantelle it really bothers me when people get names wrong and I could never let it slide.
your too funny… id have to say something except to the little man with the aching heart!
ive called you the wrong name for so long and i remember the day i realised and felt terrible, like i was the only one… you assured me lots of people say it that way… mmm… i cant change how i say it now… weve been friends for far too long and thats who you are to me! does anyone really say your name the way i do? tell me the truth…
love you, rowe x
My name is Rachael, and often the 'mistake' name is Rebecca, but i did manage a London resaturant for a while where all the chefs were Algerian and very dramatic. None of them could pronounce my name and so they would all call me Richard. I got used to hearing 'RICHARD!!!” being yelled at me from the kitchen and soon all the staff called me that.
But I like Estelle- something old-timey and fabulous about it.
I get a few variations on Elise… the one that drives me bonkers is when someone says “oh Elsie – that's such an old fashioned name”.
My friend Gareth lived in NYC, and when we went over to visit we went to a restaurant where you had to leave your name on a list and wait out the front for a table while your name was called…. Imagine the hilarity when it was announced that a table for five was ready for…… GIRAFFE?!
It is now his nickname 🙂
I get called the wrong name all the time and it is usually Simon. Can't stand it.
So come on, tell us what Rowe calls you.
Ok, so Estelle I can understand – it's so close… almost .. but Siobhan?!
I pretty much answer to anything these days – I can never bring myself to correct people… especially not more than once.
Great post! x
I had someone call me Kristy for 3 years. I couldn't correct her, not after so long!
Oh that's funny, but quite charming and beautiful at the same time. I like that you don't have it in you to correct people, sometimes it's easier not to. I befriended a lady at the markets in London, and recently got a few cards from her – and in everyone she calls me Hannah. I had no idea she had been calling me Hannah the whole time! x
trouble signing into google account for some reason atm… anyhoo
My name couldn't be any simpler -Deb. But when I say it on the phone, people instantly go “what?” Perhaps because it is so short, people dont have time to register it before they reply with 'what'. either that or I have had “bev” as an alternative. I guess I could go with Debbie, but thats not my name, and hasnt been since I was a teenager. It grates me now to hear it.
My last name on the otherhand, I instantly start spelling because its german and a mouthful… except in my husbands hometown in country victoria, where there are 100's of them (his parents even live on the street named the same)
lastly, all due respect to parents who want their children to have unique names, but think of them as adults and how they have to spell their name every single time!!! As a teacher, we see such bastardised spellings of the most lovely names it is appalling!
What a lovely story – the Harry and Estelle part I mean.
I've never really had any issues with my name except for people shortening it to Angie.
I can introduce myself to someone as Angela and they will instantly call me Angie.
As Deb (Or Bev) above mentioned, so many kids have unusual names with odd spelling. I didn't want my kids to have to go through life constantly spelling their first name so I gave them rather traditional names. Brendan is constantly called Brandon and Sarah gets Zara. At least they don't mess up Jack 🙂
I have been called Alan and Eric. Seriously. My name is Alex or Lexi (depends on who you are and what you want to call me really). But Alan and Eric. Clearly I have a drag queen voice?!
I would play along with Estelle too. It's a great name, and what a sweet heart. I love friendships such as these.
i'm such a baby, stories like this bring tears to my eyes everytime. seeing the elderly out and about living and loving their life makes me all emotional. i get sad, happy, proud, impressed all at the same time. what a lovely friendship to have!
I love unique names – I feel like it has more meaning to it with the person. I'm not sure if you have mentioned your middle name before but what is it? I'm curious since Chantelle is a beautiful name!
That's a cute story Estelle 😉
People ALWAYS mess up my name (Naomi), Natalie is a common one – Laramie is the worst. I mean, seriously, LARAMIE??? Who is called Laramie?
Once when I was in high school I put my name on a science fair project (Naomi Harnett) and the printed out entry that followed read “Nasmi Harrett”. In the regional flipping contest and everything. Come on!
Well I'm not alone! I didn't realise that lots of other people had the same problem!
@Rowe: You're so cute. Lots, and lots of people say it like you do. Everyone at work does. To be honest with you I {very sadly} don't even know how my name is supposed to be pronounced. I know that's weird, but I don't. Sometimes Telle is just easier!
@Simone: Hardly anyone says my name the same way. Rowe calls my Chon-telle. My family calls me Shuntelle {said very quickly – hard to explain} and then the rest say Chaaaantelle.
Love this post. Such a great tale.
I can certainly relate, with a name like Callista. I have everything from Melissa, Celeste Clarissa. I am terrible at correcting people, I always say I'm going to get better at it, but I always let it slide…
I love this post, and I can sooooo relate!
I usually get Shontelle…. and I usually don't bother to correct them. Call me anything, just don't call me late for dinner!
It was my Dad's idea to name me Shantelle, with an S, because, as he so ever politely said… “Shit isn't spelt with a C” (Classy, I know! LOL)
Elizabeth Saxe Coburg-Gotha is an evil woman, why do we slave away at work our whole lives for money with her face on
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