Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

The DU Lounge

Spike89

(1,569 posts)

13. Situationally, some friends by last name, others always the first

Reply to charlie and algernon (Original post)

Thu May 9, 2013, 03:20 PM

May 2013

I have a couple relatively large groups of male friends (a poker group and a softball team) that have been together for a few decades. A couple of guys often use last names, but rarely directly. Before "Joe Smith" shows up, the guys might say "Where's Smith?" when he arrives the same guys may say "Hey Joe, glad you made it".

In fact, when talking about someone, the last name is the most common. A couple guys have "nicknames" based on their last name (Brownie for a guy with the last name Brown, the Flaggster for Flagg) They are the exception--guys will address them directly by the nickname.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

36 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Does anyone still call their friends by their last name? [View all] charlie and algernon May 2013 OP

I call my friends by their first names all the time. And I did back in the 90's, too. Aristus May 2013 #1

not saying anyone had a problem with calling them by their first names charlie and algernon May 2013 #2

I got into an argument with a chief once sarge43 May 2013 #6

Odd, I thought that was more of an Asian thing Xyzse May 2013 #3

A 90's thing? RevStPatrick May 2013 #4

We did that in the '70s as well Art_from_Ark May 2013 #31

Only a few. geardaddy May 2013 #5

The onliest person to ever refer to me by my first, middle AND last names was (occasionally)... MiddleFingerMom May 2013 #7

I can tell you it goes back way before the 90's; but my friends and me never did. Populist_Prole May 2013 #8

Not friends, but co-workers. femmocrat May 2013 #9

Everyone calls me a variation of my last name bigwillq May 2013 #10

No one has ever been able to pronounce my last name graywarrior May 2013 #11

I got that too, as a kid. And it's only 6 letters! nomorenomore08 May 2013 #15

Ha! graywarrior May 2013 #19

So I assume you're some variety of Eastern European... nomorenomore08 May 2013 #20

Polish graywarrior May 2013 #21

Well I assume my name is "Americanized" - i.e. they chopped off the last several letters. nomorenomore08 May 2013 #23

I always know I'm next in the doctor's office graywarrior May 2013 #24

Gurzskyvitch? Is that you? trof May 2013 #25

NO! graywarrior May 2013 #26

I never called people by their last names olddots May 2013 #12

Situationally, some friends by last name, others always the first Spike89 May 2013 #13

Most people use both of mine... Callmecrazy May 2013 #14

Yo, Algernon! 'Sup? KamaAina May 2013 #16

Our group WAY back in high school called each other by our dad's 1st name or nickname benld74 May 2013 #17

Almost everyone always call me by my last name warrior1 May 2013 #18

That is odd truegrit44 May 2013 #35

My old friends from the military Recursion May 2013 #22

Only when there is more than one Jeff R May 2013 #27

At a law firm I worked at HeiressofBickworth May 2013 #28

Interesting. I always thought it was a working class thing and especially male. Smarmie Doofus May 2013 #29

At school we did. Turbineguy May 2013 #30

I have a friend in Taiwan AsahinaKimi May 2013 #32

Is this post just for people that still have friends, or can anybody play ashling May 2013 #33

Stifler by his "American Pie" buddies. n/t RiffRandell May 2013 #34

I have been calling my group of close friends by their last names since the 70s dr.strangelove May 2013 #36