Mom forbids 16-year-old son from going by 'Lex,' yells at teacher for not using the name 'Alexander' in school newsletter: 'She told me I should stop trying to discard the name she lovingly chose for me'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Aug 27, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Nicknames can be such a touchy subject when they don't have to be. If you're having a kid, you need to write down their name and every possible nickname they could have. If the sound of any of these nicknames makes you feel a level of disgust that would amount to absolute detestation, you probably should not name your kid the original name. You never know what nickname your kid will get. I got mine from my best friend in preschool; thankfully, my parents approved. 

Some parents aren't against nicknames in general but are prejudiced against the nicknames of their child's (or, more likely, their peers) choosing. That's the case with this mother, who named her son Alexander and hates that he goes by "Lex." She claims it's feminine and undignified despite it being the name of one of the most famous supervillains the world over. This disagreement led to a breaking point.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10395157504
    via leah hetteberg

    Photo does not depict the real subject in the story

  • 02
    AITA for using my nickname exclusively in school even in our school newsletter?
    via u/Educational-Fee-5962
  • 03
    My full name is Alexander but I (16m) go by Lex. My mom hates it. She always calls me Alexander and has asked me to explain why I'd choose Lex over Alexander repeatedly to her. She has told me Lex sounds like you forget to finish what you're saying and Lex is all that comes out. She told me it sounds like a girly name. She has even told my to stop saying I'm Lex because my name on my birth certificate and all my documents is Alexander. She told me Alexander is a handsome and sophisticated name a
    via u/Educational-Fee-5962
  • 04
    Mom is the only person who still calls me Alexander and last year I was even given a student log in with Lex instead of Alexander. Which is why this has become a big deal now. My school's back to school newsletter had a photo of me for a school club I'm the face of and they called me Lex last name in the newsletter. My mom freaked out about it. She told me she gave me the name Alexander for a reason and I should stop trying to discard the name she lovingly chose for me. She also told me I'm myse
    via u/Educational-Fee-5962
  • 05
    laCantarella 8h ago NTA It is completely fine that you go by your nickname as it is only an abbreviation of your actual name. Just make sure to remember to always put in your official one when booking stuff etc. In the Netherlands I know soooo many people who do it due to the tradition of people having pretty classic or oldfashioned names (eg I knew a guy by, Dion' his actual name is Dionysos, or one of my friends goes by Anette instead of Antoinette- signing up to uni they used the proper one a
    via u/laCantarella
  • 06
    All in all Lex is as fine a name as any and not,girly' - even if it was, don't understand the issue. Your mom probably will never or will take ages to come around. You can try to explain why you prefer it but otherwise I'd suggest that you might just have to accept her nagging.
    via u/laCantarella
  • 07
    fightingchken81 • 5h ago Just tell her your modeling your life after Lex Luthor and your going to be a billionaire and destroy superman while you're at it.
    via u/fightingchken81
  • 08
    existential_geum • 3h ago I also immediately thought of Lex Luthor. Lex is definitely not a "girl" name; it's a great non-gendered name.
    via u/existential_geum
  • 09
    SyderoAlena • 6h ago Even if he went by a nickname that wasn't a shortening of his real name it would be fine. He's old enough to pick what he wants to be called. His mother doesn't own him, she had a right to call him what she wanted when he was a baby because he was too little to have an opinion but now that he's older it's all up to him..
    via u/SyderoAlena
  • 10
    FinalClick8455 • 5h ago NTA. If you choose a longer name for your children then you need to assume that people will shorten it. In your case Lex is more unusual but if your name is Alexander then many many people in life will try and call you Alex or Xander and your mom should have been prepared for that.
    via u/FinalClick8455
  • 11
    ScroochDown • 7h ago I had a friend whose parents wanted to name her Katherine, but they didn't want anyone using a nickname for her, so they named her Kate instead. And they were FURIOUS when everyone called her Katie instead. People are so about their kids sometimes. weird
    via u/ScroochDown
  • 12
    Accomplished_Eye_824 .7h ago !!!!!!!!!!!! Someone in a baby name group should share this post. I bet half of them would side with the mother lol. I specifically chose a name that wouldn't need to be shortened. If my kid hates his name he can go by whatever he wants (within reason, he can't go around demanding to be called something obnoxious)
    via u/Accomplished_Eye_824
  • 13
    helpfullyrandom • 8h ago Partassipant [4] This is a problem entirely residing in your mum's head. Lex is totally fine, though I have to say I've only heard it used as a female name. Unfortunately, your mother has to contend with the fact that her offspring will grow up and make choices, and one of those choices is about how people refer to them.
    via u/helpfullyrandom
  • 14
    I would let her know that you prefer the informal name. Inform her you are aware of her concerns, but ultimately its your choice, and that it may well be that when you're older you may choose to use your full first name for official documents/records or job interviews or whatever, but right now, you're happy with Lex, but she's welcome to call you whatever makes her happy. NTA.
    via u/helpfullyrandom
  • 15
    • CKRCKJD 7h ago NTA. "A name is a gift to a child, to wear like a coat. Sometimes the coat no longer fits and the child choses their own." I use a shortened version of my name at work. Think Alex to your Alexander. I have that short version on my badge and everyone calls me the short version. I am 50 years old. My oldest child is NB and has chosen their own name. While they haven't legally changed it, we all call them by their chosen name.
    via u/RCKJD
  • 16
    Where WereUChilds • 8h ago Say to your mom: "it's not about you. It's not about you. Repeat after me 'it's not about you""
    via u/WhereWereUChilds
  • 17
    zeb5364 • 8h ago ΝΤΑ sounds like she man. if this is a pattern of behavior for her start to try and distance yourself from caring about the little things that drive her mad - your i'll add also that although calling the school did teachers don't think less of you because of this and find it way less humiliating than you do. they deal with way worse parents all the time
    via u/zeb5364
  • 18
    CeruleanMoon9 • 5h ago Teacher here they think your mom is "one of those" parents and just feel bad for you. They have not changed their opinion on you as their student at ALL except they may wonder what else you're forced to deal with at home. Ask them to continue calling you at school - that should be fine unless you are in the US in one of those states with insane laws coming in. Just a couple more years, Lex, and you'll be much more free.
    via u/CeruleanMoon9
  • 19
    Bhaastsd 7h ago NTA. Mom needs to realize she gave birth to a fully independent human who may or may not do what she wants or expects and that's as it should be. Good luck Lex. You need it.
    via u/Bhaastsd

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

alexander teens baby names teenager teenage mother teenagers lex luthor names baby name high school nicknames mom name son nickname
Scroll Down For The Next Article