Southern Etiquette Re: Formal Names

JuberP · January 2012

Hi Ladies! DS is just starting to talk a little. I would like to get him in the habit of calling adults Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss, etc. and I'm wondering when he should use the first vs. the last name. I do prefer to be a bit more formal on this.

At DC, it is a no brainer, because all of his care providers are Miss or Mr. First name (married or not).

Today, we ran into a neighbor that I don't know too well, other than by her first name. I know she is married. Would you let you LO call her Miss Mary, or would you figure out the last name and have him call her Mrs. Last name?

When do you use the first vs. last name?

becki777 · January 2012

While growing up, I always called adults Mrs/Mr Last Name. For DS, we usually do Miss/Mr First Name. I think its a good way for him to show respect, but I agree using last name is more formal.

We have an older neighbor across the street. I only know her first name, so Caleb calls her Miss Joy.

dbertagni · January 2012

We use first names, Like Miss whoever. I don't think formality is needed with a 2 year old and basically I think DD just thinks peoples names are "Miss so and so" because she doesn't get that "Miss" is an etiquette thing. Sometimes she'll call me Miss Dawn. Ha ha. We have a neighbor who she loves and that watches her sometimes and there is no way she would even be able to pronounce her last name anyway.

withoutshoes · January 2012

For DS, we are using Mrs/Mr. First Name. He doesn't quite get the whole last name thing yet, so I think this is fine. Also, I call my friends/neighbors/etc Mrs./Mr. first name. I only use last name when it's a superior figure or business related. So, I will probably take the same approach with DS.

I love that you are continuing the Southern Etiquette of Mr. and Mrs!

JuberP · January 2012

becki777:

While growing up, I always called adults Mrs/Mr Last Name.

Yes, I did too.

Thanks, Ladies - l had fun reading your responses.

lah1177 · January 2012

We just use Miss first name. I think I did use Miss last name growing up, but I may have been older. Also, I don't remember calling anyone Miss first name, but I was born up North, so maybe it is more of a southern thing to call Miss first name? I think we will continue with the Miss first name with our kids.

MelBee12 · January 2012

I'm from NY and I don't remember ever calling anyone by Miss/Mr. unless teachers and we used their last name. For family we always said "aunt so and so"...and friends of my moms I think I always called them by their first names. With Dylan, we'll probably do the "miss/mr. first name"...but just thinking of it today I used my friends first name only when I said to Dylan "can you say hi to first name?"...haha. woops!

ctnj · January 2012

Ms/Mrs/Mr First Name... its a southern thing.

alchris · January 2012

Yes, Mr./Miss/Mrs. Firstname is very southern! I grew up using Mr./Miss/Mrs. Lastname with most adults and that's what we're doing with our girls. I still stumble over what to call our good (adult) friends though -- I typically go with first names (only) for them. I never ever use Mr./Miss/Mrs. Firstname -- I've lived in the south for nearly half my life now but I'm still not used to it!

laceysmom82 · January 2012

I agree with other pp. We grew up saying Mr/Mrs First Name with my parents friends, etc... But if it was an older person that we weren't as familiar with we called them Mr/Mrs Last Name.

angandvance · January 2012

MelBee12:
I'm from NY and I don't remember ever calling anyone by Miss/Mr. unless teachers and we used their last name. For family we always said "aunt so and so"...and friends of my moms I think I always called them by their first names. With Dylan, we'll probably do the "miss/mr. first name"...but just thinking of it today I used my friends first name only when I said to Dylan "can you say hi to first name?"...haha. woops!

That's so funny! I am from NY and we didn't do the Miss/Mrs./Mr. thing either! I always thought it was weird when we moved down to NC to hear people saying "Miss First Name." Don't get me wrong, I get it's a southern thing to show respect, but I was raised calling adults by their first name unless it was a relative or teacher. :-)

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