AITA for correcting my coworker on my NAME?

Jonathan Hours
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A new job, a fresh start, and a coworker who just can’t get her name right. Peggy’s thrilled to reclaim her role at a new store, but her seasoned colleague Anna insists on calling her Margret, dismissing her corrections with a wave. When Peggy flashes her ID to prove her point, Anna escalates it to management, crying “hostility.”

Reddit’s buzzing with takes hotter than a coffee break spat. This tale dives into workplace respect, stubborn egos, and the fight to be called by your own name, pulling readers into a relatable office showdown.

‘AITA for correcting my coworker on my NAME?’

So I transfered locations at work due to moving. I had not got my position from the previous store right away and worked really hard to get it back. Unlike my original store this one had two people for the department rather then one. I'll use a fake name for this but a very similar situation.

My coworker Anna was an older lady who has been working that department for 10+ years and she just could not get my name right.. She's always call me Margret rather then my real name Peggy.. My birth name is Peggy (not really but close.) She refused to believe me. Any time shed call for me I didn't respond because I never realised she was talking to me.

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She'd yell at me to get my attention and say stuff like 'Margret I need you to help this customer.' And similar stuff and I'd say 'is Peggy.' But all she'd do it get dismissive and say 'yeah whatever, I'll call you what I like.' I'd tell her no, I'd like to be called my name. I took the time to learn hers, a very difficult one at that, so call me mine.

On a down time she came to me and told me that she did not believe my name was Peggy and would never call me that. So she clearly knew what I want to be called, not forgetting. So the next day I brought my ID with me from my locker and showed her. She then went to management because I was 'being hostile' with her. WTF?. AITA for just wanting to be called my actual name?

Names are personal, and getting them wrong can feel like a slight. Peggy’s struggle with Anna’s refusal to use her correct name—despite clear corrections and even showing her ID—highlights a clash of respect and control. Anna’s dismissal, claiming she’ll “call you what I like,” crosses a professional line, turning a simple issue into a power play.

This reflects broader workplace respect issues. A 2023 SHRM study found 52% of employees feel disrespected when colleagues ignore their preferred names (source). Anna’s behavior risks a toxic work environment.

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Dr. Derald Wing Sue, a workplace diversity expert, notes, “Respecting names affirms identity and fosters inclusion” . Peggy’s insistence was justified, though her approach could have been softer. She should document incidents and discuss with HR for mediation.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit’s dishing out opinions sharper than a paper cut. Here’s the crowd’s take:

LatantAmbiquity - NTA.. Anna obviously is. I’m still curious as to what management might have said to you? Did they side with Anna? If so, it’s time to escalate the issue to HR and higher management.

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wolofancy - NTA Calling someone the wrong name on purpose is borderline harassment.

THrowaway1934531 - Absolutely NTA, WTF? Sounds like she doesn't think your name is professional but its your NAME. Go to management yourself, thats what they're there for. Bring your ID

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BreadyStinellis - NTA. I hate this kind of s**t. I don't care how uncommon a name may be to you, learn it. And learn people's preferences. Even if Thomas's real name is Thomas, if he prefers Tom or even Robby, call him that.

I'm a Laura and the amount of people who have expected me to answer to Lauren or Laurie and get mad at *me* because I have no idea they're referring to me is astounding. Makes me think she would call a trans person by their birth name. It's always a d**k move.

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sillymissmillie - NTA! Reminds me of my aunt Beth. Its on her birth certificate and ID. Not Elizabeth but Beth. Some people tried to call her Elizabeth and especially when she was little and it pissed my Grandma off. No, its Beth FFS! People are so damn weird.

anchovie_macncheese - NTA but at this point, since she's gone to management, I think you also need to go to management to have a sit down with her and address this. Or let them do it. Do not try to reason with this person in private.

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Roswulf - NTA, obviously. My grandfather had a similar situation with a teacher who refused to believe he was named 'Jack' and thought it was disrespectful that he went by a nickname rather than 'John' when he was 7. They hit him with a ruler, kicked him out of class, and made his mother leave work to come pick him up.

She went absolutely ballistic at the school and the teacher when she arrived- it was one of his clearest memories of his mom until the day he died.. This is as foolish and hurtful today as it was in rural Kentucky in the 1920s.

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aerialpoler - NTA. My name is Stacey (what is it with no one revealing their first names on Reddit btw?!) I've had co-workers call me Tracy, Sophie, Steph, and god knows how many other names. It's infuriating.

I've also had emails written to 'Stacy' or 'Stacie' despite the fact that my email address was literally stacey@company.com and I'd respond to those by spelling their names wrong too i.e. Brian/Bryan, Lee/Leigh - it's just plain ignorant not bothering to learn someone's name.

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galarguy - NTA it’s your NAME and you deserve to be called by your NAME or the NAME you want to be called.

Kristylane - “Hi. My name is Kristy”. “Oh, is that short for Kristina?”. “Nope, it’s just Kristy”. “Then it must be short for Kristine.”. “Nope, it’s still just Kristy. Not short for anything. Because my name is Kristy”. “Kristin?” “Why are you arguing with me about my name?

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Seriously, why? Do you think I don’t know my name? I really want to know why you refuse to believe me? Please, tell me why.”. - paraphrased conversation I’ve had many, many, many times in my life. No, I’ve never received an answer.. *Please don’t ever call me Kris. I’ll cut you for that.

Talk about a name game gone wrong! Reddit’s fired up, but is Anna just stubborn, or is there more to her resistance? Peggy’s fight for her name has sparked a workplace saga that’s all too relatable.

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Names are more than words—they’re identity. Peggy’s battle to be called by her real name turned into an unexpected office clash, but was she wrong to push back? How would you deal with a coworker who refuses to get your name right? Drop your thoughts below and let’s sort this workplace puzzle!

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