Repeater Names
Posted by Jen Bragg on 12 Oct 2009 | Posted in: Teachers and Teaching
In high school, I was one of seven Jennifers in my physics class. That’s right—seven. Some of us went by Jen, others by Jenny, and a few, like me, were known by our first and last names. To this day, when I talk to a friend from high school or college, I’m addressed as “JenBragg,” as if it’s one word. I guess I don’t really mind, though. There’s never a question which Jen or Jennifer a person means; I always know it’s me!
During my teaching years, I met my share of Emilys, Zachs, Matts, and Brookes. I also had a few occasions when my class list had duplicate first names. One year I had two boys named Lucas; as it turned out, they had a lot in common. Both had blond hair. Both were sweet, quiet boys—ones who would blush when you complimented them. Each one had a twin sister and the last initial S. Lucky for me, one preferred to be called Luke instead of Lucas, so name issues with them were rarely a problem. (You know, “Which one?” and “I didn’t know you were talking to me.”)
Thinking about your class list, what first names do you see year after year? If you’ve ever had students in one class who shared the same first name, what techniques did you use to address them while still making each child feel unique and special? (When sharing your experiences, please use students’ first names only—no last names!)
Looking forward to your responses,
JenBragg
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I teach Kindergarten and this year I have 2 Michael’s. We’ve called one Mikey and one Michael and his last initial. The funny thing is, the Mikey wanted to be called Mikey, then later wanted to be called Michael and his last initial, but it was too late…my brain couldn’t handle the switch! It became a funny game as to what I’d call him, one day went like this: “Mikey” (no answer), “Michael and his last inital” (no answer), then finally “kid in the yellow shirt” (in which he turned around in less than a second). It’s been fun to humor them with this!
Last year I had two Eric’s…one still assumes he’s always to write his name with the last initial, as it’s part of his name!
Most years I have an overwhelming amount of M and J names, which doesn’t provide much variety to our word wall but gets laughs out of the kiddos!
I teach pre-K we have 2 Hannah’s, 2-Lindsey’s and
2-Cody’s I use first and middle names. It gives my students a head start when it’s time to teach first middle and last
I sometimes have students with “repeater names.” When I ask the children to call all the teachers by using “Miss,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.,” I teach them that that is a sign of respect. We don’t just call them by their last names or get too familiar and call them by their first names. So, I would sometimes call them “Master (last name)” or “Miss (last name).” It makes them think more about being respectful and not say “Hey, teacher!” My kindergarteners like to pretend to be teachers, too, so this idea goes over well with them!
I had three boys with the name of Nicholas one year. I approached the parents and told them of my dilemma. I told them to avoid confusion I would call one Nicholas, one Nicky and one Nick. Luckily, they were each already called one of these names so it worked out beautifully.
I have also run into this situation many times in my teaching career. This year I have two Austins. I use their last names when calling on them (they are also in the same reading group). My students are amused as I will often look at one and use the wrong last name. I also have noticed that many of the names in recent years begin with either an “A” or “J”. This year I have 5 “A’s” and 3 “J’s”. I often trip up on these names. There are two little girls who have long curly blond hair. The one I’m looking at will answer to either name even though the names aren’t even close. After reading previous comments, I wonder what my former students will remember about their teacher’s flubbs.
This year, I have 2 Haileys (and a Bailey), 2 Mackenzies, 2 Zacks, 2 Alexandras, 2 Kylies, and 2 students with the same last name. I feel like Noah’s arc!
It’s funny I read this right now…I have three Brianna’s in my class and 2 Amber’s. All three Brianna’s have different last names so they are all called Brianna and the first initial. Now my Amber’s are both Amber L…so we use whole names.
When I dismiss, I call one students at a time and say goodbye. The first time parents heard me say all student’s names they all laughed after hearing so many Brianna’s and Amber’s :o)
I have had duplicate named students in my class several times. I just started calling them Mr. or Ms. last name. The kids love it! It makes them feel so grown up. I, also, call them by first names, too. I just switch off.
I have two Carlos’, two Maria’s and two Alexandra’s. My Carlos’ have the same last initial, so I call them by their full name. We called Alexandra’s number 1 and number 2. They think it’s funny.
I have had no more than two children with the same name in my class at the same time. I truly have been able to manage just fine most all of the time by not seating them at the same table and just looking at them when I call their name–first name only. Outdoors or in the gym, I do use first and last name if both children are playing in the same group. I try to allow them to be known by their first name just like all of the other children. The other children follow suit, and it seems to have always worked.
I had two Leah’s and two Audrey’s last year. We just called them by their first name and last initial. It has stuck for the girls but they don’t mind. I like my name since it is not a common name. However, when I was young I always wanted a name someone else had. I could never find my name on all of the cool name things they had like pens or paper…you know the stuff:)
This is a story of why I changed my name from teacher Marie to Teacher Robin. Several years ago the school where I work hired a woman named Maureen to work with me. One of the Board members of the school suggested I go by my first name Robin as we would have quite a bit of confusion with the director “Mary”, and teachers “Maureen” and “Marie”. I agreed to this. Last year the school hired a Renee who is the teacher I work with now. I would have changed back to Marie, my middle name, however all of the children who were in the two classes knew me as Teacher Robin. Now there is some confusion for the children as Renee and Robin start with the same letter sound but not nearly as much as what could have happened with Marie and Maureen!
I often have mutliple names. One year I had 3 Calebs. It doesn’t usually pose a problem because in the morning we introduce ourselves using our whole name. So (this is made up name) Claire Jennifer Romero and Claire Elizabeth Stutes are known by their whole name. I also never put them at the same table or in line by each other. That would just cause too much confusion on my part.
FYI: I am also a Jennifer, but went by Jenny. I absolutely hated when I was called Jenny 3. I was already the 5th of 5 children and at school I actually got to be just me, not number 5. We have 3 Jennifers in my dance class. My dance teacher called each by name. She’d either use our middle names or last names to clarify. That made me feel special and that’s probably why I do something similar today!
One year I had 3 Nicole’s and 3 Jacob’s so that was a REALLY mind boggling year! I just went by Nicole and their last intial and for the Jacob’s, I did the same. All three Jacob’s moms insisted they be called Jacob and not Jake. I think the kids did better with getting their attention than I did. After a while they seemed to figure out who I was talking to. I made sure that when they all went to first grade they were not all in the same room for another teacher.
I always try to do first name last intial.
I remember the same thing back when I was in school. There were five Jennifer’s. Luckily we could break it down easy by Jennifer, Jenny, Jen, J, and JJ(me because my middle names starts with J). It worked when we all had the same class.
I have two Austin’s in my three year old class this year, one boy and one girl. I call them Mr. Austin and Ms. Austin. It helps them recognize their name as well as teaching them to identify themselves as a boy or girl. It seems to be working so far!
I love this. My daughter’s name is Charlie. That is pretty uncommon for a girl. She will have another little girl also named Charliegh in her class next year. It’s funny b/c we choose a name that was little more unusual b/c we did not want her to be identified by Charlie J. I teach in a Catholic school. Hannah is very popular here. I also really hate the years when theh names all rhyme. It makes it difficult remembering who is who.
Jayden, Hayden, Caden.
I am also a JenB! A couple years ago I had two Aidan’s in my classroom. Only one was a boy and one was a girl. We called them ‘Boy Aidan’ and ‘Girl Ayden’. The name has stuck too!
When we students with duplicate names, we ask if they have a nickname with would like to be called such as Liz or Elizabeth. Otherwise we called them Jason A and Jason B.