Today Starbucks decided that my name is now “Chiggy.” Yep. It was news to me as well. I know that lots of people have "Starbucks names." And even yesterday a coworker I was standing in line with seemed surprised that I was giving Starbucks my real name. I’ve thought about it. But I always pay with my debit card and fear getting caught fibbing to my barista. I loved that. So today I am Chiggy. Kat, editor of Eatocracy, asked if I’d seen the "Swarley" episode of "How I Met Your Mother," wherein Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney is dubbed "Swarley" by a barista and subsequently Swarles Barkley, Swarlos, Bob Swarley and more by his friends. Nope, missed it. But I believe a Hulu viewing is in my near future. In the meantime, I am enjoying my new alter-ego. So, who are you when you're at the coffee shop? |
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Yes there should realize the opportunity to RSS commentary, quite simply, CMS is another on the blog.
I get zelly, ellie, kelly, stelly, joey, chloe, and zoey spelled everyway you can imagine. zo, zoe, zoie, zoy, zoee, zooey. zooe, it goes on and on.
My first name is Blythe. I usually end up being "blight". Really, it's quite fitting, a name like that is a blight on all who encounter it...
PLEASE watch that HIMYM episode soon! It's absolutely hilarious.
I love/hate (mostly hate) the ways starbucks baristas spell my name (Phoebe). the worst was 'Fibi' at the Orlando airport...
I actually have 3: YumYum, Little Bitchard and Bitchard Simmons. They've been helping me come up with a roller derby name LOL!
stop wasting you money buying overpriced coffee...my god! Starbucks isn't even good coffee...most people drink it because they want to be seen with the cup in their hand. I avoid the place and the people....I know they're equally annoying
Starbux coffee is designed with mixing in mind. If you're looking for a black cuppa joe and you like strong, slightly bitter coffee, hit Starbux every time. If not, don't!
I actually like their coffee – grande, with a teeny bit of cream & 2 blue sweeteners.
My name is Alison, but I always end up with "Alice" on my cup. Now I just say my name is Alice when they ask.
My name is Purvi and I get "Purby" or "Pervi" and all variations thereof. I know my name is unusual, but the funny part is that I spell it out for them at least twice each time I order, and still get those different names each time. My favorite, most recently, was "Kirby." I might stick with that as my Starbucks alter ego. :o)
My real name is Leonard so I use LEN and have been asked by baristas a) how do you spell it? b) are you Chinese? (I'm a fair skinned British caucasian) and have been told a few times "Oh, that's a strange name!" Nine times out of ten, the name on the cup when handed to me is Glen, Glenn or at times Ben. I'm thinking about changing my Starbucks name to BOB, what do you think?
Starbucks is for D Bags..
Agree...my name is "I like to wait in lines for a cup of crappy coffee because it makes me look cool"
Starbucks is for D Bags..
Not even.. it's for wannabe D Bags
Mr. Cock-osaurus Rex yes, its THAT HUGE!
They call me Dirk Diggler.
For some reason people don't understand me when I say "Katie" so I've started just saying "Kate" at Starbucks or any restaurant where you have to give your name. I have no idea why "Katie" is so hard to understand...
My roommate's name is Chitra (Chee-tra), but since her name is so odd to Americans, she has a few different names she throws around instead of confusing people
They can never get my real name correct on the cup, so I have change it to Joy. And when I am with a friend, her name is Happiness. This usually gets a second look and a smile. Who does not want Joy and Happiness in this world?
Starbucks get on Chiggy with it ?
They call me Honey or Babe always, then I found out I wasn't the only one. The important thing is I am treated well every time.
My real name is uncommon enough normally, but my parents threw another wrench into things by spelling it in an even MORE uncommon way. I've given up trying to get any -ista to put my correct name on my cup, or on my breakfast, or on anything I might order anywhere that requires my name to be on it. I usually tell them I'm Sue or Kate. I think, however, that I shall start saying my name is Egger. Like Egger from Men In Black. See how that goes over.
My five-letter name is unusual, therefore difficult to spell. Adder, Adare... shoot, I have colleagues and neighbors who call me Adelle. Adair is my middle name. My first name is Shell, and you'd be surprised how many people ask me how to spell it, or call me Michelle or Rochelle or Shelley.
Reservations at restaurants are usually made under my husband's first name, because it's common and simple to spell.
I skip Fourbucks for local places and use my nickname anywhere I do get coffee.
I don't drink Starbucks. I can get the same stuff at Timothy's for a fraction of the price, plus their baking is better.
I always use Steve when going to Starbucks. It's a bit of homage to a very cool bud a'mine from a long time ago. So one time, at Chik Fil-a, after they ask my name and I, naturally, say, "Steve," and my brother, in the line next to me, when he is asked for his name, responds with "Danno."
LOL! Always LOVE the TV, movie & pop culture references! Thanks for the morning chuckle, McGarrett!!
Oh, and I don't drink coffee, never liked the stuff.... just tea. So I guess I'm an CTL ? (Chai Tea Latte)
They just call me Ma'am. Must be the riding crop ;-)
Regarding this blog and all the comments about butchering up names, what is finally sinking in with me & cracking me up is ...
... if the baristas don't understand what customers are saying when they pronounce their names, how in the heck are customers getting their orders filled correctly!?!
Isn't "Sam" is easier to understand than "grandemochalattedecafespressoskinnywithpeanutbutterontop"? [;-)
Ha! Comment of the day, party of YOU.
Thanks! That means alot – especially coming from you! :)
DOUGH. For some reason, people insist on spelling 'Doug' with an 'h' at the end. I turn from a person to a baking ingredient.
You're a funny guy... thanks for a morning laugh.
My husband's name is Douglas and even after he introduces himself as such, they call him Doug. Drives him NUTS. It's a dandy name, but it's just not his name.
I get called Kit and Kate.
As a former barista and still regular customer, I frequent the Starbucks I used to work at, they call me a number of things, but my summer drink got me the most popular name, "Goatsum Bloodum", given to me by my Texan supervisor because my Rasberry Passion Tea Lemonade looks a little like blood.
My favorite coffee shop in Portland (Blend) is always a treat. After only a few visits, they had it down pat – Large coffee, with a little ice. Simple. Straightforward. Easy. I love coffee, and I buy coffee so I can drink it. Now. No half-caff skinny blah blah hipster doofus bullshite. Just coffee. If they forget the ice – fine. I let it sit. Coffee, cup, serve. Perfect.
When I worked for the company, the Tall Non-fat, 1 pump Sugar-free Vanilla, 1/2 a splenda people would kill me. Note to everyone- you ask for half a pump of syrup, or half a splenda you are getting the whole thing because no self respecting barista will measure out half a splenda. Get over yourselves.
Voltron.
I thought my barista knew my name for the longest time, I was a regular. She knew I was a devoted Battlestar fan. She happened to know another regular who was close to "Starbuck" (Katee Sackhoff), and to my surprise one day she gave me an autographed photo of her! I didn't have the heart to tell her my name isn't Amanda (just Mandi, thanks MOM). My husband blew it later on and joked with her about it. It was kind of hard convincing her I still LOVED the gift and appreciated how she went out of her way for me. Sounds like someone who works for a small business doesn't it? Anyhoo, I still frequent that store even though it's not as close to me as about a dozen others. Because she's awesome, and goes above and beyond good customer service. Peace y'all!
I get Pam frequently, or if I say Samantha, I get Amanda. I just go with it. Sometimes after saying my name a few times I just agree with whatever they think I said. It's easier.
As an Amanda, Samantha is one of the most common names I get called when people don't hear me correctly. The other one Amber.
I got my nickname Panda because I had a friend who couldn't get my name right one night, and it stuck.
They don't normally take the time to announce my drink... Iced triple grande skinny mocha 2p sf vanilla 2p mocha. But I almost always get the fourth shot free :D
Names jesse and i always get called jason or jeff i dont know where they get jeff
..just another reason Starbucks gets on my nerves!! They're pretentious and way over priced. Yes, the coffee is good but all these little diversions will never make me forget that they charge too much and continue to keep their greedy little hands out for more. Starbucks??..you can have it.
I go by Madonna or Lady Gaga>
When I tell strangers my name, they assume I'm Anna. So that's usually what goes on my cup.
I once got Bill on my drink, luckily i was the only one there, otherwise i would have been waiting forever.
I have to pronounce my name (Brooke) very crisply and clearly, otherwise I'll get something like "Brood" or "Book." I've gotten "Broke" a lot. Got "Bruh" once. And recently they somehow turned it into "Brouth." But my all-time favorite is "Bruce."
every time i answer the phone at work i say "This is Andrea, how can I help you?" and everyone always says.. "Hello Sandra..." guess i need to slow down... My friend's name is Portia and we get a kick out of the ways starbucks people spell her name.. porsha.. porcia.. poursha.
LOL-I answer the phone with "Hello, this is Wendy, how can I help you" Responses I get back include...."hi Cindy or Lindy or Mindy...pick any name that has a Y at the end! Also get Wanda from time to time.
Mine is Heidi, and I've been Wendy, Patty, Holly, etc. But it's better than a coworker whose name is Charlotte. A caller thought she said her name was (and I'll use phonetic spelling here) Harlette!
The other day I was dubbed "Conorary" which prompted jokes from my friends like "don't have coronary" and "why are you so contrary". Others asked when I had been named King (I'm guessing that was a reference to coronation?).
My name is Leonard...so, for a while I'd get:
Lenord - Leenerd - Leroy - Lenword – Yenerd
They finally just started calling me "The Dude"...works for me!
They've never called me anything to my face, but in all likelihood, behind my back it's "that b*tch who steals all the napkins".
:) My local barista actually called me out for taking such a large chunk of napkins... oops....
Hi-Larious!
Hi my names is Jordan and I'm a Starbucks addict. It has been 2 hours since my last indulgence. They just call me curly Q since my short, curly bob is always bouncing around.
Say two "Hail Sirens" and get a shot of 'spresso to go!
I always tell the Starbucks Barista that my name is LESLIE and for whatever reason, they write LOVELY on the cup. When I traveled to the Philippines for work, I told the nice lady my name, LESLIE and she wrote LOVELY. How this traveled with me to the Philippines is anyones guess. Another time I told the Barista my name and he decided that my name was JESSICA. He realized his flub when I handed him my debit card and asked me if I had said Jessica. I told him no and that I didn't mind being someone else for a day.
My name is Leslie! Its a great name aint it?!
I am Blondie at my local Starbucks!
Batman!
I'm usually "Luci with an 'i.'" (Lucy with a "y" just won't do.) Sometimes I pick from current events or movies. I was Juno for a while. After last night's episode of "Modern Family," I might be Julia now ... or Clive.
At starbucks they call me max, mats, marc, once they called me marx.
My name is Chiggy and I have a B-biggy.
Would someone at CNN please remove this imbecile? Chiggy was cute in the article. This jerk is decidedly not cute.
Agreed, Anti, holy gawd, and I wouldn't doubt it's not just one person, but we're collectively $crewed anyway
Some people decided that Bob is too long of a name to remember, so now they call me B
I buy coffee all the time at the place in the lobby of my work and all I and my co-workers can say to this article is:
Huh?
Betty is my go-to alternate name, even though my full name is Beth Ann, not Elizabeth. My husband and kids have "vacation names," which my husband came up with on one camping trip when some kid kept bugging them while they were playing catch. Even though it was 8 years ago, all 3 kids still answer to their vacation names.
Thank you Beth Ann, great little story!
Now that Starbucks have gotten rid of their almond flavoring in favor of Hazelnut and some other god-awful thing ToffeeNut or some garbage, I don't frequent the place any more. However, when I lived in Seattle oh so many years ago, my Starbucks nickname at the time was "GQ"
My name is Chiggy and I am GQ.
Totally with you Greg! I was SO disappointed when that happened. And I did try that toffee nut nonsense and it was gross. I just stick with the bold drip coffee now, so I unfortunately don't have the privilege of getting a personalized cup.
They call me Tony (who is my boyfriend) as he usually get me coffee in the morning. So when I have to go in for my own java fix my order still comes as Tony.
My name is Chiggy. You can touch my biggy.
I'm the real Chiggy and I have a biggy.
Don't go to Starbucks often, but my real name is long, so I get all manner of errors on it. Doesn't matter as long as they give me the right drink...
If I say Christi, they put Tracy, or Crystal, or Kristin. If I say Christina they just spell it wrong. Whatever.
My favorite local coffee shop doesn't write names on the cups - when it's ready, they announce the name of the coffee drink instead. It's up to the customer to remember what they ordered.
My name is Julie. It has happened more than once that my cup says "July". What am I supposed to do with that?
what a waste. Wasting your money to a corporate entity for the name brand and social bragging rights of going to (and being seen at) Starbucks. And oh it's so cute to you that you have a pet name... ack, what are you 3rd graders?
Just a little harmless fun. I bet you are the life of the party, eh?
Actually, I go to Starbucks because I like the taste of their drinks and my drink order tastes exactly the same no matter where in the country (or world) I am. Whether I get a Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte here in my hometown of Seattle (so technically going to Starbucks is supporting the hometown hero here), or the one I had in London, they all taste perfectly the same.
Brandi, you will never convince the naysayers that you drink Starbucks coffee just because you like it and want to. There are people who think we gloat just be cause we drink Starbucks. But like you, I drink it because I like it. It's really no one elses business what we like or dislike.
My name is Chiggy and I have a yeahsayers bibby.
In many areas Starbucks is the only coffee shop in town – at least the only one where you can get espresso.
For many small towns, the only other alternative to SB, is Dunkin Donuts. And ..... if you like drinking yesterday's swamp water, that's a fine alternative. :))))
I'm pretty sure that Starbucks isn't cool or trendy anymore. Wonder why people still keep going.
I use my real name at Starbucks, but when I sign a package at work and they ask my last name, for some reason I don't like to give it, so I say "Smith". That way, I don't have to spell anything out, and let's face it, accept responsibility for a package I want nothing to do with.
I say Murphy, which actually is my last name, but is also tragically common. At least no one spells it wrong.
They call me pejorative (WOD) !
OMG ROTFL!!
tend to make my own coffee in the morning and if i do go out for coffee, which isnt very often i go to the local coffee shop.
never got into designer coffee, too expensive for my blood
They usually get my name right, but it's generally misspelled with a "y". I've just gotten used to having my name misspelled and only correct people when it's something official like a doctor's office form or a legal document.
However, I do get "Britney/Britanny" sometimes, since it sounds similar and is way more common than Brandi
Right there with ya, hon. I get Brenda a lot too. At the age of 32, I bought one of those little license plates for a bicycyle just because it was Brandi with an "i". All that childhood disappointment at not having personalized items was finally wiped out!
They call me SPIKE
My name is Tonia (tone-ya) but I can't stand being called Tanya so I use Toni.
Once a friend named Hughes and I went to pick up our order, but they had trouble finding it, as they'd written down "Shoes."
I cannot believe how poorly written this article is. One has to read no further than the second sentence to find the sort of grammar mangling that should put a big red "F" on a seventh grader's paper: "And even yesterday a coworker I was standing in line with seemed surprised that I was giving Starbucks my real name." Where to begin with this word soup is mind boggling. Beginning a sentence with a conjunction is something that should make any editor cringe. Then there is the confusing and structurally inverted prepositional phrase that follows. Chiggy, dear, surely at some point along the way of becoming an "editor" you learned that prepositions must have objects. In case you don't follow, you should have written: "a coworker with whom I was standing in line...". The rest of the article, beside being vacuous drivel, is a continued assault on good writing and effective communication.
You just used alot of words to tell us all that you think the article sucks. Next time, don't try so hard.
Chris, dear, you're confusing "grammar" with "writing." Not the same thing and grammar picking is the last bastion of the wannabe-writer who's stuck with an unpaid gig as a commenter.
The article made me laugh out loud and recommend it on Facebook. Your comment just made me feel sorry for you.
Get a life FAGGULA!
I have a biggy that I'm going to stuff in your mouth to shut you the f up.
And what the heck does "mind boggling" mean? You're supposed to say "mind bottling." Psh! Anyone knows that!
@ Chris. Seriously. Going after grammer? This isn't a scholarly article so just relax about the grammer and Get a life. You are the reason that society overlooks bullying.
It's "grammar." While I am here, please, stop being such a bully. Your behavior now sets the tone for every relationship, no matter how minor, for the rest of your life. Thank you. Signed, your third grade teacher.
If this were a formal piece of writing, you'd be correct with your criticisms. However, in informal writing there's a lot more leeway. Informally, it's acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition, to begin one with a conjunction, and to use more colloquial grammar. It's much less stiff to say "a coworker I was standing in line with" than "a coworker with whom I was standing in line." I too appreciate good grammar, correct spelling, and proper word usage, and didn't find anything in the article that would make me gasp in horror. Oh, and by the way - "mind-boggling" is hyphenated.
"mind-bottling" is too
In a *blog* posting, which serves a different purpose than an *article,* strict grammar rules are often ignored. Grammar books claim all sorts of things, and while they are generally rules that we follow when writing, we speak very differently than we talk. Most writers recognize that people who rearrange sentences and insert whom so that there are no dangling prepostitions tend to sound pretentious. Next time the occassion calls for it, walk into a room and ask, "who are you going with?" to see if there is any delay in answer. Walk into a different room and ask, "With whom are you going?" and notice that it takes people an extra second to figure out what you are saying. It's not intuitive. The point of the eatocracy blog is to create a conversational tone that encourages responses. Perhaps the grammar police should think about how they are so sure about language (I was taught it in school is not a valid answer here) and why they are so insistent that everyone have perfect grammar when they write an informal piece.
I go to Starbux about once a month and this is a new one on me – and I'm liking it!!! Usually they just spell my name "fen-et-ic-lee." Doesn't matter to me as long as when they call my name, I recognize it! ;)
My name is Bernadette but somehow they picked up Gramith.
I gave my full name once, and when I got my cup they had written "Senorita Taco Burrito" on it. I suspect racism?
Really? WTF!
That's nothing – they wrote "Tig Ol' Bitties" on my cup! I wish I had taken a pic now.
Dayyum, that's f'd up.
They call me "Sir Have a Nice Day!"
My name is Mr. Chiggy.
I barely go to coffee shops.
Try Peter Lemonjelly sometime and see if they are really listening. Bonus points if they write your full name on the cup!
My name is Peter Lemonjello, your house is on fire.
Actually, since I watched that episode of HIMYM a few months back, I've started using Swarley...It's fun to see who starts laughing and gets the joke...Although, sometimes the barista thinks I am joking and says Swirly...
I dont drink coffee from vendors. I will only drink what i make myself
I get "Rose" a lot.... suffice to say my name doesn't have any of those letters in it. It's not really even close.
What's a starbucks?
small town...coffee shop's not too busy or loud. usually i don't even get asked for a name.
Susie (Derkins)
I have a squid eyeball sandwich for lunch, with a big thermos of phlegm. What do you have today?
My name is Chiggy and I have a one eye biggy.
*ignoring you and your stuffed tiger*
My grocery discount card is under the name David Wilcox...
There are a couple of guys who think my name is Gracie Lynn Sugarbaker of the Savannah, Georigia Sugarbakers...does that count?
We been looking for YOU!
I hope your hat blows off with your head in it.
I'm TSCLNW (tall skinny carmilla latte, no whip). Usually they just call me TSC, though.
You sure it's not BBB? And WHO made you Queen of Everything? I'll have a regular coffee please!
Rebecca (my barista) would get a kick out of BBB. I'll have to share that with her.
"Skinny" includes no whip. ;)
I realize that but every once in a while I have the need for some honest to goodness whipped cream. To justify the added calories I still get skim milk in my latte hence the need to specify "no whip" even if I'm ordering skinny. The baristas tolerate my little idiosyncracies because I'm so gosh darn lovable.
Just your posts make you lovable, Queen, I can't imagine how flippin wonderful you are in real life!! =)
Hi Chiggy! ...your new name makes me feel itchy...
DIBYL?
DIBYL = Cibyl mis-heard.
It's amazing how the human brain can interpret & mis-interpret information. It's what sometimes makes these blogs so much fun! :)
Today I was Mohammad Ali, but usually I'm grande drip, four raw sugars, well stirred.
I have an Irish friend Siobhan (sounds like Sha-von) Anyway, she gets called a lot of weird things by people who get really confused by the spelling of her name. Her favorite so far is "Scoobie-Bean."
My bff's name is Siobhan. Said like 'Shuh-Bon'.
It's amazing how when I talk about her, oth
I don't have a fun name I use, but I find it interesting when I tell them my name, "sarah," and they always ask me to spell it. Even if they spell it with the "h" or without, does it really matter if it sounds the same?