Wednesday 21 August 2013

It is all in the name…. Why am I (not) Dr Nick?

In Malaysia, I am called Dr Nick.... And I couldn't understand why... Today I found out.

In Malaysia, there are no family names, as in Morris, Smith, Jones etc. Your last name is your father's first name, so if my father's first name was Ian then I would be Nick Ian. Hence as I am Dr Nick Morris this suggests that my father's first name was Morris, and Dr Morris would be my father!

This can get odd for a woman as they would be Julie Ian, and so would be Ms Ian if the European convention was followed....

Thanks to The Simpsons Dr Nick has a certain 'feeling' about it.... and you can read more about Dr Nick of Simpson fame over at Wikipedia.