All right, welcome to episode number 99 of the
Dan time podcast Dan McCardell here at Dan time
pod Instagram Facebook YouTube a little bit of
X occasionally Thank you for listening to the
show all these many weeks and coming up on two
years Some great things in store for you on the
show breaking new ground after episode 100 some
very special guests coming up. Today's episode,
basically the equivalent of me reading the Yellow
Pages to you. Now, on occasion, I've done this.
There's a Dan versus appreciation episode where
I get into the email box. This is your fair warning
to go ahead and hit that back button. Go back
to the other podcast that you listened to. The
new episode that's just coming out from another
show. and just shut it down for downtime. Because
what's coming up, if you like to watch grass
grow, if you like to watch paint dry, and if
you like to watch or listen to me read straight
from Reddit, your dreams are coming true today.
The wait is over. This is only me today. It has
been a busy several weeks, maybe a busy 2025.
But the very last thing that I will do is cite
a busy schedule as a reason not to give you an
episode. You will get an episode every week,
every Sunday from now until all the hairs on
the top of my head are gray, which could be sooner
rather than later. Or until I change my mind.
I always leave myself that out. Without further
ado, let's get to the it's not a conversation
or Danversation today. It's only a one -way street
folks Thanks for listening to the show From the
subreddit name nerds question is naming a boy
just Dan in quotes weird and Here's some responses
Dan was one of the sons of Jacob, one of the
12 tribes, and is a standalone name in Hebrew.
I think it's perfectly fine to use as a name
on its own. Honestly, I've never known a Daniel
go by their full name anyways. Always Dan or
Danny. My ex -husband is Danny, not Daniel. Given
name Danny, D -A -N -N -Y. He's in his early
40s now and no one ever says anything about it.
In my opinion, Dan is an even more reasonable
standalone name than Danny. I say go for it.
I don't think it's weird. I know a guy named
Dant. D -A -N -T. That's weird. Another commenter
writes, it's not weird, but I would recommend
against it. I was named a common nickname of
a longer name and I'm changing my name to the
longer one. I like it better. If you went with
Daniel, you'd be giving him the option of Daniel,
Dan, or Danny. With Dan, you're taking away those
options. Or you can choose something else if
you really dislike Daniel. Or you can stick him
with Dan just one perspective. Another one. I'm
with you. I like Dan more than Daniel. I think
it's fine as a standalone name. Dan is a legitimate
full name with different origins than Daniel
go for it Just Dan has been used as full name
for a long time in the 1880 Social Security data
USA there were 643 Daniel and 140 Dan listed
I Like it exclamation point. I had a friend whose
full name was Kim not Kimberly I don't think
it's weird. People name their kid just Finn,
F -I -N -N, and Tom. I feel like Dan fits in
with those. I have a friend who named her son
Cal and my F -I -L's given name is Ricky. I personally
like Daniel considering it's for my son due in
January, but I think Dan is a reasonable name.
Don't forget Dane as a name. And finally, I have
a cousin named Danny, not Daniel. He had the
odd comment growing up from people not believing
him that Danny was his actual name. Another post
under the subreddit Name Nerds. How's Dan for
a girl's name? The author. I'm considering an
English name for myself, an Asian immigrant.
For various reasons, I don't like my full original
first name. so I don't want to use it, and I
really can't think of a more proper English name
that I feel attached to. So I'm considering to
go by Dan because it's part of my original name,
easy for English speakers to pronounce, and sounds
similar to my nickname in our language. But I'm
hesitating because I know Dan is also a common
boy name. I consider Danny D -A -N -I, but that
just feels and sounds different for me. So I'm
wondering what you would think When you meet
a girl named Dan and you don't know the reason
for that at first, thanks. Some responses here.
You'll probably be asked what Dan is short for.
It's not really a standalone name. For boys,
Dan is short for Daniel. For girls, Dan slash
Danny, D -A -N -I, would most likely be short
for Danielle. You could also try Dana or Danica
in the original. Author replying, thanks. How
about having a full name Jordan and going by
Dan? Would that be weird? It's unusual, but nothing
wrong with it. Not the most common, but some
Christophers go by Topher. I'm female and my
name is Danny, D -A -N -I. I've been called Dan
more often than not. I get a lot of comments
slash questions regarding it from people that
I just met or don't know me very well. However,
Those closest to me typically call me D. The
author replies, I think Dan slash Danny as a
girl name is really cute. You have a good name.
Never met a woman named Dan and every Danny was
a Danielle. A reply, I'm a Danny. It actually
drives me crazy when people call me Danielle.
I'm a Danielle called Dan. Another commenter.
Hi, I'm a woman and my name is Dan. That's my
actual name I'm also a medical professional and
my patients ask some questions when they read
my name on my name tag They also ask questions
when I tell them my name. It's okay. However,
I'm asked what my name is short for Danny Danielle
Danica, nope. I'm just Dan. I like my name. It
makes me different. I can't imagine any other
name I hope this helps some. Another post under
Name Nerds. What do you think of Danny as a standalone
name? We don't like Daniel or Dan. Here are the
comments. Awesome for an Irish setter. Incomplete
and juvenile for a human child slash adult. I
think if you don't like Daniel or Dan, You need
to set aside Danny and look for a name you like
in all its variations. I agree and not because
I dislike Danny as a standalone name like most
others here but because you shouldn't choose
a name where you would strongly dislike nicknames
that are a high possibility. Another comment.
I'm a big proponent of quote use the name you'll
actually be calling them end quote so I have
no objection but I do think it's weird to choose
a name so close to ones you don't like because
if you use Danny, you have like a good 90 % chance
that someone in his life will nickname him Dan.
Response there. This is exactly why I did not
want to name my son Daniel. While I love that
name, I loathe Danny and Dan. But my ex was stupid
enough to think that telling people his name
is Daniel, not Danny or Dan, would make it stick.
Of course it did not. By middle school, everyone,
including teachers, called him Dan. He also hates
being called Danny and will correct anyone who
tries. He's still Daniel in our immediate family,
but that's it. Another response. I don't think
it ages well. Every Daniel slash Danielle I have
known transitioned from Danny with a Y slash
Danny with an I To their full name as an adult.
I Know a couple of adult Dan's who definitely
didn't think Danny was mature enough Another
response to that the adult Daniel's I know tend
to go with Daniel professionally Dan Interpersonally
and hate Danny My personal commentary here Me
speaking. Complete reverse of that first statement.
And have never hated Danny. Yes, the middle -aged
Daniels I know go by just Dan. Never to rarely
Danny. And the Daniels in their 20s and 30s all
just go by Daniel. I've got an Uncle Dan. Late
40s. Have never heard him go by Daniel. It's
either Danny or Dan. It suits him well. But he's
a very laid -back guy. Bit of a goof. I can see
the nicknames not working for someone more straight
-laced. By middle school, the Daniels at my school
had already switched to Dan or Daniel. Daniel
is completely fine as a standalone name, but
you may need to consider that people may shorten
it to Dan or that he might even prefer going
by Dan at some point. It sounds a bit too nicknamey
to me and I definitely think people will call
him Dan. Another commenter Dane way cooler. I
Have a cousin named Danny not Dan or Daniel and
no one really thinks anything about it He just
introduces himself as Danny if someone asks what
it's short for he says nothing As someone who
knew a bin that wasn't short for anything ie
Benjamin Just know that for the rest of Danny's
life people will ask him what it's short for
or just straight up assume it's Daniel and call
him that. So do with that what you will. How
about Dorian or Dawson with Danny as a nickname?
Another commenter, don't do it. My 80 year old
dad is Bobby, not Robert, and he's hated it for
about 70 years. It will likely be shortened to
Dan at some point. So if you don't like that,
I wouldn't use it. My dad's name is Daniel and
now that he's an adult the only people who call
him Danny are his longtime Childhood friends
and family he stopped going by Danny after high
school and hates it as a nickname in his adult
life Response to that my brother was a William.
He was Billy all his life until adulthood then
he became will Billy was a childhood name Danny
is the same My brother -in -law is a Danny. He's
in his 50s now, and honestly, it just suits him.
I just feel like it needs a proper full name
like Daniel and nickname would be Danny. It will
work well for 21 years, then your kid may be
trying to be taken seriously in a professional
environment. I think it's fine, but he'll probably
choose to shorten it to Dan at some point. Would
you be fine with that? The principal of the school
where I work is a man named Danny with one N,
just D -A -N -Y. When I first met him, it was
kind of jarring, but I got used to it. I know
an adult Danny. He has a very good upper corporate
job and his name has never been a problem. If
you like it, use it. Another commenter says,
it's not a name. He will 100 % be called Dan
at some point in his life. If you don't want
that, don't use Danny. My nephew is Ted. That's
it. Not short for anything, but all his life
he's been challenged by nosy people. Are you
sure? It's not Theodore? No, it's Ted. So weigh
the hassle of every nosy Nellie in your kid's
future. I had a Daniel many years ago. Fought
everyone to insist on calling him Daniel. He's
now an adult and professionally uses Dan I'm
so annoyed by that. I worked so hard to keep
it as Daniel as an adult He is the one who foiled
my plan People will use Dan or Daniel no matter
what you say. So pick another I Have a cousin
who is a teddy it's on his birth certificate
that way He always believed it hindered his career
because it was for a kid, not a full grown adult.
People underestimated him. Don't name your child
a nickname. George Harrison's kid is named Danny,
D -H -A -N -I, pronounced Danny. You could go
with something like that. I always assumed it
was pronounced Donnie, but then I heard Paul
McCartney say it and he said Danny. My cousin
is Daniel. He was Danny literally his whole life
until his mid 30s at some point He realized it
sounded very juvenile to have colleagues call
him Danny and he switched to Daniel and Asked
close friends slash family to call him Dan instead
How about this one I Have a nickname name and
it's literally never been an issue. I say go
with Danny if it's your favorite I've always
liked Danny. It's so pleasant Maybe Dominic or
Dom or Nick or Nikki Love it. If my husband's
name wasn't a Daniel. This would have been our
bubs name He'll definitely go by Dan someday
and you'll have to be okay with that Chiming
in for just a second here. My commentary can't
believe how much people have to say about this
Alright, let's cover a few more Could Danny be
a bit young sounding for an adult? It doesn't
sound super professional. I personally think
it is important to have a more formal slash professional
name in case it suits their adult life more at
some point. I work with a Joey who is now transitioning
to using Joseph now that he has a career and
he found people weren't taking him seriously
by email. I would just use a nickname when they
are young if it suits them better then. Too nicknamey.
It doesn't slash won't age well at all Do you
like Jordan? It can be shortened to Danny as
well. I Love this one. I have a son named Danilo
His whole life people have tried to call him
Danny. He refuses My husband is a Daniel when
he was a child. He was called Danny now. He is
a Dan and the only people who call him Danny
are his three big brothers. We went to his 50th
high school reunion and it was weird to hear
people call him Danny. Dan is just a more mature
name. Danny is great for a little boy or a little
girl but always try the name with quote president
or doctor in front of it because you never know.
Your child will not appreciate it. Name him Daniel
and call him Danny. By the time he gets a job,
especially if he gets a white -collar job, he
won't like being called Danny, even if it's his
real name. It's too cutesy. Naming them Daniel
and then calling them Danny gives them more options
later in life. Just naming them Danny leaves
them with less options. You shouldn't think about
how much you like the name. Think more about
whether they'll like living with the name They're
the ones who have to live with it Good stuff
there a lot of people in agreement a lot of consensus
about Danny being kind of a cutesy little boy's
name As you know, I don't often insert my own
commentary or opinion in these episodes unless
It's mid conversation and the topic just calls
for it But I think here it's appropriate my take
on Danny and I read this stuff and Sometimes
you just you see the majority going a certain
way and it's just kind of those comments seem
like at least two -thirds were not real high
on Danny and Putting a lot of emphasis on the
professional world and the adult life and I don't
know about you guys but I think we overthink
this stuff. I feel like the people commenting
there maybe have an exaggerated sense of not
just their own importance, but individual people
in general. We all think that everyone's paying
attention and scrutinizing us and noticing that
we said this, we didn't say that, our hair looks
this way, it should look this way. Why are we
wearing that shirt when we should be wearing
what that guy's wearing? What is going on here?
Let me tell you something people Nobody, I mean
nobody cares about the car you're driving except
for when you're at the traffic light and even
then if they look if they look over They might
be impressed for a minute or they might look
over and say what the heck is that guy? Riding
and what is I didn't even know that there were
still those that make and model on the road.
I meet a lot of people in my line of work. I
got a lot of business cards. I send a lot of
emails. I've got stuff coming in and you know,
if you're walking through life and your name
is Danny, this is not a big deal. I just picked
a business card out of a stack here. The guy's
name is Freddie. I think anybody that's assuming
that if your name on your business card is Jimmy
or Teddy or Danny or Frankie That this is gonna
limit you in life Get that out of your head as
far as I'm concerned. It's all it's about who
you are and the impression that you make around
people You know people are certainly entitled
to their opinion what they kind of like to hear
what they don't like to hear I've never had a
problem. I would say Danny if people want to
throw that out there with me, which they just
never, they just never did. I would not have
taken a lot of offense to it. You know, but I
also went through a period of growing up where
if somebody called out my name, that was a big
deal. I walked around in the shadows, not the
entire childhood or the entire school experience,
but some of the time, which I think a lot of
us do, And so if you if you hear your name called.
You know that signals some kind of inclusion.
Maybe that's a maybe it's a bad thing. You're
getting called. But I do agree that if the original
poster, the original author already says we don't
like Daniel or Dan. But what do you think of
Danny is a standalone name? I do agree with a
lot of the responses saying hey. Think ahead
a little bit. Let's let's think a couple shots
ahead here. If you don't like Dan Your little
Danny might start going by Dan one day And I
probably should have asked my mom directly when
I had her on the podcast Mom, what do you really
think of me going by Dan for these past 30 years?
I Don't feel like she likes it a whole lot But
she loves me. So At some point you just let your
children Brand themselves or call themselves
or or go with the nickname that that they choose
or that's bestowed upon them and it just that's
how it happens You know if my kids Take on nicknames
in life and their original names just kind of
get Put put into storage It's just something
on their driver's license I won't be heartbroken
because I know that I can still speak to them
and call them by the names that I gave them So
if my son, you know Warren starts going by skip
or something That's fine for the rest of the
world. I'll still call him Warren and he'll still
I'm sure respond to His given name around me.
I heard it with my dad Last week if you heard
us talking about his mother my grandmother Calling
him Robert or Robert. I always thought that was
kind of cool. I was young when she died. I was
eight not quite nine, but I do remember visiting
my grandparents. And it was the only time that
I heard my dad refer to as Robert in conversation.
His sisters don't call him Robert, they call
him Bob. So yeah, I just think it's cool if you
have a name that carries you the whole way. If
it changes, you know, you're different things
to different people. I think we put a little
too much emphasis on, you know, by God, my name
is Scott. I'm not Scotty. I don't know what other
names there are for Scott, but just, you know,
just being so steadfast that this is my, my perfect
professional presentation here. Don't call me
something else. I've worked too hard to construct
this image here. Don't tarnish it. We just we
need to stop taking ourselves so seriously You
have to take a lot of things in life very seriously.
You got to keep your eye on the ball But you
have to I mean you have got to save anywhere
from I Could be off here, but seven percent eight
nine maybe up to ten eleven percent of the time
of your day of your week, your month for silly
season, for just not placing so much emphasis
on how you look, how you're perceived, what you're
driving, what your house looks like. Work on
the things that matter. Spend some eyeball time
with your kids. And some of this other stuff
will just be less and less important. And you
can't always tell these posts if they are Super
upset or if there's a tinge of humor here, but
the I had a Daniel many years ago. I had a Daniel
She doesn't say I had a son Daniel Fought everyone
to insist on calling him Daniel. She fought everyone
He's now an adult and professionally uses Dan.
I'm so annoyed by that so annoyed. Well It's
his life. I worked I Worked so hard to keep it
as Daniel me. I worked so hard as an adult He
and this is in all caps HE is the one who foiled
my plan. I Hope she's laughing or he's I think
it's his mom probably but Hilarious stuff there
Maybe your parents generation Just made everything
seem so earth -shattering It's just not I Mean,
let me put it. Let me put it into a little bit
more perspective here If you're of a certain
age and you're not You know widely known or renowned
You're not a public figure and you're up into
your 30s your 40s your 50s When you get outside
of your workday How many incoming phone calls
do you really have from friends and family? How
many incoming text messages that are not attached
to a group text do you have coming in? How much
of that is going on? Now, if it is going on at
a high volume and that means you've been nurturing
these relationships, that is no accident. And
that's great. But a lot of people... You know,
they were clutching these computers in our in
our hands and ruining our necks and backs and
shoulders by just tapping and scrolling and rifling
through these devices and It's almost like we're
waiting for someone to say hi waiting for someone
to acknowledge us to like something to love something
to respond to something to check on us, waiting
for someone to check on us. So at the end of
the day, whether your name is Peggy or it's Mohammed
or Francisco or Johnny or Elijah or Timmy, any
of these things, my opinion, take it for what
it is, but de -emphasize what people want to
call you. If they want to call you anything and
they want to pick up the phone and call you and
send you a message and Hope that you're gonna
hang out with them or make plans with them in
another couple weeks Be happy about that regardless
of what of what they're calling you and don't
listen to the old -timers What's on your business
card? What's on your email address? how much
Do you give a passing thought to someone that
you're doing business with when that email comes
to and the name is something like Sandy or Sonny
or Jimmy or Johnny? The sad reality is. The person
that's sending you that email. They are a usually
a means to an end. And you don't spend a whole
lot of time thinking about them personally or
thinking, oh man, what a shame. What a shame
this guy stuck with just branded with Johnny
when he really should be going by John that would
look a little sharper They're not thinking about
that. They don't care. They don't care about
you. I Mean, they hope you don't die, but People
don't spend a whole lot of time Marinating on
your name and why? the nickname that you had
at seven is Still on you at 37 Okay, folks Hope
you enjoyed a very rare episode. I Don't aim
to continue this format But it's been a very
busy stretch of Dan time. I have not had a lot
of excess Dan time to dedicate to pursuits beyond
my professional family obligations so get out
there and do something daring this week you don't
have to tightrope it or climb a rock or or jump
out of an airplane but do something that pushes
you one step ahead one step get off that sofa
get out of your your horizontal lounging for
hours position get up get out Make something
happen. Be a man of action. Be a woman of action.
And have a great rest of the week. We'll see
you next Sunday for episode number 100 of the
Dan Time Podcast. Thanks for listening. And remember,
you can follow Dan Time if you're on social media.
I'm most active on Instagram. You'll catch some
content on Facebook as well. These episodes are
always posted on YouTube, occasionally some extra
content. I really appreciate you listening to
the show. Tell a friend about it and be sure
to hit the subscribe button. We'll see you next
Sunday.