[Tsuwabuki]

Kevin, our name is written most accurately as ケヴェン. It's not perfect, but's what I have on all my bank/credit cards, my insurance card, hospital card. ケヴイン comes out to sound like Ke-vu-ee-n.

Jaydealert, people are going to make fun of you no matter what. I am sometimes made fun of by other adults. You can approach them and explain that you don't appreciate the behavior. If they're adults, they might explain it's banter, but they'll respect your wishes. If they don't, your best bet is to simply walk away and see if you can cut that person out of your life. If it is in a professional setting, and it's part of a pattern, bring human resources into it for moderation. If it's just someone in your circle of friends, stop hanging out with them, and tell others you don't feel comfortable around them.

As for kids? Bah. Kids will make fun of everyone and everything for anything. It's mean spirited and intentionally cruel, but it's a fact of life. Your best bet there is to walk away as well. If they get physical, or continue to harass you, there comes a point where (no, I would not tell this my own kids, certain professional lines cannot be crossed) you have to turn around and hit them so hard they never, ever want to touch you again.

I was bullied a lot over the years, but rarely ever by the same person for extended periods of time. Anyone who got physical with me, or terrorised me for months would find themselves thoroughly trashed when the time came that I lost my temper.

I only got in trouble once- and the teachers called my mother and said though they were not allowed to tell me this, I was the first person who had stood up to that guy, and silently, the teachers cheered. My mother told me this a few years after I graduated.

Yes, sometimes, violence does solve the problem. Restrained, specific violence. It's when you lose control and use violence unrestrictedly that you become the bad guy, rather than the victim defending yourself.