What Would You Name Yourself?

[3894]

Hypothetical for ya: what if we chose our own name at, say, age 18. Turn 18, receive right to vote, to be drafted, to choose own name. Your parents chose your pre-18 name, which is really only a nickname.

Would you keep your nickname or choose something different (and what would that be, hmmmm)?

I would keep the name Helen, even though with my married last name, it makes me sound like somebody's grandma from Minnesota; with my maiden name, I'm somebody's grandma from Palm Beach. I sort of like that Helen is so versatile, so at home from Minnesota to Palm Beach. Plus, in French, Helen is Hélène, which I also like.

Go!

[Alex]

I hated my middle name growing up so I might have changed that if given the opportunity (I've seen grown up and am fine with it).

Otherwise I doubt I'd have changed anything and certainly don't have any desire now.

[Kevy Baby]

I know there are a few OTHER people whose name I would like to change, but that is a completely different thread.

[3894]

I know there are a few OTHER people whose name I would like to change, but that is a completely different thread.

It's so oblique your comment, Kevy. No comprendo.

[tracilicious]

I'm actually thinking about this a lot lately. My divorce will be final this week and I'm not keeping Michael's name, nor am I going back to my father's name. I want my own name. I'm dropping my middle name in favor of a variant of my great-grandmother's name. I write with this name as my first name, so it's occurred to me that I could just drop Traci legally and people could still call me that if they like. Or not, I don't feel a strong connection with the name. I think we should all name ourselves. It's quite fun.

[Not Afraid]

My Evil Sister changed ner name when I was about 12. She changed it to Alisa Camberlain (from Linda Levin - her married name, not that she was married very long). Anyways, have a sister with basically MY name was a bit confusing. I decided I would change mine to Juliette Hawthorn. Camberlain was a variation on Cumberland, where she was born. I was born in Hawthorn, so there you go.

If I changes my name today, I would probably like something a little less common and with more syllables. Sabine or Isabella or somethine more European (because I'm just SOOOO European!)

I didn't change my last name when we got married. I just never saw the point in it.

[Snowflake]

Consuelo Flowerton is one of my favorite real people names. Does not fit me.

I have always like Francesca, not that this name suits me either.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Max Power.

[Not Afraid]

No, not your PORN name, silly!

[JWBear]

I think most men named John think about changing their name at some point; but I really don't know what I'd pick (probably something Welsh ;) ).

On another note... Do you know what your name would have been if you were born the opposite gender? I would have been Rebecca Elizabeth.

[CoasterMatt]

I'd change my name to some complex math formula.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I like my name. It's short and sweet. (unlike me) Though I will gleefully change my surname to Szczerbiak after He and I get married. ;)

My mom said if I was a girl I would have been named Karin. (accent on the second syllable)

[Gemini Cricket]

Ichabod Bisquik Plotnick

[CoasterMatt]

or perhaps I'd change my name to MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATT :D

[innerSpaceman]

I don't know what I'd pick, but I'd change it in a heartbeat. I never thought my given name fit me very well.

[Andrew]

My mom once told me if I'd been a girl I would have been Amanda Lynn.

Apparently that was what passed for funny in the late 60s.

[JWBear]

Ichabod Bisquik Plotnick

Can we call you "Itchy"?

My mom once told me if I'd been a girl I would have been Amanda Lynn.

Apparently that was what passed for funny in the late 60s.

Small world. I have a friend who, when her daughter was born, planned on naming her Amanda Lynn. That is until the nurse said she hoped the baby would be musical. Out went Amanda Lynn....

[Gemini Cricket]

Icky

[katiesue]

Gabrielle or Cornelia. I tried using those for Maddie's name - I got outvoted. His choice was Austin - Madz was the compromise.

[Kevy Baby]

I know there are a few OTHER people whose name I would like to change, but that is a completely different thread.

It's so oblique your comment, Kevy. No comprendo.Sorry.

There are some people for whom I would like to change THEIR name for them. Usually that name would not be so flattering.

For example, I have a vendor who I would like to call Eeyore, because she is so negative about every little thing (yeah, I know: technically not accurate, but one doesn't always think clearly when highly irritated). You would think that handing someone over $2 million in new business would be cause to be grateful, but all we ever hear about is how miserable everything is.

My mom once told me if I'd been a girl I would have been Amanda Lynn.

Apparently that was what passed for funny in the late 60s.I actually had to read that a couple of times out loud before I got it - DOH!
_________________________

On the "woman taking husband's name when getting married," I will confess to preferring it. While it might be sexist, it just makes life a little easier for others. However, it is simply my preference and it is not really a big deal; I would not force it on to anyone. Susan wanted to take my name because she didn't want her surname any more (because she didn't want any ties with her birth father).

_________________________

When I was in elementary school, I wanted the name "Ron" because all the cool kids (truly cool - not necessarily the popular ones) were named Ron. Although, during that time (and for many years afterward), my name (with my mother) was often "mud" because I was usually trouble for something.

Later, I came up with a completely ridiculous name: Rufus Xavier Excalibur McFlinkenheimer III.

Now, I am comfortable with my name - wouldn't really change it. It is just a handle: my name is not who I am.
















.

[3894]

Icky

You'll always be He-Ate-Bat-Soup to me, mon criquette.

[cirquelover]

I always wanted a French name like Madeliene or something that rolled off the tongue. When I was young I wrote under the name Taylor.

My parents named me Jill because there was no shorter version so I wouldn't have a nickname and be made fun of by other kids. They forgot to think of the fact my fathers name was Jack.....um hello.... Jack and Jill!! I was ridiculed mercilously(sp) for that all through school!

My Moms family was all double named like BennyDon, Helenbeth etc... so I guess she was trying to save me from that.

[Alex]

I'm pretty sure that pretty much no matter what your name is someone will figure out a way to make fun of it.

Being named Alex at the height of Family Ties popularity got me my fair share. And in the absence of that there was Alex Trebek to play off of.

The key isn't to avoid names simply because teasing can be imagined (though some names more explicitly invite it) it is to train your kids to not get upset by it. (Or get genetically lucky, as my parents did, and produce a child who was just always oblivious enough to not care about getting teased for whatever reason.)

[Morrigoon]

When I was little I wanted to call myself Amanda. No idea why. I certainly wouldn't choose that name at 18, or even now.

Honestly, in this day and age, we DO choose our own adult names. I'm perfectly comfortable responding to Morrigoon.

[Ghoulish Delight]

My name was pretty immune to any sort of alliterative, rhyming, pun-ish teasing.

There was plenty else to tease about, but the name was never an issue.

[Gemini Cricket]

Greg Schmeg... and... and... yeah, not much to work with there...

[Morrigoon]

There would be if he was British (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smeg).

[Ghoulish Delight]

There would be if he was British (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smeg).
Yes, but if you're a big enough dork to be using "Smeg" (read: me), you've really got nothing on me.

[Betty]

Strange about Amanda... I was going to be named Amanda Joanne but my father was really adamant about me being named Jennifer. So, I'm Jennifer Marie - same middle name as both my grandmother's. My daughter also shares that middle name.

I used to want to be named Alexandria or Isabella. Big names that seemed feminine and powerful.

[Deebs]

I hate the shortened version of my first name and my middle name is just awful.

My mom wanted to name me Heidi, but my dad did not want me to be teased with "Hedi, Deidi, the wind blew through my nightie."

Ohhh-kaaay. I'm sure that would have caught on. :rolleyes:

After meeting my birth mother, who was very young at the time of my birth, she told me that if she had been allowed to keep me, my name would be Missy Anne.

I can't say that appeals to me, but I don't really have any better ideas.

[Drince88]

I've for the most part always liked my given names. I did go through a period where I was "Catherine" and not "Cathy" but it was short lived except with a couple of family friends that I must have let them have it (at age 5 when this happened) because to this day he calls me Catherine.

And I really like my 'in trouble' name - Catherine Elizabeth. Though one thing that I found in the working world is that I use my name Catherine on any forms/etc - so people call me Catherine until I tell them otherwise - but I HATE when people write it out Cathy E. If it's a formal enough document/whatever to use my middle initial, then use my 'real' name! And so I often write Catherine E on stuff (especially when I add the P.E. at the end) so that people will see that I'm being formal and not necessarily that I prefe to be called Catherine.

[Kevy Baby]

So, I'm Jennifer Marie - same middle name as both my grandmother's. My daughter also shares that middle name.You reminded me of a tradition that Susan's family has of using the middle name of Adena. I like it and if we had our own daughter her name would have been Rebecca Adena (there is a history on the first name as well, but I will hold that for another day).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

You've all heard way too much about my own battles with my name and my identity. The simple version is that I am blessed/cursed with the most popular name for my generation, Jennifer. I've always liked my short form (including slightly different spelling, Jennie) but it does tend to be an annoyance. Lately there's been a lot of confusion at work between me and my coworker Jeanne. I've also found more strangers tend to pronounce my spelling as "Jeannie" which makes no sense to me.

At this moment I'm pondering, what if my full name were Jen? Easier to spell, quicker to write, obvious to pronounce, and harder to confuse with anyone, since I'll be the only one sticking to the short-short form.

I've had various names to refer to myself over the years...Gwinevere, Lana, Emerald. My Hebrew name means Garden...




eh, whatever. :)

[scaeagles]

I've always hated my name (not too many "Leo"s around and it makes me think of an old man with a big nose), but I've never really been sure what I'd name myself. I'm sure many here have ideas that may or may not be helpful.

I was named after some obscure uncle I never met. Blech.

Maybe Socrates. Yeah. That fits me.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I used to be fascinated by the name Cassandra. Now that I know she was an oracle, I'm still fascinated, but I don't want it to be my name anymore.

I've never really hated my name, and it's vaguely interesting that it's a boy's name. It used to frustrate me that nobody can spell it, but now I'm seeing it on bumper stickers from the 2004 election and it's kind of startling.

Not sure what I'd pick if I changed my name now. It's fun reading what people think about their name!

[innerSpaceman]

So this thread got me to thinking, and I think the name Frisbee fits me.

Frisbee Zlick.



I like it. :cheers:

[Ghoulish Delight]

Flying Disc. Unless you want to get sued.

[SacTown Chronic]

More like Flying Dics.


Flying Dics Zlick. Sweet handle!

[ToriBear]

Hmm, well, I like my name, cause it's a name that not many people know. (Course, it irks me when they spell it wrong. It's an I, not a flipping Y! )
But, if I had to, it would be either Cecilia or Aza, (Which means in Japanese, Angelic, or in Arabic, Comfort.)

[JWBear]

You reminded me of a tradition that Susan's family has of using the middle name of Adena. I like it and if we had our own daughter her name would have been Rebecca Adena (there is a history on the first name as well, but I will hold that for another day).

Several generations of women in my mother's family were burdened with the name "Lavancha". Fortunately, my grandmother and mother both bucked the trend... Although, I did have an Aunt Gleytus and an Aunt Zelda... :rolleyes:

[€uroMeinke]

As an atheist, I've always been at odds with Christian, though I've come to accept it as a tribute to my Grand Father and not a belief System.

At one time, I dropped the Christ in my name and went by Ian, but that seemed a little to British Isles for me. I also thought of using Xian as an alternate spelling.

I've always liked the name Severin, despite it's Masochistic conotations but haven't thought much about other names, perhaps something more obviously Germanic might be fun.

[Drince88]

Lately there's been a lot of confusion at work between me and my coworker Jeanne.
How does she pronounce her name?
My sister (spelled the same way) is the same as Gene.
A high school friend was Gene-ee.
Around here it would be pronounced closer to John, but maybe more Jawn (like yawn, with a J like in John) sound. (As the French would pronounce it, I think)

All three are spelled the same way.

[Kevy Baby]

Another name I would love to give a daughter would be Guinevere (Guin - pronounced gwen - for short). Love that name.

[Kevy Baby]

CeciliaThat is my Mother In Law's name - can't support it

[JWBear]

If I had a daughter, I'd name her Myfanwy (mu-VON-wee). Beautiful name.

[CoasterMatt]

If I had a son, I'd name him "Deathstrike", just for the fun of parent teacher conferences.

[MouseWife]

The simple version is that I am blessed/cursed with the most popular name for my generation, Jennifer.
:)


We named our daughter Jennifer. We call her a lot of things, Jen, Jenny, Jenbodine. I had wanted the name Genevieve or Jenna but we compromised on Jennifer.

She hasn't said {very often} that she doesn't like her name, but, she also goes by the name of Syd.

Me? My name is simple but different from my other siblings. My sister 'Janet' would have been 'Janette' if my mom had known better English. Other wise, the names are pretty simple.

I always asked why I was named Joyce and feel badly about it because my mom said my dad named me. But, I never thought of changing it. I did have an 'alter ego' type name, one that I liked, even before The Police {yikes, actually cut back on using it after....}....Roxeanne. Roxeanne De La Tour. {where that end came from, I don't know....}

My last name, lots of jokes about it. My married last name? Lots of comments about it, too.

[Gemini Cricket]

Cecilia
Cecilia? You're breaking my heart. You're shaking my confidence daily.


:D

[JWBear]

Cecilia? You're breaking my heart. You're shaking my confidence daily.


:D

The sad thing is that she probably doesn't get the reference.

[Gemini Cricket]

The sad thing is that she probably doesn't get the reference.
Well, she's got Goggle doesn't she? But, yes, you're most likely right. Listen to your Uncle Cricket, Tori: Simon and Garfunkel are awesome.
:)

[Morrigoon]

If I had a daughter, I'd name her Myfanwy (mu-VON-wee). Beautiful name.

Is she friends with the only gay in the village (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPRZgjujWfw)?

[Tref]

Well, Gilbert O'Sullivan has been taken so I would go with Rodgers O'Hammerstein

[frodo potter]

I have never liked my name that much. However, I don't know what I would change it too. Maybe something a little fuller and "fantasy-ish."

Before I was born, my parents were seriously considered Kerwin if a boy or Kaylynn if a girl. I actually like Kaylynn, but even Ken, as bad as it is, is better than Kerwin.

[Kevy Baby]

Another name that would be fun is "Miami Herald"

[ToriBear]

Cecilia? You're breaking my heart. You're shaking my confidence daily.


:D

And you what's sad? I actually got that reference, just took a minute there. That and mom when said it, I remembered.

And you're right, they're awesome. :cool:

[Ghoulish Delight]

You know, I am a fan of S&G....but I don't know that "awesome" is a descriptor that can applied to this:

http://wiredforbooks.org/images/ArtGarfunkel.jpg

[JWBear]

Just close your eyes and listen to the music.

[BarTopDancer]

As a kid I hated my name because I could never find anything with my name on it. I wanted my name to be April. I have no idea where that came from either.

My parents wanted to name me my Hebrew name, but then they figured I would be made fun of. Kids can make fun of any name (including mine).

If I was a boy I would have been Benjamin.

[wendybeth]

You know, I am a fan of S&G....but I don't know that "awesome" is a descriptor that can applied to this:

http://wiredforbooks.org/images/ArtGarfunkel.jpg

Stop trying to scare the poor girl.

[wendybeth]

Another name I would love to give a daughter would be Guinevere (Guin - pronounced gwen - for short). Love that name.

I had a kitty named Guinevere. Her sibs were named Gawain, Gareth, Mordred (black kitty, of course) and Morgan.

[Strangler Lewis]

I used to want to be named Alexandria or Isabella. Big names that seemed feminine and powerful.

That, or Groucho.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

[COLOR=Indigo][B]Hmm, well, I like my name, cause it's a name that not many people know.Ah, that's right. Tori Amos isn't as big a name as it once was. I'd never spell your name wrong. :)

Several generations of women in my mother's family were burdened with the name "Lavancha". Fortunately, my grandmother and mother both bucked the trend... Although, I did have an Aunt Gleytus and an Aunt Zelda... :rolleyes:There was a Zelda in my family - a very common Eastern-European Jewish name at one time. Of course, if I honored that today, my kid would just get made fun of due to the video game.

How does she pronounce her name?
My sister (spelled the same way) is the same as Gene.
A high school friend was Gene-ee.
Around here it would be pronounced closer to John, but maybe more Jawn (like yawn, with a J like in John) sound. (As the French would pronounce it, I think)

All three are spelled the same way.My coworker pronounces it Gee-nee. I was spelling it wrong for a while (Jeannie) and was very embarrassed when I found out. I'm kind of protective over that sort of thing.

As a kid I hated my name because I could never find anything with my name on it.See, and I insisted on Jennie, which meant that even though I had a popular name I never had much with my name on it either. Worst of both worlds. ;)

[Betty]

I used to want to be named Alexandria or Isabella. Big names that seemed feminine and powerful.

That, or Groucho.

:p :p :p

[Betty]

See, and I insisted on Jennie, which meant that even though I had a popular name I never had much with my name on it either. Worst of both worlds. ;)

I was Jennie (ie) all through school from about 5th grade. I hung out with Jen. We had to have a way to tell us apart. Now though, unless it's someone I grew up with or work, I'm Jen. Work is Jennifer. Old friends are Jennie. (and my Mom and Dad too.)

What about those people that go by their middle name? What's up with that?

[BarTopDancer]

See, and I insisted on Jennie, which meant that even though I had a popular name I never had much with my name on it either. Worst of both worlds. ;)

Ya, that too. Did you have people buying you Jennifer stuff?

[Deebs]

What about those people that go by their middle name? What's up with that?

My daughter is one of those people. Her name is Laura Grace (both family names) and we wanted her to be called Grace or Gracie. But Grace Laura just did not sound right or flow well, so we named her Laura Grace instead, but use her middle name. She did go through a phase in second grade, during which she wrote her name on all her schoolwork as Lauragrace, all one word.

I had a roommate whose first name was Nancy, middle name, Lauren. Everyone always called her Lauren. I remember her bills were addressed to N. Lauren _______.

[Drince88]

What about those people that go by their middle name? What's up with that?

My Mom does - because she had the same first name as her mother. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure her brother went by his middle name for the same reason (except his first name was the same as their fathers).

But because her middle name (Margaret) is longer than her first name (Mary)she signs her name Mary M. (since that's her real name, and M. Margaret is a lot longer). I thought it was weird that all the clerks at the grocery store always called her Mary, until she explained why.

[alphabassettgrrl]

BTD- I know what you mean, I can't find anything with my name on it either.

Interesting how people arrange their names. My friend kept her maiden name as a second-middle name when she got married.

Some people use their middle names because they don't like their first names.

[Prudence]

I love my name. My first name is easy to spell and pronounce - but still isn't that common. My last name is just super cool. I mean, it's a Z! How cool is that?! It's actually quite easy to spell/pronounce, but people see the Z and get freaked out and think it's more difficult than it is.

However, I was almost Mary Lee. That would have been pretty icky. Fortunately, my dad stepped in to prevent that trainwreck.

[Kevy Baby]

My last name is just super cool. I mean, it's a Z! How cool is that?!You last name is just the letter Z? That is cool!

[€uroMeinke]

I didn't even consider my middle name, Eugen (no final "e") - I hated it growing, up but have come to like it. I suppose I could even spell it €ugen...

[katiesue]

Maddie's middle name is Jorun - no D - it's Norweigen - she hates it. I figured if she didn't like it, it's after my grandmother, that she could always just use the initial.

[Morrigoon]

My middle name is Lee, after my aunt, who always went by Lee, but her middle name was Onalee. She didn't even know it was her middle name till she was in her early 20's, when she needed a copy of her birth certificate and found out her first name was Beatrice after my grandmother (her mom). Some story about my grandmother being upset and wanting to name my aunt after herself, but thinking it didn't happen, so all through childhood everyone including her own mother thought her name was Lee, when it was really Beatrice. I love that story.

[Alex]

My middle name is Melford. I win.

[€uroMeinke]

My middle name is Melford. I win.

But do you like it?

[ToriBear]

Ah, that's right. Tori Amos isn't as big a name as it once was. I'd never spell your name wrong. :)


I honestly don't know who she is, but I did goggle her.

My middle name is Melford. I win.

Yes, sir, you do! Very much so. (Snickers softly.)

[Not Afraid]

My middle name is Michelle. At least it's not Marie.

[Morrigoon]

Too bad your first name wasn't Gina, or there'd be tons of cars out there with your monogram on them ;)

[Alex]

But do you like it?

I didn't when I was a kid. Absolutely hated it, and quite openly and vocally.

Which, in reality was supremely assholish of me since that is my grandfather's first name.

But I grew up eventually. Now I am indifferent. A name is just a name and I'm a person of the type that would never utter a phrase like "that's funny, you don't look like a Doug." It is nice that it pretty much guarantees that there is nobody else in the world with my exact name (there are a couple dozen Alexander Stroup's out there). Also, to the extent that I know it made my grandfather extremely happy when my parents gave me the name, I am glad they did. Whatevever name was given to me would have seemed "me" to me so if they could give me a name that made someone happy, that's great.

[Kevy Baby]

I honestly don't know who she is, but I did goggle her.
I feel old
Why does Tori Amos need eye protection?

[JWBear]

My middle name is Michelle. At least it's not Marie.

You are so not a Michelle.

My mother's birth certificate says "Annie", but she's always been called just "Ann", even as a child. Thankfully, my parents gave us all normal names. The only one who has even a slightly unconventional name is my sister Georgianna (named for both my parents; George and Ann).

[wolfy999]

Marina (our daughter) had a weird way of being named. I read the name in a book. Loved it. Later, while I was well along in the pregnancy we visited Hubby's brother in Washington. He mentioned right away the wonderful name we had picked. Marie-Hubby's Mom and Rena-My Mom. Never even dawned on us that we had picked a combination name. Still love it!

Diane Lynn....my name was picked so there would be no nicknames in school. Little did my parents know I would be called Di for the longest time.

[katiesue]

My middle name is Michelle. At least it's not Marie.

My cousin is also Lisa Michelle.

[cirquelover]

I didn't even consider my middle name, Eugen (no final "e") - I hated it growing, up but have come to like it. I suppose I could even spell it €ugen...

Gary's middle name is Eugene, which he never liked because right down the road is the city of Eugene.

[Not Afraid]

The correct pronounciation of Chris' middle name is what make it cool to me. It is pronounced Oy-Gain.

[Kevy Baby]

I just realized that I have changed my name in a sense. My SCA name is Og

Although I do sometimes spell it Awgh

[3894]

Marina (our daughter) had a weird way of being named. I read the name in a book. Loved it. Later, while I was well along in the pregnancy we visited Hubby's brother in Washington. He mentioned right away the wonderful name we had picked. Marie-Hubby's Mom and Rena-My Mom. Never even dawned on us that we had picked a combination name. Still love it!

Now, that's pretty darn close to perfection. :snap:

My kids are named after Disney characters.

[JWBear]

My kids are named after Disney characters.

These two?

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/Pain-Panic-hades-2869496-547-529.gif

[Stan4dSteph]

I like my name. It was relatively infrequent among kids my age, so that was a good thing. My middle name is Elaine, since we're all sharing.

[Capt Jack]

after seeing this (http://media.filmschoolrejects.com/images/monsters-v-aliens-bob.jpg) Im pretty much ready to change mine to ANYTHING else.

almost as bad as enduring "arnold the pig" as a child

:mad:

[3894]

These two?

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/Pain-Panic-hades-2869496-547-529.gif


Nice try but no cigar. These two:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:FGfcrqiT22K6OM:http://www.michaelbarrier.com/Home%2520Page/Thomasina.jpg

and

http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:pXytm-Smvg5TTM:http://images.disneysites.com/clipart/images77/Movies/Pinocchio/Cleo/cleo02a.gif