Skip to main content

If you could change your name, what would it be?

While some people are happy with the name they were given, others have a clear preference for a different name. It's fair to say that most people wind up giving their children the names they would have given themselves at the time of their own birth.

Though I don't have any issue with my name, Jeffrey, I think Jeremy would have been more to my liking. Not surprisingly, it's the name I've decided to give my son -- should my wife and I end up having one.

Personally, I think most nicknames sound better than their respective full names. I like Jeff more than Jeffrey, Tim more than Timothy, Becky more than Rebecca, and so on. They're just snappier -- much less of a mouthful.

We tend to assess how much we like our names by how it sounds when others utter it. We also reason that certain names don't fit certain people. Ever heard someone say, "She doesn't look like a Meagan. She's more like a Christine."

Are you happy with your name? If not, what name would you change it to if you had the opportunity to do so?

Comments

Karen V Poe said…
Actually, I have always liked my name, Karen. Plus I find it deliciously ironic that it means "Pure" in Scandinavian. Poe on the other hand is a totaly different different story. I have never cared for my last name at all. And, snce moving to Maryland more than thirty years ago, I have come to dislike it even more. First, believe it or not, the majority ot people simply cannot spell a one syllable word with three letters. Shocking! Second, I am not nor have I ever been related to a renowned Poet who happeed to die in a gutter in Baltimore, Maryland. Third, on the same note, E.A. Poe was not from Baltimore, Maryland no matter how much Y'all want to believe that in your hearts.(The same applies to Billie Hollidaym folks.) Ergo, in light of all of these factors, I originally intended to change my last name to my Mother's maiden name but cannot afford it now. I have come up with a very satisfactory compromise. I have started a new Proofreading/Editing Business and I have adopted the following as my official Editor Identity to incorporate my Mother's name (and I might add I am damned proud of myself, too): KV Vandervall, Editor.I love my Family name - it is a good strong, Dutch name. Besides it is good revenge on people who just cannot seem to not spell Poe. Now they have a lot of consonants and only three little vowels to contend with. Yes, I am quite proud to finally have the chance to unoficially "carry" my Mother's name publically. So I have now "changed" my name on my own.
Great story! Thanks for sharing. And best of luck on your business :) I write, edit, and proofread for a living as well. Wouldn't be happy doing anything else!
Unknown said…
I am happy with my name Tammy Lynn Wade. The only problem I have is that my dad picked the name because he was watching Tammy Lynn Wynette in a movie on television. It so happens that I share her BIRTHDAY.
The name is pretty awesome. So, I like it. It's just there seems to be a lot of us.
Unknown said…
Good job Karen! Keep up the amazing work!! I wish I knew how to write. A couple of my doctors want me to put together a novel or book about my life. I don't know how or where to begin. So ,I'm proud of you!!
Tammy, thanks for sharing that cool fact with us! :)

Popular posts from this blog

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually.  Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker.  Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar.  When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put