Your Name

[Sunath]

Meh. I used to highly dislike my first name (Kevin...in part because it means 'gentle one,' which has never really fit me). But six years of online gaming tends to erode such worries. I've been known by so many different names at different points, it's amazing. And when you do it as seriously as I did (I've since retired), your online name often actually surpasses your given name in importance. If you walked up to me in real life, and addressed me as Raptor/Thunder/Sunath/Silverwolf (those being my four main aliases) I would most likely answer you.

I'm at the point now where I still feel it's a dorky name, but I can live with it. Something I've toyed with over the years was having one of those 'everyone knows you by' nicknames - Kam, which is actually my initials. It's one of those things I still kick around, although I seriously doubt I'd legally change it to anything. Names are like clothes - we get many of them over our lives and change throughout them at will.

[Twyrch]

Meh. I used to highly dislike my first name (Kevin...in part because it means 'gentle one,' which has never really fit me). But six years of online gaming tends to erode such worries. I've been known by so many different names at different points, it's amazing. And when you do it as seriously as I did (I've since retired), your online name often actually surpasses your given name in importance. If you walked up to me in real life, and addressed me as Raptor/Thunder/Sunath/Silverwolf (those being my four main aliases) I would most likely answer you.

Sunath,

We're in the same boat there, with RPG. In my younger days, I did a lot of Vampire, Werewolf, AD&D and Fifth Cycle... I answer to Turin and Twyrch when I get together with old RPG buddies, and now here... I'm answering to Puck as well.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. " ~ William Shakespeare

[plaidcat]

This is a really cool thread.
I'm one of the apparent minority who has always really liked her name. My first name, Kayla, means "pure", or also, "laurel crown". I've never felt terribly princessly, but the name implies i should! I was named after a friend of my mom's. My middle name i absolutely love onits own, and again, i was named for someone dear to my mother. My first two names have always been distinctly me, i think partially because they're somewhat unique. The name Kayla didn't become very common until a few years after i was born.

My surname just changed when i got married. My family usually drops the middle name and puts the maiden in its place, First Maiden Last. I was intending on moving my middle to my first, to be Kayla Mae, then puttind Maiden as middle, then the new surname. Then i went to the DMV and explained this, and the lady said she can't change the first name, and i'd have to file court papers and whatnot. So i just dropped my maiden (which is apparently more common).

I've had nicknames before, but never really anything that stuck. And i've never had an "alternate" name, no magick name, faerie name, not even an alternate renaissance costuming name! I've just never found a name that fits me like my own does!

[Ghostrider]

Hmmm...

As for the gaming-name.... I've used the alias Ghostrider ever since I got my first I-net connection... It felt good and still does.

My real name feels great also! Even though I've been named after my father and his father and his father and ( well, you get the point... ). I have a good and clean Germanic name: Gerrit.
Which comes from Gerard, or Ger Hard ( Ger meaning "spear" and Hard meaning "brave" ).
Just a little thing that came from those lovely Norhtern Europeans that used to have a thing for spears.. you know... the Ger-Man(s)  :grin:

The word GUARD has the same origin btw.

[Holly]

The name I use here is actually my given name.  My grandfather named me, and he passed away when I was only 17 months old.  Even though I don't remember much about him, everyone says that he adored me and I'm what kept him living with cancer that long.  Because of that, my name is special to me because it's a link with Poppy.  My middle name, Elizabeth, is a family name and has been passed down for at least 250 years.  I don't hate it but I don't love it either; my sister got the Irish middle name, even though I identify with that side of the family more.  

[Twig]

Well, Kevin, I think "Judy" is way dorkier than your name! If I had been given the name "Judith, " (meaning warrior or something similar in Hebrew), that would've been better. "Judy," however, conjurs up bobby socks, loafers and a pony tail -- which I used to have! ARGH!!

I got stuck with the nickname "JR" when I worked at a university library where there were actually three Judy's. "JR," for those of you too young to know or who live outside the US, was a villanous character on the prime-time soap opera, "Dallas." Nothing to be proud of there, either.

The only other message board name I've used is "utlinf9," for "utility infielder 9." That's my baseball enthusiast personality. My password is connected to my love of baseball because it is my great grandfather's first name. He's the one who hooked me, lo, those many years ago. His middle name was "Gray," which is also my middle name. I like that one, but not as a first name.

So, I'm stuck with Judy. And Twig.

Fun thread, BTW. You lucked out, Holly!

[Nefer]

I think despite the "meaning" of a name. A name is what you make of it. Not what some person decided to lable it.

I agree with you in 100%. :P

Also, I do not feel connection with the name given to me by my parents, although I wouldn't change it for anything, because I was named after my mother, whom I love very much. But for example a funny coincident happened with my name and the name of my current partner, because his name is (also) John, which in Hebrew is written Jehuchannach (one of the versions) and my name in the same language is Channach. ^^ But I use a different name (Nefer) on the net and in time it gained much meaning to me and so now I have two names, which I use in different situations and it's not a problem for me of any kind to identify with both of them.

And so, Shirley, I also think that you should first use the name Aine on the board and then maybe this will be enough for you.

[Twig]

Isn't multiple personality disorder fun?    :)

[Ghostrider]

I reckon I can top the multiple personality thing.. hehehehe.
If we go back 25 years, to the days my grand-father and father were still alive....

It took only one shout to call: My grand-father, my father, my uncle ( Gerard i.o. Gerrit, so still enough resemblance ), my brother ( of another mother, but also called Gerrit ) and me.. And that's just counting th family on my father's side  :wink:

How's THAT for imagination...

[Nefer]

Pretty good, Ghostrider. ;p Even better, one person, many bodies. ;p A lot fun for the women who call you, I presume.

As for the multiple personality disorder... I guess it could be fun depending on what personalities would that be. ^^

[Silverwheel]

When my wife and I got married, we decided that it would be just as stupid for her to abandon her maiden (what's up with that?) name and take mine as it would be for me give up mine and take hers...so we picked a third name and both changed to it.

[LadyCelt]

I dropped my first name many years ago. I've never gone by it - I've always gone by my middle name.

My first name was foisted upon me by my paternal Grandmother (my parents had no backbone at that time). Bless her heart, she was not a pleasant woman and made life hell for my parents, especially my mother.

Kids at school teased me because no one else went by their middle name. So now I legally use my middle, maiden, and married name. Last year I finally got rid of the last remant of my first name when we bought our new house - my old first name was still on the previous home's deed. Felt good.

I'm sure Grandma will fuss at me when I see her in the afterlife, though!  :D

[Twig]

Well, Lady Celt, that's a grandma's job description. She probably won't be able to help herself!

Whatever the horrid name, I'm glad it is officially our of your life. You are free, now!    

                             :fireworks:

[leaf]

This is a very important topic to me.  I never liked common name and don't wish to be called by my formal name.  Throughout history it was common for indegenous cultures to give a newborn a childhood name.  Upon reaching adulthood they were expected to present their new name.  In some cultures they would go on a spiritual journey to discover that name.  Other cultures had other ways.

Also, even recently (and still today) in some cultures a person changed names when a big, life changing event occured.  Example, Karol Woytila become John Pual II, Josef Ratzinger became Benedict XVI.  In Jewish culture, a person's name is sometimes changed if they become mortally ill.  Also, traditionally, when a person converts to Judaism they get a new name.

Growing up I was called "Bill".  I never liked it.  After becoming heavily involved in Judaism I began using my Hebrew name as my everyday name.  Over time, as I moved on, I went on my own spirit journey and received GoldenLeaf Nightdancer.  This is part of me and I use Leaf most of the time.  However, in our Western Business world, Leaf, causes problems (especially when your boss sees William as your first name) so I use the name Liam (drop Wil- and you get Liam!)  I like this, it honours my parents, it honours my Gaelic heritage, and it is mine, I chose it.  Seems that no-one is hurt by it.  Most of my family call me Liam, some of my family and all my friends call me Leaf.  I do have a couple of friends that I used to also work with and that would be fun...they would call me both, especially depending upon the situation.  One friend; if we're out somewhere and she calls me Liam I know she is not happy!

Names are an integral part of who we are.  I remember having to explain to my mom why I no longer wanted to use the name she gave me.  It took time.  She understood but it was still dificult for her.  When I finally told her I would be using Liam, that really helped her.  She is about the only one who still 'slips' and will occasionally call me Bill (and unless it is really important I ignore it and wait) but she ends up remembering and uses Liam.  

[deleted]

GoldenLeaf Nightdancer (named for the leaves of the American Elm--the leaves turn an amazing shade of gold-as they fall under the autumn moonlit sky)

[Twig]

Well, leaf, since I'm Twig, we must be related somehow!    :grin:

I love the name you were given on your spirit journey. Perhaps I will someday take this journey and be given a more suitable name than the one I currently have. I live in a very "tradition-bound" part of the world, so something out of the ordinary would be viewed as an offense punishable by imprisonment. Plus, having parents who think that vegetarians are actually insane, making a name change during their lifetime wouldn't be worth the hassle.

[athelia143]

Hi all

Maybe a silly question, but has anyone felt they should change their birth name?  Generally, names don't bother me.  Whilst I don't particularly like my name, I have never had an urge to change it.  However,  lately I have become "obsessed" with the name Aine.  I am wondering if perhaps this is something coming through from a past life?  My ancestry is Irish, Scottish and Welsh.

BB

Shirley

Hi Shirley,

I changed my full legal name last year and it has been one of the most liberating experiences of my life.

I no longer cringe when someone says my name, and I no longer have the bad memories associated with my old name.  I have closed a chapter of my life with taking on a new name, and started a new chapter.   I feel like a new person!

My new name is a very old name and was the name of my great-grandmother on my father's side, so there is a strong family history with this name.

Athelia /|\

[Twig]

Congrats, Athelia. If "Athelia" is your user name, it's a great one. And if it's your real name, it's a gorgeous one!    :)

[athelia143]

Congrats, Athelia. If "Athelia" is your user name, it's a great one. And if it's your real name, it's a gorgeous one!    :)

Hi Twig,

Thanks Athelia is just a pseudonym that I use online and in the community.  Back in 2000, my legal name got published in Touchstone magazine and I had some problems with a stalker (I have a unique last name which made it very easy for this person to call me all the time and send mail to my parents' house since my address was not published), which is why I use the pseudonym.

My new legal first name is Daria, after my great-grandmother.

Athelia /|\

[Twig]

Athelia -- I, too, carry a great-grandparents' name, my beloved great-grandpa. While not as beautiful a name as Daria and not my first name, I honor it by using my great-grandpa's intial when I sign my name: "G.," for "Gray."

I love the name Daria! Nice choice....

[corkmole]

Some very intreasting views on here. I have been thinking about changing my name for a long time into something more Irish sounding, or even Gealic, But I love my surname (not so much the family but it is a long story and nothing to do with them, it is all me). How many people do you know called 'Ankers'? It is a very rare sername.

I was christianed / registered as 'Jason' - but I don't like that name, peole often call my Justin and I am happy for them to do that.

As for my name on here, well it is simple - I come from County Cork and my totem animal is a Mole.

I do also think that most people are telling lies when it comes to there totem - as they want 'Bear', 'Wolf', 'Boar', and other 'Manly' creatures, mind you, I would be a little upset if my totam animal was a Earthworm or Sloth or something like that.