Your New Name

[Amaya]

I like it. Does'nt sound common and to me rare names are special in mysterious. Good pick

[HEXYDEZiMAL]

Still in the process of figuring out my new one, actually.

For first names, it's come down to:

Audrey "noble strength"
Cassandra "defender of men, warrior"
Charlotte "little, womanly"
Kylie "graceful"
Valerie "strong, healthy"
Zoe "life"

Feel free to toss in what all of you think.

[Amaya]

I think charlotte would be good choice. You look like charlotte

[Jeane]

I got Jeane in a number of ways. Jean Harlow was one of my favorite actresses, as was Marilyn Monroe whose birth name was Norma Jeane Baker. I always felt a closeness with the name and felt the E at the end just added that extra flavor. My middle name is Alice which was my grandmothers middle name. Jeane can be either female or male, Gene or Jean. But, it doesn't matter that I don't have a girls-only name. It's a name that means a lot to me. And I could never see myself as anything other than Jeane

[gibiscus]

I'd pick Zoe...

[TS_Trisha]

He'll my boy name Is Harris or just Harry And it's hard to say why I picked the name Trisha because I decided on It when I was like about 14 when I would constantly think about being a girl. Back then though I only thought of this as some kind of dream or fantasy and never thought I would admit this to anyone. I am 20 years old now. When I admitted it two my friends about two months ago one asked if she could help me pick a girls name. I told her that I wanted to be called Trisha she saiId that Trisha didn't suit me and that sge sees me as more of a Harriet or Helen but then I explained to her that I have had the name Trisha in my head for years and I think she was kind of sorry for saying it but it has really got me thinking about if the name suits me or not. On one hand I think of mysel as Trisha and it would be hard not to plus I really like my name and I think people would be suprised of how girly I can act when I am free to express my and me but on the other hand I have been told it doesnt suit me and I will probably never be pretty enough to be a Trisha. Can I have some opinions please?

[nexyjo]

... I will probably never be pretty enough to be a Trisha. Can I have some opinions please?

i didn't realize that there were requirements of beauty for certain names. i'm hoping i'm pretty enough to be "nexy". any clue as to what the punishment is if i'm not? it's been like 10 years. are punishments cumulative?

[gwenfox]

I think I got lucky. My mother had remarked when I was younger that had she had another daughter, she would have named her after her favorite aunt, Gwen. Even though I am not out to her, and I don't think she would even really understand, I chose the name to honor her. Plus, great-Aunt Gwen was a great lady.

- Gwen -

[HEXYDEZiMAL]

i didn't realize that there were requirements of beauty for certain names. i'm hoping i'm pretty enough to be "nexy". any clue as to what the punishment is if i'm not? it's been like 10 years. are punishments cumulative?

I believe the fashion police will lock you up and throw away the key, if you're not.

Keep a look out for rainbow-colored sirens.

[KhronosWolf]

Although I'm not yet entirely certain this is in fact the proper path for me -- though may be more certain that I'm willing to admit, I don't know -- I've already decided on the name that I will use if so, which is the name my mother said she'd have given me if I'd been born a girl: Katherine. She'd mentioned it once or twice a long while ago, so I had to ask her again what it was, though I passed it off as something else and haven't mentioned anything about all of this to her.

I pretty much fell in love with the name immediately when she said it again, and I guess on a certain level using it would make me feel connected in a way, especially as the middle name is her first. (Won't post that here, though, because I also considered the possibility as using it as a last name instead -- it's slightly rare as a last name but not excessively so).

[tara_giles]

I picked Jen because its simple, I like the way I can sign things, and asian families choose "nicknames" as actual names a lot of times.....

ETA: i also wanted something more believable/passable

I like Jen. I also wanted to avoid a name that automatically made you want to scratch your head.
No offense anybody, some of you have explained your reasoning.
I picked up Tara from a guy who worked for me; his wife was name Tara. I looked it up and it came from "tall".
I'm 5'11" so I'm Tara. Gee how did my parents know I was going to be such a tall girl.

[HEXYDEZiMAL]

Although I'm not yet entirely certain this is in fact the proper path for me -- though may be more certain that I'm willing to admit, I don't know --

Talking to somebody who's already there can really help.

I'm usually more than happy to help sort out the confusion and do what I can, myself.

[Tracyohus]

What do you think of Gelsomina? It's the Italian version of Jasmine...

What's wrong with just Jasmine?

[gibiscus]

Because then I would have the same name as my cousin... I was thinking yesterday of Gira, which I just made up, but I think sounds cool...

[HEXYDEZiMAL]

What do you think of Gelsomina? It's the Italian version of Jasmine...

What's wrong with just Jasmine?

Trans name syndrome may have struck yet another victim. If the name they're planning to use is normal in any way, TNS causes the victim to misspell it on purpose or go for the most exotic version possible.

It's so common that after I came out to my sister, one of the first questions she asked was, "Why the heck do trans people have such weird or misspelled names?"

[Althea Raine]

Althea Raine.

I have a tendency to look up etymologies, string names together, see what they mean. That, right there, means, "healing rain", which does mean something - being a girl IS healing to me.

Though to be honest, I'd go by just Raine.

My current name, by the way, is Edward Ashley. I don't go by my last name.

[Tracyohus]

What do you think of Gelsomina? It's the Italian version of Jasmine...

What's wrong with just Jasmine?

Trans name syndrome may have struck yet another victim. If the name they're planning to use is normal in any way, TNS causes the victim to misspell it on purpose or go for the most exotic version possible.

I have noticed that... Hmmm...

Hmmm...

In Hawaiian, my first name is Kalaki and my middle name is Linei. I have been considering changing my last name after surgery to another family name. This is just to keep the peace with certain family members who are less tolerant of this medical condition. Anyways, the Hawaiian version of one of those possible last names is Peleli... I kinda like that...

Kalaki Linei Peleli actually has a rather nice ring to it - but so does Tracy Rene Ferrell.

Maybe, just maybe, if I do decide to change my last name, I will go with the Hawaiian verson of this last name... Tracy Rene Peleli does sound rather nice indeed... OMG! Now I have been strucken by TNS!?!

[elliebean]

I was thinking yesterday of Gira, which I just made up, but I think sounds cool...

I like Gira. Simple and kind of pretty without being too dainty.

[gibiscus]

Apparently there's a Brazilian sex goddess called Pomba Gira... I've decided I should add in an extra G name: Gaetana, for Maria Gaetana Agnesi, the Italian mathematician who was the first female professor at the University of Bologna (one of the oldest in the world; my cousin in Italy goes there!) So how's this for a full name: Gira Gaetana Tamara Motola

[gibiscus]

And plus I'd have a host of nicknames to choose from (I've never used nicknames with my guy name): Gigi for Gira, Gaia or Tanya for Gaetana, Mara (NOT Tammy!) for Tamara...

[FadeToBlack]

And plus I'd have a host of nicknames to choose from (I've never used nicknames with my guy name): Gigi for Gira, Gaia or Tanya for Gaetana, Mara (NOT Tammy!) for Tamara...

"Tammy" happens to be the name of a very unlovely, one-legged lady who works for one of the local auto towing/wrecker services. While we're not a 'small town' (70,000 strong almost now), when someone says they had to call "One-Legged Tammy", everyone knows you had car troubles. It's horrible, but still makes me lol.

[Erica]

Given that domain names are disappearing faster than person names since person names can be reused many times, my latest thought is that people should try and pick their domain name at the same time as their person name.

I'm toying with Wiki Lee Page but so far my focus group has been less than enthused by it.

I've been working with the old stand by "grow an A at the end" naming convention for six months now. It works, it's easy, but is surprisingly hard for everyone else. People who knew me before constantly forget. It's getting old fast and I'm thinking that a complete change might just make the whole thing a bit smoother.

[Althea Raine]

Where did the domain name come in?

[Erica]

Where did the domain name come in?

I can't tell you or you'd steal it

[Althea Raine]

Uh...what?

I'm asking where the mention of domain names even came from.

[Erica]

Uh...what?

I'm asking where the mention of domain names even came from.

I was kind of joking, half joking at least. The pool of domain names is an expiring asset since they have to be unique, and aquiring one that is half sensible is already a pretty daunting task, but to many people in this digital age also essential because it's the ultimate public presence which is globally recognized and accessible (unless of course they happen to live in China and yours has been banned there).

So my dystopian future, Sci Fi mind thought, "Picking a name is a relatively easy task, since no one can tell you it's theirs and you can't have it. Maybe one day we will search for a good domain name that is actually available and when we do, adopt that as our name." In other words perhaps parents should pick out the name of their child's future domain instead of picking the child's name. This way you'd never have to ask what someone's website is called, you'd know the second they introduced themselves.

Silly and weird I know, but that would be me, some combination of silly and weird in varying quantities depending on the time of the day, my caffeine level and various other factors.

[Misty]

Trans name syndrome may have struck yet another victim. If the name they're planning to use is normal in any way, TNS causes the victim to misspell it on purpose or go for the most exotic version possible.

It's so common that after I came out to my sister, one of the first questions she asked was, "Why the heck do trans people have such weird or misspelled names?"

Cis or trans...this practice kind of bugs me. My wife actually works with a woman whose name is Misti with an "i". Eww...why?

Call me lazy, but I'd also stay away from a name that I always have to spell out for every little thing. Besides, I'm afraid that I'll already stand out too much as it is. The last thing I need is a name that stands out to go with it.

[gibiscus]

I knew a girl in high school named Mystie...

[Erica]

Trans name syndrome may have struck yet another victim. If the name they're planning to use is normal in any way, TNS causes the victim to misspell it on purpose or go for the most exotic version possible.

I spoke with a worker in a store whose name tag said, "Dalyce". I just had to ask...

"It's pronounced Dallas".

"Oh, how pretty," while thinking to myself, "that's like what you'd name the lovechild of a stripper and a rapper."

[elliebean]

This one tops them all:

L-A


Pronounced, "Ladasha".


Seriously.

[gibiscus]

My mom was a typesetter for years, and that's a hyphen not a dash... So you'd be Lahyphena...

[nah.right.]

Mine came to me when I smoked an excessive amount of pot after a one month break. Leslie Toots. Not really sold on Toots, but it seemed to come from my mind innately, so...

[Misty]

Mine came to me when I smoked an excessive amount of pot after a one month break. Leslie Toots. Not really sold on Toots, but it seemed to come from my mind innately, so...

Umm...let's the word my wife uses for my son when he farts. *Cutesy happy voice* "Did you toot? Huh, did you toot?" Cracks my son up. I doubt that's what you're going for though.

[Tawny Frogmouth]

Gira...

Go Gira!
Go Gira!
Gojira!

Um. You may be inviting unwanted comparisons here.

[PentacleGoddess]

Ye gods, you people make me feel lazy. Here was my 'new name' process.

"Hey mom! 'Janine' or 'Amber'?"

"Janine. 'Amber' sounds like those Amber Alerts. Make it your middle name."

Kind of felt that since my mom had had a hand in choosing my first name, she should have a hand in the new one, too.

[elliebean]

My mom was a typesetter for years, and that's a hyphen not a dash... So you'd be Lahyphena...

I know, but I wasn't talking about me; there's actually a person currently using that name. Whether it's her legal or given name or not, I didn't ask. And it would be Lhyphena.

[Sabene]

Gira...

Go Gira!
Go Gira!
Gojira!

Um. You may be inviting unwanted comparisons here.

Especially in Japan...

[Tawny Frogmouth]

Of course, she could just be signifying her love of heavy math rock.

[gibiscus]

OK, so my name idea for today is Gerina, or Rina for short... I would share my name with a singer, a witch, a golfer, and a "certified image professional"...

[Erica]

OK, so my name idea for today is Gerina, or Rina for short... I would share my name with a singer, a witch, a golfer, and a "certified image professional"...

I think you'll find more people truncating it to Geri, than the other way round. I dated a Geri.

[gibiscus]

Well I never let people call me Jerry as a man, so I'd feel hypocritical if I let them call me Geri...

[Tracyohus]

I am so glad my name is Tracy. Nothin' fancy or complicated. Just plain normal and natural Tracy. No red flags are raised when people see my name. Though I do get a puzzled look from time to time...

[chocomarmalade]

my name Taneisha is a name of a beautiful black girl i saw on some website and since im half black and i think im beautiful too i decided to call myself that mostly people simply just call me tan it matches my tan skin too

[tiffany_elizabeth]

Took me a while to settle on mine. I'm still years away from legally changing it, but my friends who accept me as a woman call me Tiffany.

Before that I went through Misty (always liked the name), Elizabeth (another name I really like, which is why it's my middle name), Emily, and for a few months I considered Kayla but that particular name has too much of a history for me to use without getting depressed, as it's the name of a now deceased cousin who was more like a sister.

I finally settled on Tiffany as my first name when I found out that my mom wanted to name me Tiffany if I would have been a girl. Since she mistakenly thought she had a boy she gave the name to her niece to use for her daughter, but since we're not that close and we only see each other once every ten years, not even talking during those meetings, I feel I can safely use it without tainting it for her.

[st4ry3y3sgirl]

I call myself Shannon right now

well i chose my new name just because i think its a cute name
all the girls i knew whos names are shannon are really cute and sweet. just like how i want to be

[coder_kate]

My mom has told me more than once that if I'd been born a girl (*sigh*), I'd have been Katie Michelle. So I attached to Katie at a young age, and have always thought of that as my secret true name.

I don't have as much attachment to Michelle, and have known too many in real life, though, so I'm not planning on keeping that. And I'd like to have a little more flexibility.

So the current thought is Kathryn Alexis, going by Kate for daily use. (I've gone round a bit on Katherine vs. Kathryn vs. Kaitlyn. My current first name starts with a K, and I like it.) One of the Catherine or Caitlyn variations is always going to need to be spelled, as much as I find them easy to identify with, but Kate is easy for more casual interactions.

Alexis, I just think sounds good with Kathryn, and is cute.

I'm thinking of using my current first name as a new last name. I _hate_ my current last name (it's associated heavily with a well-known horror movie villain), and my current first name is common as a last name. It creates a bit more continuity, for good and for ill. It might make it a little easier on others, or easier for me to ignore slip-ups. But I might change my mind on that.

I can hardly wait for people to start calling me Kate.

[TechnoChick]

Nicole. ( Can you guess the male version? )

Anyhow if I was to change my name I would keep my middle and last name by only changing the first name.

[TechnoChick]

So my name right now is Gerard T (yes, just the letter), and the middle name is easy since my mom said she would've named me Tamara if I were born a girl... However, settling on a first name is harder for me... I want it to start with a G so I don't have to change my initials (or e-mail address) and I keep going through different ideas... Giordana, Galia, Galina, Giada, Ginevra, Gafna, Galilea, Gillian, Gavina... I could use Gigi, Gina or Gia as a nickname... I'm Jewish and Italian, so names in Italian or Hebrew would be nice, although I've already got both covered in middle and last names (my last name is used by both Italian and Jewish families!) Any preferences from the ones I've mentioned, or other ideas?

I'm Israeli, Scottish, English, and German myself.

( Mostly Scottish and English though.)

[gibiscus]

Well, I think I've settled on Galina Tamara... Sounds good?