So I came across a post from a couple of years on here about a girl looking to change her name and in search of some advice. I’ve been wanting to do the same thing so I decided to give this a shot. I’m 26 years old, and have been looking to change my name fully. My last name - My dad is a prominent figure in my faith circles - practically internationally. He is not a good man at all (and that’s putting it as mildly as possible), and I’m not about to quit my faith but also I don’t want to be recognized as his daughter. So I’m already set on the last name, I’m changing it to [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m].
So the issue is more with my first name - My first three names actually. My grandfather really wanted a daughter and wanted to giver her the name i have - but he had my dad. Disappointment ensued. When my dad married, all he wanted was a little girl to give her that name. My mother found herself apologizing because the first two children were boys. When I came along he was very happy needless to say. However we haven’t ever been close and it was an abusive childhood and miserable divorce for my parents. I have little to no love in my heart for that man, not just his treatment of me but my mother as well. My mother and I have the same name (coincidentally) but she was also abusive throughout the years and more so when I eventually moved out.
Sad story over - sorry about all that. Anyways I’ve moved away - ALL the way from USA to [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand. The first step to separating myself from all of that and starting a new life. I don’t intend on going back any time soon if at all. I’m working on myself, finding out who I really am and what I’m really about.
Name wise - I’m not sure what would work. I have irish/german heritage on my mother’s side, and I love old European history. I’m partial to french and british names. I’m a virgo and I match the personality to a T. I’m quiet, old fashioned, reserved with a massive imagination and heart. I love too deeply and care too much. I tried the nickname [name_u]Tavi[/name_u]. It was a cool alternative to [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] but I just don’t feel it.
Any ideas would be great. Please don’t tell me just to learn to love my name.
Are you going solid on T names? If so, you could use something like [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f] with the nickname [name_f]Tati[/name_f], which is close to [name_u]Tavi[/name_u] and is in the top 500 in [name_f]France[/name_f] and top 1000 in [name_f]England[/name_f]. It also fits in with European history since it’s a name in a shakespearian play.
otherwise, some names I feel would fit well with Pregrine and have french/english origin would be
[name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Manon[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f]
[name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]
Maena
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]
[name_u]Darcy[/name_u]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalie[/name_f]/[name_f]Natalia[/name_f]
Changing your name is a powerful move. I did it myself last year and found it to be a really positive and empowering experience. I hope it’s the same for you.
I second [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f], especially if you’re set on having another T name.
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f] - I especially love the sound of [name_f]Thalia[/name_f] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m].
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
[name_f]Tania[/name_f]/[name_f]Tanya[/name_f]
[name_f]Talitha[/name_f] - [name_u]Tali[/name_u] is pretty close to [name_u]Tavi[/name_u] as well, maybe you can try it.
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] - still too close to [name_f]Theresa[/name_f]?
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f] - a virgo friend of mine who also matches typical virgo personality, so it’s one of my first thoughts.
[name_f]Stella[/name_f] - I looovve [name_f]Stella[/name_f] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m].
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - a name means dawn just seems like a fit for a new start to me.
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lea[/name_f]
[name_f]Helene[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f]
[name_f]Celia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
'm not set on the name beginning with T, but I love [name_f]Thalia[/name_f]!
I really like [name_f]Edith[/name_f], but it makes me think of Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u], and I’m definitely not THAT [name_f]Edith[/name_f].
I’m currently considering [name_m]Davey[/name_m] - I like it because it’s simple (I’m not one to draw attention to myself) but it is a bit tomboyish - which I like and don’t like lol.
Thanks so much for the ideas, they’re definitely helping!!
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] @starry90, I am so glad you have had positive feedback. I think we have had a few really happy stories on N.B.
and so glad you have reached out.
Offering up other names is not my strong point I am sorry! but empathy abounds. I too hate telling my ‘story’ -its what you are trying to escape but you feel the need to justify to other people why you are doing this. [name_m]IRL[/name_m] anyway-most Berries I have had contact with are super supportive.
If you like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] but don’t like the association, you can also try similar names like [name_u]Eden[/name_u], [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], or [name_m]Eddie[/name_m]~
The perfect name for nickname [name_u]Tavi[/name_u] is [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] and [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] has a lovely ring to it (is the word “vintage” overused by now? because that is a vintage name). You could use the french version: [name_f]Octavie[/name_f], it already ends in the sound you like (though the accent is in the last syllable) and the meaning may be the same boring “eight child” but it sounds like a play on “eight” and life (vie), like you have many oportunities to be reborn, like cats… I’m rambling
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] is another one that works.
[name_f]Gustava[/name_f]? nah, I don’t think it fits your type.
I changed my name for similar reasons. It takes a lot of strength to realize you need to make that change.
I couldn’t tell from your post if you want to stick to T names. I would encourage you not to, though – personally, I initially changed my first name to something with the same initial letter as my given name. There were no other similarities, but after a while, even that letter was too much of a reminder of my parents, and I ended up changing my first name a second time.
Here are some names with [name_m]French[/name_m] or British roots that go well with [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]:
[name_f]Alexandrie[/name_f]
[name_f]Anais[/name_f]
[name_f]Apolline[/name_f]
[name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Araminta[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurelie[/name_f]
[name_f]Berenice[/name_f]
[name_u]Claude[/name_u]
[name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f]
[name_f]Henriette[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessamy[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]/[name_f]Margaux[/name_f]
[name_f]Melanie[/name_f]
[name_f]Mirabelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosemonde[/name_f]
[name_f]Sibyl[/name_f]/[name_f]Sibylle[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]/[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f]
[name_f]Tatiana[/name_f]
[name_f]Tilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
Names with a [name_m]French[/name_m] and/or British historical connection:
[name_f]Constance[/name_f] (daughter of [name_m]William[/name_m] the Conqueror)
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] ([name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] of [name_f]Aquitaine[/name_f])
[name_f]Emma[/name_f] ([name_f]Emma[/name_f] of Normandy, wife of Ethelred II)
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] (patron saint of [name_u]Paris[/name_u], symbol of 5th century resistance to invasion by the Huns)
[name_f]Giselle[/name_f] (daughter of [name_m]Charles[/name_m] III)
[name_f]Haidee[/name_f]/Haydee (created by [name_m]Byron[/name_m] for a character in his poem [name_m]Don[/name_m] [name_m]Juan[/name_m]; later used by [name_m]Dumas[/name_m] for a character in The [name_m]Count[/name_m] of [name_m]Monte[/name_m] Cristo)
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] ([name_f]Isabella[/name_f] of [name_f]France[/name_f], [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of [name_f]England[/name_f], known as the ‘she-wolf of [name_f]France[/name_f]’)
[name_f]Iseult[/name_f]/[name_f]Isolde[/name_f]/[name_f]Yseult[/name_f] (romantic poetic character who is banished from Cornwall to [name_f]Brittany[/name_f])
[name_u]Joan[/name_u]/[name_f]Jeanne[/name_f] ([name_u]Joan[/name_u] of [name_m]Arc[/name_m]/[name_f]Jeanne[/name_f] d’[name_m]Arc[/name_m])
[name_f]Marie[/name_f] ([name_f]Marie[/name_f] [name_f]Antoinette[/name_f], [name_f]Marie[/name_f] Curie)
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] ([name_f]Matilda[/name_f] of [name_f]Scotland[/name_f], acted as regent of [name_f]England[/name_f])
[name_u]Simone[/name_u] ([name_u]Simone[/name_u] de Beauvoir)
[name_f]Yolande[/name_f]/[name_f]Yolanda[/name_f] ([name_f]Yolande[/name_f] of [name_m]Aragon[/name_m], acted as regent of [name_f]France[/name_f], supported [name_u]Joan[/name_u] of [name_m]Arc[/name_m])
Place names in [name_f]France[/name_f] or Great [name_m]Britain[/name_m] might work for you too:
[name_u]Aberdeen[/name_u]
[name_f]Brittany[/name_f]
[name_f]Calais[/name_f]
[name_f]Caledonia[/name_f]
[name_m]Dover[/name_m]
Inverness
[name_f]Iona[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Lourdes[/name_f]
Here are some names that have a long history of use in Europe, but also would be readily recognized as belonging to someone about your age. Some also have unisex nicknames.
[name_f]Sophia[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] possible nn [name_u]Charlie[/name_u]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] possible nn [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] or [name_u]Caro[/name_u] or [name_u]Rory[/name_u]
[name_f]Christina[/name_f] possible nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_f]Emma[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] possible nicknames [name_u]Randi[/name_u] or [name_f]Mira[/name_f] or [name_u]Ray[/name_u]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_u]Nicola[/name_u]/[name_f]Nicole[/name_f]/[name_f]Nicollette[/name_f]/[name_f]Collette[/name_f]/[name_u]Nikki[/name_u] possible nn [name_m]Cole[/name_m]
[name_f]Joanna[/name_f] nn [name_u]Jo[/name_u]
[name_f]Georgia[/name_f]
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f] to [name_m]New[/name_m] Zealand! I hope you’re doing well in this cold snap we’re having!
I don’t have any suggestions but I thought I would point out that if you plan to stay in NZ for a bit you may want to consider what your new name will sound like in our accent!
It can make names sound completely different to the american pronunciation! For example, my name is [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] and when I went to Starbucks in [name_u]America[/name_u] they spelt it as [name_f]Henna[/name_f] ( for the record, I swear I dont say my name like that…)
It may not be a deal breaker for you, but it could make it harder to enjoy your new name if you dont like the way we say it!
( for the record, I swear I dont say my name like that…)