[name_m]Hi[/name_m], everyone! I’ve been lurking for awhile and finally made an account to ask for some help.
[name_f]My[/name_f] mom named me [name_u]Rory[/name_u], a name I’ve always disliked because it’s masculine, too childish and it doesn’t work well in other cultures. I love classical names so [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is not my style AT ALL. At first my mom considered [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] but loved the nickname [name_u]Rory[/name_u] so much that she decided to choose the shorter name. She paired Rory with the middle name Giselle… Rory Giselle sounds so off.
I’ve been thinking about changing my name to [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]. It’s a full, classical and feminine name and the best part is that my family can still call me [name_u]Rory[/name_u] and I can still keep the nickname [name_u]Rory[/name_u] (I wouldn’t mind [name_u]Rory[/name_u] if I had a full, feminine name on paper and resumes and when I needed to sound professional.) Also, Aurora Giselle sounds nice I think?
What do you all think? Does it make sense to change my name to [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] yet still keep the nickname [name_u]Rory[/name_u]? What are your thoughts on [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]?
I’m not sure if [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] will solve anything. If you think it doesn’t work well in other cultures, it still has the ‘ror’ part that is tricky. And if you are going to continue going by [name_u]Rory[/name_u] amongst family and friends, why go through the hassle of changing it at all?
Thanks for your insight The reason [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is more cross-cultural is because a version of [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] exists in many cultures… in Latin [name_u]America[/name_u] and in Europe, [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is a familiar name. [name_u]Rory[/name_u], on the other hand, is quite rare outside of Anglo speaking countries and makes me uncomfortable in Latin [name_u]America[/name_u].
I definitely see what you are saying about “why go through the hassle”. To me, it just seems like the best of both worlds – I can continue going by [name_u]Rory[/name_u] with family and old friends but can introduce myself as [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] to new people.
See, to me, [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] skews more toward being a fanciful princess name than a traditionally used classic. I consider [name_u]Rory[/name_u] to be more versatile than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], which immediately reminds me of ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Looking at the SSA listing, [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] hasn’t been used much before the last 20 years (it hovered around and below the 700s until it picked up in 1992, and now it’s #145). If you’re looking for something more appropriate for professional use, I’m just not sure if [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is the solution.
I hate to invoke the [name_m]Gilmore[/name_m] Girls on you in case you have any females-named-[name_u]Rory[/name_u] bitterness, but in my opinion [name_f]Lorelai[/name_f] or [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] would be a more versatile choice than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] for résumé purposes. I don’t know how it translates cross-culturally except that it’s originally [name_m]German[/name_m].
Or, would [name_f]Laurel[/name_f] accomplish what you’re looking for? [name_f]Laurel[/name_f] with the nickname [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is no more of a stretch than [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. [name_f]Laurel[/name_f] seems a lot more mature than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] to me, though again I’m not sure how it works cross-culturally.
Or, [name_f]Lauren[/name_f]?
I can totally relate to the awkwardness of hating your own name and I hope you find a good solution. Best of luck!
If you like and identify with [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], I think it’s a great idea! It is still tied to your current name, and I think [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is beautiful. I know an [name_u]Abbie[/name_u] who always wished she was actually [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] on her birth certificate. Makes sense to me
Hmm, as much as I love [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], I second the [name_f]Laurel[/name_f] idea. I think it’s pretty If you don’t mind, can you know your middle name? It makes its easier to come up with a name that flows
I totally understand!! I’m a [name_u]Lanie[/name_u] who always wished she were a [name_f]Melanie[/name_f]. If [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is the name you love and identify with, use it! If you are just looking for a more professional name, I would probably go with [name_f]Laurel[/name_f].
Thanks for your opinion on [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], I totally see what you mean about the princess thing… it’s something I really need to consider! [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is super pretty but also trickier internationally and I am taking that seriously since I live between two continents.
When I was in law school I toyed with the idea of changing my name to [name_f]Mary[/name_f] or [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] because I wish I had a formal name for when I wanted it. Ultimately it seemed too difficult and, well, “weird” to go about changing my name, but I have a lot of respect for people who go through with it.
From someone who considered the same path, to me it made a lot of sense to choose a name for which my birth name can be a nickname, so that people could still call me by my “old” name. And traveling/living in Spain and Latin [name_u]America[/name_u] was part of my problem, too. [name_f]My[/name_f] name sounds like Mole-y there. Not cute.
I oddly consider [name_u]Rory[/name_u] more professional than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - because [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] sounds so princess to me and [name_u]Rory[/name_u] sounds tailored, like [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]. But that’s subjective and if [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] makes you feel more professional or more you, you should do it.
Other ones that can get you to [name_u]Rory[/name_u] if you aren’t sure about [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]:
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
Elinora
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Coraline[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonor[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Gloria[/name_f]
[name_f]Molly[/name_f] is your name I’m guessing. Yeah, that one might be hard abroad too! [name_f]My[/name_f] particular annoyance is that in Portuguese (I lived in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] before and will probably live there again), [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is pronounced WHORY. It’s hideous!! And didn’t like always being called promiscuous.
By the way, I really like [name_f]Molly[/name_f]. It’s funny how you can dislike your name and the next person really enjoys it.
It seems like a simple enough switch to me. I would also prefer [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] with the nn option of [name_u]Rory[/name_u]. It reminds me of the nighttime sky more than a princess.
I think you should go for it! Your mom still gets to call you [name_u]Rory[/name_u], but you have a longer and more feminine to go by in the professional world. It’s a win-win situation all around.
I may be in the minority but I do not think [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] sounds princess-y. There’s (1) the [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] Borealis, (2) the meaning of the name [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is dawn, and (3) the root is the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] goddess. So inevitably I think about a colorful sky & [name_m]Roman[/name_m] goddesses.
The cross-cultural issue is a real one, AND you have always wanted the name [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]. I think both of those reasons are totally enough to change it! It’s a really good change. Totally logical, no one loses anything, and you gain a cross-cultural identity that doesn’t make you cringe. And you can still go by [name_u]Rory[/name_u]. Brilliant.
I’m not sure whether [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] will make you sound more professional on a resume. BUT if you seeing the name [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] on your business cards and your resume makes YOU feel professional and good about the demeanor you present to the world, then that’s what matters most. It’s not an unprofessional name, by any means!
We’re actually thinking of using the name for our daughter due in a few weeks, so obviously I like it a lot. I don’t think it’s too princessy at all, but I do think it’s beautiful and elegant. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband doesn’t seem fond of [name_u]Rory[/name_u] as a nickname, though, so we probably wouldn’t use that even though it does seem a common nickname for [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]. If I were you, I’d go for it! Or maybe you wouldn’t even need to do a legal name change - you could just start going by [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] when you want to (like a reverse nickname!)
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is Sleeping Beauty’s name. I am wondering how old you are. If you are youngish and you respect your parents, you should hold off changing your name. We all feel like this sometimes and I would feel upset if my children changed their names (although the whory thing is a worry). Why not go by your second name? Or just never move back to [name_u]Brazil[/name_u].
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Giselle[/name_f] is very pretty; I happen to quite like [name_u]Rory[/name_u] on it’s own but [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is just beautiful.
If you’re of legal age and everything it’s a great idea. You don’t even have to tell everyone you were ever ‘just [name_u]Rory[/name_u]’ (obviously family/friends will know). I think [name_u]Rory[/name_u] to [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is a really easy transition.
One of the Auroras I know is Thai-British and the other is Norwegian - so definitely a multicultural choice
The reason [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is more cross-cultural is because a version of [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] exists in many cultures… in Latin [name_u]America[/name_u] and in Europe, [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is a familiar name. [name_u]Rory[/name_u], on the other hand, is quite rare outside of Anglo speaking countries and makes me uncomfortable in Latin [name_u]America[/name_u].
Yeah, that one might be hard abroad too! [name_f]My[/name_f] particular annoyance is that in Portuguese (I lived in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] before and will probably live there again), [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is pronounced WHORY. It’s hideous!! And didn’t like always being called promiscuous. 
