I’m going to college next year, and I feel like this might be my first and only chance to give myself a new name! My name is [name]Marissa[/name]. I do like my name, and I can’t fully imagine being called something entirely different. It has a lot of meaning behind it, which makes it special, and I do think it’s pretty. (Although it totally isn’t my naming style!) However, I’ve always wished I had a nickname that I went by all the time. My family/close friends call me [name]Rissa[/name]/Rissy/Riss, but 99% everyone calls me [name]Marissa[/name]. I think Rissy/Riss are too childish to start using exclusively now. But [name]Rissa[/name] is a little more grown up. [name]Do[/name] you think I should make the switch to [name]Rissa[/name] or keep going by [name]Marissa[/name]? Thanks!
[name]Will[/name] you have a roommate? Start out with her… say your name is [name]Marissa[/name] but all your friends at home call you [name]Rissa[/name]. If she calls you [name]Rissa[/name] and it feels right, keep introducing yourself that way. Maybe professors will still call you by your full name, but it seems like you can tell your peers to call you whatever you want. They’re both lovely names.
I think that sure, you could go by a new nickname. But at this point, I honestly wouldn’t change it, especially since it sounds like you like it. I feel sort of cheated since I used to hate my name and for decades had planned on changing it–but fell in love with my name as I was about to do so. I never got to go through the experience I so wanted to have, which I really miss. But I love my name, and though [name]Ashley[/name] isn’t really my style, and I would like something less common, less trendy, and less unisex, it still suits me completely, and there’s no reason to change it. There’s no reason pining over something I’m only slightly put off by (especially when my name suits me so well!). It sounds like it’s the same for you. I had toyed around with using a NN, maybe you could do the same. I love the idea of [name]Mari[/name] (MAH-ree) or [name]Ari[/name], or you could even do [name]Maris[/name]. I think you could do [name]Reese[/name] as a stretch, too. Or even [name]Em[/name]/M.
Good luck!
I agree with ashthedreamer, I dont’ think you should change your name. It sounds like you like it (a lot), the only thing you don’t like is your nickname. I suggest that when you go to college, introduce yourself as [name]Marissa[/name], then say “But I prefer to be called (insirt chosen nickname here).”
I think [name]Rissa[/name] is a more grown up option for the name [name]Marissa[/name], though [name]Mari[/name]/[name]Ari[/name]/[name]Maris[/name] are good choices too.
[name]Hope[/name] that helps. Good luck!
- [name]Athena[/name]
Normally I’d say go ahead and change your name, but you do mention that you like your name, that it has meaning behind it, that it’s special, etc. So in this case I’d advise finding a nickname to go by and try that out [for example you mentioned [name]Rissa[/name]], keep your legal name as is.
Thank you all! No I would never change my legal name, I’m simply toying with the idea of going by a different nickname when I leave home next year. Thanks for the advice!
[name]Marissa[/name] is one of my favorite M names. It’s very pretty!
I changed my nn when I went to college. I went from [name]Alex[/name] to [name]Lexie[/name] similarly my cousin went from [name]Isi[/name] to [name]Isa[/name]. Some of my friends at home took to [name]Lexie[/name] easily others didn’t but everyone I’ve meet since my first day at school calls me [name]Lexie[/name] now.
I think you can easily just introduce yourself as “[name]Rissa[/name]” to others. Nobody will question it or think about it twice, except for you. I think [name]Rissa[/name] is a great adult nn for [name]Marissa[/name] but I think Riss or Rissy would work equally well. (As mentioned above I went with a more girly nn later on in life). I suggest figuring out what you feel the most comfortable with and going with it.
If you like being called [name]Rissa[/name], definitely start out introducing yourself as [name]Rissa[/name] when you meet new people! Starting college is a good time for a transition like that and going from [name]Marissa[/name]–[name]Rissa[/name], especially if your family already use it, should be easy enough. You can just figure that your old friends back home may stick with [name]Marissa[/name]. 