i’m curious how everyone felt about their name growing up / feel about it now and how it played a role in shaping your identity. and if you think it suits you?
if you don’t wanna be descriptive just share a pro and a con to your given name
you don’t have to share your actual name i’m more curious about your feelings towards it but you may share it if you’re comfortable obviously!
i’ll go first!!
so i’ve mostly gone by a nickname my whole life that was given to me at birth. generally i wasn’t a big fan of the nickname, i loved my full name my nickname
[name_f]Gabi[/name_f]:
pros:
one thing i’ve always appreciated is that it wasn’t spelled ‘Gabby’ as [name_f]Gabi[/name_f] is more unique and i liked to dot my i’s with hearts it also feels simpler in a way
as i got older i learned to love the hidden beauties behind [name_f]Gabi[/name_f] such as the full version, I basically learned to love both as the same name
-Gabi [name_m]Douglas[/name_m]
-shrek is my favorite movie: Donkey: So, uh, are there any donkeys up there?
Shrek:
Well, there’s, um, [name_f]Gabby[/name_f], the Small and Annoying.
The Donkey:
Okay, okay, I see it now. The big shiny one, right there. That one there?
Shrek:
That’s the moon.
Donkey:
Oh, okay.
cons:
-often met others with the same name
-since abby was more popular around the time i was born i often get called abby instead didn’t help that my roommate was an abby
-rhymed with unfavorable things like crabby or flabby
-feels too chunky with the g and b
-my sisters loved that i hated when they called me ‘gabe’ on purpose
-feels informal and youthful and as a capricorn i’d like to come off as an organized professional
my full name
[name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f]
pros:
-sounds elegant and strong
-more unique than ‘gabriela’, i’ve only met a few others
-when people do call my by my full name it feels more fitting and gives my confidence
-my dad named me and he has no idea why he chose the name but i’ve also barely asked him (long story) and this turned into a beautiful thing as i was able to give my own definition to the name without preconceived ideas and kind of say ‘this is my name because, well, it’s me’ in a way if that makes sense lol??
pros:
-long
-often mispronounced as [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] (every single sub teacher i had said [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] and i eventually gave up on correcting) which sounds worse than gabi to me
-a mouthful to some
-meaning is kinda boring to me
-both sisters have C names so I was often called “Cabi” which made my sisters give me a nickname of ‘cabbage’
Overall I really like my name. The cons I’ve listed don’t really affect my opinion that much, but I figured I’d list them.
Like:
Well known but not overly common
Very universal, it fits any personality type and doesn’t inherently indicate anything about my age, ethnic background, religion, etc (though I don’t think I’d mind if my name did indicate any of these things)
Including other spellings, it’s used in many languages and is easy to pronounce
Definitively feminine but simple and grounded rather than frilly
Dislike
Has multiple pronunciations and spellings, which can sometimes be frustrating
Doesn’t translate perfectly to other languages (it does have equivalents, but they’re usually spelled slightly differently, and my spelling would be pronounced differently in other languages too)
In the past I’ve never felt strongly about my irl name, but I’ve recently begun to be really grateful for it and I feel like it suits me better than ever before!
To me, the main pro and con go hand in hand. My favorite thing about my first name is its meaning, and especially when paired with my middle name, the meaning is beautiful and suits me perfectly. But my least favorite thing about my name is that it’s identical in everything but spelling to a much more common name with a different meaning, so people automatically assume I’m named after that!! The other meaning isn’t bad, but I definitely prefer the one I’m named after as it’s more personal. For some reason, having my name constantly misspelled doesn’t bother me at all compared to the fact that everyone associates my name with something that I don’t associate it with!
Other pros are that I usually get told it fits me well, it has a bunch of languages of origin so I’ve met people from all over the world with my name (+ it’s easy to pronounce in most languages), and it has some fun nickname potential that I’m just beginning to make use of!
Oh fun! I used to despise my name as a kid (I wanted to be called [name_f]Rosabelle[/name_f], haha), but I’ve really come to appreciate it in the last few years.
Pros:
I love the amount history my name has! If I’m ever reading a nonfiction history book, the chances of finding a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] are nearly 100%. I think it’s so fun that I share a name with women of all backgrounds, all through history.
It’s very international in the sense that almost every language contains a version of [name_f]Mary[/name_f], and they’re all really pretty.
It’s quite unusual in my age group, but everyone can understand, spell and pronounce it. No-one is confused by the name [name_f]Mary[/name_f], but I’m usually the only one - it’s a good sweet spot.
I tend to get a lot of compliments and very positive feedback! People say things like ‘oh that’s so fun on someone your age’ or ‘oh that’s so classic’.
Cons
I’ve honestly never loved the way it sounds. ‘MARE-y’. [name_m]Just[/name_m] very plain to me, a similar vibe to [name_f]Jane[/name_f] (no-offence Janes!). I often wish it was ‘girlier’ or prettier.
People assume that I or my parents are ultra-religious; nothing wrong with that, it’s just annoying having a name that comes with such strong assumptions; if were an impassioned atheist I imagine I’d find it even more annoying!
The meaning. Bitter. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy!
I got teased a fair bit in primary school (little lambs, etc) and I still get a few iffy jokes now.
hmm… I have pros and cons towards my name, but it feels like me so I would never truly dislike it.
Pros:
I love my name’s meaning. it’s one of the names of the goddess of wealth, power and beauty, so…, I’m not exactly complainin’
In the country I live in, the name is virtually unheard of. (I didn’t even find it in the NB database), and I’m always the only one with my name. there are also cons to this, though
lots of compliments on my name, espiecially from adults for some reason
Cons:
mispronounciation 99.99% of the time. my name has an “a” in it, but it is pronounced more like an “uh” sound, so that gets confusing a lot I have yet to meet a substitute teacher who says/spells my name right
misspelling. my name has same double vowels (ex. aa), and I don’t think [name_f]English[/name_f] has many words like that
no nicknames at all
but, for me, the pros outweigh the cons. I don’t dislike my name at all, it’s just annoying sometimes.
I’ve had mixed feelings about it, but have never truly disliked it.
Pros: [name_f]My[/name_f] mom has told me how much the meaning of the name means to her and how much she loves my name. I do think it’s pretty, and when I meet someone who hasn’t heard the name before they tend to gush about how pretty they think it is and tell me they are going to tell their kids/grandkids to use the name (this has happened so many times, lol).
Cons: I think it’s a bit overly frilly for my personality. Part of the reason my mom liked my name was because it was unpopular, my spelling didn’t chart until a couple years after I was born, but an alternate spelling has been in the top 500 my whole life. [name_f]My[/name_f] name is now in the top 200 and the more popular spelling is in the top 50. This is fine, except it meant that when I was younger everyone would pronounce and spell my name wrong and now when I meet someone new they tell me about whatever toddler they know with my name. The alternate spelling would have had the same pronunciation issues but would have probably been a bit easier for people to spell correctly. [name_f]My[/name_f] last name is really rare and anytime I pick up a prescription or something I have to spell my full first and last name. I also get kind of annoyed about my middle name because my parents considered making it an honor name or a name my dad really loved (Beth), but instead they chose [name_f]Marie[/name_f] which is SO common as a middle and has no significance to either of them.
I don’t dislike my name, I just find it annoying sometimes.
I like my name, generally. [name_f]My[/name_f] real name is [name_f]Lucy[/name_f].
Pros: It was #259 when I was born, so I’ve never had three other Lucys in my class (I never even had one other [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] in my class until I got to college), but it’s classic and timeless so everyone has still heard of it. I personally like the sound and meaning of the name too, and that it’s easy to say and spell. [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] would be on my own girl name list if I wasn’t already using it.
Cons: Not many, but I guess I got told once it was an old lady name?
Thank you so much for these unique and intriguing perspectives!! I am so enlightened and grateful for you all sharing your stories. Each name journey is beautiful in it’s own way which is so pleasantly surprising for me! Sorry for any unnecessary rambling below, feel free to ignore.
@EagleEyes it’s great that the cons are minimal and that they don’t affect your opinion!! i love names that don’t have strong associations with one thing or the other so you can make your own definition or association!
@baya44 it’s totally possible to have no strong feelings towards your name and it’s a beautiful experience when you learn more about how it makes you you. i’ve always wished my name had a more descriptive name, i love a good and positive meaning, sometimes that’s the only thing i like about a name. I totally get that spelling can make all the difference, even if others don’t know the spelling or the meaning behind/difference, all that matters is how it makes you feel. So cool that you’re discovering new potential nicknames!
@Mary_Rose Rosabelle is so cute! I know someone named Cassidy and as a kid she threw a fit that her name wasn’t Cassandra so now it’s a fun little inside joke to call her Cassandra. I looooove Mary! and I usually can’t stand super popular names but this one is close to my heart and less common as of recent. Rose is as well! my mom’s given first name is Mary but she’s only ever gone by her middle name because my grandpa only ever called her that. my grandma, her mom, was named Rose and it’s my middle name too! I can also definitely relate to not liking it as a kid but thank goodness we grow and learn to appreciate what we once overlooked, it’s a beautiful process.
@silverfiregirly that’s what’s important in my opinion, that the pros outweigh the cons for you. often i’m finding people saying the pros wouldn’t be pros without the cons existing so in a way it’s a nice balance! if that makes sense? super cool that it’s that unique!!! no presumptions and makes you memorable! I understand the fatigue of correcting people or having to repeat yourself more than most – not the worst con to have though. I know what you mean about English words/language… It’s often confusing and could use a lot of multiculturalism (without appropriating). this is my opinion but also factual in relation to the US I often say that the ‘culture’ of this country is based on not having a culture and claiming original ideas from other cultures as it’s own–again my opinion but…
@Posielee very intriguing! it’s always a good feeling having someone compliment your name. i understand the mixed feelings! but neither loving it or hating it is neutral and leaves room for discovery. i would be frustrated with a less meaningful middle than what their first choice is as well. I think Marie is great though, common middle names is one of my fav genres.
@lucy_halo1 I’m learning that not everyone has cons to their name which is wonderful and obviously not a requirement! often the cons are based on outside opinions anyway. but i agree! Lucy has little to no cons and not an old lady name to me?? maybe they had a grandma named Lucy?? Lucy is truly timeless (to me). Not as high ranking as Elizabeth and it’s super simple and quite pleasing to the ear. I think it’s often underrated. my names was also ranked in the 200s when i was born! it’s now lower i think?
I switch between disliking my name to being indifferent to it to finding it ‘okay’.
Pros:
short and simple
most people know how to say and spell it where I am
no fuss, no frills, no flair and it suits me in that way
versatile, classic, and other people like it
G is a good letter
Cons:
popular - and working with teens and kids, I am beginning to see it even more frequently
sometimes, I find it a bit harsh when people say it - maybe I just hear to too often, but I can’t always hear the elegance others see in it
a bit bland and just meh
The song ‘Amazing Grace’ gets annoying
[name_f]Gracie[/name_f] is sweet and charming but doesn’t suit me - but people still try to use it - and it’s the only obvious nickname - or the only one that is easier to make stick
Cool idea! I’ve never really liked my name at least as far as I can remember, though it’s fluctuated over time between active dislike and ‘meh, not really me’.
Pros:
Gender-neutral (idk if I’d like having a super feminine name, though it depends)
Could be seen as having a cool, surnamey vibe, though it’s hard for ME to see it this way since it’s always brought up other feelings (if that makes sense at all)
No major stereotypes or cultural namesakes associated with it
Cons:
Popular and very associated with my generation
No intuitive nicknames
A LOT of soundalike names I get called by accident
Meaning is kinda weird
[name_m]Just[/name_m] never seemed to fit me well
Also why is it such a thing that substitutes can’t pronounce the simplest names? You’d think having a significant portion of your job be reading names off a list would make you at least average at saying them right
I know that I have said this many times before. [name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Diana[/name_f]. I like it, it has a melodic sound, relates to a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], and a beautiful late [name_f]Princess[/name_f].
However, it can be a terrible pain. The fact is a lot of people just don’t listen properly and only hear the ‘Diane’. If I could get money for everytime someone makes that mistake, I would have been a billionaire by now! I don’t like being called [name_f]Diane[/name_f] at all, when I’m not. But you either put up with it, or spend half your life correcting people! I don’t mind being called ‘Di’. Some people do that and it doesn’t bother me, it is a legitimate shortening. But don’t call me [name_f]Diane[/name_f]. I correct people very firmly nowadays. I didn’t used to, I was far too shy.
As a kid I hated my name it wasn’t like anyone else’s but I grew to love it the more I heard it lol
Pros
the nicknames Jul, [name_f]Julie[/name_f], [name_m]Jules[/name_m] I really liked when my friends and family used nicknames for me I guess that’s where I got my love for long names with nicknames
Cons
it’s said and spelt wrong all the time
“is it with a G”
always spelt with one n bc I’ve only met one other person with the same spelling
I like the choice of going by my nickname or full first name
It’s a variation of my mum’s name which I always thought was cool
Neutral:
There’s a billion different spellings so I usually have to correct / spell it out (doesn’t bother me much though)
I was always 1 of 4 in my grade (I think we had 6 overall but only ever 4 at a time)
Cons:
The only thing I dislike is that I feel like I’m in trouble if my family call me by my full first name instead of a nickname or if someone has always called me by my nickname, it feels weird to hear them call me my full first name
it also feels simpler in a way
I have yet to meet a substitute teacher who says/spells my name right 
