If I Can Only Choose My Given Name
@SIMPLYD (90722)
Philippines
April 24, 2018 5:17am CST
In my baptismal certificate, I am Fe Diña. I grew up just writing Diña as my given name.
I dropped the Fe, because I don’t like it. But I can’t drop Diña anymore lest I don’t have a name. 
When I was to be married, my father being a lawyer, made an affidavit that Fe Diña and Diña is one and the same person.
That is because in my baptismal certificate I am Fe Diña while on my birth certificate it is just Diña.
I don’t like the sound of my name Diña either.
But if I could, I will change it to what I like, Carla Mae or Angeline Joy. I love these names.
What about you? Do you like the name given to you by your parents?
When I was to be married, my father being a lawyer, made an affidavit that Fe Diña and Diña is one and the same person.
That is because in my baptismal certificate I am Fe Diña while on my birth certificate it is just Diña.
I don’t like the sound of my name Diña either.
But if I could, I will change it to what I like, Carla Mae or Angeline Joy. I love these names.
What about you? Do you like the name given to you by your parents?26 people like this
33 responses
@silvermist (19702)
• India
24 Apr 18
@JudyEv I can picture you trying to remember your new name.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325373)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Apr 18
@silvermist And Vince certainly wouldn't be able to! 
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 Apr 18
I have no choice, my grandfather is Sr., my father is Jr., I am III, my eldest son is IV. We are all eldest sons in the family generation, we all have the same name that is more than a hundred years generational tradition. My eldest son would probably name his future eldest son the V or the fifth after his name. Honestly I love our name
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@louievill Thjat is true. That is why my name in SSS is Dina. But in Pag-ibig, they already changed the n to ñ. But in SSS it doesn't matter they said.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD well " ñ " is a unique Spanish letter not found in the English alphabet
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
24 Apr 18
Yes very much because my parents thoughfully created my names. Hihi
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@mlgen1037 I didn't ask my mother what's behind naming me that name. Yes, it';s unique, since the usual one is Dina while this one is with ñ instead of n.
Maybe I should ask my mother that, but she's still not speaking because of her stroke. She's still on the process of recovery.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
24 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD Thank you, my friend. hehehe
Your name is unique. I do not know anyone who has the same name as you. May I ask the history behind your name?
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
24 Apr 18
Good for you. 
Well, I got used to it over the years. In some government agency they don't know how to type ñ , so they put Dina only no hyphen above the name. I like it that way - Dina.
I don't like to change it anymore and go through the long process of changing it. Anyway, most of my friends call me by my nickname and I like it that way. 
Well, I got used to it over the years. In some government agency they don't know how to type ñ , so they put Dina only no hyphen above the name. I like it that way - Dina.
I don't like to change it anymore and go through the long process of changing it. Anyway, most of my friends call me by my nickname and I like it that way. 2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
24 Apr 18
Just look at the bright side, Americans loves Hispanic names. You don't need to change your name, just use a different pronunciation. Fe is pronounced as Faye in the Us.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
Really ! Yes, you are right there. It becomes beautiful when pronounced like that. I like it as Faye Dina not as Faye Diña though.
Yes, you are right there. It becomes beautiful when pronounced like that. I like it as Faye Dina not as Faye Diña though. @CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD Diña is pronunced as Dy Nee Yah in the US. It rhymes with Shaniah and Mariah.
It rhymes with Shaniah and Mariah.1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
24 Apr 18
Not really.But I have never thought of changing it .
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@silvermist Yes, that is true. That is why Angeline Joy is what my fb name is. And I am in a private setting.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
26 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD If you write novels,you can use one of those names as your pen name.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
24 Apr 18
i think my name suits me and my personality.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
@ridingbet Marinette is your second name, so it's Ingrid Marinette? A long name.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD i have another name, my second actually. it is the nickname that my father called me. MARINETTE. funny, i did not know it was a premonition about his demise when he called me INGRID on the night i was about to go on night duty.
ingrid means daughter, as i am to my father and mother.
ingrid means daughter, as i am to my father and mother.1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Apr 18
I think Fe Diña has a nice ring to it. But I like your other options too.
I was born in Belarus. My official name on my birth certificate is Elena. My official English translation is Yelena. People that know me (at least Russian speakers) call me Lena. I love Lena the best. Wish I could change it officially but don't want to go through all the hassle.
So, as a writer/author I use Lena Kovadlo, Kovadlo being my maiden name. But officially I am Yelena Udler, now that I am married. I actually prefer my maiden last name and I wanted to keep it when I got married. But my husband wouldn't allow that. He said I could either take his last name or hyphenate mine. I didn't want to do Kovadlo-Udler so took his.
But I like your other options too.
I was born in Belarus. My official name on my birth certificate is Elena. My official English translation is Yelena. People that know me (at least Russian speakers) call me Lena. I love Lena the best. Wish I could change it officially but don't want to go through all the hassle.
So, as a writer/author I use Lena Kovadlo, Kovadlo being my maiden name. But officially I am Yelena Udler, now that I am married. I actually prefer my maiden last name and I wanted to keep it when I got married. But my husband wouldn't allow that. He said I could either take his last name or hyphenate mine. I didn't want to do Kovadlo-Udler so took his.2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
Thank you for saying that. I only use Diña ever since. It is what is on my birth certificate. I dropped Fe since it's just on the baptismal certificate.
Yes, Lena is nicer indeed. It's a beautiful name.
I think it would be nice if you put your maiden name like what your husband suggested. Lena Kovadio-Udler - so nice to the ears!
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD I felt like Kovadlo-Udler was too long. Also, felt like maybe not having my maiden name attached to me would be a clean start... that things will get better. I don't know now why I thought getting rid of my maiden last name would change anything.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
Wow, 3 names! And you like them all.
Do you always write the 3 in your test papers as a child. It is long to write especially that you have to put your family name too.
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
24 Apr 18
Yes I like my name... It's a name of one of my favorites singer..
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
When I was young I hated it a lot. Only because when my parents were mad at me they would call my by my full name. So it had that negative emotion on me. Until now it has that negative emotion on me so I don't like people calling me by my full name especially my friends and family.
If I were given a choice to change my name, I would change it to Alexis. But I won't because it was my father who named me and he named me oh so lovingly after a Queen and after my grandfather.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD All the Ganzon's from the same lineage as ours always have this name, whether be it a girl or a boy. My grandfather has cousins same name as his. I have cousins, nephews and nieces that bore the same name too.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
Just like you, I hate hearing someone calling me my name Diña. It seems they are mad at me when they do that . I prefer to be called by my nickname.
Alexis is a very nice sounding name. My nephew's name is Alexis. So it can be either a boy or a girl's name. But I like your nickname Toni. So modern.
Indeed, when we are named after someone, our name becomes especial that we somehow will like it.
I prefer to be called by my nickname.
Alexis is a very nice sounding name. My nephew's name is Alexis. So it can be either a boy or a girl's name. But I like your nickname Toni. So modern.
Indeed, when we are named after someone, our name becomes especial that we somehow will like it.1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@toniganzon And you are honored to have your name similar to him.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16518)
• China
24 Apr 18
I am an atheist and have no baptismal certificate.Here parents usually have to settle on a name for the bady according to family tree.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
That is true. I dropped the Fe before my name and I am using the last one Diña. I somehow, like it because it is unique. The ñ made it unique from the usual Dina name others have.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@sunrisefan
How's your vacation there in New zealand. I envy you for having the chance to have a vacation abroad.
I hope someday, our daughter can sponsor us a trip abroad too.
How's your vacation there in New zealand. I envy you for having the chance to have a vacation abroad.
I hope someday, our daughter can sponsor us a trip abroad too. 1 person likes this
@dsrl_6 (99)
• Quezon, Philippines
25 Apr 18
Almost the same situation as mine. I was named Desiree and used that until I was in 6th grade. But when I was in secondary, I discovered that one of the letters of my name was altered making it difficult to pronounce. I am using my name which was written on my birth certificate, though.
1 person likes this
