Choosing Your Own Name? Would You Have Wanted to Name Yourself??

......Hi allyoftherain, Sounds cold doesn't it? But if it were the common practice, it wouldn't seem so awful. But you're right, if you don't like your name you can change it legally. Interesting what you did. In the seventh grade, we moved to Norfolk, Virginia and when the teacher had us introduce ourselves in the class, I told everyone my name and announced that I would like to be called by my middle name. I though my first name was too old fashioned, from then on no one called me by my first name. I meet people who knew me pre-seventh grade, they call me by my first name. The thing of it is, although I might not like my first name, it is an intregal part of my personality. So I think in all of this we are named what we were supposed to be named even before we were thought of or conceived. So fifth and seventh grade, we each became independent with new names. I can't remember my parents calling me anything but my middle name. Take care.

.....Hi there terrile, School days gave a lot of us some painful experiences. I didn't have many kids teasing me about my name, but I was tall and skinny, wishing for those days now, and I can remember being called boney and such. But I think I had enough strength as a child to look at the kids who did that and think to myself, they're just jealous because I have green eyes. I also think I had a snotty attitude which I got from my grandmother, who didn't take much crap from anybody. Thanks gramps. :o) Whatever it was, I didn't let it bother me too much. Thanks so much for your response. Take care.

I think it is normal for people to wish they had a different name at some point in their life. I know I did. and that picking on thing is the worst. I had some but not a lot. As a mom I tried to pick names that didn't rhyme well with well anything that was bad.

No its not a common practice in my country, but u know that family was an upper class sort of thingy and till a certain age the call their kids sugar, honey or bunty or whatever. I really didnt get it how can u do it to a kid for so long... And whats the point of these funny nick names and how many sugars or honeys u have in one family. But then the tradition is not to marry out of the family thats really bad as well. As they were havin some serious health problems as well. Paying the fee is not an issue the issue is how much hassel u have to face.

...Hi eddify, You are certainly correct. We would have to have an adjustment in time requirement for a birth certificate or they could just charge you a small fee for a name change. The thing is if it is a practice in the country where you live, it would be a process, they would give you a time period for the child to have a legal name. Names are identities as I see it and our identity is sort of formed later in life, so I am really not sure if the child is aware of what he would be doing as to calling him or herself by a certain name. If it were in America we would probably have a lot of Suoermans and maybe Mickey Mouses. Thanks so much for the good information. Did you read the alert? We will be paid double today, the 22nd for our postings. Take care and thanks.

...Hi eddify, First I started to laugh out loud at your comments about sugar, honey and such. Then I read on, that is very serious, because that is why they (health officials) don't want first cousins to marry. Becuse you can very well cause health problems related to the combining of the blood. Don't they realize what they are basically doing is eliminating their family line, by causing illnesses from which they could die. Not to make a joke about it, but this sounds like a movie for television or something, that is sad, I feel sorry for the children. Thank you for sharing this with us. Very interesting, money does not give you good judgment?

...Hi yugasini, Different cultures are interesting to learn about. It is always fascinating to hear how things are done. I know in some countries, like Russia, the girls last names are changed to end in an I, I believe. I've seen this on the tennis circuit, where a brother and a sister will have different last names because the girl's name has a different ending. Very interesting to me. The typical names you list have a lot more character to them than the modern names in my opinion. Thanks for your insightful comment. Take it easy

....Hi srganesh, Hmmm, that seems to be an interesting take on human nature and the things that are at the bottom of why humans look at other humans and feel emotions related to what you have outlined, sounds like your name might be the only safe thing from the possible mental wrath of others, except for the Bills and the Nelsons, Oprahs and Tigers of the world. Take it easy and much thanks for your response.

...Hi thea, Sounds as though you all have the best of both worlds, especially your son. Neat Greek name and then his own choice which makes him happy. Yes, later on he would have liked one of the ninja names or something. Some people's names seen to fit them, other people, you just don't see them with the name that they have, at least I don't. I used to have a habit with new friends that I would meet, of renaming then to the name that I thought was more fitting for their personality, they allowed me to get away with it. Thanks for sharing very interesting information. Take it easy. Good you're in Greece, we've got some two feet of snow here in Jersey.

artistry, thanks for your kind reply. My computer crashed and I've been offline for awhile. then I got sick. anyway, happy new year and thanks for a great discussion.

...Hi there epicure35, Happy 2010 to you and to your family. You have to forgive me for the time taken in answering you. For some reason, I really thought I had answered you as I remember your response, what happened? I don't know. Anyway. I happen to use my middle name, as I felt that my first name didn't blend in enough with the other kid's names in school. Everyone prior to the seventh grade calls me one name, while those after seventh grade call me by my middle name. But I do believe like you, that our names were chosen prior even to our conception. We came here to have these names and we are who we are. Take good care and thanks for your response.