<p>So there is a serious thread on the parents forum about a young lady wanting to change her name and I’m in love with the concept. If you could choose your own name, right now, and be stuck with it forever, what name would you choose? </p>
<p>I would choose Jeanne Marie.</p>
<p>Something classic, in keeping with my western European heritage, and with lots of possible nicknames. Perhaps Elizabeth. </p>
<p>Zmom, is that pronounced Jean or Jean-y or Gee-ann? Sorry, after reading the other thread I couldn’t resist…</p>
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<p>So then why isn’t that your screen name? Seems like you missed an opportunity.</p>
<p>“Zmom, is that pronounced Jean or Jean-y or Gee-ann? Sorry, after reading the other thread I couldn’t resist”</p>
<p>Wicked!!! Jean. The spelling is after one grandmother who actually was from France.</p>
<p>I like my name, so I wouldn’t change it, but if I was entering the Witness Protection Program and had to change it, I would probably do an Anglicized version of the Irish name Aoibhinn, maybe Eveanne.</p>
<p>Thurston Howell III</p>
<p>My goal in life would be to find a woman to marry that I could call “Lovey.”</p>
<p>I like my name. My first name is a classic name, more common among Catholics than WASPs, which is my background, but it’s a pretty name IMO. The only drawback is that it has two common spellings. My middle name is my Dad’s first name, and my grandmother’s maiden name. I think it’s cool that it has passed through three generations in different positions.</p>
<p>I’ve always hated my name. My grandmothers were Anny and Anna and both my grandfathers had names that began with A. So I’ve always thought I should have been named Ann. My solution has been to add “ann” to my very short, very boring first name. Though I’m constantly annoyed with how many people insist on calling me the short version of my first name no matter how often I remind them I’d rather be called by the name that includes “ann”.</p>
<p>It is very weird to read all of your comments discussing the pros and cons of your current names without your actually saying what your actual names are . . .</p>
<p>1) I have met few people who actually like his/her name, so I applaud those of you who do.</p>
<p>2) I hate my name, I sort of changed it in elementary school when we discovered there was an error on my official birth certificate - what my mother intended me to be named was even worse than what was on the birth certificate - it definitely doesn’t fulfill the Judge test, or today the Dr. test, considering that is what I am ;).</p>
<p>3) I intentionally named my D something that while admittedly trendy, can have several different diminutives, with varying degrees of formality, AND her middle name definitely passes the Judge test.</p>
<p>4) I would like to be Meredith or Leigh.</p>
<p>Ha-ha!
I’ve aquired the name Lovey at the office. I like it and my original name too. But I’ve often contemplated a new name for fun.</p>
<p>I like my [common] name, my middle name [my bio father’s first name] not so much. </p>
<p>There are names that I like very much but of which I don’t like the shortened form, e.g., Alexander vs. Alex. In fact, if Alexander were my first or middle name, that would have been okay.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that what I regard classic boys’ names like Robert/Bob, James/Jim, Thomas/Tom, seem to be drifting out of style.</p>
<p>Our D’s name is a little unusual and there was a micro trend for a while as testified to by the fact that there were five at her high school one year but it seems safe.</p>
<p>Buff McCool McAllister X</p>
<p>I’ll have to ponder this. Never cared too much for my name, but it was better than the others my parents were considering. I was this close to being named Barbara. My husband’s name is Ken, so just imagine… nah, I’d have to have too much plastic surgery to carry that off.</p>
<p>Ha! I have a brother named Ken, who is married to a Barbara. Yea, we joke about it all the time. They’re both in their 60s so they definitely can’t carry it off, although they are very attractive.</p>
<p>I used my favorite names on my kids. :)</p>
<p>I really like my name, my full name. One reason that even with two husbands I’ve never changed it.</p>
<p>I chose D’s name when I was 12. Used it 24 years later. D loves it, but regrets that it has been “discovered”. Had a more “special” name picked out for son but when husband tripped over it chose a common name, the kind of name TheDad mentioned (though nicer than his examples IMO), and S loves it. I was in love with or had crushes on more guys with that name than any other.</p>
<p>I chose short, simple names because I gave my kids a hyphenated last name. They eventually dropped my husband’s frequently misspelled last name and just kept mine. However, as a poet I am not fond of the scansions of their names now. Oh well, they like them.</p>
<p>I also like the Greek version of my name.</p>
<p>I hope none of my future classmates read this: when I was born, my parents named me Agnes Elisabeth. :eek: I changed it legally to just Elisabeth when I was sixteen (I really prefer it with a z, but my parents used the Swedish spelling). I actually became more confident and outgoing after that; my entire life I’d been so embarrassed to introduce myself to people!</p>
<p>So yes, I like my name, mostly. If I were to change it again, I’d probably choose something classic (and classy) like Rose or Emily, but I don’t think that would go well with my very Scandinavian last name.</p>
<p>Oaklandmom
If I had a D, she would have been named for an “Ann”; I liked Hannah and Anya. No one I knew had a Hannah, but now thats become popular. I also like Ann & Jane & Emma.</p>
<p>I always thought it interesting that boys given same top 20 names, and girls given more varied names. Names I grew up with–Larry, Steve, Robt, Richard–have been dropped, tho Michael and Christopher remain on the list.</p>
<p>My name is fine. My father – Hugh – and my mother – Edna – gave their children “normal” names. So, their kids are called Kenneth, Kathleen, and WashDad.</p>