(no subject)

[knava.livejournal.com]

As I was cruising through the new babynames.com's baby name book last night (36 weeks and still NO name! Eeek!) I decided to peek ahead to my name and see what rating it had, and what characteristics people associated with it. When I did I thought to myself just how little I ever really think about my own name. How little role I feel it plays as part of who I am and what I think of myself. Then I got to thinking of how people go about picking names today and how much thought and research we put into picking names for our children. "What will people think of him with this name? Will he get teased? Does it sound tough/pretty/unique enough? Will it hinder him career wise one day?" As I put all of this same thought into picking my own son's name, it just seemed silly to me that I never really pay much mind to my own name and I never really have. 

So I'm curious, what is your name? Has it played a major role in your life? Can you attribute any painful/good memories to your name? Were you teased because of it? Has it hindered you as an adult or in trying to find employment? Tell me all about your name and how you feel about it!

My name is Paula. I was only slightly teased for it when I was little, being called "Polly Pocket" or "Paula Abdul". I had a boyfriend tell me he thought it was an "old lady's name", and I can only assume it wasn't that popular the year or surrounding years I was born ('86) because I've only ever met two Paula's my entire life. I don't really love it or hate it. I have to say I'm pretty indifferent to it.

Comments

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

My name is Lindsay Rebecca.

I've never particularly LOVED it, but other than for a couple years in elementary school, I've never really hated it, either. I wanted to change it to Jasmine because it seemed like every other girl in my class was named Lindsay. Plus, all of the other Lindsays were actually Lindseys (imagine my surprise when, years later, I found out that LindsAy is actually the correct spelling!) and so I always got called Lind-SAY. It really pissed me off at the time, hahaha. Now it's partially my AIM screen name!

In high school my friends I always called me Lindsay Becky to piss me off, which it did a very good job of. Now I just get called Linds or Lindsay because now that we're all in our early to mid 20s we've grown up a bit.

I still don't LOVE my name, but I think it fits me, and it's definitely better than some other names I can think of.

[subluxate]

My name is KellyAnne Courtney. I really, really dislike my first name, mostly because it's smushed together--I could have had two separate first names, and it would have been fine. I got teased a bit for my last name, but never for my first.

Unfortunately, I was born in '85, and Kelly Anne was a pretty popular combination around that time. I had classmates with the same name--their first and middle would be the same as first.

I always wanted to just go by Courtney, but I'll settle for it being my pen name.

I guess KellyAnne sounds somewhat professional, and Kelly's just...comfortable? It would be weird to not hear it anymore.

[lustdumpster.livejournal.com]

my name is ashley, i've never particularly liked it but i hate it less now that i'm not in school anymore. there have always been so many, like i remember in ninth grade there were five ashleys in my math class alone.

i can't picture myself being named ashley when i'm like 30. or really, any age over like 23. i'm sure once i turn those ages i'll be fine with it because i doubt when i was younger i thought i could ever be 20 with this name, but still. it just strikes me as such a little girl name. i'm going to be a high school english teacher but i think i'm going to go by my middle name (nicole) by that point because since ashley sounds so young to be, it also sounds like someone with that name can't be respected.

on the other hand though, i'm glad my name is spelled the normal way (although people still want to spell it ashely most of the time for some reason) and it's easily pronounced, ect. i was too shy when i was younger to correct a teacher who mispronounced my name or something so i'm happy i never had to. i wasn't very well liked in school so i got some nicknames, like the typical assley, ash-hole, ect but it never hurt my feelings or anything.

the only issue i've ever had with my name is the fact that it's common, and i feel like it doesn't age well. but honestly i don't think most boys names have that issue, the issue is usually that it sounds like an old man (edward, charles, miles, ect) but for the most part once people get to know your son the name won't sound too old. as long as you don't go with something incredibly common or ridiculously unique you should be fine.

[amyames.livejournal.com]

i think its pretty inevitable that when you are little you'll dislike your name. i disliked my name (amy) until i was a teenager. i wanted a 'cooler' name when i was younger something like amber or kimberley or one of those other 80's names. haha now i'm happy with my name.
Just chose something you think will age well and isn't obviously tease worthy :)

[amspeck-myworld.livejournal.com]

My parents gave me the name Diana.

I've disliked it for as long as I can remember (and for as long as I can remember, I've known that my name had no value to my parents, it was just something my mother came up with to make up for me not being a boy). The 'die' part was very unflattering, particularly in school, and listening to teachers, particularly substitutes, suddenly become experts of Roman mythology (and assume I must have an interest - I don't) and discuss the Roman goddess at length (and occasionally describe the wrong one) also annoyed me greatly. I spent my middle school and high school days going by my middle names (Elizabeth Pearl, names of my grandmother and great grandmother) or weird names I came up with.

Now, it's usually shortened to D, and as such I've been reading names (particularly beginning with D) to replace my birth one for a while now, to find a good fit. I hope I gave my children names that are a good fit that won't frusterate them as mine frusterated me - but I think that if the name has meaning to you (unlike my parents who just chose a name at less than a moment's notice), you should be fine :)

[satunian.livejournal.com]

I'm Diana as well, but I love my name. And my name did interest me in mythology, but Greek over Roman.

[felishy.livejournal.com]

Felicia. It's not very common nor is it very high on name lists, but (surprisingly) I've met quite a few with the name and they're all my age or older - not bad for a name that people don't really think of as "nice". I got teased when I was younger because I was chubby and they called me Fat Felicia. Teachers never knew how to say it. They said fe-li-see-yah or confuse it with Cecelia.

I guess I've grown into it. I've also realized how nicely it runs with my last name, Lee (no middle name, I'm Chinese). The only thing I hate about my name these days is when I get coffee and they ask for a name, then they look really confused or spell it horrifically, like Phelcia. I don't really have a nickname either. The other Felicia in school was called Feefee and that's something you could never call me.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Wow, teachers are really dumb to not know how to say Felicia. Soooo many people are so dumb with names.

[jenufa.livejournal.com]

I'm one of ten thousand Jennifers. :( I hated it in school, and I hate it now. I'm just too old and set in my ways to change it. I even had an easy shot at it when I got married, and didn't take it, stupid stupid me. Oh well. I like the idea of being different, even just based on a name!

Because of that, I wanted to stay as far away from the top 5 names list as possible for my kiddo, without getting a too strange sounding name. My husband said Samuel, and even though it's around the 20s on the top baby names list out there, I don't see it as being #1 any time soon. Works for me! :)

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I love my name (Claire) and always have. Its a name everyone has heard of, and yet there have never been too many Claires in any of my classes. I think it works equally well for sporty or girly girls, and its both sweet and spunky, and it grows up well. If it wasn't my name, it would definitely be on my top list!

[aislincalum.livejournal.com]

I love Claire. It's my mother's middle name and I plan on using it when I have a daughter.

[janeundercover.livejournal.com]

My name is Talitha.

it's Hebrew and it's from the Bible.

i Love my name because it is very rare. everyone thinks i'm african-american when they first hear it, but i'm very white, hahah.

i developed the nickname Tally when i was in middle school and most people just call me that now. i rarely hear my full name anymore, but when i do it's a nice change. in school, i would sometimes have 3 different teachers pronouncing my name 3 different ways! but i didn't really mind it - it added variety to my life, haha. my last name is French and spelled not at all like it's pronounced, so i'm quite used to spelling both names out to everyone, but i really don't mind. i'd much rather have to spell it every time than have a boring name that's the same as half the girls i know.

another cool tidbit about my name:

it's found in Mark 5:41. my parents had it picked out ahead of time, but i was atually born at 5:41 in the morning! my dad's name is Mark and HE was born at 5:41 in the EVENING! so it was pretty cool how that all worked out. i'd say it's fate. ;)

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

I'm a Jessica Leigh. Me and about five million other girls born in the 80s. I actually love my name. One of my favorite parts of it is just how common it is. It's never been an issue for me to have someone else in my life with my name. I love the anonymity it gives me. My last name is common also, and when I used to substitute teach, there was a second Jessica Leigh LastName in the system who was also subbing. It cracked me up! You could google me and never, ever be positive that you've found me.

it's great.

[theroutineriot.livejournal.com]

I'm a Jessica Leigh, too, and I love it a lot. I have an unusual and entertaining last name, so the "being-the-ninth-Jessica" thing didn't bother me so much, and now that I'm not in school, it doesn't bother me at all.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree that names play small roles in the person's life. Sure, for SOME they do. But there are names children get that are much better or much worse. Some kids do get picked on for names, and some are more pickable than others. Some names are really ethnic or foreign sounding, or have a funny meaning, or are just horribly paired with the last name. There's not much wrong with the name Sandy, but when you name your son Sandy and your last name is Weiner? Sandy Weiner does get smirks and giggles and it's frustrating. Also, the popularity is important, especially if you live in a city. As one of four Dianas in a single class (and maybe a dozen or more in my grade) it definitely got frustrating.

You were a lucky one, but not everyone else is.

[knava.livejournal.com]

Oh I wasn't saying that everyone's name plays a small role in their life, just that mine had and I agree that I was pretty lucky for that. I completely agree that it depends upon every individual name, which is why I was curious as to the role's others names had played during their life :)

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Yes I was aware of that only after I had reread it, and ready everything. Jumped the gun again! D'oh!

[rowan-belle.livejournal.com]

My name's Molly. It's never really played a huge role in my life other than the fact that I was named for my grandmother which I like and I'd like to pass on that tradition.

I was only ever teased about it once but it was only because these girls were bitches and picking on me anyway and kept calling me "American Girl Doll."

I was one of two other Molly's in my grade of about 70 people so we each had to go by Molly A, Molly K, Molly D, and those kind of stuck all throughout high school.

The only thing that's really annoying about my name is when people ask if it's short for Mary, Martha or Margaret. I guess it makes sense since Molly originated as a nickname, but I think it's a good stand alone name. The only people who ever asked me that really are older people so I think it might be a generational thing.

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

My name is Aubrey and I was born in '81.
I wasn't teased, I don't have any painful or good memories about it, it hasn't hindered me trying to find employment.
I've only ever met one other Aubrey, a guy, who is my husband's good friend.

I dunno, it's a good name. I don't really have many thoughts about it.

[willsjoy.livejournal.com]

I ADORE Aubrey! Sadly, hubby's not that into it, or that's what my little girl's name would be.

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

It's so popular now!
Not that I've met any little Aubrey's but I know it has gone up from 416th when I was born to 69th now.

[skittles22088.livejournal.com]

My name is Samantha Jeanne.
I guess I have mostly good memories with my name, the best one being in middle school when the teacher called me Salami Oaktree (my last name was Oakes). Most people would think that was a bad memory, but I loved that teacher, so yeah. It hasn't hindered me in the adult life... it's a pretty common name. And it's freakishly popular.

[azelmaroark.livejournal.com]

My name is Katherine McLaurin Lastnamey, and I almost exclusively go by Katie except in professional publications. Born in '86.

I adore my name and always have. It's the prettiest spelling to me (I miiight be biased ;)), my mn is a family surname and shows people how Irish I am (ln is also very Irish), and the nn was so easy to spell/say as a child. When they heard what my name would be, my grandparents commented that "it sounds like royalty," and... yeah, I think that suits me. XD

The only slightly annoying thing about it was always having sixty bazillion other Katies in my classes at school, but it kind of amused me as a child. I remember a math class where all of us sat together, and we called it "The Katie Corner."

Today, the only thing that bothers me about it is that it means it's off limits to me for my own child; otherwise, it would totally be on my list. (Cadence nn Cady is an alternative I've considered, but I still think it's too close.)

So basically, I've always loved my name and am so glad I have it. =D I think it's had a huge positive impact on my life. (My sister's name is Morgan, and she HATES it. She was jealous of both my name and the name my parents almost chose for her -- Caroline.)

[umbrella-term.livejournal.com]

My name is Danielle and I always thought it never suited me. It's sort of harsh sounding to me, and I don't think of myself as particularly harsh. However, it did help to have a "French sounding" name (it is actually Hebrew, but nobody seems to know that) where I grew up. In that part of the world there was a huge French community, so my name helped me fit in. I was never teased for my first name. But I am not French nor am I Jewish. I am Italian, so much of my family has always called me Daniela instead. That name seems to suit me better, but my birth certificate has the other name, so there, I'm sort of stuck. Ah well. I guess that's what preoccupies me with name choice more than anything--culture and ethnicity in its identity. My parents just kind of willy-nillied my name, not paying attention to what it means or where it's from, and that's what bugs me about it the most, I'd say.

[mykissmightkill.livejournal.com]

My name is Tara Lynn, born in 88 :)
When I was young i had a cousin who was a little older than me named kelly and i totally adored here and wished it was my name after awile. I only knew of 2 other girls in my school with the name Tara and onewas my age the other a year or 2 older. I like my name alot now. And its never hindered me in anything at all.
Though i tend to lean toward shorter names/less syllables when thinking bout names for my own kids (like Tess or Tessa for a girl though my other choice is a little longer, *Audrey* and James for a boy)

[feliciagomez.livejournal.com]

My name is Felicia Marie Margaret _____. I was never teased about my name and growing up everyone always said how pretty the name sounded since it wasn't so common.

[ollivander.livejournal.com]

My name is May and I love it. It's easy for people to remember and I get complimented all the time. The only "teasing" I've ever gotten are may-related nicknames, like May Day, May Flower, etc, but that was only one person in high school, haha.

[xdontxyouxwish.livejournal.com]

i'm madison isabelle and ive always hated it. it just doesn't... fit. i don't know, i never felt that my name was a reflection of who i am. i have seriously thought about changing my name several times.

[aislincalum.livejournal.com]

My name is Hilary. I think it's fitting and I love it because both my first and middle names are mutations of family names. I wasn't ever teased based on my name, or at least nothing I took seriously. I get called "Hil" a lot, which prompted a high school friend to call me "Mountain" for a year, but he was kidding.

My biggest complaint about my name is that people never spell it correctly. They go straight for the masculine version, like Hillary Clinton. I've gotten used to it but it is pretty aggravating when people I've known for years still manage to get it wrong. I also get called everything EXCEPT my name at work; the usuals are Heather, Holly, Hailey, etc. But my favorite was Henry. Especially since I sound like I'm 8 years old on the phone.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

I'm Samaria, born in early '93. I used to hate my name, especially when I was in elementary school, because no one pronounced it correctly the first few times around. Now I absolutely love it, partly because it's so uncommon and partly because it has serious history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria

Samaria is pronounced suh-MAU-ree-a, btw. I've gotten some flat-out weird pronunciations in my life, so I always make a note of the pronunciation when I can.

[willsjoy.livejournal.com]

My name is Erin Victoria. My major complaints about my first name are that it's hard to understand when I say it (especially over the phone - most people think I say "Anne"), very few people spell it correctly (I usually get "Aaron" - hello people, boys name! - and once I got "Earon"...yeah), and it has little to no nickname potential. My parents wanted to name all 3 of us so we wouldn't have a nickname and I'm the only one they really succeeded with (Jason became Jay and Allison became Allie pretty quickly).
I had a "friend" in elementary school who called me "Air-head" and I hated that and a co-worker of mine calls me "Air" or "Air-ron" which I don't really mind. My best friend in college called me Ernie, but honestly most of those nicknames kinda suck, lol.

I love my middle name, though. It's different and pretty and you hardly ever hear it. It's one of the reasons I didn't drop it and add my married name to my maidian name, like a lot of women do. I just dropped my maidian name and picked up my married one because I really wanted to keep my middle name. :) Mom wanted to name me Victoria and call me Tori, but she thought everyone would call me Vicky, so she didn't. :(

[http://users.livejournal.com/sparkleandfade_/]

i had a friend named erin growing up and as a joke we called her urine. she totally hated it.

i wanted to keep my maiden named AND my middle name AND my husband's last name when i got married. so i just moved my maiden name to a second middle name and took hubby's last name.

[flyingwild.livejournal.com]

My name is Alana Marie, and I was born in 1986.

When I was younger, I really disliked my first name. No one could ever spell it or pronounce it correctly (ah-LAH-nuh), and that really bothered me when I was younger. Also I was always annoyed that since I did have an unusual name, that I could never find personalized stuff with my name on it.

As I got older, though, I started liking my name more and more and now I love it. Yes, it is an unusual name. Yes, I still have to correct people on how to spell and pronounce it. But it's very me. I love how it's a very feminine-sounding name, but also still sounds strong. I love the meaning of it. I love how it's simple and not overly-flowery or anything like that. I couldn't imagine going by anything else.

[classiestkid.livejournal.com]

I'm Shannon Marie, born in 83'
I remember my first day of kindergarten my teacher was like, "oh I thought you'd be a boy"
Hrm.

I used to not like it, but now I've embraced it because of how Irish I am, heh.

[http://users.livejournal.com/sparkleandfade_/]

my name is crystal lynn, i was born in 1981. i like my name. i could do without the common middle name (wish my parents were more creative with that!) but it flows well together so i'm sure that's why they went with it. kids never really made fun of my name. when crystal pepsi came out in the 90s, i was called "crystal pepsi" but that was pretty lame and never stuck. one kid in elementary school called me crystal clear underwear. not sure where that came from. and there were a couple of creative kids who called me crystal pistol. i was teased more about my last name (which was farnam, so i got called fartman or farmer.) i've met a lot of crystals and they all seem to be my age. but the only time there was another crystal in my class was in 5th grade. then again in high school (3 crystals in my spanish class! but we all got to choose spanish names so it wasn't a problem.) i grew up with a nickname of crys, but around age 14, i thought it sounded too boyish and didn't like it anymore. the only people who use my nickname anymore are my best friend, mom, grandma, and sister. even my dad has strayed away from it. i think my name fits me and couldn't imagine being named something else (my mom's first choice wwas keely but my dad vetoed it. thanks dad!)

[murderprotocol.livejournal.com]

Kayla Dawn, '86. Kayla does come from Days of Our Lives and Dawn was after my mum's friend.

I've never had a problem with Kayla, except for people insisting on spelling it Kaylah, which I absolutely hate. I actually enjoyed being the only Kayla amongst numerous Jessicas, Samanthas, Amys and Sarahs. I am finding now that it doesn't feel 'mature' enough though - I want to have a book published someday and I can't see my name on the cover. I still like it, and I feel it suits me.

I don't really like Dawn and I got teased a little for it, which is why I never used to tell people what it was. I'd always get 'sunrise' or something like that. Nothing bad, just really annoying. And someone recently told me it sounded like an 'old lady's name'. But hey, it's just a middle name.

[essmtee.livejournal.com]

I'm Sheila Marie. I've never hated my name. When I was a younger child I felt that other people must think my name is really unusual because at that time I'd never met anyone else named Sheila. It's definitely not a common name but not completely unheard of either. People do seem to have a hard time remembering my name though. I've been called Shelley, Shirley and Sylvia sooooooo many times, all of which I don't like. My mother purposely chose names for my sister and I that didn't have nicknames - she's Heather Lynne. I've rarely been called anything other than Sheila. One friend used to call me Sheila E all the time and I can remember my Dad calling me Sheely Sheely when I was a child. Maybe a few people have called me just She now and then. Nothing horrible though. I like my name just fine now and I guess it really hasn't had much of an impact on any part of my life and I don't think about my name much either.

[flyingwild.livejournal.com]

My aunt is Sheila Marie! My grandfather, mom, and other aunt usually just call her Shee, and sometimes my mom and other aunt and some of her friends call her Sheera :P

[trisha-again.livejournal.com]

Patricia Doris.. and seriously have always hated it. It sounds so very old lady-ish. Tricia works and Trish is a lot better.