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What's in a name? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Gail Paparian   
Tuesday, 07 September 2010 18:42


While I haven't hated my name (Gail), I have known people throughout my life who have despised theirs.

In my mind, there's a simple solution. Because one's parents were: intoxicated, stoned, ignorant, not caring, they didn't know any better, they foisted "their" choice on us. Good/bad for them!

I want to know how YOU feel. Do you think that when one reaches 18 years of age (in most places) and reaches their majority, they should be able to check a box that says, "I Want To Change My Name."

Like when you are shut out of a website, you would be able to enter your (existing) name. Then a box would offer," what is your desired name? Wow, a choice! I would either say: 1) Leave it alone, mine's fine, or 2) Make me "Samantha."

My husband's name was "Bill", yet many people referred to him as "William." We/I call my son "Michael" while many folks refer to mike as "Mike." Dave/David, Jim/James, Judy/Judith, Doug/Douglas . . . and the beat goes on.

Me,,,, I've always wanted to be named Samantha. When I was a tomboy, "Sam" would have allowed me to compete in the all boys Little League. Upon growing: (breasts, intelleigence, whatever), I would have opted to "Samantha" - the mysterious.

Please allow me to continue what I am starting out as a discussion group: current called a blog. Click the "comment" -- then do.
 

Comments  

 
# Ronna Kadow 2010-09-07 20:56
As for me, I really didn't like my name as a child. For crying out loud...how many women named Ronna do you know? I never could get a name tag for my room, bike or anything else. Poor me! However, when I became an adult (a very long time ago) I thought my name was pretty good because it made me unique. When one of my daughters married, her sister-in-law was named Rona (pronounced Ronna). Guess her mother and my friend coundn't spell.

I do believe names are important. Some people never learn to like their given name. Too bad - Get over it! Have a beautiful day.
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# Ronna Kadow 2010-09-07 20:57
I sincerely hope you keep up your blog. Now that I know it is, I will look forward to reading it.
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# Donna Harrington 2010-09-07 21:57
I would have loved to change my name at 18 years old. Donna Lee!!!! Named after my dad and who knows who else. I am so envious of people who have names that can be changed ie. Michael, William, Patricia, ect. I tried to change my name to Lee(my middle name) but no one would call me by it so I just gave up. I'm stuck with it and at 63 I'm on my way to living with it.
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# allen mittenthal 2010-09-07 22:50
hiya SAM? well i am 69 years old now and i know u all my life :-) All these years and now i find out u wanted 2 b SAM!!! Well i think it is NEVER 2 late 2 make changes in life :cry: I never ever thought about having a different name!! I just wondered why mom spelled my name ALLEN instead of ALLAN-ALAN-ALEN Her answer was she liked the name LENNY!!!!!! So go figure no one ever called me that!! I still am not sure what people call me ALLEN or AL I know u all my life and if anone asked me what u called me i would have 2 admit i am not sure!! R U? Still love ya no matter what u call me But please never ever call me late 4 DINNER!! :lol:
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# Ellen 2010-09-08 03:57
For most of my life, I have not liked my name. It couldn't be shortened and had a hard sound. However, after all these "blank" years I've learned to accept what was given to me without choice. Do I think we should have a choice to choose our own as adults?.....at what age do you define "adult". Keep up the good work!
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# Julia OlsenRodriguez 2010-09-08 06:24
Gail,
I believe that a person should be allowed to change their name if it will somehow make them feel better about themselves. I can't imagine living my life as "Apple" or "Moonbeam" :-? .

Now, as to you and your writing. You know I am a big fan and love everything you put to the pen! Blog on M'Lady, Blog on... ;-)

Gail is a very pretty name but when it comes to writing you are more of a "Hurricane Samantha" :roll:
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# Gina 2010-09-08 07:03
Oh dear. Make me think of my childhood days, growing up as Regina. My Mother had a friend named Regina in Kindergarden, and it stuck with her for 27 more years, until she had her first child....ME. Because I was the only kid in existance with that name, teachers did not know how to pronounce it, so at roll call, first day of school I was Ragina with a long i. Got teased and called Reggie, reg, Jeans, and many others I can't recall. My Father called me Gina. I loved that name, so once I was about 18, that's the name I stuck with. Where Regina would not be on my list of name choices, Gina is my favorite name. Of course I can't get around the legal name when I fly or get a driver's license, but as long as my friends know what to call me, I'll take it. While growing up, I didn't realize I had a choice, but I stuck with my Dad's nick name for me. I'm keeping it.
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# David Marshall 2010-09-08 07:34
Gail, you have done it again. A topic that resonates with me.
If I had a penny for every time, when introduced as David, the response is, hi dave - I would be a rich man. Why are people so insensitive to one's name?
Often in correcting people I tell them, "if you want people to understand you know me, my name is David! If you use the dreaded nickname, they will that you don't know who you are talking about."
Another way to respond, that I use less frequently, is, "think of King David - I must be named after him!"
Enough said? Pay attention to people's name. :roll:
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# Mary 2010-09-08 08:04
You solicited comments so here goes.
I was named after both of my grandmothers. Although in my early years I didnt like my name because it was "Mary Mary quite contrary" and of course I tried to live up to my name. Today now that I'm 62 I've resigned myself to my name (after all my name is the same as the Mother of Jesus). My daughter upon getting married last May decided to add my name to hers as a tribute to me................yikes. I was very touched however. Keep writing Gail, you are good at it.
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# Dick Meinhold 2010-09-08 08:08
Never thought much about changing mine, so I guess I am okay with it. Helps to have a nickname though. In my U.S. Navy preflight class of 21 guys, there were 3 Richards. We needed something to call each one so no misunderstandin gs. I volunteered that for a few years, early in my life, my Dad had called me Buzz, so we called one Dick, one Richard and one Buzz. Interestingly, with all the people in the world who know me as Dick, or Richard, I am Buzz to 20 guys (or however many ever of them remain with us), and only to them. I prefer my nickname, and am satisfied with that, although one of my daughters -in-law would disagree, but that's another story. I am just glad I was born at a time when conventional names were the norm, and few, if any parents, would name their child Buckshot, or Silverplate, or, or Samantha! Just kidding!
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# Leslie 2010-09-08 13:45
:lol: I did think about changing my name-I wanted my brother's name-Charlie. I thought that was a 'cooler' girl's name than Leslie...Now I don't want people changing my son's name. His name is Benjamin. His paternal grandmother insisted on calling him Benny! Yuck-reminded me of a weird friend of my dad's when I was growing up. At preschool they called him Benji-he is not a dog; and now in his new school they call hime Ben. He happens to like Benjamin and corrects people who try to change his name. I guess name changing can work both ways... :sigh:
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# Gail Paparian 2010-09-08 19:40
Great writing Gail. I want to keep my name. When I was younger I hated it as being a " john" also meant a toilet, so naturally as a young boy I was harassed a lot. Now I kind of overlook that and I like being called John...Love to read your writing....
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