![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
If you could rename yourself in real life, what would you choose, and why?
I actually have renamed myself several times in real life. The first change was at age 16 when I joined a Sufi commune. The rationale for the name change is that names are powerful. The meaning of the common name a person is known by is reinforced everytime the name is used. I changed my name at 16 because I had never liked my given name (I had always been jealous of the name my sister had been given by our parents). The Sufi name I was given is pretty and I have used it exclusively the last 32 years. I went from being "honey elf" to "the friend." At 20, I had my name changed legally.
Changing one's name requires quite a bit of effort. Aside from the obvious expense and trouble of changing a name legally, there is the matter of retraining those who have known you with a different name. As a young woman, I was rather defensive and annoyed by those (family members) who made little effort to remember my new name. Some flat out refused to recognize the "new me." Now, there is no one who calls me by "honey elf."
I have also chosen 2 new last names for myself through the years. This process was via the usual route- marriage. I would not have affected these changes if I had not seen all three possible last names as fairly equal- none difficult to spell or pronounce and none evoking an unpleasant idea or image. My rationale for the changing from my father's name to my first husband's name was related to an anticipated family. And, at the time of my second marriage it seemed obvious that I should either return to my maiden name or take my second husband's name.
I actually have renamed myself several times in real life. The first change was at age 16 when I joined a Sufi commune. The rationale for the name change is that names are powerful. The meaning of the common name a person is known by is reinforced everytime the name is used. I changed my name at 16 because I had never liked my given name (I had always been jealous of the name my sister had been given by our parents). The Sufi name I was given is pretty and I have used it exclusively the last 32 years. I went from being "honey elf" to "the friend." At 20, I had my name changed legally.
Changing one's name requires quite a bit of effort. Aside from the obvious expense and trouble of changing a name legally, there is the matter of retraining those who have known you with a different name. As a young woman, I was rather defensive and annoyed by those (family members) who made little effort to remember my new name. Some flat out refused to recognize the "new me." Now, there is no one who calls me by "honey elf."
I have also chosen 2 new last names for myself through the years. This process was via the usual route- marriage. I would not have affected these changes if I had not seen all three possible last names as fairly equal- none difficult to spell or pronounce and none evoking an unpleasant idea or image. My rationale for the changing from my father's name to my first husband's name was related to an anticipated family. And, at the time of my second marriage it seemed obvious that I should either return to my maiden name or take my second husband's name.
calm