Post

@NanoRaptor

I once got in trouble so many times I wanted a different name because hearing my own gave me anxiety

@NanoRaptor the ‘ in my last name has been a hassle since my marriage in 1971. The in-laws have suffered even longer of course, and I’ve actually seen a little improvement over the past few years. 🤞

@NanoRaptor We 'accidentally' named our first progeny so they have the same initials as I do.
Considered giving them 'X' (= the unknown variable) as extra middle name, now glad we didn't given that tesla/starlink guy's fuckery with the letter.
Have considered adding a different single letter middle name to myself (not sure if I can do that legally here)

@NanoRaptor When doing my degree, I learnt that we can't make biased assumptions about people's names in databases (length, nullability, etc.). I thought it'd be fun to break some real-world databases so I changed mine to The Doctor (like Doctor Who).

Most hiccups were refusals to accept "The" as a name — not because it's a word but because *it was too short*!? What about people called Ben!?

Anyway, back to birth name, rather boringly. After a few years, I changed back because I wanted a job.

@NanoRaptor @aizuchi I have a friend who wanted to change their last name to Shenanigans

@NanoRaptor I usually just provide an initial instead of my uncommon surname when asked so I can avoid association with my family, but otherwise I'm okay with my name

@NanoRaptor I changed my first and last name in my early 30s - my birth name never suited me. I chose my names to honor two women authors who had influenced me. I never regretted it. Its been almost 40 years now.

@NanoRaptor Yes! I don’t like my given name, even though it means joy/happiness

@NanoRaptor I mean in practice it mostly sounds exhausting. But I like the idea that I *could*.

@NanoRaptor
My partner momentarily wanted to because of one of her students. Many international students chose another name to go by when they study in Australia, one of hers had chosen "flame". She is such a pyromaniac.

@NanoRaptor I even got the domain but I don't have the gumption

@NanoRaptor Not really. But it is way too damn difficult to do, which it shouldn’t be.

@NanoRaptor Not entirely a name change, but I’ve pondered going by Ash. I do it sometimes when ordering stuff. Less collision prone than Mike.

@NanoRaptor I was just about to say that of all the things I've wanted to change about myself, it's never been my name. But that's not true. After my dad died and I went back to college mid-year, I didn't want to be found, so when I got assigned to an off-campus dorm, and they asked us to put our names on our doors, I made one up.

It was sooooooo fucking liberating. No one there knew me, and no one who knew me could find me.