Name change

[cattaur]

Would taking the Japanese name in translation work for you?

From what you said, I take it you are going to be going to court for your name change? If you are going to pay for it, I would say go whole hog and change everything you don't like.

(I was lucky, with my name change, I basically just changed the spelling of my first name. I was able to do it through common usage.)

[Amethyst Hunter]

Would taking the Japanese name in translation work for you?

Thing is, I have no idea what it would translate to in English. It's actually a FIRST name; the surname that it goes with is my absolute favorite but I figured that that would be just a little TOO obvious (One word: anime. 'Nuff said).

From what you said, I take it you are going to be going to court for your name change? If you are going to pay for it, I would say go whole hog and change everything you don't like.

I waffle back and forth over my first and middle names. I can't seem to make up my mind whether or not to ditch 'em or leave 'em alone and just redo the surname. :/

But for the last name, at least, that I would definitely pay to change. It's not going to happen for quite a long while though (money issues, among other things). But I want to be prepared for when I do make the switch.

[Amethyst Hunter]

"Its your own name. You could spell it any way you wanted, and say its pronounced anyway you want. It could be spelt zygyfixlkn and you can say "Its pronounced 'Smith'." - I want to say thats George Carlin, but I'm not sure.

It probably was Carlin, that sounds like something he'd say. Ahh, how I wish his wisdom was still around. He could be more abrasive than I liked at times, but damn if he didn't nail the culture mindset spot-on.

Maybe other cultures in general/that you have an interest in?

Funny thing is, most of the other cultures I have interest in are very non-European ones. Asian and Egyptian ones, for starters. Contrast that with my very oh-so-European mutt-heritage (let's hear it for Pollocks!) and I imagine there is enough potential there to break brains. XD

(I think you sound like a fighter from what I read in some of your threads) Cos look at this thread, you didn't give in

Not yet, anyway.

Hmm. I could be the next "Thor" type...all I need is a BIG FRICKEN HAMMER. Because I like sticks, and I especially like sticks that have blunt objects on the ends of them, and I REALLY like sticks that are designed for the express purpose of splattering stuff.

(What, me have issues...?!)

[Jester]

(I actually have a new first name in mind, and it's really not even that much different from my current first name. Only problem is...it's a BOY name. Although it could be taken to be a gender-neutral one too, I suppose...)

So what? Here are just a few names I have seen used by both genders: Sean, Leslie/Lesley, Felix, Alan, George, Jo(e), Bobby/Bobbi, Bernie, Sam, Danny/Danni, Jean, Billy/Billie, Lou/Lu, Marky, Mikey, Mickey, Dylan, Jordan, Reagan, Reese, Kelly, Stacy, Tracy, Mel, Carlin, Tommy/Tommi, AJ, BJ, TJ, CJ, Chris, Kris, Lee, Leigh, Bree, Britt, Brett, Gary, Carey, Harry, Kerry, Val, Sal, Pat, Kit, Sonny/Sunny, Jay, Ray, Rene, Charlie/Charley, Marty/Marti, Nicky/Nikki, Alex, Glen, Tony/Toni, Adrian/Adrienne, Ryan, Jackie, Jamie, Dana, Darryl, Frankie, Gerry/Geri, Jerry/Jeri, Greg, Stevie, Jesse, Jody/Jodi, Joey, Loren/Lauren, Casey, Robin, Scottie, Shannon, Shelly, Kirby, Shane....and these are just ones I can think of off the top of my head!

As to the personal meaning...only one of those names I listed has special meaning for me, but it kind of comes with a catch. It's Japanese. I couldn't pass for even remotely Asian if you spackled me with two-and-a-half-feet of Max Factor's finest and stuck me in traditional geisha-wear.

Also, Japanese people are (understandably) VERY protective of their culture. I'd hate to be seen as just another culture-hijacking asshole who thinks Japanese names are something trendy (even though the reason I like this particular name so much is because it has a certain special meaning for me).

Unless you actually live in Japan, I don't see this as a huge problem. If it has meaning to you, go for it!

@Jester: Go ahead, list your names. I'm curious. Who knows, you may have found something I didn't think of.

No. There are thousands of names, and if you are going to change yours, it really should be something special to YOU. So I could list names that might or might now work, but honestly, if it is just a name with no special meaning to you, it is pretty much pointless. Unless you are in the Witness Protection Program, of course.

It probably was Carlin, that sounds like something he'd say. Ahh, how I wish his wisdom was still around.

His wisdom still IS around, even if he is not. That is evidenced by his so frequently being quoted, here and elsewhere.

Hmm. I could be the next "Thor" type...all I need is a BIG FRICKEN HAMMER. Because I like sticks, and I especially like sticks that have blunt objects on the ends of them, and I REALLY like sticks that are designed for the express purpose of splattering stuff.

Well then, if you really don't want to go with the aforementioned Asian name, then I think we have an obvious one here. What's that? You don't see it? I do. Your new last name: Hammer. Cool enough to be awesome, but not so uncommon that it will raise too much attention. (Hey, there are two listings for that last name in Key West alone, and this is just a small tropical island!)

[Andara Bledin]

Slightly tangential, but Carlin would be a fun personal name.

^-.-^

[ApolloSZ]

Hmm. I could be the next "Thor" type...all I need is a BIG FRICKEN HAMMER. Because I like sticks, and I especially like sticks that have blunt objects on the ends of them, and I REALLY like sticks that are designed for the express purpose of splattering stuff.
(What, me have issues...?!)

I'm tempted to send you a Nerf Mjolnir. I have one and the first thing I did when I saw my mates, was throw it at or hit them (the one thing it says NOT to do )

And hey. I fight in a German long sword style, for the express purpose of killing the enemy dead quickly so I can return to my beer drinking and wenching .

[Jester]

Slightly tangential, but Carlin would be a fun personal name.

A former female roommate of mine had that as her first name. And her last name was a somewhat common guy's name, so that made for interesting telemarketer calls and mailings to her. While I don't remember her last name, let's say it was Michael. (It wasn't.) A lot of her mail, rather than being addressed to Carlin Michael, would be addressed to Michael Carlin. And almost always "Mr. Michael Carlin," just to add insult to injury. And phone calls would come in for "Mr. Carlin." You get the idea.

I can return to my beer drinking and wenching.

Two of my favorite activities!

[AlmightyALT]

My husband is going through this right now. He finally got his court date for next month to finalize it. He and his dad DON'T get along but rarely (hubby has had to knock his dad out on occasion when he gets overly beligerant and threatening) and so hubby decided to change his name to his Moms maiden name and a new middle name. Once that's done I can go about changing my name finally. And it's Scottish!

It's a good way to distance yourself from something you don't want. And can maybe remind you not to become.

[Amethyst Hunter]

It's a good way to distance yourself from something you don't want. And can maybe remind you not to become.

Too late for me. I maintain that one of the wisest things - perhaps the ONLY wise thing I've ever done (or in this case, NOT done) in my life was never to have kids. The cycle of family suck will end with me. (Besides, I never wanted kids in the first place. If I wanted to be told "I hate you" on a regular basis for not fulfilling ridiculous requests I can just go work some more retail. )

And the Cloud O' Doom has returned with a vengeance. Just ate dinner (BLTs) when I felt something crunch in my mouth that wasn't a normal crunch. Then I felt a jagged edge in my mouth where there isn't normally a jagged edge. Got the flashlight and a small mirror to confirm my worst suspicion. Then I poked around in the food I spat out, and yes indeedy...

...it's a piece of back upper molar. Or maybe it's a filling. I can't tell. I'm not feeling any pain, and I don't remember when the last time was that I had a filling.

BUT GODFUCKINGDAMMIT I JUST GOT DONE WITH $2300 WORTH OF GODDAMN DENTAL EXPENSES AND NOW HERE IS ANOTHER AND THIS TIME I DON'T EVEN HAVE A FUCKING JOB TO PAY FOR ANY OF IT AND MY PARENTS ARE SO STRAPPED THEMSELVES THEY PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO MUCH.

I HATE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

/rant

[Amethyst Hunter]

I'm tempted to send you a Nerf Mjolnir.

What's that?

I fight in a German long sword style, for the express purpose of killing the enemy dead quickly so I can return to my beer drinking and wenching .

I approve of this post. *adds "big fricken sword" to Xmas Wish List*

[ArcticChicken]

Three unisex names I didn't notice on Jester's list: Ashley, Shannon, Hilary.

[Andara Bledin]

THIS is Nerf Mjolnir.

As for the dental stuff, you might look into finding a local dental teaching facility. While you have to put up with having students work on you, you get massively reduced prices.

^-.-^

[Jester]

I HATE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

Perhaps you should change your name to Erida.

Three unisex names I didn't notice on Jester's list: Ashley, Shannon, Hilary.

Shannon was there, though you certainly have two I didn't have. But I am sure there are TONS I didn't have. My point stays the same, though....pick whatever name you want that means something to you, and fuck what the rest of the world thinks.

(Great example: My sister has one of those either way names, but she spells it in a way that, where she lives, is considered the male version, and she is constantly having to explain to people that, no, her name is NOT misspelled, that IS her name, damn it!)

[Dasota]

What I find amusing is that my dad and then all of my aunts from my grandpa's 1st marriage have unisexed names/ names that skew to the opposite gender.

No clue as to which of my grandparents had the sense of humor.

[ArcticChicken]

Shannon was there, though you certainly have two I didn't have.

Damn, and I checked twice, too.

(Great example: My sister has one of those either way names, but she spells it in a way that, where she lives, is considered the male version, and she is constantly having to explain to people that, no, her name is NOT misspelled, that IS her name, damn it!)

My Ex is one of them that skews towards female in the us. The number of times people have just assumed he was female, when they had a form that listed his gender in front of them... When he went to college he was originally put in a woman's dorm. It was remarkably difficult to get his room changed.