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Choosing your name

(154 Posts)
NanKate Thu 26-Feb-26 07:34:56

If you weren’t called your designated name, what would you prefer to be called ?

I would prefer Helen, which is my middle name.

TerriBull Thu 26-Feb-26 10:26:40

I have three names, catholic tradition, include as many saints names as possible. One of mine is Catherine, after my grandmother, also one of my mother's names. I was very annoyed with my parents for not making it my first name because it's a name I really like. However, somewhere along the line when "Funny Girl" came along, I started to come to terms with the first name, it took a while, I didn't like it at all as a child.

Sparklefizz Thu 26-Feb-26 10:14:01

My middle name is bland (Anne) but I'm glad to have it because there is someone in my area with the same first name and surname as me, and she is registered with my doctor and dentist. If we didn't have different middle names, the confusion would be even greater than it already is.

At first, NanKate, I thought your thread was going to be about usernames. I once mentioned that I don't drink on a thread and another poster told me off for choosing the name "Sparklefizz". How dare I when I'm not a drinker? grin

henetha Thu 26-Feb-26 10:09:38

I like my middle name and have used it at every opportunity throughout my life.

Greenfinch Thu 26-Feb-26 10:04:27

I love this thread . Thank you NanKate.
I wish I had studied my family history before having my daughter as there are some beautiful family names I could have used: Isabella, Sarah Jane, Kirsty and Lexy (short for the Scottish Alexandrina) I could have used.

shysal Thu 26-Feb-26 09:53:29

I don't mind my name, it could be a lot worse! My only complaint as a child was that next door's dog had the same name.
Coincidently yesterday I was wondering what I would call a girl these days, but couldn't think of a name that I loved.

twiglet77 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:50:40

My father got his own way with our first names, my mother was allowed to choose our middle names. She wanted to call me Leonie, which don’t much like but I prefer to the name I was given.

Cossy Thu 26-Feb-26 09:45:50

Often, family call me Lou (middle name Louise) I find my given first name of Mary pretty dull and boring!

If I had been allowed to choose I’d have chosen a dramatic name like Othelia or Desdemona Hahaha

dogsmother Thu 26-Feb-26 09:42:00

As the third daughter my mother allowed her sister to choose my name. My two sisters had been given, my opinion lovely names, one very Irish and one very catholic nun. I was given what is now the now most maligned name! I have a younger sister who then got a beautiful name.
I would choose probably any of my sisters over mine. But I suppose I wouldn’t quite be me.

Gagagran Thu 26-Feb-26 09:30:54

My Dad was away in the army during WW2 when I was born and didn't see me until I was 6 months old. However he wrote and vetoed the names my Mum suggested - Nora Felicity and the alternative ones by my Aunt - Valerie Gay. Thankfully I was given two royal names and have always liked them both.

Sago Thu 26-Feb-26 09:30:46

I always wanted an exotic name, I loved Calypso and all the lovely names of my Irish cousins but I was given a name I hated and one my stupid Mother couldn’t even pronounce properly!

As an adult I’m happier with my name particularly since it was used by the beautiful and charismatic protagonist in a TV sereis!

Sarnia Thu 26-Feb-26 09:19:52

Like the OP I would have preferred my middle name of Elizabeth. This name with all its variations goes back a long way in my family.

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 26-Feb-26 09:15:26

Grandma70, and Fallingstar, I know of several little girls named Constance, usually called Connie.

dragonfly46 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:14:08

I love flower names, Rose, Lily, Daisy …

dragonfly46 Thu 26-Feb-26 09:11:50

I love my name. My Gran wanted me to be called Dorothy after her! ( sorry to the Dorothys out there)

M0nica Thu 26-Feb-26 09:02:51

I love my name. It runs down the female line Great grandmother, grandmother, mother, daughter all have it. DD has not had children but DS & DDiL gave it to their daughter as a second name.

It is a longer name, which, in my case has never been shortened. I have a second name that I have never particularly liked, but as I nearly ended with a worse one. I am thankful for small mercys

Calendargirl Thu 26-Feb-26 09:00:23

I’ve never liked my name.

Dated, but not old fashioned enough to be trendy. It wasn’t ‘of its time’ even when I was growing up.

Having said that, it’s short, one syllable, and I think it would be a good ‘second’ name for nowadays.

Gran22boys Thu 26-Feb-26 08:55:35

I love so many girls’ names. My favourites are Rose, Madeleine and Eleanor. When I was young, after watching flamenco dancing, I wanted to be called Carmen. But I don’t mind my name. However it is of its time and not used for children nowadays.

Greenfinch Thu 26-Feb-26 08:51:15

I named my favourite doll Jill. I would have liked that name too.

Grandma70s Thu 26-Feb-26 08:51:11

Fallingstar

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

My mother’s best friend was called Constance, and so is my granddaughter’s. I don’t remember any Constances in my generation or among my children’s friends.

Guesswhat Thu 26-Feb-26 08:48:24

When I was a child, I had a doll that I named Rosemary. I thought it was the prettiest name ever. Why hadn’t my parents given me a lovely name like that?

I still wouldn’t mind being called Rosemary, but I think I prefer Gabrielle now.

I bet I would have had a racier, more exciting life with such a name!

My chapel-going mother and father would never have entertained the idea though blush.

Fallingstar Thu 26-Feb-26 08:31:27

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

AGAA4 Thu 26-Feb-26 08:24:21

I'm just used to my name so haven't thought about changing it. My parents called by my second name when I was a child and I liked that name more.

Ladyleftfieldlover Thu 26-Feb-26 08:19:09

I was my parent's first child and the first grandchild. They spent so long choosing my name - it’s French and people spell it wrong - that I only have one Christian name. My children have three names each as does my granddaughter.

Grandma70s Thu 26-Feb-26 08:08:03

I don’t mind my name, but I’d like something a bit more unusual. My parents considered Catriona, which I’d have liked, and also Alison, which I would not have liked. It sounds too sensible, but perhaps that’s a reflection of the people I’ve known with that name.

My grandchildren have three forenames each. That gives them plenty of choice.

Chocolatelovinggran Thu 26-Feb-26 07:47:07

I am called by a different name from my given name. People are surprised when they see the name on official documents.
I like to think of myself as a woman of mystery,.