Okay, my screen name is Nadine Spirit, but not my real name. I chose it as I wanted something that was not anything like the name my parents gave me at birth. That was back in 2010 when I started my blog. I was a part time, super occasional cross dresser, not out to anybody but my wife.
As time went on, I slowly started coming out to more and more people. I also began going out much more frequently as myself, though I had no intentions of ever transitioning at that point. Anywho, when I began using the name Nadine in public, and with friends, it just never felt right. Often when I would say it to people, they would misunderstand me, which began to get super annoying. Sometimes I would have to repeat it to people three or four times and they would still get it wrong.
This became an issue while shopping as my favorite stores like to take my clothes, ask my name, and then write it on a dressing room door for me. It almost never was written correctly. One day, prior to shopping I told my wife that I was just going to give them some super easy name, like Kelly, and see if they would understand that name. The first time I used it, it flowed off my tongue easily and the sales lady accepted it readily. Right then I realized I had actually just picked my true name.
Thus IRL my first name is Kelly. I legally changed it a few years ago. My middle name was taken from my niece. My last name is my family's surname and it is quite unique. To the point that anybody with my same last name is actually related to me in someway.
