How did you choose your name...and how many times did you change it...

[Hadrian]

So, basically my question is how did you choose your name if you chose to change it and how many times did you change it before you were happy with it?

I finally chose Adrian recently. I had been bouncing around a few different names for a while now, and I really like this one. And it sounds right when my friends and coworkers call me Adrian. However, when I saw my name for the first time next to my picture, it looked really strange to me. Is this normal, is it because I've seen my female name by my face so long that it will just take awhile to get used to? Idk, that is my other question, was it hard even when you knew what was right, for you to get used to your new name for while?

[Silas]

My mom said her first choice for my name was Jessica Lynn. Or, if I'd been a boy, Jacob. Thank GOD the former didn't stick XD, and Jacob I dislike. It's my favorite cousin's name, I'm letting him keep his name. XD

My first name, Christopher, is just a more masculine version of my unisex given name. I destroyed all my old journals, so I don't remember how I came to it. It feels right to me. My mom always asks why I don't keep my given name, as it's unisex, but it just makes me gag and doesn't feel like me.

My middle names have changed a lot. XD Originally, it was Louis so I could keep my initials, but that died pretty quickly, since I figured I could still sign my things with "CLB" even if my middle name started with an S (I did flip-flop between Louis and my old obviously female middle name).  Silas replaced Louis I think shortly after, when my friend introduced me by my old name to his uncle, who said he had a brother with my old name and the middle name Silas. Then Ian came in front of Silas... XD when I had to type my given name in computer class a lot... I'd look down, then when I looked up, only "ian.[last name]" showed. I hated it, but I felt like it fit.

I often think about adding names, or exchanging. But I'm actually pleased with it now. ^_^ Christopher, though, was never very hard for me. I liked it, since it reminds me of lions and boldness, hahaa.

Adrian seems really common among FTMs, hahaa. It's my new baby cousin's name as well. :3 It might take a while to get used to the name for you, but if you're comfortable and it sounds right, then I don't think it'll take very long.

[Jigsaw]

I toyed with many names at first but when I was first going through the changes and finding out what trans was, it was in a time when information was not really available (computers were not in most homes and there were not smart phones) so I never really told anybody, just kept thinking what name do I really like.  Then after I came out to my parents at my therepists advice, I discovered over the next few months that I was not going to be accepted, so I went to court house and changed my name to something not even remotely close to my birth name.

I kept that name for a few years and then as my parents health decreased and while sitting around at a Highland Festival, I kept thinking how can I help people find their clans and heritage if I am running from mine in a sense.  I felt bad and luckily I was living in a state where you can change your name more then once, so I changed my name legally again.  This time taking the male latin version of my birth name, my family's surname and the middle name was my relative that came to the states from Britain.  Plus I really like the name since it's Gaelic, so thats what I go by.

[MaxAloysius]

I think to some extent the name chooses you, more than you choose the name. When I was thinking about names I wanted something really cool sounding for my first name, and was looking up things like Damon, Declan, Bane etc. I remember reading a book during that time with a characted in it who's name was 'Max', and somehow it just stuck. It wasn't as cool a name as I wanted, and I didn't want something so short (of course my name is actually Maximillian, but everyone just says Max) so I remember being really annoyed that the name 'Max' had pretty much chosen me.

Then one of the names I'd wanted for my first replaced my last name, and I was left with a short first name, and a short last name. I decided I needed an awesome rare middle name that also had a bit of length to it to even out the beat of my name, when my father popped up with 'what about Aloysius?' and it just fit instantly and stuck.

I think you can tell when you get the right name, it's like whether you want it or not, you just know that it's what you're going to have because it somehow just feels right.

[Hadrian]

Well, I came across the name Adrian in the book Beastly. I kinda could relate to Adrian. I mean, I'm not an egotistical narcissist but his journey captivated me. It may be a fictional story based loosely on the Grimm's original take on Beauty and the Beast but I like what the story symbolizes.

Before I had read that book, I liked the name Kaien and still do. Both names represent a piece of who I am. Adrian is Irish, meaning of Hadria or can also mean dark. I was kind of relieved when I found out that my chosen name is Irish bc my female name is native american and both are a part of my heritage. Kaien is Japanese. Kai meaning ashes and en meaning village gate. I have only come across Kaien twice. And bother characters were very strong and stood up for what they believed in and I do that.

I originally was going to have Kyle (another Irish name) as my middle but it's a name I liked when I was fourteen and it doesn't really fit with the person I am today. Kaien or Kyle will win out, and right now Kaien it winning. We'll see, the only thing holding me back from going with Kaien is that then my first middle and last will end with an N, since I'm going to change my last to my Godmother's.

Silas, I had no idea that Adrian was popular. I do have a step cousin named Adrian, but I didn't remember that until later and she's the only Adrian I know, other than that famous movie line from Rocky and Adrian Brody.

Max, I think you're right. Even though my names have special significance to me, they did in a way choose me.

Jigsaw, what you did to honor your heritage and family is wonderful.

[MasonM]

When I changed my name to Mason (not official, that's waiting until certain impediments are out of my way) it wasn't so much that I 'chose' a name as though I just realized what my name actually was.  It fits well with my middle name, too, so I'll be keeping that.  Eventually I'll be 'Mason Eugene _____'.

[Adio]

I don't feel comfortable saying what I changed my name to, but I can still answer your question.

When I first came out as trans, I asked my SO to say two names for me:  "I love you, (masculine nickname of first name)" and "I love you, (masculine form of middle name)".  The first sounded more natural and a better representation of myself.  So I just used my nickname for many years and also used the full masculine form of my first name.

For a long time, I thought I would keep my same middle name (with masculine spelling) and same last name.  But then I started to hate it because it reminded me so much of my former name.  I was also afraid of being too easily recognized.  So when I had my legal name change, I changed my full name (first, middle, last).  My new middle name is a name that I frequently returned to in my fantasies/day dreams and my last name is my grandmother's maiden name.

[Flick]

Originally, when I was first questioning myself, I just referred to myself as my old nickname, Flick.
But when I started thinking about it, it wasn't really appropriate for a name change (as in people wouldn't take me seriously).
So i went on a baby names website, and chose out a tonne of names at random that I liked. After that, I choose 5, my top five. Then, for a week at a time, I started calling myself by those names. The third one I used was Sebastian, and it has just stuck. So for now, that's my preferred name.
But I still like to be called Flick  Mainly because it reminds me of my childhood, where stupid things like gender didn't matter.

I think my best advice would be to find names that resemble your old name, so you're not "losing" yourself as a whole, it also makes it easier for friends and the like to remember it instead of a full change.

Just remembered, I don't have a middle name to fill the gap oh boy, time to go scanning babynames.com again...

[Luc]

Five years ago when I went full-time, I thought, as most of us do, that I should keep my initials. So I went by Rafe for awhile, but it just didn't feel right. Sebastien came about maybe 6 months later, and it stuck. I've gone back and forth, using either that or my middle name, Dean, but really feel like a Sebastien. Apparently, it's not too uncommon a name for trans guys, but when I chose it, I didn't know anyone else, trans or otherwise, with the name. Last year, as a final addition, I decided to hyphenate my first name, so it's now Luc-Sebastien. Trying to savor whatever small bit of French heritage I have. It'll be official as soon as I can take care of a little legal matter in California.

[PandaValentine]

I've been struggling with my first name since I was a kid. I was always changing it since I was very young because I hated my name. I went a whole year with one name (legally changed) but in the end it just didn't work, thing is I knew it wouldn't all along, I just wanted it because it was the biggest step in the opposite direction. It was so far away from my birth name, and more commonly a guys name though still unisex. In the end I chose Jacob, a guys name (no questions asked) but I use the name Jay. Jay was a name I always liked, but I didn't stumble upon the name Jacob, until I decided to write a book and found myself relating to this character I created. I liked the name because of Jacob from the band Hedley, though the character in the book was nothing like him, more like me actually and always went by the name Jay. Then there is also the fact that every Jacob I've met has been like polar opposites from the last, so it felt like a name that could fit many. I don't know, the moment I signed the name under a drawing of mine I knew it was the name. It clicked. It sounded right, looked right, and when other people called me Jay/Jacob, it was all I needed to hear again. I know it sounds crazy but I love to hear other people say it, when I tell others my name and they use it, it's like people are actually talking me, unlike the names that made me feel like I was sitting in front of the person others were trying to talk to.

The best part was looking up baby names to find my middle names. 'Riley Jay Lukas'. My mum loved the name Riley, I wanted Jay officially a part of my name and I just liked the sound of Lukas and the way it is said all together, it just sounds good.

[skakid]

My middle name was a no-brainer. It's a family name that my parents didn't pass on to my brother, so I decided early on that I wanted to keep it in the family. For my first name, I originally chose Cayden, but it didn't really fit and I could tell, so I went with my next choice and it just seemed right. Now my name is Cole Derby _____. I guess it was kind of weird at first to get used to being called a new name, but that didn't last long. When I think of my birth name I think of it being attached to someone else, someone who's a girl. When I think of my name now, I think of me.

[Ryno]

I spent only about a week or two deciding my name. I debated between a few ... Derek, Mac, something else, and then Ryan just kind of popped up one night, I turned to my girlfriend and asked what she thought: "What about Ryan James?" and she liked it.

I'm thinking of changing "James" to "Mackenzie". Edit: changed my mind. I also changed my last name to my mom's maiden name and James was my grandfather's and my cousin's middle names... My aunt was a little pissed about that for some reason. Like I was tainting my grandfather's name or something. Whatever.

[Joelene9]

  I didn't think of one until I started HRT.  When I tried to transition back in the 70's, Josephine was and still is not my choice because I thought it was too cold sounding.  I didn't have any idea of a replacement name then.  Joelene is the current one, it seems to have a brighter sound.  This may not be a legal name, but more of a nickname.  My first name was my grandfather's middle name, his first was Marion, but everyone called him by his middle, Joe.   
  Joelene

[piers816]

I don't know if I started out as Clay or as Alex. Clay was more of a joke about an alter-ego before I was certain about my gender identity and then Alex came from my andro/genderqueer phase. Dominic was my first "male" name, which my friend suggested, until I decided it wasn't for me and (finally) settled on Piers. I've been jumping around on names as well, but I've settled on Piers; it's not my legal name yet, though.

I found my middle name simply because I liked it. It's Oliver
Plus, it gives me the initials POW

You'll find it eventually

[Ratchet]

I definitely didn't have the fortune of a unisex name, or even one remotely relating to one. My name was a color, and in a patriotic song describing wheat. I'm sure a few could guess what it is eventually, but the name has never felt like my own. When people say it, sometimes a family member will slip as say it or refer to me as "she" but generally it doesn't happen, it feels very robotic when I reply.

I picked Jason. Because, well... I just had an attachment to the name. My brother's have pretty common names. I really like uncommon names, things that are different or sound cool. But ever since I was look I always took a shining to the name "Jason". I liked Matthew as well, but my Aunt named her son that so that was a name out of question. It didn't fit at all. In High School, I went by the more unisex "Jay", because not being out to everyone and asking them to call me Jason (well my teacher, most of my classmates assumed I was a male with testosterone issues or a late bloomer as a senior) was weird. Jason Anthony came out of the blue, and flows together really nicely. I changed my last name from my father's last name, for he was a piece of work in several ways, to my mother's family name. My parents said that they didn't know how well "Jason" fit me and they liked "Jay" better. But they stopped the nickname and just call me Jason. I think it fits. I like it. Though sometimes I wish I had a slightly more interesting name.

[jet3]

I chose my name because it was the name my mom would have named me if I were born a bio boy. She named me at birth so I knew it would be important to her to choose my name.

[Julian]

I'm not FTM, I'm androgynous, but I thought I'd chime in.

I was lucky enough to be given a feminine name that's very easy to masculinize (is that a word? Firefox thinks not...). I'm also lucky that the masculine, feminine, and various unisex nicknames all seem to fit me. I've gone by Jules for years before I realized I was androgynous, and I just recently asked a couple people to call me Julian sometimes. The majority of the world still calls me Julia, but I can live with that.

Julian/Julia/Jules/Ju

[MorganMatthews]

My name pretty much picked me, My Granny used to say that if she had a son she'd name him Morgan and I always felt connected to that name. So when I came out . That was the name. As well as my Grannys second name and my middle name I changed to Fiver (after the rabbit from Watership Down)

[Devyn]

I picked Devyn at random.

Ever since I was 9, and began using the internet, I started going by male names. Due to that, I've gone by many. I remember using: Charlie, John, Brice, I vaguely remember using the name Frank, Alexander, Alex, Xander, and Lucas. Now it's Devyn, which is the name I have officially asked people to call me. I picked it last September. Since my mom thought I was going to be born physically male, she planned to name me Alexander, but the name didn't fit when I tried going by it.

[xAndrewx]

All of the name stories are pretty awesome.

I've gone by Alexander, Michael, Ryder, and Andrew (Drew). Honestly there were a billion more I was interested in but everyone was sick of me changing it. Alexander is my favorite but my mom ended up telling me I would have been named Andrew if I'd been born a bio-male so it stuck. Now I'm Andrew Alexander (undecided last name, might keep my current one).