My therapist asked what the name I had picked out is.

[Christine167]

To date sense starting this process and being so early on in it, this is my second session and I've only been aware of my GID for a few weeks, I have only been giddy/giggly in private when thinking about my future as a girl. Today my therapist asked what my name was. I was embarrassed at first and had to ask what she meant and she confirmed that she wanted the name I had picked out. I told her Christine after I took a quick moment to keep from giggly with a manly voice in her office. She nodded and commented on how I'd be able to keep my initials.

It really felt good. It felt like this is really happening and that the girl inside will get her day in the sun 

[Naomi]

Have you told anyone else yet? I haven't really told anyone yet that I've picked a name.

[Christine167]

Have you told anyone else yet? I haven't really told anyone yet that I've picked a name.

No I haven't. The only people that know anything about that side of me are my wife, my sister in law, and my therapist. SO yeah this felt like a big deal. Although right now I feel infinitely small in retrospect. Still lingering giddiness.... It's pretty good. I was never allowed to be "giddy" before in my life and its great. 

It sounds a little like you want to disclose the name you picked out. I'd like to hear it if you are ready to tell.

[Naomi]

It's my user name XD,

I don't know how to tell my parents though because I think it's going to be a big blow to mom especially. I know she wants me to keep my birth name because it "can" work either way but the number of guys I know with the name compared the number of girls is not good.

[Christine167]

I think ultimately this is something she will also have to understand because you are the one who has to live with it. To me it sounds like your birth name is a reminder of being a male and you don't want that. It's okay there's plenty of folks who feel the same way. I just kept my name very similar because I like my nick name that I have now and it's common for Christine to be shortened to that anyway.

So go for it and I think that your mom will understand. You aren't erasing her little boy you're just becoming a woman and you want to be respected as such.

[Michelle S.]

It's my user name XD,

I don't know how to tell my parents though because I think it's going to be a big blow to mom especially. I know she wants me to keep my birth name because it "can" work either way but the number of guys I know with the name compared the number of girls is not good.

My mom wanted me to keep Michael... "There are girls out there named Michael." I know how the name and mom thing can be If it's something more androgynous than Michael (lol) consider maybe keeping it as a middle name? Let your mom call you that and go by your first name. I do this. My birth name was Michael Christopher and my family always called me Christopher but I went by Michael. Sure, it confused people when I was with my family but that was it. Now I am Michelle but Chris with family.

To date sense starting this process and being so early on in it, this is my second session and I've only been aware of my GID for a few weeks, I have only been giddy/giggly in private when thinking about my future as a girl. Today my therapist asked what my name was. I was embarrassed at first and had to ask what she meant and she confirmed that she wanted the name I had picked out. I told her Christine after I took a quick moment to keep from giggly with a manly voice in her office. She nodded and commented on how I'd be able to keep my initials.

It really felt good. It felt like this is really happening and that the girl inside will get her day in the sun 

So happy for you!!! This happened and my therapist called me Michelle from that appointment on, it was so liberating!!!

[Naomi]

I'll see about telling my therapist about my name next week when I go since it seems like it'll make me feel a lot better.

So go for it and I think that your mom will understand. You aren't erasing her little boy you're just becoming a woman and you want to be respected as such.

[Ltl89]

The hardest part of my transition, besides fear, has been trying to choose a name.  I don't know why, but this is very difficult for me.  I have this big list of names and can't isolate one that defines me.  Perhaps I'm too analytical.

I'm glad your therapist is moving forward and calling you by your right name

[Naomi]

The hardest part of my transition, besides fear, has been trying to choose a name.  I don't know why, but this is very difficult for me.  I have this big list of names and can't isolate one that defines me.  Perhaps I'm too analytical.

I'm glad your therapist is moving forward and calling you by your right name

You might not have found the right one yet. I  went to my birth year and looked at 600 names from which I picked 4 and had 1 that I just liked. From that I eliminated one because it doesn't work with my last name, 1 because two of my friends agreed that it was bad, then from 3 I found the one that has so far stuck.

[Ltl89]

Yeah, I have gone by as Jennifer and Jenny for a few years, but I don't know if the name suits me.  Besides, there are too many other girls with that name.  I want to blend in but also stand out.  I want something that says me.  Also, I feel like nothing goes with my last name.  I would switch to my mother's maiden name because everything sounds pretty with it, but that would probably hurt my father. 

You might not have found the right one yet. I  went to my birth year and looked at 600 names from which I picked 4 and had 1 that I just liked. From that I eliminated one because it doesn't work with my last name, 1 because two of my friends agreed that it was bad, then from 3 I found the one that has so far stuck.

[aleon515]

Responding from the other side of the divide (if it is, which I don't know). I started out with a nickname that was my initials. And now have a name that is similar to my given name. I even hear it that way sometimes which is nice. Each time I did that it was empowering. I wasn't sure I was doing any transitioning when I changed my name the first time around.

I know someone who changed his name from Christine to Christopher and kept his nickname. I think it's probably common.

BTW, I once asked my mom if I had been born a boy (sic) what name she would have given me. I would love to be able to know the context of this conversation, but I have found out it is very common in trans people. And she said John. I don't like the name but I am putting a variant of it in my legal name.

--Jay

[Jamie D]

I am lucky, in a way, that my nickname ("Jamie") works both ways.  My family still calls me "Jimmy" and I cringe when I hear it.

[Ltl89]

I am lucky, in a way, that my nickname ("Jamie") works both ways.  My family still calls me "Jimmy" and I cringe when I hear it.

Yeah, that does work.  In my case, my birth name is unmistakeably male.  The female equivalents to it are horrendous.  I'm usually referred to as  a unisex nickname, but it'd be nice to have a permanent female name. 

[CalmRage]

Yeah, that does work.  In my case, my birth name is unmistakeably male.  The female equivalents to it are horrendous.  I'm usually referred to as  a unisex nickname, but it'd be nice to have a permanent female name.

my birthname doesn't have a female equivalent at all.

[Christine167]

You might be surprised Calm. I looked up my middle name thinking that I wanted to change it. After all Douglas sounds so girly right? I found that Douglas is an old family name and was also originally a girls name. So I'm keeping it. As for the last name I'll keep it so that my son at least can point to someone that hopefully he will be proud to call a parent.