Names..

[BGLW]

Questions, questions. It seems I'm full of questions lately.

So, I've been unable to sleep thinking about things, and my mind keeps coming back to a certain subject. For awhile, I have been going by the name Cornelius, which is what I chose when I essentially realized I was trans. However lately, I've begun to feel that my name doesn't quite fit me, or it feels awkward, not only to me but to others, and I'm beginning to think of choosing a new name, since I haven't even began transition yet, and so I haven't made any legal changes.

My only anxiety with this is that I've used it quite a bit, its the name my friends know I've been wanting to use, and a few already use it (although scarcely). I understand it's quite a sudden thing to spring on people, but I'm sure they'll likely welcome an easier change (as I already have a few ideas which would improve the...situation? Again sorry if I don't make sense. Also, easier meaning either closer to my birth name or a more common name. )

I was wondering, does anyone feel it's wrong to feel like you should change the name you go by? I understand that names are important and major, but I also understand they aren't set in stone. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want it to seem like I'm doing it on a whim. If anyone is interested in helping me choose another (either way I feel pretty certain this current one isn't working well for me), I do have some ideas.

<sub>- Kevin
- Evan
- Edward/Eddward
- Todd
- Thomas/Tom</sub>

I'm also open to suggestions. (Unique or common names)

Again, sorry if it didn't make any sense. I would be sleeping if I could, and I should, but I'm not.

[LordKAT]

It isn't unusual. some people have 'tried on' a number of names before deciding on one. It is better to test them out before you legally change it.

[Jessica Merriman]

Hi baby! I intentionally chose a name NOT associated with my birth name to cut down on possibly triggering the Dysphoria in the future. You might consider doing the same, but if you are comfortable with an associated name, more power to you. I have known a lot of people with my career and you seem like a deep thinker. A historical deep thinker was a Thomas. I think it matches your text personality, so put that down for my vote! Take care!

[thatboyfresh]

Hey,

I used a name that was given to me by a friend "Devon" while I loved the name it never really fit me, and I found it really hard to get used to. One day someone called me Shawn ( A shortened first name) it really just stuck I don't mind it at this point and it is what everyone calls me and what I use in my life.

[BGLW]

Thanks for the responses! ^^ I hear about people changing names and trying out others, but it felt sort of awkward to question my own name. I have had a friend who legally changed her name, but it was for a different purpose. I'm sure she thought it through as well. Also, I'm not too sure on the deep thinking, because sometimes I feel I don't think deep enough, but that's probably my anxious mind talking. Thomas is a name I like, it's not too close to my birth name (which I'm not super fond of, but I don't hate it.) and it's a little more common (AFAIK) than the first one I chose. I also plan on asking around among my friends and family on what would fit me as well.

Hey,

I used a name that was given to me by a friend "Devon" while I loved the name it never really fit me, and I found it really hard to get used to. One day someone called me Shawn ( A shortened first name) it really just stuck I don't mind it at this point and it is what everyone calls me and what I use in my life.

Haha, looks like I'm a slow typer. You beat me. that reminds me, I actually used to use my step dad's middle name as my middle name (Arthur), until we had our last massive fallout after I came out to him and my mom, and I let a friend give me a new middle name (albeit it's sorta a last name, "Jenkins"), and it stuck when I started signing my art "CJ(last name)".

[overdrive]

Even cis people change names sometimes so no I dont think its wrong to do. I like the Tyler but chose not to take that as I really wanted to keep my initials the same and I feel like I should take the name my parents would have named me if I was born male, so thats the name I chose (same first initial). But each person is different, find one that you like for your own reasons.

[Jamie D]

My screen name is a nickname that was given to me by the girls in the neighborhood.  It is a derivation of my male name, but it is one for which I have fond memories.  It was the only time in my life that I was "one of the girls."

I did not use it for 50 years, but I never forgot the good feelings associated with it.

Find a name that makes you feel good about yourself.

[BGLW]

Sorry to revive a thread that I haven't been to in a day or two, but I figured I shouldn't make a new thread for the same topic. Thanks for the help, everybody. I asked around and everyone (friends, family, significant other, etc) seemed to agree that Thomas is the most fitting. I think I'll begin using that name for awhile and see how it goes.
Again, thanks so much!

[Emerson]

How do you choose a name? How do you tell people to call you by your chosen name? I like the names Emerson and Weston. But I'm afraid that I will hate them after some time.

[LordKAT]

I simply legally changed mine. I never asked or tried out a name.

[sneakersjay]

I tried a lot of names on in private, then went with the one that seemed to be the most appropriate.  Only then did I tell people, though I didn't tell too many until it was legal.  It fits, it works, it's consistent with my past life.


Jay

[Ryan D]

Yeah I have a kind of similar problem, but I already transitioned in school and online. I go by Rían, but people were saying that the spelling makes it feminine even though I haven't been able to find a girl named Rían or Rian in birth name records. I was going to change it to Ryan, but my school already has it in the database as Rían and I went through a lot of trouble to change it on facebook because apparently I had "maxxed out" my name changes... I had to fake a school id to get them to change it.

Meh, who cares what people say? Rían's my name and it fits ^,^

[Hayden Lavigne]

Picking a name was a handful for me too, I decided at the time on one name and starting getting family and friends to use it for a while before I realized I wasn't really comfortable with it and changed it to something else - Hayden - 

I say if your not 100% comfortable with the name then change it