My parents were never able to pick out a girls name when they were pregnant with me, despite all the docs saying I was going to be a girl before my mishap of birth. For now, I shortened my given name into its common nickname, but spelled as the feminine version, Dani.
The name I've pretty much settled on is definitely not common. I found it when exploring the Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. I have an affinity for ravens and I really liked the idea of being named Raven, except I am a brunette.... So I found Branwen, a sacred white raven of Celtic mythology, to which I also have a nickname of Wren. My middle name is the same as my first born's, Dawn. My wife sees me as being a Dawn and I trust her, plus I like having my daughter being/having a namesake with me.
Two funny things with my name: One, my oldest girl (a stepdaughter, not my firstborn) told me she thought I was a Wren, before I told her the name I like and it's nickname. Two, my aunt is pregnant with her fourth child. She was favoring Branwen as a name if it's a girl, until she was shocked to learn I was leaning towards that name. She was (jokingly) upset with me for taking that name.
I'm actually thinking of having my name format be the same as all three of my girls, which would make it Branwen-Dawn [insert middle name here]. But then what would my middle name be? I kind of like being called Dani, but it doesn't sound right as a middle name (and I hate Danielle, which sounds just as bad to me anyway).
Okay....that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
