How did you choose your name?

[BristolCollins]

Hello ladies,

I've been lurking for some time now and have gained an incredible amount of helpful information from everyone. Im in the early stages currently, I began Hrt 3 months ago. Planning FFS with Cardenas in March. So I was curious does anyone feel comfortable sharing the story of how they choose a name? Ive been trying to let that happen organically but i'm stumped!

B

[ChloëAri]

My mom actually picked mine out for me at my birth. All of my siblings have a "male" name and a "female" name, with middle names included, so my current name is in a way still a birth name.

On a side note, do you feel that March is perhaps too soon for FFS? I do not judge you if you do not, however in just under 10 months hormones have completely reshaped my face shape, jaw, nose, and brow bones.

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. I wasn't all that unhappy with my male name but it was - well - male. One day I saw my name on a auto license plate and I loved it because it recycled all the letter in my male name making it feminine. There was a feminine version of my middle name but I didn't really like the sound of it so I browed my middle name from a girl I worked with on my first job. As for the family name, I didn't have problems with that and kept it.

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[Rainbow Bay]

It took me a while to find my name (Bay) but I loved it when I saw it. I loved it because it seemed gentle and it was linked to nature; a quiet curve of land where the sea comes in. My old name started with B also and I thought it was nice to honour that in some way, or maybe I thought it would make things easier for everyone who new my old name. Anyway it was really annoying when a few people's response to my new name was 'I'm just going to call you B'. I felt they weren't really trying and it was a way for them to hold onto my old name. No one calls me B though, it's just a response I got from a couple of people who were resistant to change. I chose Bay also because it was a name I felt that was quite free from gender so whilst changing over my paperwork if people thought I was a boy called Bay or a girl called Bay it didn't really matter.

But part of me wishes I had let my parents choose. They have been so loving and supportive and I knew it was really hard for them to give up the name they had given me because it meant so much more to them than what it meant to me. I didn't think of that at the time though but I think it's a lovely thing to do if you have a good relationship with them. xxx

[gennee]

Hi Bristol and welcome to Susan's. My actual name is Genevieve.I have always liked the name. There's something regal about it in my opinion. When I accept my trans identity, I had my name already.

[Devlyn]

Hi Bristol, welcome to Susan's Place! I named myself Tracey, my best friend didn't like that one and named me Devlyn instead. Sometimes they come along like that, but one of the best parts of being transgender is our ability to choose our own name. You'll find one. 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Oliviah]

Welcome.

I picked my first name from a TV show.  The character Olivia on Fringe just spoke to me.  Her struggles with her identity and the plot of her alternate self just connected with me.  So I was like I am Olivia.

My middle name is my older deceased sisters name. 

[V M]

Hi Bristol 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

[Maybebaby56]

Mine was pretty easy.  My boy name is Terence, and I go by Terry, so I went out on a limb and call myself Terri.

Ironically, I hated my name as a child.  I remember being teased, "Ter-ry the fai-ry!".  I wasn't particularly effeminate or anything, it just rhymed.

[AmandaDanielle]

My mother named me. I was originally supposed to be a girl so she had a name picked out and ready to go. When I decided to transition I asked her what my name would have been if I were born a girl... to which she replied Amanda Danielle I loved it instantly!!! What's more, my mom loves that she got the privilege to name me.

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi Bristol,

A big Aussie welcome to Susan's family. It's good of you to drop in and say "Hi". Hope you like it here, and you stay for a while.

There is a mountain of information, resources and friendship waiting for you here, you just need to jump in start talking and ask any question you like. You're quite safe here and we are very accepting.

I never did like the name my mother chose, Tracy. I'm just not a Tracy personality. So I went though a names list to find what resonated. In time I tried a few, Sarah, Elizabeth even Catherine with a K. Finally chose Catherine after my mothers aunt. She was the matriarch of the Casey clan. A women you didn't stand up to, or else. Fits quite nicely with my real personality.

Looking forward to hearing more of your story in time to come, but in the meantime, be safe, well and happy.

Lotsa huggs
Catherine

[CatherineFay]

Hi Bristol,

I came up with my name because I go by Black cat on a lot of games. So people called me Cat for short on them. I got used to it and the name just kinda stuck. I choose Catherine so that people can still use Cat as the short name for me and also Catherine just kinda stuck out.


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[Sspar]

pure lazy..combined with lack of imagination..
was Steve.. now Stephanie

[Devlyn]

pure lazy..combined with lack of imagination..
was Steve.. now Stephanie

+1 for honesty! 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Shads]

If I had been born female, my mother would have called me Jane.  I don't think I could use it as a first name, but possibly a second or third name, if I can work out what I want as the other(s).

I am too used to my legal name and it might be a struggle to be called something else (or a variation of it).

[deecee]

I chose mine (Kate) just because I liked it.  The full name is Katharine Diane,  although I have experimented with the order spelling (I originally wanted to keep my current initials, and started with Diane Catharine, and I may flip-flop again before I make it official). 

[JemmaJemJemmyJemJem]

personally it took me awhile to find a permanent set of names, one day well browsing the internet i heard the Jemma and i really liked it and i stuck with it, For my last name i was like hmm i want something creative and different so i used the name Sirens, all though I'm still kinda working on a middle name which I've mostly been getting opinions from other people for because I'm bad at middle names, at the moment my name sits as Jemma Jean Sirens although the middle name is still kinda up for debate whether or not i can find anything better. PS if you have any better middle name suggestions toss em my way
                                                                                                                                 -<3Jemma<3

[TG CLare]

Mine was sort of chosen for me and my middle name was to honour a nice person who helped me choose some clothes. I took the last name from the kick butt woman in Indiana Jones, Ravenwood as it matched my last initial.

I had applied for a fuel credit card from a company and their computer spat out Clare instead of my former name. I stayed with it as the company didn't care about the name, just the name on the cheque!

I chose Rachelle because I was looking for some clothes and the salesgirl said if I was honest with her, I'd be a lot happier with my choices because I said they were for my sister. If it was for my sister, a gift card would have been more appropriate. She helped me out with some nice things, managed to find a private place to try them on. So, I chose her name to thank her.

Love,
Clare

[BristolCollins]

Thank you so much for your replies! I had heard that many parents choose a male and female name before they know the sex. Unfortunately Im an orphan and I asked my grandparents but Its hard to be casual about a question like that (They are some Arizona Republicans so im scared to come out yet)

And yes I do think March may be a bit too soon for FFS. Alot of feedback Ive been getting is encouraging me to wait a bit longer. I just wanted to have my type 3 and nose because I know hormones wont have too much effect on them.

I think what makes it extra challenging is its hard to weed out the opinions of the people who know me. It just seems like such an important undertaking!

[BristolCollins]

I appreciate you welcoming me to the site. Honestly I know I'm not alone when I say sites like Susan's saved my life, literally. I get so much strength from your stories. <3