How did you pick your name?

[Jessica_Rose]

I wanted to keep my initials. I didn't want my new first name to be the same or similar to any friends or co-workers. I researched common female baby names and picked out a few that I liked. I also considered potential nicknames which people could derive from the new name. Once I settled on 'Jessica', I researched baby names. I wanted a short middle name which would balance nicely with my new first name. There weren't that many 'R' names I liked, but 'Rose' caught my eye quickly. 'Rose' also symbolized my soul finally being able to bloom. When I signed up for Susan's Place, I became 'Jessica Rose'. Before making it official, I gave a list of several potential names to my wife and daughters, which included names based on my daughter's middle names. Interestingly, they all agreed on 'Jessica Rose'.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Devlyn]

My best friend Tina named me. Her suggestions were Emily (which I liked) and Devlyn (which I loved!). When I asked her where she came up with it, she said her daughter was going to be Shannon or Devlyn, and Shannon won.

I changed all of my names, first, middle, and last. I wanted a complete break.

Hugs, Devlyn

[Gwendoline]

I asked my mother my initial name and when she said it, I loved it and she told she would be happy if I used it.

[D'Amalie]

Richelle is the feminine form of Richard, used in mostly English, French and German speaking countries.  Amalie is a girl's name of German and French origin.

Familial origin and heritage supplied the names.  Besides, they are pretty, yes?

[Jenn104]

My story always leaves support groups laughing, so feel free to do so.

My birth name initials are MR -last name-. Yup, mom put mister in my name, which she admits is a flub of colossal proportions.

I tried out a few first names and kept coming back to Jennifer. I thought seriously about Karen as a middle name. I know 3 Karens who read me the riot act.. and settled on an anagram of my sister's middle name. She has Jean, I have Jane.

Jennifer Jane

[CaelaNotKayla]

I had a name as a little girl that I loved so much I gave it to one of my kids!  So then I thought "Let's keep the initials" and found a new first name I loved- but I couldn't find a middle name that matched.  So I gave up on keeping my original initials and took my late wife's first name as a middle name!

Hugs!!

Caela

[davina61]

I just feminised my male names, felt right so ended up Davina Martina

[RobynTx]

I kept my initials as well.  That was important to me.  I always liked the name Robyn so went with that.  My youngest son was given my middle name so felt I had to keep that.  Otherwise it would have been changed to Siobhan.

[ClaireBlooming]

I chose 'Claire' partially because it has the same first letter as my male name.  But a lot of it for me was just gut feeling.  It just felt right.

[EllenW]

My late wife picked Ellen. I was actually looking for a middle name that started with E in order to have the same initials. She came up with Ellen and when I told her l liked it it would be my middle name she said no, make it my first name.

I am very happy with my name and very thankful she picked it.

Ellen

[Jessica_Rose]

My late wife picked Ellen. I was actually looking for a middle name that started with E in order to have the same initials. She came up with Ellen and when I told her l liked it it would be my middle name she said no, make it my first name.

I am very happy with my name and very thankful she picked it.

Ellen

What a beautiful, unforgettable memory you will always have.

Love always -- Jess

[Susannah]

It will sound strange.  For many years, I felt like there was another being inside of me.  Her personality was nothing like how I was.  Yet over the years, my personality took on more and more of hers.  It almost feet like I am becoming more like her.  I know now that she was me all along.  I have always known her name.  That is how I got the name Susannah.

[Athena]

I was going to use the name Julie but my neighbour and friend said that choosing a name based on my first crush wasn't a good idea. I then decided to let her daughter who will likely have no kids name me. She came up with Athena Sophia and I was looking up last names and saw the name Katz and I always joked to my friends that I was going to become a crazy cat lady so I am in the process of changing my name to Athena Sophia Katz.

[traciknight]

I was actually looking for a pen name to publish my novels under. I selected Traci from Traci Lords as I was writing in the Erotica genre. M because I thought an initial would be cool, then my first therapist was Melissa and that is a name I had long thought about. Knight, because it sounded like a name an author might have.

Hence, Traci Melissa Knight or as I publish under Traci M Knight

[TXSara]

I have always known that my parents went to the hospital with two names, Brian and Sara.  When I was AMAB, I got Brian.  When I made my transition, I felt like it would be a nice tribute to my mom and dad to let them name me.  I'm glad I did.  It suits me.

I chose my middle name as a tribute to my big sister.  She has always been a great role model to me for what a kind and caring human being should be like.  I love her very much, and I'm proud to be Sara Michelle.

As a funny side note, my mom asked me (after I had petitioned the court for my name change) how I spell Sara.  When I told her, she let me know that it was supposed to have an "h".  Sorry, Mom.  I don't like the 'h' -- it's totally unnecessary  .

~Sara

[Devlyn]

I have always known that my parents went to the hospital with two names, Brian and Sara.  When I was AMAB, I got Brian.  When I made my transition, I felt like it would be a nice tribute to my mom and dad to let them name me.  I'm glad I did.  It suits me.

I chose my middle name as a tribute to my big sister.  She has always been a great role model to me for what a kind and caring human being should be like.  I love her very much, and I'm proud to be Sara Michelle.

As a funny side note, my mom asked me (after I had petitioned the court for my name change) how I spell Sara.  When I told her, she let me know that it was supposed to have an "h".  Sorry, Mom.  I don't like the 'h' -- it's totally unnecessary  .

~Sara

Fixed that for ya! 

Hugs, Devlyn

[TXSara]

That's weird... it looks like something went wrong when I posted.  I know how to spell LOL.  I have no idea how that happened! (maybe the second "p" will get removed when I post!)

[Stéphanie.FR]

My mom had a thing with the name Laurence for a girl, as both my brother and I should have been one if assigned female at birth. For many reasons, I don't really like the name, but would maybe use it as a middle name in due time. There's many name I liked and played with in the past, but I wanted too to keep my initials, so I listed names beginning with a S. I ended by feminizing my male name, thinking that it would be easier for family and friends (if I keep some), to name me correctly first times. (Just adding the final "ie" to the pronunciation of my male name, even with a short delay, to correct a mistake).

[Zoey Starr]

Mine was the last name on the list and 4 letters like Cher. Perfect fit!

[Paulie]

I just feminized my given name.  There are several female derivatives of Paul to chose from, the oblivious Paula and Pauline.  I had considered them both.  I went with Paulie because of a nickname my parents used when I was a young kid.  I was thin and wiry, and could sit on the ground with my legs tucked under me and kind of out to the sides, so I got the name pollyfrog.

I thought of using Polly but went with Paulie instead.  When I picked the name, it was just for Susan's since at the time I had not planned transitioning, so I hadn't given any thought to a middle name.  Guess I could adapt the female version of my Italian middle name, if I ever get to the point where I think I need one. 

I really like the name Pauline and kind of wish I went with it.  Overall, I think Paulie is a better choice in that it's more gender-neutral.  I don't think I'll ever pass and having a gender-neutral name may work better, should I ever decide to use the name outside of Susan's. 

Warm Regards,

Paulie