Your Name(choosing a name)

[notyouraverageguy]

What is your name?
What does your name mean?
Where is it derived from?
How did you choose it?
Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?
What influenced your decision, if any?
Is it a common name where you're from?

[notyouraverageguy]

1) Alistair
2) Defender Of Man
3) It's an anglicized spelling of the Gaelic name Alasdair
4) I wanted a name that fit with my family background
5) Masculine
6) Just what name I felt fit me as a person
7) Not really, but I don't plan on living in the u.s. for much longer.

That's a pretty siiick name, as in cool. Lol
Sounds like a warrior in a movie like 300.

[Radar]

Your first name means "death"? Awesome.

[notyouraverageguy]

2) First: Death, Middle: Master of Thought
3) Greek
4) First: similar in meaning to the mistaken name, Middle: It fits with the fact that I am notorious in school as the "lucky bastard who does not have to study" and the fanclub that revolves around it.
5) Masculine
6) My heritage and personality traits
7) Not in the US

Your first name meaning Death is pretty crazy!

[Teknoir]

What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Heh heh, sorry... 


What is your name?
Dante. I'm leaving out my last name, though I chose that too. I have no middle name.

What does your name mean?
I'm not big on name meanings, that didn't factor into it.

That said, it's the shortened form of Durante (Which is derived from the latin name Durans meaning enduring).

My last name is along the lines of scribe, record keeper, writer (in so far as "meaning", though it's more derived from a job title).

Where is it derived from?
An author and a few fictional characters that I can very much relate to.
Background wise, first name is Italian derived from Latin. Last name is English, derived from old French.

How did you choose it?
Hmm... it was a very long time ago. I'm not really sure, it just kinda clicked when I heard it.  I considered some others derived from my birth name, but I kept coming back to what I have now.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?
Masculine

What influenced your decision, if any?
10 years after I heard it, it still clicked.

Is it a common name where you're from?
No.

Everybody knows of it, but nobody actually knows anyone who has it (well, that isn't dead or fictional  ).

It's uncommon enough that I get the perks of having a unique name, with being "normal" enough people can spell and pronounce it (and not ask too many questions).

[Linus]

What is your name?
What does your name mean?
Where is it derived from?
How did you choose it?
Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?
What influenced your decision, if any?
Is it a common name where you're from?

Name origin info derived from here: http://www.behindthename.com/

LINUS

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized), German, Scandinavian

Pronounced: LIE-nəs (English), LEE-nuws (German)  [key]
From the Greek name Λινος (Linos) meaning "flax". In Greek legend he was the son of the god Apollo, who accidentally killed him in a contest. Another son of Apollo by this name was the music teacher of Herakles. The name was also borne by the second pope, serving after Saint Peter in the 1st century. In modern times it was the name of a character in Charles Schulz's comic strip 'Peanuts'.

My aunt started calling me Linus when I was 8 yrs old in reference to the Peanuts' character habit of responding to questions from adults with adult answer (much like I did).

Masculine and I choose it because of what she did. Not as common as one would think and many think it's because of Linus Torvalds.

[DamagedChris]

What is your name? Christian, shortened to Chris for everyday use.

What does your name mean? I've been told its a religious thing or somethin'  but that's not why I chose it.

Where is it derived from? It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "follower of Christ".

How did you choose it? It's the male variation of my birth name...I did this in part for family's sake, to ease transition and make it easier to explain to people when a family member slipped up (mask it as a mispronounce). I wanted Chris as my name, but Christopher is too popular for my taste.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex? Technically it and my birth name are both unisex. Though in current times in the US my birth name is almost 100% female and Christian is almost 100% male. (fun side note, my birth name is actually male in some places in europe)

What influenced your decision, if any? I have an autistic cousin and an aunt that's also slow mentally and neither one would understand a name/gender change. And my family sadly couldn't be trusted to call me by whatever I chose, they would just ignore my wishes for their own means. But really, the name's grown a lot on me...and this way it didn't take any time at all getting used to answering to.

Is it a common name where you're from? Yes and no...Chris is, but Christian is much less so versus Christopher. That said...it's REALLY up there on the popular name list.

What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

[Teknoir]

African or European?

I don't know...... Arrrrrrrgh!

[Jamie-o]

What is your name?  Jamison Hadley S_____

What does your name mean?  1st: Son of James (Yeah, I know.  Not very Exciting  )  2nd: Heather Meadow

Where is it derived from? Britain

How did you choose it?  Looked through baby name books.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?  Masculine

What influenced your decision, if any?  I wanted to keep my initials.  Jamison was the J name I liked the best.  Hadley was a nod to the reason my mom chose Heather as my original 2nd name.

Is it a common name where you're from?  No.  And I'm finding people think it's "too difficult." 

[Miniar]

What is your name?
Hans Miniar Jónsson

What does your name mean?
Well, Hans, according to etymology comes from Johannes, which comes from John, which comes from Yochanan which means "YHVH is Gracious" (YHVH being the judeo-christian god).
Miniar exists only in one place in modern languages and that is in Spanish, where it's a transitive verb that means "To paint in miniature." However, it also exists in ancient Tibetan where it translates to "he who is hidden/forgotten".
Jónsson just means Son of Jón (which is John, again, in Icelandic).

Where is it derived from?
Er, I answered that above...

How did you choose it?
Hans -> because I'm originally named after my father's  mother I decided that the logical thing to do was to take my mother's father's name instead. I am an old fashioned guy and want to honor my family, and Hans is a nice name that is sadly dying out.
Miniar -> came to me in a dream actually and once I learned it's meaning in the ancient Tibetan language I just "knew" it was "me".
Jónsson -> well, Icelandic tradition is, a child takes his father's first name and is named his son or daughter. I'm currently Jónsdóttir (daughter of John) and since I still care deeply 'bout my father and he's trying his best to comprehend this thing even if he's a bit of an ass about it sometimes, I'll keep his name and become Jónsson (son of John) instead.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?
Hans = Masculine
Miniar = "technically" masculine, but I suppose it's phonetics are rather unisex
Jónsson = Masculine

What influenced your decision, if any?
My own sense of honor mostly.

Is it a common name where you're from?
No it's not.
Hans is "dying out" around here, there's only 165 results with that name when I run it through the phonebook online and some of those are companies and I've not once seen a man under the age of 30 named Hans unless it was a middle name that he never used.
Miniar is nonexistent as a "name", and I'll have to apply for permission with the "naming committee" in Iceland to be allowed to take it.
Jónsson however, is Really common. Run that trough the phonebook online and it goes "999+" results. Might have something to do with the fact that Jón is the most common name on this island.

[GamerJames]

What is your name?
James Avery W______

What does your name mean?
JAMES
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, Biblical

Pronounced: JAYMZ (English)
English form of the Late Latin name Iacomus which was derived from Ιακωβος (Iakobos), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (see JACOB). This was the name of two apostles in the New Testament. The first was Saint James the Greater, the apostle John's brother, who was beheaded under Herod Agrippa in the Book of Acts. The second was James the Lesser, son of Alphaeus. Another James (known as James the Just) is also mentioned in the Bible as being the brother of Jesus.

Since the 13th century this form of the name has been used in England, though it became more common in Scotland, where it was borne by several kings. In the 17th century the Scottish king James VI inherited the English throne, becoming the first ruler of all Britain, and the name grew much more popular. Famous bearers include the explorer Captain James Cook (1728-1779), the inventor of the steam engine James Watt (1736-1819), and the novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941). This name has also been borne by six American presidents. A notable fictional bearer is the British spy James Bond, created by author Ian Fleming.

AVERY
Gender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AY-vər-ee, AYV-ree 
From a surname which was itself derived from the Norman French form of the given names ALBERICH or ALFRED.

Where is it derived from?
Etymologically, see above. Personally, my mom picked it.

How did you choose it?
When I came out to my mom, she said "Does that mean you're not going to keep the name I gave you?" I replied with "Well, yeah, but do you want to pick my new one?" She suggested James, I mulled it over for a few days (along with Braedon, a name I'd always liked, and Stephen, which my brother had suggested), and eventually felt that James was just "me". Plus, I really like that my mom chose it, cuz it's more like what would've happened if I'd been born a guy in the first place.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?
James is masculine, Avery is unisex.

What influenced your decision, if any?
As mentioned, my mom suggested it, but I did always like the name as well. Plus, once I started "trying it on for size" it just was impossible to think of myself as any other name.

Is it a common name where you're from?
Yup, pretty common.

[notyouraverageguy]

What is your name?  Jamison Hadley S_____

What does your name mean?  1st: Son of James (Yeah, I know.  Not very Exciting  )  2nd: Heather Meadow

Where is it derived from? Britain

How did you choose it?  Looked through baby name books.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?  Masculine

What influenced your decision, if any?  I wanted to keep my initials.  Jamison was the J name I liked the best.  Hadley was a nod to the reason my mom chose Heather as my original 2nd name.

Is it a common name where you're from?  No.  And I'm finding people think it's "too difficult." 

We are alike. I've been looking through baby name websites, and I want to keep my intitials as well.

[Ryan]

1- Ryan
2- "Little King" apparently. I had to look that up.
3- Gaelic/English
4- It's the name my parents would have given me.
5- Masculine
6- I liked the name and it's the name my parents would have chosen for me.
7- It's a widely known name, but it's not that common. I know two other Ryans.

[Chamillion]

1 - Jace Hunter
2 - Jace =  "Healer", Hunter = "One who Hunts".  I just looked those up haha, I didn't know what they meant and that's not why I chose them
3 - Greek/English
4 - I chose Jace because it shares the same first initial as my female name and I liked it.  Hunter was going to be my middle name if I had been born a boy, and it's taken from my grandmother on my dad's side of the family
5 - Masculine, although Hunter can be either
6 - Was originally going to go by Trent but my mom wasn't cool with that name so I picked Jace because we both liked it.  Hunter, as I said before, was to honor/appreciate my family.  So I guess in both instances my family had somewhat of an influence
7 - It's not too common but I know a couple other people with the same name

[Ryuu]

What is your name? Aaron Chris (chris is middle name)
What does your name mean? Aaron means "high mountain" or "exalted". Chris is short for Christopher, which means "bearing Christ".
Where is it derived from? Aaron is Hebrew, Christopher is English.
How did you choose it? Aaron is the name my parents considered giving me had I been XY. Chris is a shortened version of my given name.
Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex? Aaron is masculine, though pronounced the same way as unisex Erin. Chris is unisex.
Is it a common name where you're from? Aaron is the 2nd most popular masculine baby name for my birth year.

[Jamie-o]

What is your name? Aaron Chris (chris is middle name)

Interesting.  Had I been declared a boy at birth my parents were going to name me Aaron Christopher.

Well, that's one story I've gotten.  The other is that they hadn't decided on a boy's name, and that the only name they agreed on, Sean, when paired with my last name made the speaker sound drunk. 

[notyouraverageguy]

1- Ryan
2- "Little King" apparently. I had to look that up.
3- Gaelic/English
4- It's the name my parents would have given me.
5- Masculine
6- I liked the name and it's the name my parents would have chosen for me.
7- It's a widely known name, but it's not that common. I know two other Ryans.

I think ryan is a nice name, its on my list.

I wonder what my parents would've named me...hmm...

[Ryuu]

Interesting.  Had I been declared a boy at birth my parents were going to name me Aaron Christopher.

Actually I was going to be named Aaron Scott, but given that my last name starts with an S, it doesn't make the best initials. (What's awesome is that my great grandma was the one to point that out) By the time of my birth, the male name would have been Zachary, but they reused that for my brother.

[Kurzar]

What is your name?   PrairieWolf

What does your name mean?  It's another term for Coyote =D

Where is it derived from?  It's actually the english translation of the Lakota Miyaca

How did you choose it?  I have Native American in my background so chose it to honour that.

Is it masculine, feminine, or unisex?  Well the name itself is masculine, but at the time I chose it I didn't know the word 'Prairie' was french for flower 

What influenced your decision, if any?  My love of Native American culture and especially the Lakota as well as my love for wild canids.

Is it a common name where you're from?  Nope...not common anywhere I've been.

[Kurzar]

I definitely like your name  I have a bunch of Lakota Sioux cousins, so I hear Native names all the time.

That is awesome!  My heritage is waaaaay far back and I'm having trouble finding it in my family history. At any rate, no matter what % I am, if any, I have a deep love for the culture.