What's in a name?

[Dana_W]

My name (first and middle) was chosen with the goal of preserving my birth name's initials. This was important to me, even though it seemed funny to others when I told them.

D.R.W.

[Teknoir]

I changed first and last, and dropped middle.

It's slightly unusual, but I went without a middle name because I just plain don't like them (on me). I also think they are redundant, and cause problems by only ever being on 1/2 your paperwork. That and people are always curious what they are - it's like Rumple-freaking-stiltskin!

Neither of my names are related to my former names in any way, shape or form. They do not start with the same initials. My former name had absolutely no bearing on the name I went with.

When I heard my name, it instantly clicked. It was a name that felt right, but at the time I couldn't use it (this was many years prior to formal transition). So I used it online and in private for years.

I sounded out some others when it came to legal name change time (I really tried to use something related to my former first name to appease family) but nothing fit at all. So I just ran with the name that felt right since I was 14. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't.

So far no regrets. I'm still think it's awesome, and I still think it fits eerily well

[casorce]

No relation in my case. The names are even different nationalities.

[Katelyn-W]

No similarities for me either, but this is the girl name my mom picked before I was born. I considered other names, but I've always been sorta partial to this one since I was young 

[Megan]

If I do transition, my transitioning name will be the feminize version of my birth name. I love my male name as is... since it's so rare and it fits me.

[Greg]

My intitals before were L.E.F. I dislike the letters L and E anyway so I ditched them. Also I couldn't find any names that I really liked that began with those letters. So now I have the initials G.J.F

[justmeinoz]

The names I have chosen to use at the moment are common in my birth year. Eventually at name change time I may change my last name to my paternal Grandmother's maiden name for a connection to my past, and a new start at the same time.

[Zack]

I've just recently changed my name by deed poll. It's no where near my birth name, so doesn't apply to me.
I know a lot of people do like to change their name to something close to their birth name though.

[Al James]

i chose Alex cos it meant i could keep the same initials and hence signature but then i went and changed my last name anyway

[K8]

My given name and adopted name have no relationship – different initials, different mix of soft and hard consonants, different number of syllables, different rhythm when spoken.  I kept the last name because I always liked it and like my family.

After I changed my name, I thought perhaps it was good to change it completely.  Otherwise, I think it would have been harder for friends and family to make the change.

I keep my male name private because it isn't relevant and I don't want to remind myself or others of my male self.  At some point I may be more comfortable as Katherine and relax that.

Although I had known it before I didn't make the connection until recently, but one of my great-grandmothers was named Kate and had the same last initial.  Rediscovering that helped me be more comfortable and integrate the new me into my lineage.

- Kate (aka Katherine)

[Rachel Bellefountaine]

My original female name was pretty similar to my male name but I grew very tired of the similarity and picked a new name all together. I think Rachel suits me well. ^_^

[pebbles]

I don't like my male name, And I hate the female equivalent of it even more which is always everyone's first suggestion. I also don't like my initials they are the exact same as my dad's and they are a pain with things like mail.

Prior to my parents knowing I did inquire about what hypothetical alternate girls names, However as it turned out that my mother is non-coercively opposed to my transition, I don't feel it's right for me to use the names I had derived from her suggestions she scowled at me now when I asked.

My dad dosen't know yet but I kinda don't get along so well with him so we'll see his opinions eventually if he's accepting then I will take one of the permutations of the names he suggested. That'd be "Ellie, Helen" Or something like that. Otherwise if he's opposed aswell I will just have to pick a name I like alone.

[Lucy]

The name that I use, and I say use because im not in transition. Was a name I just chose out the blue. It is not the same letter am my real name nor does it sound simmular.

I Use Lucy Elswit becasue it is my second life name...
and I would probobly use it if I was to transition to

[Walter]

No matter which name I have used, only two (or three) I can think of right now that started with the same letter as my birth name. My birth name started with an A, and I had used the names Apollo, Antonio and Anton (if that counts as the third even though it's a short version of Antonio) before. So the first letters were the same

I tend to pick names that are later in the alphabet like R, W, V, ect.

[Jamie-o]

I wanted to keep my initails so that I could continue signing things J. S___.  Plus,  I've always liked writing the cursive capital J.  Don't know why.  The H, on the other hand,  is a pain in the butt when I have to write out my full legal name.  But I have a cool little symbol, that I've used  on my art projects since I was a kid, that combines my initials into a dollar sign, so I kinda wanted to keep them all.  That and I have those monogrammed cups someone gave me ... 

I never use my birth name around here because, A) I hate it.  It reminds me too much of all those years being seen as someone I never was, and it pisses me off  when people use it now.  And B) It's an unusual enough name that anyone who googled even just my first name would likely end up here.

[Ryan]

Nope, my old name began with S and my new name is Ryan. I could have shortened my old name to a male name, but I didn't.

[pretty pauline]

I now have the feminize version of my birth name, 3brothers older than me, then I arrived, my Parents must have said yikes not another boy, I was called Paul, my biggest regret I didn't transition much sooner, I miss out on being a little girl and my Parents would have excepted me.
When I started my transition I was 16, my Mother just added 3letters to the end of my name ''ine'' if I had been born in the right body I would have been called Pauline, I actually like the name Susan, but my Parents where so supportive of my transition, particularly my Mother who was trilled at gaining a daughter, so when we decided on my name change, we went with Pauline, Im now Pauline for the last 35years.
p

[Victoria L.]

Nope, I never even considered it. Although I'll take being called by the feminized version of my male name over the male name itself, sure.

Emily is the name that I would have been given if I had been born biologically female, so I'm going with that.

[insanitylives]

no where close... i've actually been asked "why did you pick something so far off" before.

Meh, i really hate my given name, wanted to get away from it
[and the masculine form is really just knocking off the ending, which is what people call me who dont know anyway. >.> is not a boys name in the US sadly. god dammit.]

[AmySmiles]

My first name is "the" male name.  I've hated it my whole life and I can't wait to change it.

I like my initials though, so I'm trying to keep them.  I haven't been able to think of an 'M' name that sounds good with Amy and my last name.  May have to change the middle initial.