How do you choose your name?

[A]

Personally I went into a book series I love in which there are about 100 characters that all have names, 50~ of which are female. And I chose. I had also looked at my schoolmates' names to get one that's appropriate for my age, but I didn't find any that I liked with that method.

I think the two criterias for your name are:

-It must feel good when you apply it to yourself. Try writing it, try a signature, try "calling out" to yourself.
-UNLESS you want to draw attention (which is fine too but not for me) it should not be too rare. For example, very, very old names, "glamour" names (Cher, Cleopatra, etc.) and very rare, foreign names do.

[RachaelAnn22]

i was researching my family tree and found a grandma named rachael,i liked the name and added ann to it.

[Domitia]

Well, this is what I did:

1. Made a list of names that I would be comfortable writing and like when it's said. I further included common names that seemed popular from my birth date (or, seemed popular anyway).
2. I removed the names that were less frequent around the time I was born than my old name (using online statistics). Uncommon names can draw attention.
3. I removed any names that were of past friends, current family/relatives, or other people where having their name may make for any awkward times.
4. I experimented to ensure the name I chose can't be used for any immature insults (Harry being the easiest to think of).
5. I wrote out my full name(s) to see what they looked like; length, ease to say, and any odd lingual insults from merging first-middle-last names.
6. I took a look at the initial letter of the first and last name to see what I preferred. For me, it was one where my initials didn't change.
7. Rank the list in order of preference with what remains and choose the top one; or just a random one if it's too hard to pick.
8. I vaguely tested the preferred name with a couple of relatives when I came out.

Sounds harder than it was.
I also used a few baby name sites to get variant spellings of names in a few cases.

I should also note, my user name ≠ my real name (current or desired).

[Cen]

When I was younger I used to think about picking a new name a lot before going to sleep.  I had a list that I really liked, but after giving it more thought I decided that a new name would be odd for me.  I already like my name.  It is relatively gender neutral (more on the feminine side IMO), so I would just alter the spelling.  Oddly enough, my middle name is already a girl's name.

As is, I probably wouldn't have to change my name on anything ever unless I want to be picky about the spelling.

[Ruben]

I changed my name to a unisex version of what my parents prepared for me if I had been born with all the correct parts... xD Aeron. I went with unisex [but slightly more male name xD] because it meant I could do it before fully transitioning. Plus its easier to accept for people who still know me as female. They were gonna call me Aaron, but I preferred Aeron anyway as pronounciations go xD

I gave my reasoning to my parents as well; I'd rather have gone with one they chose, since that way, I'm not giving the finger to their choices, since I've chosen one they liked. And I'd rather have something they picked coz then they'd feel less like they had 'done something wrong', which I know some peoples parents have done in my position.

I'm still trying to shake off my old one xD I forgive my mum's use of it, since itd be hardest for her, I guess. My dad is making an effort. [Yes, I'm out to my parents. ]

[Nero]

My middle name, Natasha, was from... yes... Boris and Natasha on the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.    My mom got cable when I was 9 and I was exposed to a whole world of cartoons that weren't shown on Saturday mornings (not in '86-'87, anyway).  I thought Natasha was strong and dead sexy in her black lipstick.  But I already had a first name and so Natasha became my middle.  Deep, in'nt it?

That's an adorable reason imo. 

Feminizing my middle name would result in something that I've only heard on a popular country singer.  Barf.  SOOOO not going there.

Shania? 

[JungianZoe]

Shania? 

Oh, you wicked, horrible, fiendish..... devilishly clever person, you!!! 

It's bad enough that my original middle name came from the middle name of my oldest cousin who, himself, was named after a western.  The feminine version is, indeed, Shania.  That is, indeed, quite the turnoff in my book.

[RabbitsOfTheWorldUnite]

When/if I do ever come out at work that I was not born with a vagina, then I may post my personal info here like name and pictures. (Perhaps it would be a blessing if someone else outed me) until then, I'll just say that my name is the common english version of my Gorean slave name. My middle name came to me on a license plate I saw on my way to fill out the paperwork.
And like so many others here, I've kept my same initials and same last name.

But the real question here should be: who has selected their name based primarily on its meaning?

[eskay]

I used an eclectic assortment of methods to arrive at my current name, and I'm still working on potential middle names. My last name is simply a slightly-modified version of my male name, because I actually sorta liked it and didn't really want to give it up. I have a compound first name (Sarah Katelyn). I chose the first half when I was really, really young and loved the name for no really discernible reason, and the second one I chose because it abbreviated to "Kat," and I really wanted that to be an available nickname. I still haven't decided on what my middle name is, but I'm trying to find something disyllabic so it fits in with my other names. I haven't really bothered to look at meanings yet; I've just been trying to pick things that sounded normal and I could live with!

[JulyaOrina]

How I picked my name: First Name: Julya. First off, Julia Stiles is one of my most favorite actresses, for she possesses many of th traits I see in myself. Second, it's definition is, "youthful". Third, The Urban Dictionary Entry: Julia ~ a name for girls. Most julia's are artistic, smart, romantic, beautiful and also very charming. Julia's can get whatever they want if they try. They can be very sexy so watch out! They are romantics and love old movies, art and books. they love old stuff! They usually aren't very athletic but if a julia is athletic she's kick butt! they have great fashion sense and usually look smokin'. A julia will most likely become a mother because they love kids. They are very successful in life and there is just something about them that draws people in. Also they are ah-mazing dancers!

Middle Neme: Orina. It is a Russian variation of Irene. Which is my wife's middle name. It means, "Peace"; which is what being my feminine self is, peaceful. I have always had a strong affinity to Russian Culture and learned Russian in High School; hence the variation.

Together it is defined as youthful peace, and there is nothing more serene and idealistic than that.

My wife was integral in helping choose a name.  However, we have a lot of experience; having named our four children...

[Oliver-Christoph]

My birth name is Leia Anne, I'm just going with a male name that starts with the same letter, Lucas/Liam or Connor(friend suggested it)

[Nov413]

I don't know what a "dreamed-of" name was originally meant to say, but I'm sure my name is pretty dreamed-up. Mostly because it is so uncommon, as having a month as a name.
And of course that month is not April, May, or June

[DeeperThanSwords]

I haven't chosen a name yet, but I have done the step of trawling name sites and writing down the names I like, then eliminating ones that have potential real-life problems (like being the same as someone I know, creating a bad acronym when teamed with my surname, or being easily convertible to something bad).

I do seem to have a particular name following me around like a puppy, so, failing another really jumping out at me, I'll probably pick it eventually.

[Constance]

I chose "something other". The full story can be found on my blog.

[Nero]

I don't know what a "dreamed-of" name was originally meant to say, but I'm sure my name is pretty dreamed-up. Mostly because it is so uncommon, as having a month as a name.
And of course that month is not April, May, or June

Is it January by any chance? I had a huge crush on a January in high school.

[Alexis R]

I've been through several names since I decided to pick one. I started out with Katherine because I liked the nickname Kitty and Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde) is one of my favorite Marvel characters. I dropped that shortly thereafter, since I have an aunt Katherine. Didn't want to copy her and all. So I moved on to Angela. Liked it and kept it for a few months. Dropped it in favor of Rebecca. Dropped Rebecca two weeks later and went back to Angela. Dropped Angela again and picked up Amy. Dropped that and went with Caitlin. (I *really* like Caitlin.) Kept Caitlin for about a year and went back to Angela for about 15 years or so.

I recently changed it to Allison. My wife suggested Alexis and I may go with that. I had selected Elaine as my middle name, but, again, I have a relative named Elaine, so that might be awkward. My male name starts with an A and my middle one with an S.

My Mom would've named me Rachel Leigh had I been born female. I like Rachel, so I took that as my middle name. I'm still deciding if I want to keep Allison or go with Alexis. My last name will remain the same and it starts with a T. Allison/Alexis Rachel T(surname). ART, for short. My wife said that would be a good combination since I would be a 'work of art.'

I think names define us, everyone that is, not just trans* folk, and choosing the right one is important. Maybe one day I'll figure out which name(s) I want.

Don't count on it, though. 

[Silvermist]

For many different reasons, I've decided not to change my name. But when presenting as female, I'll just have people pronounce my name differently. Please let me explain...

As a Chinese American (first generation), my given name is far from common among Americans. When I was a little boy, sometime before I started kindergarten, someone told me that my name sounded like a girl's name. Mortified at the thought of being perceived as (and teased for) being weird, I insisted that everyone pronounce my name wrong, from that point forward, so that it wouldn't sound like a girl's name. (I believe that that same mentality helped keep me in denial about being transgender until last year.) At the same time, I always felt uncomfortable about "correcting" the way that people pronounce my name.

The irony is that while I'm coming to terms with my gender identity, I'm also coming to terms with letting people pronounce my name the correct way, since it couldn't be more convenient. I'd rather get used to a different way of pronouncing my original name than adopting a new name and trying to get used to it. Of course, my family members have always pronounced my name the correct way (and I've always felt weird about making them call me anything else), so I'm already somewhat used to it.

[Hopefull]

When i chose my name i did not realize how popular it was. My name is Adam, and i am sticking to it.
It was the name of a character in a t.v. show. Oddly enough, i wanted to change my name to that before i wanted to transition (happy about it).

[Michelle S.]

My whole name was super simple to pick out. I just went from Michael Christopher to Michelle Christina. I've always loved the name Michelle and my family always called me by Chris or Christopher. So I figured Christina can still be shortened to Chris so it will make it that much easier on my family.

[Damian]

I use Rain, Ray for short. It's my middle name, seeing as my first name was named after a princess from Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.