How do you choose your name?

[DriftingCrow]

Just chose the name of an author I really like (Henry David Thoreau) after some other names I tried didn't work out. I just saw his name on the book I keep on the nightstand, and it just clicked, I just knew it was my name.

[DeeperThanSwords]

I should've updated this ages ago, but better late than never.

I chose Aethan because I loved the sound of the name 'Ethan', but wanted to keep my initial (A). I stumbled upon the YouTube channel of an awesome transguy called Aethan, and that gave me the epiphany I needed.

[Kevin Peña]

Diana is both the name of Wonder Woman and the Greek goddess Artemis. 

[Kupcake]

Just chose the name of an author I really like (Henry David Thoreau) after some other names I tried didn't work out. I just saw his name on the book I keep on the nightstand, and it just clicked, I just knew it was my name.

You keep Walden on your night stand?

I think I love you a little, if that's true.

[DriftingCrow]

You keep Walden on your night stand?

I think I love you a little, if that's true.

[Joe.]

I chose Joey as it rhymes with my birth name and I just love it and it can be also shortened to Joe. I kind of remind myself of Joey from Friends so maybe that has a little bit to do with it It doesn't bother me that it's so close to my birth name. Only one other person knows I want to be called that so I'm yet to use it as my name but it's definitely the name I'm using in the future

[Simon]

I went a year or two changing names and driving everybody insane in the process. I really liked Matthew but everybody called me Matt (hated that and got sick of correcting people), really liked Logan but it was too "bro-ish", I liked Zane but tired of it quickly, used Sebastian for awhile but my mom hated it (people called me Bastian and she said it sounded like bastard, lol). My friends and family were very nice and accommodating while I tried to find something that fitted me.

I always liked gender neutral names growing up like Taylor or Casey but when I had my name changed legally I wasn't passing often and thought a strong male name would help me pass.

I remember the first time I heard the name Simon. It was the youngest son's name on the tv show "7th Heaven" and I thought it was a nice name. I grew up watching the show with my mom and didn't know that the name was a common one in the UK but unusual in the USA.

After awhile I gave up on choosing a name for myself and wanted to do an official name change in the courts. I wrote a list of names I could live with and my mom chose Simon. I chose Vincent as my middle name simply because it flows well. My last name is my great grandma's maiden name but is a common one.

The funny thing I never noticed until it was pointed out is my chosen name is almost reversed from my birth name. My birth name was Dawn Simpson (no, I don't care who knows. I haven't used that name in 14 years. It feels like it was never mine.) and my name now is Simon D.

I kinda miss being able to play around with names. I think that is one of the more fun things about being trans.

[Elle]

Randomly picked name out of a list of girl names.

[Chaos]

I picked the opposite of my birth name which is Christopher *Chris for short* tho i am kind of torn on a middle name.I was shooting for Lane and it also goes well with my first but i have an obsession with Vincent so lol plus its meaning holds a high place for me.Only issue is,Vincent doesnt really sound right with as a middle name.I might just shoot for Damian Vincent,cant say i know of anyone else with that exact combo lol My last name however..Is still iffy for me on if i am still going to keep it.It is my fathers name and he doesnt know yet.It being a german name,i may change my last name to Valentine.*Its meaning also holds high for me aside from a special place*

[Kgirl]

I've always had trouble with picking names. Whenever I need to create a username/character name for anything I take AGES to do it because I have trouble thinking of one! Given that, you can imagine how difficult picking my actual name would be! One day I volunteered at a place that I had never thought I'd go and I met a girl around my age that looked kind of like I felt I should have looked like and when we introduced ourselves and she told me her name I instantly went "Holy crap! That's it!!!". Never saw her again after that day, but a month later the name has still stuck with me and just makes me happy thinking about it in a way that my given name NEVER has. I don't know if I believe in fate, but that sure seems like it! =)

[Constance]

Whenever I need to create a username/character name for anything I take AGES to do it because I have trouble thinking of one! Given that, you can imagine how difficult picking my actual name would be!

Yeah, I can relate to that.

[DeeperThanSwords]

I've always had trouble with picking names. Whenever I need to create a username/character name for anything I take AGES to do it because I have trouble thinking of one! Given that, you can imagine how difficult picking my actual name would be! One day I volunteered at a place that I had never thought I'd go and I met a girl around my age that looked kind of like I felt I should have looked like and when we introduced ourselves and she told me her name I instantly went "Holy crap! That's it!!!". Never saw her again after that day, but a month later the name has still stuck with me and just makes me happy thinking about it in a way that my given name NEVER has. I don't know if I believe in fate, but that sure seems like it! =)

Epiphanies come at the oddest times .

I totally understand the agonising over picking usernames, etc.

[Sephirah]

My name is the same as someone close to me I lost, who I cared for very much, and was chosen partly to honour her memory as well as liking it myself.

[kingofcatastrophes]

I'm assuming that how I chose mine is a pretty common way. Especially to the younger trans people.
My parents didn't know my gender before I was born, so had a boy and a girls name picked out.
It's a good job I liked the name they picked for a boy! I'd have probably still chosen the name they chose even if I didn't like that much.

[Trisha]

Born male bodied, I told my mother I was a girl when I was about 7. She told me that I was a boy and there will be 'no more of that talk or else'....long story short, when I was 11 she asked me what I wanted to be for Hallowe'en. I mustered up the courage and told her I want to be a girl. She dressed me up as a girl complete with nail polish and lipstick and when my costume was complete she said, well, you make a pretty girl, we'll call you Patricia'. This is the name I chose to use for my transition but when I legally change my name, hopefully this year, I will most likely choose an androgynous name which at this point is still undetermined. I will also be changing my last name as well (withheld). Probably the name will be chosen on how I will appear while saying it. I am self-concious about my crooked teeth so I will choose a name that is both androgynous and also places my lips in a flattering position while saying it. Hope that makes sense

[LilDevilOfPrada]

I just thought of a name I would like to be called by. I am not into long names and I wanted name so different from my male one. So I figured Zoey meaning life was just perfect. Seeming my male name means calmness, ocean, life ,planning and about 13 other ones lol.