Community Conversation => Transitioning => Topic started by: Karla on October 07, 2013, 06:28:59 PM Return to Full Version

Title: Please help with my name
Post by: Karla on October 07, 2013, 06:28:59 PM
I am having trouble deciding; your thoughts please, they mean a lot to me.

Carla or Karla ?

I like both, but I want to blend in.  Karla is extremely uncommon in North America, but Carla is commonplace.   And after about 10 days of RLE, I really feel like blending in to the female crowd. 

Your thoughts mean a lot to me.

Thanks,
Karla

P.S. Where 'Karla' originated is an interesting anecdote:  in college, I was considered weird and geeky, not invited to the Good Parties where the Beautiful People attended... I was a polyglot and a renaissance person, loving learning instead of recreational drugs.   

But in the early 1980s, nobody else spoke both Russian and German... so one of the names I was known as behind my back, was 'Karla', the Moscow spymaster from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  When I came out, 'Karla' seemed the obvious choice, a matter of pride.

Here's two youtubed versions of the famous scene, take your pick: 

Alec Guinness with Patrick Stewart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wsRwaPPUY0)

...or:

Gary Oldman and an empty chair (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfU7M3RU63I).
Title: Re: Please help with my name
Post by: bethany on October 07, 2013, 08:12:21 PM
I really like the spelling of Karla better, but either way when spoken they sound the same.

It's like me choosing between Bethany and Bethenny.
Title: Re: Please help with my name
Post by: Megumi on October 07, 2013, 08:17:56 PM
I always flip a coin in 50/50 decision scenarios. Carla=heads, Karla=tails. Let fate decide. 
Title: Re: Please help with my name
Post by: Nero on October 07, 2013, 08:42:36 PM
Even though Carla may be more common than Karla, I honestly don't think anyone will even blink over it. It's a recognizable, somewhat common female name either way. It's not even a 'creative' spelling like Bethenny for Bethany as Bethany mentioned. :) Karla is like Katherine instead of Catherine.
You may get people spelling it wrong though. Just tell them it's Karla with a K. No one will think anything of it.

I would go with whichever you like better. Have you tried signing it (in ink)? Write them both out and see which feels more natural.
Title: Re: Please help with my name
Post by: Karla on October 07, 2013, 08:58:49 PM
Thanks FA and all for your kind reassurances.  Sticking to my guns then :)

Karla is more natural, in a signature... and, importantly it doesn't change my signature appreciably from my boy name.  My bank (as well as Amex) should be satisfied with it :)



Quote from: FA on October 07, 2013, 08:42:36 PM
Even though Carla may be more common than Karla, I honestly don't think anyone will even blink over it. It's a recognizable, somewhat common female name either way. It's not even a 'creative' spelling like Bethenny for Bethany as Bethany mentioned. :) Karla is like Katherine instead of Catherine.
You may get people spelling it wrong though. Just tell them it's Karla with a K. No one will think anything of it.

I would go with whichever you like better. Have you tried signing it (in ink)? Write them both out and see which feels more natural.