Susan's Place Transgender Resources

the pic in my my avatar is a recent photo of me.

i'm having trouble with my name. please give some suggestions for a name that you think would suit me.

Thank you.

-ell

Anemone
Euthalia

Posted on: October 19, 2007, 10:37:33 AM

---

Echo I really like Echo for you.

Quote from: Nero on October 19, 2007, 09:39:12 AM
Anemone
Euthalia

Posted on: October 19, 2007, 10:37:33 AM

---

Echo I really like Echo for you.

Ooh, i really like anemone, and if anyone stutters while saying it, then it may sound like "an enemy," which would be perfect for people on my list:

redfish
Kate
and Berliegh

thank you Nero!

-ell

Quote from: redfish on October 19, 2007, 08:57:01 PM
I went by Anemone for a few months on these boards. I'm so excited to hear that you're considering naming yourself after me!

I suggested the name. I think it fits Ell. May fit you as well, although I'm not as acquainted with you as I am with Ell.

i must confess that i was thinking more of an actual name for my legal name change. i've given it lots of thought and can't seem to make any progress...

hmm... so something a bit more commonplace?

Sarah or Phoebe

Quote from: Nero on October 19, 2007, 10:18:52 PM
hmm... so something a bit more commonplace?

yeah. i'm limited by such things as, i don't want it to be too fancy, such as Katherine, and not a name that suggests great beauty, but at least some cuteness, in regards to body, face and personality.

I found Popular Baby Names (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/) to be kinda handy. Although, seeing as how "Kate" was the 713th most popular name when I was born, lol... I didn't really stick with being age-appropriate. But since when do I stick to the common rules? ;)

~Kate~

Quote from: Nero on October 19, 2007, 09:01:00 PM

Quote from: redfish on October 19, 2007, 08:57:01 PM
I went by Anemone for a few months on these boards. I'm so excited to hear that you're considering naming yourself after me!

I suggested the name. I think it fits Ell. May fit you as well, although I'm not as acquainted with you as I am with Ell.

yeah, redfish.

and thanks however, for your suggestions of Nixie, Amber, Rachel, Ellie. (& Rasputin?)

Quote from: redfish on October 20, 2007, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: Nero on October 19, 2007, 09:01:00 PM

Quote from: redfish on October 19, 2007, 08:57:01 PM
I went by Anemone for a few months on these boards. I'm so excited to hear that you're considering naming yourself after me!

I suggested the name. I think it fits Ell. May fit you as well, although I'm not as acquainted with you as I am with Ell.

Oh, I responded more due to the irony of ell naming me as an enemy whilst considering my previous "name"

lol  She was joking, right Ell?

Quote from: Nero on October 20, 2007, 08:09:05 AM

Quote from: redfish on October 20, 2007, 07:38:22 AM

Quote from: Nero on October 19, 2007, 09:01:00 PM

Quote from: redfish on October 19, 2007, 08:57:01 PM
I went by Anemone for a few months on these boards. I'm so excited to hear that you're considering naming yourself after me!

I suggested the name. I think it fits Ell. May fit you as well, although I'm not as acquainted with you as I am with Ell.

Oh, I responded more due to the irony of ell naming me as an enemy whilst considering my previous "name"

lol  She was joking, right Ell?

Ah ha ha!  Was I?

Posted on: October 20, 2007, 11:29:16 AM

---

Quote from: Suzie on October 19, 2007, 10:29:22 PM
Sarah or Phoebe

Thank you Suzie. i especially like the name Sarah, but there was a person in my past that kinda ruined that one for me... :-\

which is maybe stupid of me. i mean, a name either suits you well, or it doesn't, right? & it's not as if there were an endless supply of such names. i will add it to my "possibles" list.  :)

I like Delilah :)

But anyway just a suggestion. Whatever you pick for your name, just be sure it FEELS right. Its your name it says who U are you need to just think about it and let it come.

I never really prescribe common names.  I think June is pretty.

~ BB

One doesn't have to choose only from existing names, making up a name is also an option. I tried various female names with the first letter of my birth name, none fit, so I created my name.  ;D

Zythyra

Quote from: ell on October 20, 2007, 12:10:06 PM
Thank you Suzie. i especially like the name Sarah, but there was a person in my past that kinda ruined that one for me... :-\

which is maybe stupid of me. i mean, a name either suits you well, or it doesn't, right? & it's not as if there were an endless supply of such names. i will add it to my "possibles" list.  :)

I can relate, the same thing happened to me.  There was this woman who I didn't particularly get along with that had a name I liked.  But then I thought, why should I have to change my name?  She should have to changer hers!!!  :laugh:

We end up getting along OK now...

hmmm.... Caitlyn or some other spelling variation thereof is cute, or perhaps Kathleen!  One of my best friends has that name.  I stole her nickname from her  >:D

Libby

Lizzie

Liz

Elsabet

Elspeth      - any variation of Elizabeth

I especially like Libby. It suits you.
Or you could always go with Ell or Elle. It fits.

candace, amber, deidre, suzette, montserrat, barbara, rowena.  anything but katia, ok?

Jessica is the hot name right now.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lelands.com%2FApp_Themes%2FImages%2FAuctions_Images%2F507%2Fthumbnails_bidding%2F34726.jpg&hash=a8624a8394c40fb4f505f4535a1369c9bfc0bccc)

Jessica Rabbit

I've always liked the name "Charlotte." Other suggestions: Nicole, Collette, Pauline, Paulette. Yes, I like French names. :)

You can have "Annie" -- I'm not using it!

Quote from: Kate on October 19, 2007, 11:06:12 PM
I found Popular Baby Names (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/) to be kinda handy. Although, seeing as how "Kate" was the 713th most popular name when I was born, lol... I didn't really stick with being age-appropriate. But since when do I stick to the common rules? ;)

~Kate~

since never! i like that site alot. Thank you Kate. (did you know that Bertha was the 9th most popular girl name in 1880?)

Quote from: ell on October 19, 2007, 09:27:12 AM
the pic in my my avatar is a recent photo of me.

i'm having trouble with my name. please give some suggestions for a name that you think would suit me.

Thank you.

-ell

What about ell? or ellie?

thank you all for your suggestions!

as my Chinese friend used to tell me, "i appreciate about it."

-ell

Quote from: Berliegh on October 21, 2007, 07:49:21 PM

What about ell? or ellie?

Or maybe Elle or Ellen?

Do you want to stick with E names?  If so, maybe  Elena or Elissa or Erica  ??


Or is there another letter you had your heart set on?

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi

Elphaba :D


--natalie

Katherine was my favourite, but that is a favourite name of mine, it's sort of aloof and then can become all intimate and Kate-y. Lillian was my granny's name, that's good because it can be lillian and lilly. Alas, as I was born and bred Pica Pica - all you ever get on matey terms would be 'the Peek' which sounds creepy.

Not as creepy as Elphaba though.

Fae is nice, or Fay or Faye.

Well, one can check out which names were most popular the year you were born, and pick one from there. Also, if you can find out what name your mother would have called you if you were born genetically female, that could help. My name came from high school, one of the kids (a guy I secretly had a crush on) just started calling me "Nickie" for the heck of it, and it stuck. It didn't come from Nicole, as some people assume, but who cares?

Avoid made-up names, very unusual names or funny spellings of more common names unless you really like the idea of having to spell it for everyone you ever have to give it to.

Quote from: ell on October 28, 2007, 05:56:38 PM

Quote from: gothique11 on October 28, 2007, 04:34:35 PM
Elphaba :D

--natalie

"Elphaba is the name given to the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, as well as in the Broadway adaptation, Wicked. In the original L. Frank Baum's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the witch is unnamed and we know little about her life. Elphaba [pronounced EL-fa-ba] is modeled after the witch as she is shown in the 1939 classic movie The Wizard of Oz: Green-skinned, clad entirely in black, and wearing a tall peaked hat. Maguire formulated the name out of L. Frank Baum's name. L. Frank Baum became El-pha-ba. In both adaptations, Elphaba is also called by several nicknames including Elphie, Fabala, and Fae."
--from Wikipedia

forgive me for the evil thoughts i was sending you, Natalie. i hope you didn't fall down and break something. after i learned what the name meant, on wicked pedia, i started to like it...!

-ell

I actually like the name, too. I just need to name someone with that name. Mine is already legally changed. I just started reading the book, I heard it was good. You should read the book, maybe watch the play if you can.

But I thought the name was cool, different, and interesting. Then again, I like different, unique things.


Posted on: October 29, 2007, 01:25:03 AM

---

I have a F2M friend who's legal middle name is "Roadbike." Honest, it is. It's not his first name, of course, which is unique on it's own -- but really cool. But yeah, Roadbike is one of his middle names (I think he actually has seven middle names or something crazy like that -- all legal!)

He's actually the coolest guy you ever would meet.

Posted on: October 29, 2007, 01:33:54 AM

---

Lain is a cool name, too, elle.

Hi Ell
How about Clarabelle  ;D Just kidding. How about the name of my soul mate and I's ghost friend. *Casandra.*

Cindy

Quote from: Annie Social on October 28, 2007, 07:54:27 PM
Avoid made-up names, very unusual names or funny spellings of more common names unless you really like the idea of having to spell it for everyone you ever have to give it to.

Thank you, Annie. That is the most helpful advice of all. I see a lot of trans women going crazy with adopting unusual names and kreativv spelinngs more than is good for us. I'm progressive, radical, and downright weird in many of my beliefs--but when it comes to given names, I become very traditional. This is in line with my desire to be accepted as a regular woman, not stigmatized as a freak.

My new legal girlname is just right for my tastes: Slightly old-fashioned, not used much, but still familiar and classic. When Julia Serano was autographing her book for me, and I told her my name, she left a blank space until she could ask me how to spell it. I use the standard spelling, of course, but Julia said so many of us use weird spellings ::) that she always needs to ask first. Julia is a nice classic--and classy--name. And a gorgeous song by John Lennon on the White Album.

I've always disliked one-syllable names for girls and prefer three-syllable names best. Two syllables at mininum-- for example, I would go for Rosa rather than Rose. My real name has three syllables.

I'd like to see more old-fashioned names that sound feminine and are recognizably traditional or classic, but which have been infrequent of late. For example: Anastasia, Beatrice, Cynthia, Dolores, Eleanor, Frieda, Genevieve, Hannah, Isabel, Joanna, Katharine, Laura, Madeleine, Natalie, Ophelia, Priscilla, Rebecca, Susanna, Theresa, Ursula, Victoria, Willlow, or Yvette. (umm, I couldn't find any Q, X, or Z names I liked that well...) My real first and middle names are actually on that list I just gave.

I like classic Greek, Latin, and Biblical names because they are considered "normal" in this culture and don't contribute to trans women's freak factor. Yes, I'm sensitive about being seen as a freak, having been considered a "weird" excuse for a "male" my whole life, and now feel a strong desire to fit into "regular" womanhood as much as possible. But regular does not have to mean dull. No plain Jane for me, I like pretty names.

I wouldn't choose an ethnic variant of a name unless I felt a strong identification with the ethnic group. Being Italian, I might have chosen an ethnic Italian name like Alessandra or Filomena-- but not Elspeth (Scottish form of Elizabeth), Kirsten (Scandivanian form of Christine), or Natasha (Russian pet form of Natalie). But if I happened to be Scottish, Scandinavian, or Russian, or even if I felt strongly drawn to some such other ethnicity, those would be fine.

Quote from: Annie Social on October 28, 2007, 07:54:27 PM
Avoid made-up names, very unusual names or funny spellings of more common names unless you really like the idea of having to spell it for everyone you ever have to give it to.

I second this, coming from someone who has an unusually spelled name. I have no qualms with spelling my name out to people, but I can see where others would grow weary of it. Every person who needs to spell my name gets "Izaia. No, its I-Z!-A-I-A...no, no H at the end."



I don't know you, but I really do like the name Ellie, or Elisa.

Yes, indeed. If you want to be eventually seen as a normal, unremarkable member of your target gender, adopt a normal, unremarkable name for someone of that gender, roughly your own age and your ethnic/cultural background. Made-up names are not only hard to spell, but they also give a first impression of vague oddness, and especially early in transition that's not really what you want.

If you live in the US, Kate's suggestion on the first page of this thread is a very good one; if you live elsewhere, there may be a similar web site that lists the popularity of given names at different times. Your own high school yearbook is a good source, too.

  Nfr

Another idea is to go with the name you would've had if born your target sex. I thought about it for a bit, but settled on that.
It just feels right, to finally have the name I should've been gifted with at birth. Also removes the agony of deciding on a name for yourself.
Or you could simply go with the femme form of your birth name, provided it has one.
Course neither option is viable if you happen to hate the name in question. :laugh:

oh. I'm sorry, ell.

Sometimes it's easier for me to think of names for people if I see them (I know, I'm weird like that -- ever do that? When you meet someone and say, "That person looks like a Jessica," etc. I don't know, names seem to have a personality about them.

Another thing to do is to think what your nickname will be.

Like, I don't like Maureen (the drama queen). Or Birtha (big Birtha).

Tara is a good name out of the list you made.

Go for a name that feels like you and your personality. Is there anyone in your past that you admired? Or maybe a movie/music star who shares similar personality traits you have.

Personally, I want to call you Ellie. I like that name. Ellie seems to fit you. .... I really, really like the name Ellie now. It's such a cute name, and French sounding, sexy and fun at the same time.. sophisticated, beautiful. (Damn, now I want the name!)


--Natalie ... maybe I can use Ellie as my nick name, Nat-ellie? maybe? Okay, I'm stretching it! I really like the name now!

Ditto on Ellie.  I think that name is so very sexy!

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)

I go for Ellie, It's cute, short, easy to spell and easy to remember

Cindy

Ya! a ghost! some people call them spirit guide, well at any rate whatever the entity was could have been a guardian angel. I first met her when I was 9 years old and she kind of disappeared on me when I was in my twenties and just came back again a couple of years ago. my Soul Mate has seen her to, like a shadowy figure that is just there then gone again. She showed up two years ago when My Soul mate and I got into car accident that had left the entire back of my van crumpled right up to the back of the front seet.  Speaking of Divine  intervention, we stepped out of that van without a scratch. She was there that night. Her name is Casandra

Cindy

Quote from: ell on October 29, 2007, 05:44:26 PM

Quote from: Nero on October 29, 2007, 02:23:47 PM
oh. I'm sorry, ell.

um, thank you?
anyway, so now you know about the sadness in my eyes when i smile.

i'd probably have been named something such as

Brianne
Gwen
Jenna
Maureen
Shanon
Tara

Jenna is cute.

Like everyone else here, I like Ell or Ellie. Does really fit.

Posted on: October 30, 2007, 04:13:45 AM

---

Quote from: cindybc on October 30, 2007, 12:53:17 AM
Ya! a ghost! some people call them spirit guide, well at any rate whatever the entity was could have been a guardian angel. I first met her when I was 9 years old and she kind of disappeared on me when I was in my twenties and just came back again a couple of years ago. my Soul Mate has seen her to, like a shadowy figure that is just there then gone again.

It would seem mine has abandoned me in my time of need. That, or my efforts to push him away finally stuck. :(

I like vary rare names like Tamara, Brooke, Ember but I have been using Ember for a while and was recently told by my best friend that it could be a give away that I am Trans. So I'm going with something a bit more typical and choosing Jessica friends would call me Jess. I constantly find other students often make the mistake of calling me Amber as it is more common than Ember. So my suggestion is to try to find something a bit more "normal" and it will help you blend in better. It took me forever to decide on Ember and when I was adjusted to it I had to change it again. I hope this is the last time cuz friends don't even know what to call me anymore. It's hard and honestly prior to HRT I had trouble seeing me beside most names, but as I change from HRT I am having no problem identifying who I am as a woman and what name is best for me. Take your time choosing a name because you will have it forever, sometimes you just need time to see if a name works.

Ember means 'human being' in Hungarian.

I always thought it was a fitting coincidence that the textbook Anthropology was written by authors named Ember.

Ember is cute and so is Amber. And Lori is taken already or I would suggest that as my favorite  :P

Count me in for Ellie too! I like it... it "feels" like you! It's cute, yet still sophisticated and mature.

Have you thought of a middle name? If so, try writing it all out together... see if it flows. Make sure you're comfortable signing it... make sure you like the LOOK of it all.

And make sure your initials don't end up spelling something horrible, lol...

~Kate~

Mandy is a cute name....

Bev

Quote from: Ember L on October 30, 2007, 10:20:17 PM
I like vary rare names like Tamara, Brooke, Ember but I have been using Ember for a while and was recently told by my best friend that it could be a give away that I am Trans. So I'm going with something a bit more typical and choosing Jessica friends would call me Jess. I constantly find other students often make the mistake of calling me Amber as it is more common than Ember. So my suggestion is to try to find something a bit more "normal" and it will help you blend in better. It took me forever to decide on Ember and when I was adjusted to it I had to change it again. I hope this is the last time cuz friends don't even know what to call me anymore. It's hard and honestly prior to HRT I had trouble seeing me beside most names, but as I change from HRT I am having no problem identifying who I am as a woman and what name is best for me. Take your time choosing a name because you will have it forever, sometimes you just need time to see if a name works.

How is Ember a bad name? I like that name. That's not weird. Tamara and Brooke aren't odd names! I have friends (yes, with legal names -- granted, they changed it... yes, I have gg friends that change their names). I have a friend named Raine and one named Silver. Another one of my friends goes by Jynx (her legal name is Codee, she's a gg, and she hates her mom for naming her Codee, so she uses Jynx instead).

And, in all reality, you're not going to have your name forever -- well, I guess it depends on where you live. It's very easy to change your name here when ever you want.

Mine legal name is Natalie, which I guess is typical, but people called me Nat before and started calling me Natalie before and it just seemed to fit. So, yeah, kind of typical, I guess.

I actually didn't have any problem with my name at all. Some people do. I guess I was lucky cause my name took no effort.

My mom was going to call me Ashlyn-Rose when I was born. That is now my middle name. My last name is Goddess (kidding!)


--natalie


PS  I legally changed my name a year ago.

Hypatia:  I know what you mean, I chose Ophelia for myself a few months back... I guess I've always had a flair for the dramatic, but I actually go by Lia for short...

I've always loved the name Claire, probably due to Jill Hennessy's role on Law and Order.  Claire... should have snatched that one up as well.

Lia

I picked the name Cynthia from a friend I use to go out  with when I lived in Barrie Ontario, goodness that was over ten years ago now. I liked the name Cynthia and got my name legally changed 7 years ago.  A name becomes part of you so that you are in tune with it and can hear one individual call your name from across a room full of chattering people.

Cindy

Quote from: cindybc on November 11, 2007, 03:21:33 AMA name becomes part of you so that you are in tune with it and can hear one individual call your name from across a room full of chattering people.

Yes... and now I wish I could turn off that effect for my old name. I know not to look around when I hear it called behind me, because I know it isn't for me any more... but the initial neural reaction is still there because my legal name change is so recent... the effect of hearing the old name will disappear over time.

Hi Hypatia

Yes you are quite correct my old name is a catchy one, it is not spelled like the name Eve but it is pronounced the same. My name use to be Yves, a french name. Anyway I didn't have much to worry much about any one calling me Eve. But after a few years that name kind of faded into obscurity. The only problem I had was the odd person saying sir, or Mister, he, him, or any other male pronouns. When I heard someone addressing me by those  pronouns, I just kept walking ignoring them. Once they caught up to me I would just say, "Oh! sorry I didn't know you were addressing me. I thought you were calling out for some bloke. So the pronouns soon faded into oblivion as well.

Cindy   

Hm.  I like names that end in "a" or have lots of vowels like Kaytee, Aurora, Anastasia, Josephina, Isabella or Rebecca...but Tara just happens to be my all-time favourite name (that's the rabid buffy the vampire slayer fan in me).  So I vote for Tara.  I know a springer spaniel named Ellie and she is hte sweetest pup in the world.

Ultimately it is up to you of course, but I like many of the suggestions given so far.


~Rachael