Hello,
I'm a pre everything ftm and I'm just trying to get things layed out so that my transition can go easier. So my question today is if/when you changed your name how did you pick it and why? I don't know if I should choose one myself or what.. Also, did you possibly go by that name for awhile before officially changing it? My mother always said that if I was a boy she would have named me jack, so I was thinking of giving that a shot in her honor.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Some people like to find baby name books and birth name lists from the year they were born. That way they can find something that is era appropriate for themselves. Others do what you're considering, and go with what their parents would have named them. And some people listen to weird podcasts about towns plagued by Orwellian and Lovecraftian horrors, and grow attached to girls that lead revolts against the towns' man-eating librarians during the "Summer Reading Program."
It takes all kinds...
I've heard that one should pick a name appropriate for the trends of their age and race and all that.
But I feel way more adventurous. I've always wanted a name that didn't identify my sex, race, country of origin or age. Got the perfect opportunity now.
Asked my mom.
For me personally it's best to pick a name that suits your personality or to pick one your parents were going to name you. Although don't feel pressurised to use it just because your parents like it. You always have the option of having Jack as a middle name.
I picked Elis because it's slightly androgynous sounding (I like to present fem and masculine; although my gender identity is mostly male) and isn't very common; which was a nice break from my extremely common birth name. I also had to think about when I'm older. Can I imagine myself in 10, 20, 30 yrs called the same thing.
Also I've found that it's very rare to find a name and you immediately love it. Just try it out, keep calling yourself that and see how it makes you feel. I randomly found my name from the Internet after trying to come up with various other names and Elis just stuck.
Most importantly don't feel rushed, it's best to take your time than be lumbered with a name you don't particularly like.
My real name is Genevieve. I've always liked the name as long as I can remember. There's some regality to it. When I came out as trans over a decade ago, I already had my name.
:)
Quote from: Tamika Olivia on January 07, 2016, 10:52:07 PM
And some people listen to weird podcasts about towns plagued by Orwellian and Lovecraftian horrors
To be honest I got attached to the name Cecil because of that same reason. Unfortunately I don't think it works quite right for me :(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Consider what factors are important to you - meaning, origin, initials, etc. Then look at baby name websites and find ones you like based off those things. If there are a few names you like, it might help to try them out on a couple of close friends or family members. Hearing the name actually being used for you can really solidify your decision.
Personally, I kept my initials (which I often regret to be honest, but you might not) and just picked the name that I liked most. My middle name was the feminine form of my grandfather's, who died of cancer, so I just changed it to his actual name to keep that honor.
All good suggestions. Another, similar, would be look at your high school year book. I picked a name only two girls in a class of about 250 females had.
Ultimately it has to be something you feel comfortable with. A culturally appropriate name will make your life so much easier.
This is a sweet topic I think.
I chose my name, Carissa (first) and Jaye (middle) for multiple reasons:
1.) I love any name that ends in "issa". I first heard of this name in my middle teens and used it for every RPG videogame I played. Curiously enough the first spelling I saw began with a "Karissa"
2. My birthname is Joshua, which in all honestly I like. It ends with "a" which is feminine. Howoever my mom would sometimes call me "Jay" growing up for short. While I wasn't a GI Joe fan per se, for those of you may remember Lady Jaye... I remembered that and thought... gosh if my mom called me "Jay", and such.... hmm the name just got more sweet sounding. So I've decided that is my middle name.
IMHO 'Carissa' is a very feminine name. Its pretty, and I've always liked it. 'Jaye' is cute because it to me sounds sophisticated, playful, and a bit retro which I like as well. But somehow Jaye-Carissa doesn't roll off the tongue as well.
Lastly as I am transitioning I feel more comfortable with those who I am out to, be referred as 'Jaye' for now. In my mind, its an intermediary name fitting for my appearance. I am still mostly masculine right now but changing every day just a tad. Plus I feel it will be easier on my mom since it sounds similar and she'd appreciate that. Once I am fully transitioned I feel the name 'Carissa' will be warranted.
That girls, is how I arrived at my name ;) :-*
There are tons of different methods to finding a name. Most of them have been mentioned already. (Baby name websites, asking your parents, etc.) I had a really hard time, in part because I am pathologically indecisive.
My chosen name is simply the male version of my birth name. My birth name was Carley, and ironically my name Carl is the veyr first one I rejected. At the time I hated it. I tried every method I could think of. I went through uncountable websites, I asked my parents (who weren't much help. My Dad for some reason never made a suggestion even though he was supportive, and my Mom was trying to pretend it wasn't happening. She's better about it now.)
I tried out Liam for a while just because I liked it, but it wasn't really working. I was really hoping for an epiphany moment where I just found "the one," but it never happened. And I'm not sure if it ever would have.
Throughout all this searching my Love was just calling me Carl because she didn't want to call me by a female name, and it grew on me. I got used to it. Now I'm pretty content with it. There are days when I wish I had gone with Simon instead, because my parents named me after the singer Carly Simon. But I have a feeling that I might have said the same thing no matter what I chose, because I'm perpetually unsure of myself. Changing it at this point would be a pain in the ass anyway, although I know people would support me if I decided to.
My Dad helped me choose my middle name at least. I wanted Lloyd because that was my grandpa's name and I was super close to him. But my brother already has that as a middle name and I figured that would be weird. I still wanted a name from that side of the family, and I was kind of hoping to keep my initials the same. My dad suggested Arthur because that was my great grandfather's name, so I became Carl Arthur.
I used a list of names from the year I was born and picked the one I liked the most. Then I asked my mother to pick my middle name for me.
My name is after my grandfather. It was his middle name, and it's generally extremely obscure.
Well, it's not legally changed yet, but I picked Faith. For one, it's really feminine and just sounds awesome, like.. I am Faith. Lol. For two, it fits my personality and my spiritual aura. Three, this isn't really a reason.. it kind of is, but isn't.. but my brother Migail had a tattoo put on his arm with a bird and rose saying, "Lil' Faith" because I am his little "bro" now sis. It's really sweet and all, but he's in prison for reasons that would be a long, unnecessary story.
My middle name is Rena, given to me by my dad and mom, and in their honor, and since it is so beautiful to me, my name is Faith Rena. I might add another part- my mother's middle name, Annette, since Rena is my dad's. Plus, my mother passed in '09 so it would be in her honor. Thank you all for reading.
I'm thinking I'm just going to stay Tyler. Sure it's on the masculine side, but I have met cis-women with the name, and I want to drive home, that no matter how much I change, I'm always gonna be me. =)
But who knows, I could always change my mind.
Quote from: TyorTay? on January 12, 2016, 07:47:54 AM
I'm thinking I'm just going to stay Tyler. Sure it's on the masculine side, but I have met cis-women with the name, and I want to drive home, that no matter how much I change, I'm always gonna be me. =)
But who knows, I could always change my mind.
Tyler is a nice name for a girl. If you mix it up with a cute middle name I think it could only get better :)
Chose a name I liked, wasn't too out of the ordinary and I didn't like too much.
I always thought you should be a little disapointed with your name :D
My name just came to me. Never had thought about it but Susanne just popped into my head and so Suzi it is!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can't tell you how many gmail accounts I set up under different names. I tried on versions of my mother's name, a name I thought I'd use when I was a kid... I'm not out to many people but I picked a name based on someone I admire for their strengths and a plus, with my lousy signature, I can sign my name and they look indistinguishable with the exception that I add a dot for an i that doesn't exist in my male name. It gives me a little something in my daily life. Claire vs Charles. I told you I've a lousy signature. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160113/26db76ef2ebce86485af3b17010bec45.jpg)
Claire (née Dori)
I picked a name that resonated with me well and went with that. It fit so I kept as far as my middle name I picked a name as a result of reading something. As others have mentioned, picking up a book or something and looking through names may help. My first name I had picked out during my first transition, but my middle name I had picked out early in transition this time around. The change to my name was made with the first month of going full time. Hugs
Mariah
I did precisely what you suggested in your original post: my mother once told me that she'd had a feeling she was carrying another son when she was pregnant with me, so before my birth they'd already decided to name me after both of my grandfathers. When I decided to transition there were many names I liked the sound of, but it seemed really appropriate and cathartic for me to revert to the name my parents had originally picked for me; the name that should've been mine all along.
You can always change it later if you want. And if there's a name you particularly like, you could go with that and use your mother's choice as a second name, to honour her.
Honestly, just go with what is important to you. What is more important, being true to what you would have been named if born a cis guy or what name you actually like? It's your decision. I myself am still deciding between Kerrigan, Sebastian and Jack (your would be given name lol). I decided on Kerrigan for this forum, but in the end could end up being any of those. My mother said she would have named me Micheal if I was born male (ew) and my father said he would have called me Alexander (not bad). It just depends on what you like, just take on what feels like you.
If it turns out that I am in fact trans and have to transition at some point, I'm lucky. While my birth name is James, everyone has called me Jamie since I was a baby. And since Jamie is completely gender-neutral, I really don't see a reason to pick something else. My email address includes my middle initial (A) so I would prefer to keep that one. As such, I'm thinking Allison would work well.
So, Jamie Allison for me.
There are many ways to come up with a name. I personally asked the few people I came out to and went through multiple list on the Internet. Once I put together a list with the help of my wife, I then asked people's options to narrow it down. I then had my wife use the names one at a time for a period to see how they felt. I found my favorite name just didn't feel right but I fell in love with Emily. It will take some time but you will know when you find it. 😃
I got my name from the ladies I used to work with.
As a child I had a crush on Katherine Crosby & I loved her name. She was elegant & her name really just resonated with me. From about the age of 11 through my teens I often dressed in my Mom & Sister's clothes & wore their shoes when I was home alone. It was such a comfort. Though I felt totally female I didn't ever ponder what my female name should be...ever. Strange, right?
Fast forward to when I was 24 years old & going out in public, after dark, dolled up. I had a good friend & roommate, a younger, cisgendered lady, named Rachael. I told her my secret early on. Not only was she cool with it, she gave me make up, hair, and clothing pointers. On the FIRST night she dolled me up, before going out, she asked me, point blank, what my name was & stated that I must have a name. I was under the proverbial gun & felt I had to oblige her with a female name for myself. Katherine Crosby (who I actually met, along with her daughter, Mary Crosby (who shot J.R.) some 15 years later!) just flashed in my mind & I said, "Katherine". I've kept & liked my name ever since.
A video game. And one I've yet to play.
I was originally going to with what my female birth name was going to be, Amanda. I grew bored of that. I went with Monica for a few days, but Cassandra stuck after seeing a bunch of pics (and I'm a fan of her mom) and I liked it. It also has two different pronounciations that are both ok. My dad thought I would of picked Colleen, but no...just no. No offense but my male name was pronounced that way for some reason. So...no.
This decision was really straightforward for me. I've just always really liked the name Alison.
I don't know exactly how old I was when I first became into it, but I was definitely a young kid (I don't remember my early years so well and attributing specific ages to the memories I have from that age is not easy). I'm now in my 20s and still love the name. So...that's my name!
I did agonize recently over the decision of how to spell it, though! It's just one of those names with so many spelling variations. I'm pretty sure (I think?) that I've settled on one "L" and an "I", "Alison".
My first and middle name or people I looked up to. :P
I choosed Elizabeth, because the nickname is Ely and sounds similar to my old name
*
I recently befriended Qian, a woman from China. For my first lesson in Mandarin, she taught me my name in Chinese: Li Yuan En (in long form: Sheng li Ping yuan En dian).
Cool!
Thank you, Qian.
*
Like most people I looked at a lot of names, but none of them really made an impression on me.
In the end it felt like I was forcing myself to choose one and it became more of a chore than anything.
I just couldn't get used to the idea of being called something completely different, and don't think I would have been able to adjust to it.
My birth name was Victoria, and middle name Louise.
Its now Tory, and my middle name is Louis.
My family have always called me Tori, so I just changed the spelling to try and make it sound more masculine.
Some people really enjoy name choosing- I wish I could have been one of them!
Initially I had chosen Olivia because I felt at the time that it fit and I really like the shortened versions of it. However, I've recently decided that it absolutely doesn't fit anymore, though I still think the name is adorable :) In an effort to make things easier on my mom (who is having a very hard time coming to terms with the uncomfortability I've introduced to her life) I've decided to go by the name I would have been given had I been born physically female, Drew. I personally think it's a really cute name and always have. My middle name is Andrew, so it won't be as much of a stretch to change with the added benefit of being more androgynous which will make my transition a bit easier to get used to. As of yet, I'm undecided on a middle name.
Quote from: Tory on January 23, 2016, 02:14:06 PM
Like most people I looked at a lot of names, but none of them really made an impression on me.
In the end it felt like I was forcing myself to choose one and it became more of a chore than anything.
I just couldn't get used to the idea of being called something completely different, and don't think I would have been able to adjust to it.
My birth name was Victoria, and middle name Louise.
Its now Tory, and my middle name is Louis.
My family have always called me Tori, so I just changed the spelling to try and make it sound more masculine.
Some people really enjoy name choosing- I wish I could have been one of them!
I actually think that's a pretty good idea. I was thinking something in a similar vein, but basically making my first name right now my middle name after transition, or at least the female equivalent. It might just be a lot more convenient for everybody.