Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi
as I still dont decide what name I want to use at real life, I want to ask you how do you choose your name? And was this decision complicated for you?

Luckily, I was given a name at birth that is more often a male name than female. Granted, it is considered a unisex name, I feel that it is masculine enough for me to keep.
As for my middle name, at first I was going to go from Lorraine to Liam as a sort of opposite gender/similar name type of thing, but my newborn nephew stole the name. So now I think I'm going to go with Cillian and keep with a traditional Irish name.

Dig into your family tree, consult your parents, try different ones on.

Emma was my great grandmother's name, and it turns out I look alot like her, it means "Entire;" it fits.

I asked my friends for a more-or-less androgynous appearing name and they came up with "Lynn" which happened to go with "Gabriel" so I went with it because it sounds right and feels good.

A lot of people just ask others what they "look" like. It's especially effective when you're trying to narrow down possibilities.

I tried to masculinize my first name (Kimberly), but the only thing that came to mind was Mike, as it has Kim in it.  However, I don't feel like a Mike, it doesn't go well with my last name, and I have several friends with the name.  My middle name is Leigh, so I went with that.  I like the name, and none of my friends are named Lee.  I'm happy with it, but I'll give my parents input when I come out to them.

IDK I just heard it and liked it.  I thought about David first but ultimately ended on Andrew, but usually go by Andy.

I couldn't go with the name my parents would give me if I was born male because that's my brother's name. 

I chose the name my parents would gave me had I been born a girl... the choice was easy and I like it as well. Also choose a name that is appropriate for your age and try writing it down several times together with your last name and see how it 'feels'...

I'm a something else, as I had a really bad time with changing my name and ended up having to do it twice. My user name means a lot to me, I've been using it for over ten years now and it was more my name than my birth name ever was. So a very close friend suggested using Eriw Erif as a name, I thought that it sounded really good and liked that it had no gender attached to it. So Eriw became my first name and Erif my surname.
Then I hit a problem with work, I work as an agency HGV driver at the moment and most client companies took my name to mean that I was Eastern European, so they wouldn't give me work. So I had to change my name again, after a bit of thinking I chose to use Dominique and have Eriw Erif as middle names. Dominique works on many levels for me, while it's a female name it can be mispronounced male which helps with the industry I work in, and the shortened version of Dom is not too far from my birth name which makes it easier for family.
Still most of my friends still call me Fire, even though it's nothing more than a shortened version of my internet name.

It may seem odd, but I always liked my birth name and didn't really want to change it to something completely different.  There were other names that I liked, but I went with the masculine form of my birth name.  I had much more trouble with my middle name.

I thought about picking something similar to my birth name, but nothing really appealed to me.  I decided I didn't want a name that reminded me of my old one.
For a while I was strongly considering naming myself Shane... I love the name, but my family has a close friend with the same name, and I thought it would be kind of weird for him.  Plus it's gender neutral, and I didn't really want something that could be taken as a girl's name.  But I was set on an S name by then, so then it was just a matter of picking the right one.  I almost, almost went with Sid... but Sly's just, I dunno, better.

For me, it was simple.
I have used "Miniar" for years. It's the first "boyish" name I've used, ever, and I wanted to keep that, so I opted for that as a middle name.
I was originally named after my father's mother, so with my mother's permission I took my mother's father's name instead.
It fits me and suits me.

Thus, I am Hans Miniar Jónsson.

I didn't realize that Miniar is your actual name.  Is it common in Iceland?  I've never heard of it before.

I looked at a lot of names, I even asked my mom what she would have named me if I would have been born a girl. Nothing was even appealing. So I researched a number of common names around the time I was born. I gathered a few I liked and put them into a hat. Kelly came out. Though I did change the spelling to Kellie and now just Kelli. This was a number of years ago, I have used it so long now it just who I am.

My Mom did pick my middle name and asked me to continue using my birth surname.

Ever since I read King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table as a little kid I wanted to be named Arthur.
We can't really have foreign names where I live though, so I went with the local version and dropped the H :P

It's a stupid way to pick a name, but it just feels right now.

Quote from: Lee on March 14, 2011, 10:21:28 AM
I didn't realize that Miniar is your actual name.  Is it common in Iceland?  I've never heard of it before.

Nope, actually, I'm still waiting on the reply from "mannanafnanefnd" (human name committee) on whether or not I get to "legally" take Miniar as my name....
I "should" be allowed, it doesn't violate any of the rules  for being allowed... but it's possible I will get a "no", in which case I'm actually considering appealing, that's how important this is to me.

Just before srs I asked my parents for a name because it should be shown in my passport, drivers license and so on.

So I recieved the first name of my mother and the female form of the first name of my father.

And yes, I'm writing on this forum using my own name.

annette

Quote from: Miniar on March 15, 2011, 09:51:36 AM
"mannanafnanefnd"

This is the group in charge of making sure people get normal names?  You guys have by far the best language.
I hope you have no problems with them.

I'm considering a masculine version of my current name.

From Melanie Ann to Mel Anders

Well, my first name has the same first letter as my guy name and the same number of letters in it.  Best of all, when I chanced upon it, it just SOUNDED right and FELT right and IS right. 

Lynne?  I've always loved the name Lynn most especially with an "e" at the end of it (which is somewhat rare); moreover, Lynne affords symmetry of lettering and euphony with alliteration.  Bingo! 

Lacey Lynne!

Can't help it, but I love the name.  Thanks!

;)   Lacey Lynne

Upon doing my legal name change, I'll adopt a new surname which I also love. 

I originally picked Sandra out of the list of most popular girl's names for the year I was born (#10 in 1953).  I thought it would do until I decided on something more permanent.

One night last week I was running through a list of names before bed and I had a dream that night that I , as a man, was introducing myself, as a woman, at a party of some kind.  I was being introduced as Karen with a female  partner named Audrey.   So I have decided that will be my name.

I think it is significant that the person doing the introduction was a male figure. Jung's archetype of a guide is of the opposite gender to the dreamer, so it seems probable that I am starting to more fully integrate my female identity and switch from the Anima (female) to the Animus (male) archetype.

I have also been conscious of a shift in sexuality to a lesbian orientation from my previous bisexuality, possibly born out by being in a same sex couple in the dream. 

It will be interesting to see where this all leads.

Karen. (thankfully here we don't have to do the whole Courthouse thing with name changes though.)

I've always known ever since I can remember that I was different on the inside than my outside though I repressed and suppressed it.  I do remember when I was in my early 20's all the family was together and we were talking names for some reason (it might have been around when my sisters kid was born which would give reason idk...anways) Mom told us kids what our name would have been if we'd been born opposite.  Even though I was repressing and suppressing I latched onto that name and never let it go. 

Flasth forward 20ish years and I can no longer repress my internal feelings and accept for myself who I am, I had the name ready.  I didn't really care for the middle name.  That would have been Leona after one of my grandmothers (great or great great).  So I got a list of names that I felt flowed/sounded good with my chosen first name and sat down with my Mom and let her be apart of the choosing for that and we together decided on Renee.   :)   I have a great mom who is fully on board.

     --Becka

I haven't come out yet, but my mom once told me what my name would be if I were a girl, so I'll use that name if I ever transition. I think it is very feminine and soft sounding.

I've always loved the name Elias. I don't know why, really. By choosing the name Elias Cornelius [lastname], I keep my initials (my birthname, a very feminine name, starts with an E and my middle name with a C), and I also keep at least one "weird" name. Both of my birthnames are long and weird.

Hmm... I already have a gender-ambiguous Buddhist name (Padma for short) but I hadn't put it together until now that Yoxi (my pen name I chose years before I got that Buddhist name) is my name for the laughing coyote figure I identify with... and that she's a she :). Yoxi came up out of nowhere, I always thought - but now I know better.

I am another 'something else'. I heard the name when I was 4 and thought it was the prettiest name I had ever heard so I made it MINE. That was only 57 years ago LOL!

Quote from: Lee on March 15, 2011, 12:08:39 PM
"mannanafnanefnd"

This is the group in charge of making sure people get normal names?  You guys have by far the best language.
I hope you have no problems with them.

Some part of me wants to start singing "Manamana." 

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsp7.fotolog.com%2Fphoto%2F55%2F41%2F76%2Fbadgalo%2F1238192569849_f.jpg&hash=b882b9dad961b0cd03c0c9f8e7de56b6de090f69)

As my parents have suggest my name as "WILBERT" .I would be happy to be called with this name . I have decided to choose it and keep it as a original Name . 

Vishal Bhatia (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456591517?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwvish0f-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1456591517)

As I am in the process of choosing a name I am considering what people would name me before letting them know what I think I should be and others think, it's opening options as I still have a shortlist in my head. It's more of what suits me and I like than fitting in though.

I don't think I EVER really thought about? I've always wanted to be called Josie since I was four (and cried when I was told that I was miss-pronouncing Joseph).  Like OMG .... I wasn't - everyone else was !!!

I picked the name that I was called in my dreams.
Then it just grew to me like any name does over the years.
33892 people girls might be named Emily as well and I'd like to have a more interesting first name, but it's become who I am so I'm fine with that.

My middle name - I honestly just picked one that I liked a whole lot.
xD

My given name is Nicholas so most people assumed I would just call myself Nicky so i've had to explain that I hate that name & my reason is this:

As a child my mother would call me Nicky, once I realized that I wanted to be female I began hating that name as every time it was used it reminded me of what I wasn't, I eventually got her to stop calling me that but then when I was 15 my parents split & my mums new boyfriend was called Nick, at first it caused all sorts of confusion as we never knew which one of us she was calling for so she reverted to calling me Nicky when we were both around, years of hard work went down the drain  :(

I've always liked the name Jane & my middle name is James so i've told people that when I officialy change my name i'll swap my first & middle name around & use the female versions but i'm not sure if I chose Jane before I realised that it was the closest female name to James or if I chose it because I like it

I didn't like the literal masculine forms of my given name--either they just didn't feel like me or they sounded awful with my last name--so I played around with similar-sounding male names until I found one I liked. It can also shorten ("Cal") in a way that's plausible as a nickname for my given name, which is good since I'm not really out yet.

And my girlfriend liked it. :D

For a long time I was going to go with Beth, (short for Elizabeth) as my name is Ben, so I would just change the 'n' to a 'th'.

But now because I find that most people call me Benny, I thought I would change it to Beni, so it was easier to transition. Except that it doesn't sound very feminine and spell check keeps on highlighting it.

I haven't changed it legally yet so it doesn't matter too much, so it will either become Beni or Beth. :)

I've never asked my parents about other names they might have selected.  But the one I chose is one that I have found in doodles dating back to elementary school...I had another name that I pondered briefly during middle school (roughly 7th or 8th grade) but I did not like the way potential middle names flowed with it.  And I wanted my name to continue to flow well with my last name...

So, my current name is one that I have record of having first used some 35 years ago.

the name i took is "Maylene." i'm not really sure how i chose it, but it's just one of those names that seems to just be meant for me. i think it's beautiful and unique. it has the word "may" in it, and then "lene" gives it that fancy unique touch. i guess that represents what i stand for.

Added S in front of my old name which makes it Female name in my case. From Ari (male name) to Sari (female name)

Mainly for two reasons. 1st it should be easier to remember. And secondly if anyone uses the old name I can pretend I heard the new one.

  Feminine version of my given name (my grandfather's).  The middle name is too noble to drop, even though my dad the cad had the same middle name.
  Joelene

Got my first name in '85 when my mom and I were on vacation in California (I was 7 at the time).  I fell in love with Zoë and, from that day, called myself that in my own head.  I'm happy to know that it's going to be legal in a few short months.

My middle name, Natasha, was from... yes... Boris and Natasha on the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.  :laugh:  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?

The name my mom would have given me if I'd been born a girl became the name she was going to give to my brother (11 years my junior) if he'd been born a girl.  Then my sister was born and she got it.  My sister, by the way, is 14 years younger than me.  My mom is a patient woman.

Feminizing my first and middle names didn't work either.  The little girl who grew up next door to us (my younger brother's age) is considered a daughter by my parents, and she's got the feminine version of my first name.  Feminizing my middle name would result in something that I've only heard on a popular country singer.  Barf.  SOOOO not going there.

I had thought about what I wanted for a female name for several years before attempting to live my life as a woman, and one that I really liked was 'Megan', but prior to name change I did ask my mom if there were a name that she would've chosen if I had been born female, she wasn't able to give me anything since once I was born a boy I was immediately named after my father anyway. Also she said that I probably wouldn't have cared for what she may've picked back then if I were born a girl, that she would let me pick my own name and she'd be fine with that, she went with me by the way when I got my named changed.

She didn't like the name Michelle, so she was glad that I didn't pick that. But she also didn't care for the middle name that I chose, 'Joanne', but I did, and had good reason for picking it, I'll get back to that.

My first name 'Megan' was initially thought up as a possible name years before from an actress, 'Megan Ward', we used to watch and enjoy a lot of Full Moon Entertainment's movies, she played in several, such as Crash & Burn and Trancers 2, it was then that I thought, you know, I think I'd like to have that name, feels like me, so I hung onto that one, never did consider any others. Now the 'Joanne' I picked because I wanted to keep all of the same initials in my name, and 'Anne' is my mother's middle name, I thought Joanne would be kind of a nice variant to that, in honor of my mom, even though still, she doesn't care for it, I think it rings well.

I was born 'Michael James', renamed 'Megan Joanne', last name was kept the same, afterall why complicate things.

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.

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

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).

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.

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. :)]

Quote from: JungianZoe on May 12, 2011, 05:33:06 PM

My middle name, Natasha, was from... yes... Boris and Natasha on the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.  :laugh:  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.  :laugh:

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

Shania?  :laugh:

Quote from: Forum Admin on May 17, 2011, 03:13:17 PM
Shania?  :laugh:

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

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. ;D

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?

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!

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...

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)

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

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.

I chose "something other". The full story can be found on my blog (http://doubleinvert.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/whats-in-a-name/).

Quote from: ShiningStar on December 01, 2012, 03:19:50 AM
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.

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.  ;)

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Quote from: LearnedHand on December 13, 2012, 08:19:05 PM
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.

Quote from: Kupcake on December 14, 2012, 11:40:21 PM
You keep Walden on your night stand?

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

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1337.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo665%2FLearnedHand1%2F2012-12-17_21-54-15_310_zps4ebcdf53.jpg&hash=eac14d3dcb31f2f9b5899791cc8911616f533835)

:-*

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 :P 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 :)

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.

Randomly picked name out of a list of girl names.

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*

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! =)

Quote from: Kgirl on January 03, 2013, 05:32:50 AM
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.

Quote from: Kgirl on January 03, 2013, 05:32:50 AM
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.

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.

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.

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 :P

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.