I have enough tough problems to work out, but right now, I'm looking for help with a fun problem: my name.

When I was younger I went by Dawn. After my horrible first coming out and the realization that there were already 2 Dawns in my extended family, I decided it was time for a new name.

A friend suggested I pick a name that matches my current initial, so we went over every single female name that started with a C.  I settled on Caitlin, which I still love.  However, my cousin named her daughter that and I want to now avoid anything with a "-lin" in it.

I hate the idea of picking a new name, but I think I have to now if I really am going to come out.  I keep going through these C names and not liking them.   

Does it make any sense to pick a name with the same first initial?  Has anybody done that and found any advantage in transitioning?

Pardon my rambling.  I have 20+ years of repressed emotions.

Donno only those female/male or unisex names could be easier.

Mine i left my old name first initial in the dust

From a D to I

My name found me and then i worked a middle into it that flowed.

So stick with C or let the new name pick you.

 

Thanks

Im struggling with this problem too. right now Im thinking I'll go with Gwen, because I always liked the name and its similar to my current name, Greg.
Still unsure though... I'd really rather not change my name, but Im gonna have to because Greg is not gender neutral at all 

A few ideas I've heard are to look at popular names from your birth year, or look for names from your ancestors, or, if you're able to, ask your parents what they would have named you had you been born the opposite sex.

good luck!

I am struggling with this too but I want to keep the initial. It makes stuff easier, for example my ham radio license which is my initials. People can always look in the FCC database (public records) and see when you changed your name, even if you change your callsign... so I'm not even going to bother changing my callsign.

I really liked Renee but I like Regina better as I can shorten it to "Gina" which is a name I love. I still have time to decide but I could go with either to be honest. I might even ask my parents to choose if they accept me as their trans daughter.

For my middle name, I'm not sure. I should just drop it, I guess. Or I might take my grandmother's name, Ethel. Or I might put an Indian name (I am ethnically Indian). My current middle name is my dad's first name.

I agree with Izzy. Let the name choose you. Unless your a day from going full time chances are you are going to have a bit of time to see what works for you and what doesn't. I think that had someone told me two years ago I would have become Grace I wouldn't have believed them. I'd never thought of the name for myself and yet when I did it was going to be my middle name for the first couple of months until I realised I really liked it.

As for keeping your initials the same I guess that makes sense if you have a lot of monogramed towels or stationary. Otherwise I can't see it needs to be hard and fast thing.

Maybe ask your parents what you would have been named had you been born a genetic female. Chances are they might have gone and used it on a later sister (like in my case) but if not it might be something you like.

Is there a character or actress/singer who you really like and really like their name? There's a good source of potential names, it's often what parents do when they name their child. Or maybe look at a list of names that were popular the year you were born. A google search will get that for you.

In the U.S., social security has the list of popular baby names by year on its website. That would be a good place to look.

My genetic would have been Tammy or Wendy she was still unsure.

Ahh! I love my mom but no.

As i said mine picked me.

Just adjusted for heritage and a long time removed ancestor.

Isabell was born

I made the mistake of feminising my first name, so I could keep the initial for scientific track record. But I always go by my middle name. Now when I hear my first name I wonder who they are talking to!

Quote from: mrs izzy on January 04, 2015, 12:28:54 AM
My genetic would have been Tammy or Wendy she was still unsure.

Ahh! I love my mom but no.

My sister got the name I would have had if I had been genetic female. I love my sister but I'm glad I don't have her name. My folks are a bit traditional and my siblings and my male name all have biblical roots - probably fitting then that my name is Grace!

I don't see anything wrong with it if you do or don't. You might have the advantage of keeping your initials and having the little "piece" of history of what you once went as but you shouldn't limit yourself if nothing speaks to you within those restrictions.

There are many names you can try and you can always give yourself a nickname related to it. I knew a Catrina that went by "Cait".

I have been thinking about the same thing, I always heard if you need a new identity in spy movies and stuff go with something that you can easily relate back to your given name.

My given name is Wesley so I went with Leslie intially. It makes sense. In the begininng there isn't much adjustment.

I am very early but I have one friend who refuses to call me by my given name anymore and the more I heard Leslie I would always answer right off, but I just didn't like that name for me.

Then a few days ago I looked at Irish names (because I am Irish) and found Dahlia. Which I absolutely love! So, now when i hear that it lights my face up and I still answer every time. Thank god I caught it and changed it before I was full-time. Couldn't even imagine having changed it legally and realized then

So, I would think just find a nme that makes you smile when someone uses it. You can't pick your birth name, but this is your decision and it can be any name you want. If you just narrow it into a category and there are tons you will find one you love and it won't be difficult at all to adjust to. Probably won't be as tedious as you think, the right one will jump out at you.

My name I was born with also starts with a C and was thinking to go with Chloe to keep the same first initial, but I couldn't find a suitable middle name that flowed with my last name which is short and which I don't plan on changing (Rose is not my last name ).
I eventually settled on Valerie because I like the meaning of it, and I can shorten it to Val which is gender neutral if I sometimes need to give a name when i'm not presenting female.
I think if you like the name or it flows well ( as most parents normally choose names that flow ) then you should keep it.
My mother wanted to name me Jennifer if I was born female, I just don't like it I don't know why, but it is just not me.