So uhm...yeah I have a problem with choosing a first name I'm happy with. I still haven't found one I'm really happy with. But within the past couple months when I've asked for advice on name picking (as silly as that may sound) I've let people's opinions on certain names affect the ones I pick. Recently I picked the name "Walter". A rather uncommon name...but anyone who knew I picked that name thought it wasn't that great of a name (not talking about people here but rather people on my MSN). Actually they said it was a horrible name. Wasn't Walter the name of Batman's butler or something? I can't remember...lol

Anyway, I didn't get the name from Batman (I gives you a cookie if you can guess where I got it from...XD)

Most people know I'm stuck with either Walter or Vincent. I don't know which one to choose. I was happy with Walter til I got such bad feedback. So I went to Vincent but realized that I was only satisfying them and not myself. I'm happy with Walter so I'm gonna go back to it. Regardless of what people say

Ok I'm done ranting but...Has that ever happened to anyone else before? Having people's opinions on your name affect it and you choose a different one or something?

Go with the name that you like. It's your name, you should have one that makes you happy 

I asked my mother for permission before I settled on Hans as a first name.. Why? Because it's her father's name.
I only asked out of politeness, but would have respected her answer if she said no.
Her dad is gone, died when I was 4 or so years old, and she loved him, tons..
I picked the name in part because, I was named after my grandmother originally and figured it would be right to honor that tradition as well as honoring my grandfather, after which none of his grandchildren had been named so far.
Mum smiled and thought it was a good way to honor her dad. Which was a yays moment all around.

Vincent Price or Sir Walter Raleigh?

Pick something that means something to you.  Family name or what would I have been call if born correctly.

It is something you will have to live with the rest of your life, pick carefully.


Janet

Batman's butler was Alfred.  Walter, like Walter Cronkite, or Walt(er) Disney, Walter Payton, and Walter Reed.  And Vincent is not uncommon, but it tends to be used a lot in Italian families and they become all the Vinnies of the world.

Out of the family names thing, I did think for a while picking the name James. But it's my dad's name (I didn't think of the name because of that though). My dad's an alright person but I get a weird feeling from that name though. I never did give the name James a try....I think I'll give that a go and see if anything good comes of it

*goes to change his username*

I keep confusing people with my name changes

To be honest, I'm not so sure I'll keep the name Adrian.  I'm experimenting.
I used to go by Vincent online, a lot.  I've been nicknamed "V", and Vincent has been a name I've gone by for... Years.  My mother told me she might have named me Michael, or Gabriel.  Although, I guess Vincent was always a name I identified with.

It's hard to pick a name that means something.
I'm basically going to let it come to me.  I sort of want to see myself in the mirror before I name that face.  I've never seen my face in the mirror before, so... I'm going to give it time.

Pick some names you like and ask people their thoughts. Listen to suggestions, they may have something you like better.

I also recommend it match your heritage, for example you wouldn't name a Chinese child "Jose" (there are places you can look up the heritage and origins of names). You don't want it to stand out to much, also make sure it wasn't an oddball name for your age group. Some baby names for today were not around when you were born, or were at least unheard of. In the end though, you have to be comfortable with it. If you don't like it, what is the point? Be open to suggestions, but it's your choice.


Oh and bear in mind, if you go by Walter or Vincent, you will be called Vince, Vinnie and Walt. You don't have a whole lot of say in this, it will happen. Take shortened names into account when you pick one.

For the record, I like Walter. It seems to suit you, much more than Vincent.

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Post Merge: August 14, 2009, 08:48:48 PM

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Quote from: Adrian on August 14, 2009, 08:28:53 PM
It's hard to pick a name that means something.

As they say in Pulp Fiction..
I'm American, our names don't mean sh*t. 

I've always thought this to be one of the more cool little side-benefits of being in our position. You get to pick your own name.

Quote from: Nikki on August 14, 2009, 08:49:31 PM
I've always thought this to be one of the more cool little side-benefits of being in our position. You get to pick your own name.

A friend keeps telling me we are lucky, we get to create ourselves.
I argue we are just trying to find ourselves.

Yeah...I got to thinking more about the name "James" and I can't stand it. It reminds me too much of my dad and if maybe someday people near me would call me by my first name I would not want it to be my dad's name. I'm going back to Walter...I'm still comfortable with that name. I should've never tried James. It gave me such a weird feeling...

And Walter would match my heritage. It's an English name and I have lots of that in my ancestry

Quote from: James O.O on August 14, 2009, 10:22:27 PM
Yeah...I got to thinking more about the name "James" and I can't stand it. It reminds me too much of my dad and if maybe someday people near me would call me by my first name I would not want it to be my dad's name. I'm going back to Walter...I'm still comfortable with that name. I should've never tried James. It gave me such a weird feeling...

And Walter would match my heritage. It's an English name and I have lots of that in my ancestry

I love the name Walter on you.  That's just my opinion, but I think it fits.
Personally, I'm contemplating going by Vincent... What do you think? 

Vincent is a pretty good name. It's not too common but not too uncommon. For some reason whenever people call me Vincent it just doesn't fit

You can take the name if you want

What's you's talking 'bout's. I wassit thinkin' to takes the name Vincent. Oops, oh yeh I'm's a gurl. Well's you's can call's me Vinni anyway's 

Okay, according to your profile, you're American. In that case, I would say do NOT go with Walter. It's far too archaic to work. Yes, it's original, but it's one of those names you probably want to steer clear of, just because NObody names their kids Walter anymore. I'd go with Vincent... a little more common, and it's got good nicknames. Unless you're okay with everyone asking how the heck you got stuck with an old man's name... and I'm sorry, I realize that's a bit harsh, but it's true, in my experience. My name is a bit unusual as well, but because I live in a largely hispanic place, it's not very uncommon (it's a pretty common name in Central/South America). Just my two cents.

SD

Bosch!!! One of my neighbors is named Walter and he's as American as they come. I think it's a great name

My brother in law has walter for a middle name. My sister calls him Wally.

Quote from: Sebastien on August 14, 2009, 10:42:01 PM
Okay, according to your profile, you're American. In that case, I would say do NOT go with Walter. It's far too archaic to work. Yes, it's original, but it's one of those names you probably want to steer clear of, just because NObody names their kids Walter anymore. I'd go with Vincent... a little more common, and it's got good nicknames. Unless you're okay with everyone asking how the heck you got stuck with an old man's name... and I'm sorry, I realize that's a bit harsh, but it's true, in my experience. My name is a bit unusual as well, but because I live in a largely hispanic place, it's not very uncommon (it's a pretty common name in Central/South America). Just my two cents.

SD

Old fashioned name maybe, but yeesh, Eddie Van Halen named his kid Wolfgang.
Walter is way less odd than that.

He doesn't need a name that people name their kids today, he needs one that was used when or before he was born. Besides, he can always claim it's a family name. Who would know.

By the way, Bruce Willis goes by his middle name. His first name is Walter.

Quote from: Sebastien on August 14, 2009, 10:42:01 PM
Okay, according to your profile, you're American. In that case, I would say do NOT go with Walter. It's far too archaic to work. Yes, it's original, but it's one of those names you probably want to steer clear of, just because NObody names their kids Walter anymore. I'd go with Vincent... a little more common, and it's got good nicknames. Unless you're okay with everyone asking how the heck you got stuck with an old man's name... and I'm sorry, I realize that's a bit harsh, but it's true, in my experience. My name is a bit unusual as well, but because I live in a largely hispanic place, it's not very uncommon (it's a pretty common name in Central/South America). Just my two cents.

SD

That's something someone once said about it. It reminds them of an old man. I didn't really get the connection but I guess it's because the name is so outdated

Even if people said it was an old man's name, I'd tell them I got it from http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Silent_Hill_4:_The_Room

I'm a dork and probably a douche. But oh well lol

*thinks of Punk music and the Grunge style everytime he hears the name "Walter"*

Quote from: Walter on August 14, 2009, 11:32:27 PM
Even if people said it was an old man's name, I'd tell them I got it from http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Silent_Hill_4:_The_Room

I'm a dork and probably a douche. But oh well lol

you think you're a dork? My surname is Strife