I'm not sure if posting pics is allowed but I've really found that it's easier to help figure out a name change when you know what someone looks like. You know, how someone just "fits" a name.

Mikke Laine ------ was my first choice. Laine is what I go by in real life (I'm not out yet), it's a shorter version of my current middle name Elaine. Mikke I thought could be a little easier on my family because if pronounced "Mike-uh" or "mike-ee" it could still be somewhat androgynous and allow me to eventually move to a pronunciation of Mike. I'm just not so sure if it is the right name. I'm thinking more of my family than Me.

so here is a relatively current picture of me. What do you think fits? I want to keep Laine in my name for simplicity's sake (plus my mom's name is Elaine) but I want that as a middle name. My mom told me if I'd been born male I would have been named Matthew, but once again that would be going with something that might be a little easier for my family than my own personal preference.

So what are your opinions? What name do I look like? Weird post I know. I'm sorry if pics aren't allowed; I'll take it down if that is the case.

BTW- after changing my name I WILL be coming out so it doesn't really need to be androgynous though it might be helpful while I'm transitioning and still look slightly feminine (I'm FTM if you haven't figured that out already).

Mikke,
You're hot. just had to say that.
Love the green eyes.
I think you look like a Mike, but you should go with a name that feels right to you.
Forget about anyone else, family included.
And honestly, I really don't think the name makes much of a difference to your family.
I mean, you're discarding the name they gave you anyway (you have to, if it's female), so they have to grow accustomed to a new name anyways, why not make it something you really like.
When you find the right name, you will know.

Yeah....Katherine Elaine. A little hard to pass with that one. 


....*blush*

It's sorta wierd.  My family had a hard time with my new name.  So I told them to use Micki. They can't even spell it the way I'd like. Go figure.

Now I go by my legal name.  My family will sometimes use Micki, "the Mik", and now... and so suprisingly, some of them actually will use my legal name.

I only bring this up since your choice is exactly like my nick in pronunciation.

Dude, pick a name you like for yourself.  There's a million of them.  Mikke is very cool if that's what you like.  Your family will have to deal with whatever you choose. You may as well like it.

Cindi

Thanks for replying.

The problem is most of my favourite "obviously male" names are kinda taken. Lots of guys in my family. Let's see...Michael, James(2), John, William, Joe, Ralph, Norm, Ed, Steven
and I'd prefer to make things a little less complex by choosing one of those. I really like "Jamie" but there's already two James in my family and Jamie doesn't do so well in the adult world; most people use it as a nickname as a child then upgrade to james when they're older.

I've known several adult "Jamies" and I think it's a fine name Mikke.....Choose whichever you like....few people get the opportunity to choose thier own names so choose anything you like.  If anyone gives you hell about it then you can blame it on your parents 

I like Laine. Sounds like Matthew, if you like it, would probably please your mother. That would suit you too (not Matt, but Matthew).

I tend not to prefer unusual names, just because you'll constantly be spelling it to people and having trouble with the way they pronounce it, but if that doesn't bother you, then go for it.

Dennis

The name you have picked is great, it fits and sounds pleasing to the ears.  However as pointed out names are a personal thing and really has nothing to do with the comfort level of those who will have to deal with you when you transition.  As long as 'you' like the name that you have picked then that's all that counts isn't it.

Steph

Mikke,
    You chose what you like best. Sooner or later they will adjust. I do know the feeling of wating to please others, but learned that you must do what is best for you in the long run. And  once  you begin to transition, you will want a masculine name I would think.
By the way, you can post a picture of yourself in the avatar slot now if you would like, since you have 15 post now.

                                             Marco

Regardless of what name I think people "look like", usually once I find out their actual name I get used to it and can't imagine them with any other name.  I second (or third or fourth) what others have already said - choose what you like best, regardless of what other people think or whether the name is already "taken".  You can try to choose a name that sounds like your current name, or sounds more unisex, but not at the cost of compromising your preferences - you're probably going to live the rest of your life with this chosen name, after all.  Might as well make it something you really like.  Thanks for sharing your pic. You are good looking even without T.

Joseph

You guys all raise good points. I'd really like my family to help decide on a good name for me, but I'm not out to them yet. I might actually use Laine as a first name and then Matthew as a middle. My parents might be ok with that.

....how did you guys deal with explaining a name change? Did you do it while you were "out" or still in the closet? With the names I've chosen (esp the Matthew bit) its pretty obvious that it's male so I guess I'd have to be out. I'd love to hear your experiences with reactions to changing your name.

Mikke,

The whole coming out thing tends to vary. I never really had to "come out" it was a no brainer for my parents. But when it came to a name, my mom actually picked my first name and let me pick my middle name. It made her a part of the process, and being that she was my foster mom it was the first time she got to pick a name for me. I can't say I hate  the name,, but I sort of due. It is a andro name if you ask me.  She told me if other kids can't pick theirs then why should I have any say! lol  So that was my expierance.

Peace,

Taylor

I like your name, Taylor.

I wouldn't have changed my name at all if it hadn't been so clearly female. I just told people about the name change at the same time as I told them about the transition. Some people used the name "Den" as an easier transition for them. Some still do, actually, and I don't mind it.

I chose the male version of my name out of respect for my parents, who named me that. However I wasn't quite so respectful as to take the name they had planned for me until I was born appearing female. I really didn't want to become "Howard".

Dennis

Quote from: Dennis on October 18, 2006, 09:32:59 AM
However I wasn't quite so respectful as to take the name they had planned for me until I was born appearing female. I really didn't want to become "Howard".

Dennis

Good move, Dennis.
You're definitely no Howard.

Dude, if you like Jamie but can't take James, why not look for other names that can shorten down to that like Jameson?  Very distinguished and masculine name.  For me, Laine sounds girly for a first name (probably only because there's an anime character anmed Lain though), as does the "Mike-uh" ponunciation (like Micah, unisex name), and could be problematic in the early parts of trasition.  I was looking for something that would have an androgynous diminuation at first to ease the transition for my friends and family, but I'm a guy and I don't want that disputed or unclear, so I'm leaning more towards a traditional, completely masculine name instead.  I mean, if you want an androgynous name that's totally cool, I'm not trying to attack that, I'm just relating my own thoughts on the process, and I still haven't picked for sure either.  You can see from my username that I was leaning towards something very similar to yours, but it's not really in the running anymore, as I'm looking at William Matthias now...  At first I was worried cuz I know a couple Wills, but it's so common that it's not going to make them think I'm stealing it or something.  Also, I belong to a bunch of FTM communities on Livejournal and it's kind of a running joke how we often give ourselves overly trendy or odd names (i.e. Kayden, Aiden, Jayden, anything ending in "en" really, are the most common) that give us away, so I wanted something traditional and common to guys so that my TS status wouldn't be totally obvious.  I think it's kind of important for us to choose a name that could have realistically been given to someone in the year we were born, so the US Census data of most popular names of your birth year can be a really good reference.  But then, different people have totally different views on that too, so the most important thing is to go for something that will fit you, and if that's Kayden or Ayden, more power to you

I am still keeping my initials to ease the change, so my signature is going to be the same.  I have some things published under my initials already too, which reduced the options.  But then if I allowed myself to choose from any letter I would be taking decades to pick a name, there are too many I like.  W is not a great letter to look for a new name in, they mostly suck, but the alternatives were too plentiful and confusing anyway.

And by the way, you are indeed hot.  You'll be a very popular guy

Instead of pronouncing your name "mike-uh" or "mike-ee", have you thought of being "mick" or "mick-ee"?
I think those are really cute and definitely masculine.

Nero

Quote from: Laine on October 17, 2006, 12:33:19 AM
Yeah....Katherine Elaine. A little hard to pass with that one. 
....*blush*

Yuck... You don't look anything like Kathrine Elaine... 

The thing is you may want to pick a name that can become more mature as you get older...

I don't really know how old you are but do you want to be known as Mikke when you are 40?  Choosing a formal name that can be shortend worked for me, but I'm different.

Cassandra (Actually Kassandra here) is my formal name. And I can have several nicknames from that...

Cassie (Yuck, never liked that but it's there)
Sandra (The less formal but more "mature")
Sandy (What I want my friends to call me).

In your case Michael->Mike->Mikke.

Coming out is a life changing event.  I assume that you want to spend the rest of your life as a male.  Having a name that you can live with for the rest of your life is something that can help your transistion.

Most people don't have the option of choosing their name.  It is assigned them at birth by their parents.  Very few people are so disappointed in their names that they actually pursue a formal name change.

We who transition do it because it is part of the transitioning process.  So like everything else (at least for me) it is due a bit of thought.

And that's my opinion which is worth what you paid for it...

And opinions are like belly buttons... I think you know the rest...

-Sandy

It was instant. I looked at your avatar and I knew you were a Lance. Dignified, masculine, classy, but obviously a bad boy at heart. Seriously though, it just popped into my head. So I'm so sure you will like it, I have already filed the paperwork and you just need to go to the courthouse and sign the papers.

I look forward to speaking to you more in the future Lance. Lance, I'm sure you will make a fine addition to the company. My god Lance, I think you've discovered a cure for cancer!

Anyway, at the risk of losing whatever fragile anonymity that I've got here, my changed name is zoe (I will omit the full nomiker for obvious reasons, and you probably wouldn't believe it anyway--its not necessarily that I don't want to have myname attached to my posts, its just that I don't want it to end up as a number one post for a search on my name--and something like that happened to me once elsewhere).

At any rate: zoe. While it doesn't strike me as overtly feminine, and I didn't change it specifically to match my gender, the rest of the free world somehow doesn't see it as a guy's name. Thus, were it not for the humorous last name (that I have omitted) I would have a whole lot more explaining to do I think. The unique last name was the real reason I thought to change my name at all, and zoe just kind of happened in the process of thinking of all the possible first names that would go with my new surname. zoe meant, "life," which I felt represented me more than my given name which meant, "leader." And it didn't bother me at all that it felt sort of feminine. But apart from zowie bowie and some guy that called into a radio station as a putative "zoe", I have yet to meet another male zoe. And yet, despite the occasional, "isn't that a girls name?" when I first meet some people, nobody seems at all phased by the whole thing, and would likely agree that it is somehow a fitting name.

So Lance, I hope my story helps you out. I think you are going places Lance, handsome fella such as yourself! Take care Lance!