Say My Name

[aunt_zelda]

 Have you ever wanted a different name? I'm sure a lot of you (especially those of us with horrifically common names like Emily or Sarah) have at one point or another. (Except maybe Freya Sacksen, who has the coolest given name I've ever heard of, seriously, it's like a fantasy geek's dream name, I am so jealous.)
I've gone through a lot of 'wish I was called that' names, coming up with elaborate pen-names and even taking a silly over-the-top nickname when I was twelve that I still use at school, theater, and the occasional social gathering. It's not that I want to so much change my name as I like the idea of having several names. This totally does not spawn from me reading The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the 6th grade and being very taken indeed with Aragorn and his Many Names. The Romans had three names: a sort of 'last name,' a given name, and a nickname that they were known by with their close friends. Wouldn't it be cool if people had more than their given names? With online handles, usernames, and vlogging names, we seem to be moving towards that ...

Then again, there are names that I've secretly coveted that I know I can never have. Taking the name 'Roxanne' would be like writing a Mary-Sue but in real life, not to mention the unfortunate implications due to a certain song by The Police. 'Gary' sounds pretty to me but I don't think the ensuing 'Samus is a girl?' would be worth it. I remember wanting 'Ludvig' in the 9th grade because of some science class and a research project about some dude named Ludvig the ______ and I've forgotten why I wanted it, but it's such a badass name I still kinda love it to bits. And the merits of 'Alexandra' are never gonna fade for me, even if it would be a wee bit pretentious to rename yourself after one of the most badass world conquering bisexuals libraries in history.

So, any of you have any secret desires for odd - or not so odd - names?


(I have no idea why I'm thinking about this ... I think it's an indicator that I need to go to bed and get rested up for work tomorrow.)

Comments

[accrues.livejournal.com]

I always wanted to be called Esmerelda when I was younger, but I have a secret love of the name Artemis.

I just really hate my name, because it clashes so badly with my last name. Also because it is quite a pretty name, and I never saw myself as a Belinda - I've always been slightly tomboyish.

It also looks awful on paper in my opinion, though I think it's my last name I want to change. [I shall seek out a man with an awesome last name - even if that's his only merit.]

My friend is named Sarah Tessa K-, and her parents changed their minds just after they named her (officially) because it was so common, and changed it to Tessa Sarah K-, so she's had to legally change her name for official documents now because she is a Tess. She just is.