I feel like I have a childish name.

[may_be_ignorant]

My given first name is Cody. I've had a few nicknames, but none that ever stuck for very long. Cody was ok while I was younger, even though there were like 7 of us in my relatively small graduating class, but now every time someone adresses me by my name, I realize how much I hate it. It seems childish to me. I have often wondered what I may go by when I'm older. Certainly not my middle name, because while it isn't kiddy-sounding, its certainly different.

Maybe I'm crazy. Can you think of any other names that just seem like they fit for younger people only? Names that you just.. grow out of?

I didnt think about it, but am I even allowed to use my first name in a post?

[Askance]

You're allowed to call yourself what you want, and reveal any personal details you like. It may not be wise to go beyond the first name though ...

Almost any male name that ends with that -y or -ie sound can come across as childish; dickie, freddy, micky, and so on.

[friedo]

I recommend that you immediately change your name to Cordelius Q. Piddlepants, Jr.

[Ambivalid]

Well how would you like it if you had a childish and GIRLY name?? :dubious:

The fact that you are even fussing and insecure in the first place about the impact of your name seems to suggest that you are, in fact, a bit childish. This problem will take care of it's self when you don't think about it anymore. Come, join us in the adult world Cody, for none of us could care less what your name sounds like. :)

[Dr. Drake]

Agree about the -y sound. If you want to make it more adult, why not just go by "Code"? Or "Cipher."

[Zsofia]

Isn't Cody one of Kathy Lee''s kids? Yeah, sorry, that's a sucky name. :)

[carnut]

Your name is what you make of it. I used to hate my given name. Then it became a popular one and I've grown used to being the oldest of the S---s. Plus, it's a unisex name and a surname. But it is who I am.

My mother legally changed her name because nobody ever called her by her given name. She shared it with her mother, so she got a different nickname. She did have the grace to wait until her mother had died before making the change legal.

You can pick whatever name you want to be called. People who have known you all your life are still going to call you Cody. When I hear the name though, I don't think of girls at all. I think of Buffalo Bill Cody. Not sissy at all.

[Pai325]

I knew a Kenneth who was Kenny growing up, but then thought it was childish and started going by Ken. I think it was when he joined the army, which makes sense. It does seem like names ending in the long e sound appear to be more childish. It doesn't affect women as much; you can picture an 80 year old Cathy or Sally. Here in rural Illinois some boys are given the names Jimmy, Ricky, and Bobby, where I would give the names James, Richard or Eric, and Robert and then call them the other name as a nickname.

The nice thing about being an adult is that you can change it or go by your middle name if you want.

[GuanoLad]

All you need to do is wait until a very cool actor named Cody becomes an action movie star, and you're set.

Bad luck if instead it's an actor in Glee.

[Scarlett67]

If I'd had kids, I would have given them names that they could grow into. So many names are "cutesy" on a baby, but that baby is going to grow up. I like the meme of choosing a baby's name as if it had "Supreme Court Justice" in front of it.

[Indygrrl]

I've never really thought about the name Cody, but it does sound like it's short for something, although I have no idea what. It's not necessarily bad though, and certainly not one of those names that would give a bad impression subconsciously (IMO, anyway). Heh, I can think of several men's names that would be infinitely worse, lol.

[tesseract]

FWIW I don't mind Cody - not that you care what I mind - but you can change your name if you want and people will eventually get around to calling you something else. All the new people who meet you will only know your new name. My niece who is 20 changed her name and she pretty much has us trained - it now seems odd to use her original name and seems more natural to use her new name. By the way, carnut, no one was saying Cody sounded like a girl's name - jamiemcgarrywas referring to his own name.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Make up a nickname.

Tell them your name is Spike.

[FairyChatMom]

My father-in-law's name is Bobbie. That's what's on his birth certificate, spelled that way. He's gone by Bob as long as I've known him. His mother was a very sweet, gentle lady, but she obviously wasn't thinking of the adult her adorable baby son would become. I expect his sister Betty has had to put up with people trying to call her Elizabeth.

As for Cody - yeah, it immediately puts me in mind of a little boy. Of course, there's Corey Flintoff (http://www.npr.org/people/2100491/corey-flintoff), who seems to have done OK despite his boyish first name... ;)

[astro]

It's the "y" in Cody that makes it sound puerile. Drop the "y" and go by "Cod".


Name's Johnson... "Cod" Johnson.... Glad to meetcha!... Damn glad!

[pbbth]

If I'd had kids, I would have given them names that they could grow into. So many names are "cutesy" on a baby, but that baby is going to grow up. I like the meme of choosing a baby's name as if it had "Supreme Court Justice" in front of it.

When we were picking baby names we took every name we were seriously considering and played a similar game. We said each of the following sentences out loud to see which sounded more likely.

"Please welcome the President of the United States of America, [insertbabynamehere]"

"Next up on the pole is [insertbabynamehere]"

If the name worked better as a stripper than the president we vetoed it.

[Leaffan]

I don't get parents who do this to kids. (Not picking on Cody; it's mild in comparison.)

Kids eventually, you know, grow up and perhaps "Tyler" isn't the best choice for a businessman.

[Sal Ammoniac]

I've never really thought about the name Cody, but it does sound like it's short for something, although I have no idea what.
"Codeine."

But in fact, changing your name, even legally, is not that hard. We did it recently for one of the kids, and it involved nothing more than filling out a form and paying a bit of money.

[OpalCat]

My grandmother's name was Norma. She went by Petie. Go by the name you want.

[Sally Mander]

I've never really thought about the name Cody, but it does sound like it's short for something, although I have no idea what.
I know two Codys (both under 5) who are really Dakotas.

[Marley23]

For whatever reason I feel that Kevin is more of a kids' name. I went to elementary school with one Kevin and there were a few of them in my high school, and it just feels like a younger person's name to me. In point of fact I see its popularity was in decline by that time and there should be a lot of Kevins in their 40s and even 50s today.

OP, you could always try going by your middle name if the first name isn't doing it for you. I've heard it can be tricky to get people to go along with that, but you might want to think about it.

Kids eventually, you know, grow up and perhaps "Tyler" isn't the best choice for a businessman.
The Supreme Court justice thing is fun and has its uses, but let's be honest about the fact that it's entirely contextual. A name that's popular for kids today is going to be a grandparents' name in 50 or 60 years. (And these days at least, vice versa.) The popularity of Tyler as a first name rose sharply in the '70s and really exploded in the '90s, which means there are some Tylers in business now, and in a couple of decades there will be a lot of them and nobody will think it's anything unusual.

[Marley23]

I didnt think about it, but am I even allowed to use my first name in a post?
Of course. We have a lot of people whose usernames contain their real names. You should always be careful about giving out information that can identify you, but a first name alone is probably not going to do it.

[WordMan]

For whatever reason I feel that Kevin is more of a kids' name.

There was a Daily Show where they showed a clip of Obama (I think) admonishing Senator Cantor from Virginia - Stewart commented that Obama having to end his sentence with "Eric" robbed it of its rhetorical heft. "These are grave times, Eric" - (I am sure that isn't the actual quote) and then he used names like Kevin and Craig to show how they fit in the same category...


...as for Cody - well, I can see how it carries requirements - it can be hard pulling off a name like that. I can see some motorcycle-riding badass making the name Cody work ("Who was that guy? That was Cody McBadass"). Do you ride a hog? Can you shoot stuff? Open bottles with your teeth or eye socket or something?

All I am sayin' is: maybe you haven't gotten in touch with your inner Cody yet ;)

[Dogzilla]

My family calls me by a nickname (no idea why this started) that I don't generally allow anyone else to use. A couple years ago, my nephew asked me why I don't introduce myself or go by that name.

I said, "Well, would you take any girl named [my nickname] seriously? Would you think she has a brain in her head if she told you that was her name?"

"No."

"That's why."

"Ah."

I have a few friends that I've been friends with for a looooong time. Some of them will use that nickname. My BFF of 25ish years calls me by my nickname. I'm okay with this, because we've established long ago that I'm a smart, capable adult worthy of respect. They aren't going to assume I'm some kind of ditzy, giggly little girl because they know I'm not that person. (My nick totally does not fit my personality.) I don't have to worry about my close friends taking me seriously or treating me like a dumb little girl, so I will let them use my nickname, taking it as a term of affection or endearment. I will tell new friends they have to earn the privilege. If they try it out and I don't rip their throat out, that's how they know they've earned the privilege. ;)

[Marley23]

Right, even these days I think Cody makes a lot of people think of Buffalo Bill. I can see where it might be incongruous if the OP is not the outlaw wild west type.

[hajario]

In the early 90's I worked with a guy who named his son Cody. My very first thought was, "who is going to take an adult named Cody seriously?"

[tdn]

I know two Codys (both under 5) who are really Dakotas.

Identical or fraternal?

I think that Cody is sort of a badass name. I wouldn't want to get into a gun fight with a Cody. But if I did, it's probably because I needed killin'.

[Lukeinva]

There's a highly rated hockey player coming out of western Canada this year, his name is Cody Eakin. He was drafted in the third round in 2009 by the Washington Capitals, although I suspect he will be assigned to the Hershey Bears (Caps farm club) for seasoning.

What is remarkable about him is the trade that happened this past January. Essentially he was traded for eight players, five actual players and three draft picks. The most any one player has ever been traded for.

Just thought I'd mention him since his name is Cody. As a Caps fan I'm hoping he's the real deal as advertised.

[Leaffan]

My family calls me by a nickname (no idea why this started) that I don't generally allow anyone else to use. .....

OK, Bubbles.

ETA: ;)

[Dogzilla]

OK, Bubbles.

ETA: ;)

Pretty close, actually. :D

[tdn]

Pretty close, actually. :D

Bambi?

That was almost my sister's name.

[Sarabellum1976]

Cody is a pretty popular name these days - maybe not quite Jason of the 80s or Jacob of the 90s, but I would imagine that the US will be well-populated with Codys in just a few more years. It might not be such a big deal.

But seriously, just change your name. It's not that big a deal. I did it. I didn't like my name (Ellen) and thought it sounded old-fashioned and odd and it was just not ME. So I changed it when I started high school, to a completely different name (Sara). It took about a week for people to take me seriously, and a couple of months for my close friends and family to make the switch.

Now hardly anyone remembers my "old" name.

[WordMan]

I think that Cody is sort of a badass name. I wouldn't want to get into a gun fight with a Cody. But if I did, it's probably because I needed killin'.

Hey may_be_ignorant - here's a test: do you shave, or can you just hammer the stubble back in? Maybe you *are* Cody material and just don't know it! ;)

ETA: yeah, I know - of absolutely no help at all in terms of your actual OP. Sorry.

[Bosstrain]

A real man would call himself Sue, and believe me, nobody would say sh*t to you (you don't mess with a guy who's named Sue :cool:)

[Cat Whisperer]

Your name is what you make of it. I used to hate my given name. Then it became a popular one and I've grown used to being the oldest of the S---s. Plus, it's a unisex name and a surname. But it is who I am.<snip>Sussex?

My family calls me by a nickname (no idea why this started)<snip>

Bambi?

That was almost my sister's name.Poopsie?

I agree with you, Cody - that name just doesn't sound like a serious adult gentleman.

[california jobcase]

Cody sounds country/western to me.

[Hilarity N. Suze]

Cody doesn't sound childish to me.

I have known two people who went through the following progression: Jimmie, Jim, James. Going from Jimmie to Jim wasn't too bad, but boy have I had a problem with James.

I thought my name was childish and managed to convince most people (not my family, though) to call me Suzanne rather than Suzi. (Long story, my mother spelled it Susie, my father spelled it Suzy, I preferred my father's version until I started learning cursive and then the combination of the z and y descenders really hung me up. I thought changing it to an i looked very sophisticated. Then I realized it looked kind of stupid, but it also seemed equally stupid to change the spelling of my nickname again. Especially after I'd brought my mother around to spelling it Suzi.)

In point of fact, on the internet I usually sign it as Suz just because I'm lazy, and IRL a lot of people call me Suze.

I had a roommate who dated a guy whose real name was Coy. He changed it to Cody. Good call. One letter makes such a difference.

[california jobcase]

Cody just sounds country/western to me.

Corey, on the other hand, reminds me of a half-eaten apple or pear.

Ashley is how the forest is after a wildfire.

Sorry about the semi-double post. I tried to edit the first one, but I swear it wasn't there to be edited!

[Dr. Drake]

Identical or fraternal?North and South, obviously. I used to have a housemate from South Cody.

[kath94]

For whatever reason I feel that Kevin is more of a kids' name. I went to elementary school with one Kevin and there were a few of them in my high school, and it just feels like a younger person's name to me. In point of fact I see its popularity was in decline by that time and there should be a lot of Kevins in their 40s and even 50s today.

OP, you could always try going by your middle name if the first name isn't doing it for you. I've heard it can be tricky to get people to go along with that, but you might want to think about it.


The Supreme Court justice thing is fun and has its uses, but let's be honest about the fact that it's entirely contextual. A name that's popular for kids today is going to be a grandparents' name in 50 or 60 years. (And these days at least, vice versa.) The popularity of Tyler as a first name rose sharply in the '70s and really exploded in the '90s, which means there are some Tylers in business now, and in a couple of decades there will be a lot of them and nobody will think it's anything unusual.

Yeah, name popularity is cyclical. I'm in my late 40's and as I age, Kathy will become an "old lady" name. <sigh.>

I had a childhood friend named "Willy." One day before he started high school he decided that he was "Bill" from that day forward. I could never call him by that name. Bill was his father, dammit!

[Dogzilla]

Poopsie... Y'all are crackin' me up.

After this thread, it doesn't seem so bad to me now.

It's Dede. :: shame ::




You guys aren't going to take me seriously anymore, are you?

[Leaffan]

Yeah, name popularity is cyclical. I'm in my late 40's and as I age, Kathy will become an "old lady" name. <sigh.>
......

Become?






:p

[WordMan]

You guys aren't going to take me seriously anymore, are you?

Before or after you linked to the photos of you pole-dancing as Wonder Woman in other threads?

::ducks & runs::

In all seriousness - I don't think of Dede as a Bambi-type name. It is more of a Kelly or Annie type of name; ending in "ie" sound but quite reasonable. (ETA: "reasonable" meaning - not sounding kiddie-like at all...I actually like the name; unfortunate association wih Didi Conn, but she was only really big in Beauty School Dropout in Grease, right?)

[OpalCat]

I hate it when people call me "Kathy"... I hate it a lot. It's not my name. It was my name until I was about 10 years old, but since then it's "Katherine" please. I even answer to "Opal" in real life. But when people call me "Kathy" I get all stabby.

[Leaffan]

Hey, what a coincidence. I hate it when people call me Kathy too.

[Dogzilla]

Before or after you linked to the photos of you pole-dancing as Wonder Woman in other threads?

::ducks & runs::



:(

Before.

Of course nobody takes me seriously after.

[Silver Tyger]

I agree with everyone that says Cody is a fine name.

I think when you grow up with a name, especially one that doesn't have a good nickname, all the memories stick to it and you don't realize that it's not the name but the fact that you've been answering to it for a lifetime that makes it childish.

On the other hand, my grandfather is named Billie. Not Bill. Not William. Billie.

I've legally changed my all of my name (well, I kept my original last name as a second middle name). My old name can be a diminutive of my new name, just spelled differently. It's expensive (in California at least) and there are a million things to change, plus your family will probably give you grief. But if it really bothers you, change it. Alternately, there's nothing saying you can't go by something other than your 'real' name.

OpalCat: Kathy's just kind of an ugly name anyway. I made Katherine my new middle name (my old one was Marie. Ugh. I swear 90% of women in Christian nations have Marie or a variant as part of their name). Katherine has a ring to it. It's noble. It skips across the tongue. And, y'know, then I can legitimately go by Kitty if I ever want to.

[Generally Giap]

"Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045382/) (1953 (http://www.imdb.com/year/1953/)). A movie serial in 12 episodes. Fine name. When Mystery Science Fiction Theater 3000 showed a condensed version, whenever Commando Cody was about to take off, Crow would say: "Tweak your nipples and fly."

But no one will remember that.

[Laggard]

I expect a Cody to be a professional bull rider.

[Icarus]

I agree with the difficulty in giving a boy-child a cutesy name.

I know of a family who named their youngest boy Kiki. These are white mid-west folks. Dad is a body builder and runs a gym. Kiki might be a real cute name for a baby-toddler, but honestly - KIKI? {{{{{{{shudder}}}}}}

[Pai325]

When my husband and I were trying to decide on a name for our daughter, I kept thinking, if I were having to have brain surgery, or if I were being sued for an enormous amount of money, what names for my doctor/lawyer would inspire me with confidence? Fifi? No. Tiffany? No. Names like Katherine or Elizabeth give the option of nicknames if you want, but a solid, dependable name if your occupation requires it.

Cody is a cute name. You have to decide how long you want to be cute. And you may just be going through a period now where you don't know if you want to keep it, and find that ultimately you do. Or you may decide to change. Or change and go back! My cousin Beth thought it was childish and went by Liz for 10 years or so. Now she is Beth again. Since I stumbled over Liz, I'm happy she went back!

[Sandra Battye]

I expect a Cody to be a professional bull rider.

Or any pro rodeo cowboy. Or athlete. I think it's a rough, tough, manly name.

[WordMan]

Or any pro rodeo cowboy. Or athlete. I think it's a rough, tough, manly name.

OP, can you change your last name to "McBadass"? That's your solution right there.

Well, that and a new set of chaps. ;)

[may_be_ignorant]

Yeah.. my dad said the same thing when I asked him why he named me that. He said it was "because it sounded western." I'm not sure how I feel about that.

The name I was supposed to have been given is considerably more manly. However, I have to say it makes me more appreciative of my given one. My grandparents were Bonnie and Clyde. Not THE Bonnie and Clyde, but Bonnie and Clyde nonetheless. My sister and I are fraternal twins, and for some reason, my mother wanted to name us both after her parents (also strange to me.) Bonnie got stuck with it. My grandfather demanded I not be named Clyde, saying that I'd hate it. Good call Grandpa.

[SpoilerVirgin]

If I'd had kids, I would have given them names that they could grow into. So many names are "cutesy" on a baby, but that baby is going to grow up. I like the meme of choosing a baby's name as if it had "Supreme Court Justice" in front of it.My grandparents did this, literally. They gave my father the name of an actual Supreme Court Justice (first and last name as my father's first and middle name). It worked out pretty well, since while he never made the Court, he has had a very successful legal career. My parents often talk about how they thought about using a different Supreme Court Justice for my brother's name, but ultimately decided against it.

As for the diminutive boys names, my mother does this to almost every name, including my father's, so "Deany...Marky...Davy...Petey," etc. A friend of hers once referred to me as "[my name]y," and I realized it was because he'd only ever heard her call me that (my name does not end in "ee").

I like Cody, and agree with others that it has a Western, cowboy vibe. I'd go with that, and start wearing a Stetson and boots. ;)

[drastic_quench]

Consider initials. If your middle name starts with anything other than J, you could have a unique set of initials to go by. It's not perfect, but you won't have to change your legal name. Of course, if your middle initial ends in the ee sound, that doesn't help, like C.C., C.B., or C.G.

C.R. C.S. C.Q. C.K. -- There's some decent possibilities.

[kath94]

Become?


:p

I hate it when people call me "Kathy"... I hate it a lot. It's not my name. It was my name until I was about 10 years old, but since then it's "Katherine" please. I even answer to "Opal" in real life. But when people call me "Kathy" I get all stabby.

Hey, what a coincidence. I hate it when people call me Kathy too.

I agree with everyone that says Cody is a fine name.

<snip>OpalCat: Kathy's just kind of an ugly name anyway. I made Katherine my new middle name (my old one was Marie. Ugh. I swear 90% of women in Christian nations have Marie or a variant as part of their name). Katherine has a ring to it. It's noble. It skips across the tongue. And, y'know, then I can legitimately go by Kitty if I ever want to.

:( I only hear my full name from my mother when I'm in BIG trouble, and only use it when signing legal documents. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with my name. I wouldn't be ME otherwise. :(

[kath94]

By coincidence, humorist Melvin Durai chimes in today:

http://www.nshima.com/2011/08/baby.html

[OpalCat]

OpalCat: Kathy's just kind of an ugly name anyway. I made Katherine my new middle name (my old one was Marie. Ugh. I swear 90% of women in Christian nations have Marie or a variant as part of their name). Katherine has a ring to it. It's noble. It skips across the tongue. And, y'know, then I can legitimately go by Kitty if I ever want to.

Baaaahahahahaaha my middle name is Marie.

[Silver Tyger]

:( I only hear my full name from my mother when I'm in BIG trouble, and only use it when signing legal documents. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with my name. I wouldn't be ME otherwise. :(

Personal opinion only! I know a very nice women named Kathy.

(... sorry)

Baaaahahahahaaha my middle name is Marie.

And probably most of the women here! (I swear I started a poll about it before. Or I thought about it. Or...)

[Eliahna]

I know a Cody (30 year old guy) and a Kodee (8 year old girl), and I find the former grown up and masculine, and the latter childish and girly. It's the people who make the name, not the name that makes the people.

[Dr. Drake]

I made Katherine my new middle name (my old one was Marie. Ugh.Could be worse—my aunt Marie's other given name is Carmela.

[jasonh300]

Identical or fraternal?

I didn't see anything about them being twins, or even related.

Who would give twins the same name?

North Dakota and South Dakota?

[Dr. Girlfriend]

I know a guy named Cody who runs with the cowboy theme. He's a big guy, and the boots and hat and string tie work for him. He's also about 60-ish, and he looks like he could kick anyone's ass with one hand tied behind his back.

There's a family I know with two daughters, Dystyny and Triniti... those are stripper names if I ever saw one.

[Sally Mander]

I didn't see anything about them being twins, or even related.

Who would give twins the same name?

North Dakota and South Dakota?

No, they're not twins. They're two unrelated children, the kids of friends. The girl is about five, and the little boy is about two.



Although North Dakota and South Dakota would be awesome names for twins. :D

[carnut]

Baaaahahahahaaha my middle name is Marie.

My middle name is Marie. It was my grandmother's first name. I've always thought it was a beautiful name.

However, it does seem that one third of U.S. women seem to have that as our middle name. Another third seem to bear the middle name of "Ann" or "Anne".

[OpalCat]

My middle name is Marie. It was my grandmother's first name. I've always thought it was a beautiful name.

However, it does seem that one third of U.S. women seem to have that as our middle name. Another third seem to bear the middle name of "Ann" or "Anne".

and then you get my mother, Ann Marie. :)

[BigT]

I always thought Lee was oddly popular as a middle name.

I don't think Cody is a bad name, either. Other -y names can sound kiddie because they are modifications of a real name or nickname, designed to be cutesy. But Cody isn't. It never would have dawned on me to think of it as one of those names.

I also think the problem with Dede is not the final sound, but the fact that it's repetitious, like baby talk. I would always assume it was an affectionate nickname.

Finally, I don't think Kathy is that bad. It sounds a lot better than Katy, and doesn't confuse people into thinking your name is Kaitlyn. But I do get not liking a shortened version of your name. The only way I like my name shortened is the way it is in my Username: an initial.

I only wish my name were not so dadblasted uncommon, so I could share it with you guys. Not only I have always absolutely loved it, but I've always wondered if my dislike of the nicknamed version is rational. I mostly don't like it because it's usually a nickname for another name, and I like that my name is relatively unique.

[OpalCat]

I always thought Lee was oddly popular as a middle name.

Lee is my husband's middle name. We're apparently the Common Commonly McCommoner family. ;)

[jasonh300]

My middle name is Marie. It was my grandmother's first name. I've always thought it was a beautiful name.

However, it does seem that one third of U.S. women seem to have that as our middle name. Another third seem to bear the middle name of "Ann" or "Anne".

Catholics like to give their daughters Mary, Marie or Maria as a middle name because of the Catholic devotion to the Blessed Mother. Statistically, 22% of the U.S. population is Catholic, so it's going to be a very popular name.

[carnut]

Catholics like to give their daughters Mary, Marie or Maria as a middle name because of the Catholic devotion to the Blessed Mother. Statistically, 22% of the U.S. population is Catholic, so it's going to be a very popular name.

Well, that is true and I do qualify as Catholic. But I was named after my grandmother, or rather to pacify my grandmother for not giving me the first name she suggested, not for religious reasons.

[lavenderviolet]

It is pretty crazy how many women have Ann, Lynn, or Marie as a middle name. It seems much more consistent than with guys.

I am on the side of thinking Cody is a tough-sounding name for an adult man. I have heard far worse names.

[llcoolbj77]

I think Cody is ok, but it does make me think of someone younger.

My parents named me after a favored cousin, Elizabeth Jean. But she went by Betty Jean or BJ. So my parents called me BJ pretty much from birth, despite them not being my initials nor calling me Betty Jean.

I was in second grade the first time someone called me blow job. And high school was fun, as you can imagine.

But Beej or BJ is just who I am. In court the judges call me Elizabeth. But the bailiffs, clerks, and judges off the bench call me BJ. :)

[KittenKat]

:( I only hear my full name from my mother when I'm in BIG trouble, and only use it when signing legal documents. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with my name. I wouldn't be ME otherwise. :(

This pretty much sums it up for me, too. Kathryn from my mother meant she was very annoyed with me. Kathryn Margaret meant I was seriously trying her patience, and when she used all three names (first, middle, last), look out!

I don't think Kathy is that bad. It sounds a lot better than Katy, and doesn't confuse people into thinking your name is Kaitlyn. But I do get not liking a shortened version of your name. The only way I like my name shortened is the way it is in my Username: an initial.

Thanks for the first part, and I get not liking a shortened version of your name, too. But I've been called Kathy for all of my 50+ years, and I'm used to it and I like it. It's become a part of me, as have Kath and Kat, other versions some people call me. Since I'm not called Kate or Katy, no one has ever thought I was a Kaitlyn, but knowing I was a "K" Kathy, some people have assumed I was a Kathleen. I haven't gotten that in years, though, probably because Kathleen seems to be way down on the popularity list these days.

And let me just take this opportunity to remind people that although it may feel like you're having a conversation with only one (or a few) person (people), plenty of others are reading your posts, and you might want to take a moment or two to think if your words might gratuitously insult someone out there. I was heartily offended by Silver Tyger Girl's bald pronouncement that my name is "just kind of an ugly name anyway." It's not that I think every one should love the name; if she had just said that it was a name she'd never cared for, hey, that's cool. There are plenty of names I don't care for, too. But I don't go posting how they're ugly, or dumb, or silly on message boards when to do so might offend some one I have no intention of offending.

[Taomist]

...as for Cody - well, I can see how it carries requirements - it can be hard pulling off a name like that. I can see some motorcycle-riding badass making the name Cody work ("Who was that guy? That was Cody McBadass"). Do you ride a hog? Can you shoot stuff? Open bottles with your teeth or eye socket or something?

All I am sayin' is: maybe you haven't gotten in touch with your inner Cody yet ;)

I love this. :p

[Taomist]

My middle name is Marie. It was my grandmother's first name. I've always thought it was a beautiful name.

However, it does seem that one third of U.S. women seem to have that as our middle name. Another third seem to bear the middle name of "Ann" or "Anne".

Just in case anyone missed the poll:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=585177

My middle name's Marie, because...it tied the first and last names together. No religious or family reason.

ETA: Whoops...my middle name is now my husband's last name. Changed it when I got married, and almost forgot!

[Malleus, Incus, Stapes!]

The only Cody I knew, I knew in grade school, so...

(That Cody aside, I don't think I've ever thought as the name as being particularly childish. Or particularly anything- the only association I have with "Cody" is blond hair).

[GilaB]

Cody only got really popular in the 1980's, so yes, most of today's Codys are youngish. As you get older, the profile of the name will get older as well. I mean, you probably don't think of 'Gilbert' as a young name, but it once was - in the 1930's and 40's.

That said, people seem to identify that -y ending as too childish for boys right now. Witness the rise of the mostly made-up name Braden, possibly because people thought Brady sounded to nickname-y. Read a whole essay on the subject here (http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2008/8/instant-name-just-add-n).

[Dr. Drake]

Cody only got really popular in the 1980's, so yes, most of today's Codys are youngish. As you get older, the profile of the name will get older as well. I mean, you probably don't think of 'Gilbert' as a young name, but it once was - in the 1930's and 40's.

That said, people seem to identify that -y ending as too childish for boys right now. Witness the rise of the mostly made-up name Braden, possibly because people thought Brady sounded to nickname-y. Read a whole essay on the subject here (http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2008/8/instant-name-just-add-n).The -en thing is really interesting, since the -n in a lot of those names (Aidan, Kevin, and a zillion girls' names—Kathleen, Eileen, Maureen, Megan, Doreen) is from Irish Gaelic, where it's a diminutive almost exactly equal to English -ie / -y. I guess in the translation to English, the "small / cute / dear / nice" part gets lost and it just sounds like a name.

[LaurenIpsum]

It is pretty crazy how many women have Ann, Lynn, or Marie as a middle name.

I agree. My middle name is Marie, and my two sisters have Ann and Lynn as theirs. I always thought that was so boring. Maybe after my parents came up with our first names, they ran out of ideas. :)

[Silver Tyger]

I was heartily offended by Silver Tyger Girl's bald pronouncement that my name is "just kind of an ugly name anyway." It's not that I think every one should love the name; if she had just said that it was a name she'd never cared for, hey, that's cool. There are plenty of names I don't care for, too. But I don't go posting how they're ugly, or dumb, or silly on message boards when to do so might offend some one I have no intention of offending.

I didn't mean to offend. It's just my opinion and I worded it poorly. By no means, do I think that everyone is going to agree with me. Hell, I'm pretty sure half the Dope thinks I'm a pretentious twit anyway.