# If you could change your name.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522 "2004-02-27T21:03:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/21 "2004-02-28T03:37:38Z")
**Racer72** I hate to “dash” your expectaions, but Dash Riprock was a character from the “ **Beverly Hillbillies** ” portaryed by the “gifted” actor Larry Pennell. [http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-43267](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-43267) It seems as if it should have been a Flintstones character but I don’t think it ever was. ---
**Author:** ![skynatasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@skynatasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skynatasha)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/22 "2004-02-28T03:45:33Z")
I actually _did_ legally change my name,to Sky:)_l_ ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/23 "2004-02-28T04:10:00Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > Dash Riprock. Oooo…you’ve just inspired me – The MST3K list of _Space Mutiny_ hero nicknames: Slab Bulkhead Fridge Largemeat Punt Speedchunk Butch Deadlift Bold Bigflank Splint Chesthair Flint Ironstag Bolt Vanderhuge Thick McRunfast Blast Hardcheese Buff Drinklots Trunk Slamchest Fist Rockbone Stump Beefgnaw Smash Lampjaw Punch Rockgroin Buck Plankchest Stump Chunkman Dirk Hardpeck Rip Steakface Slate Slabrock Crud Bonemeal Brick Hardmeat Rip Sidecheek Punch Sideiron Gristle McThornBody Slake Fistcrunch Buff Hardback Blast Thickneck Crunch Buttsteak Slab Squatthrust Lump Beefrock Touch Rustrod Reef Blastbody Big McLargeHuge Smoke Manmuscle Beat Punchbeef Pack Blowfist Roll Fizzlebeef Yeah, ok. To hell with **Hal Briston** …any of these will do nicely. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jellytoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jellytoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellytoes)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/24 "2004-02-28T04:41:34Z")
I call first dibs on **Smoke Manmuscle** or **Slab Squatthrust**! ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/25 "2004-02-28T04:44:01Z")
Well, I actually did changed my name ten years ago. I used to be Joanna, and I was named after the woman who introduced my parents. That didn’t turn out to be such an honor in the wake of their failed marriage and the fact that my father turned out to be a sociopath. At that time (ten years ago) I was about to have my daughter and I was not married. I changed my name to avoid handing down my father’s name to my child. So changing my last name was my first motive. I chose a maiden name from my mothers side of the family, which touched her and my grandmother, and allowed them to give me their blessing. I chose Anna Belle because I had loved _Annabel Lee_ (Edgar Allen Poe) for many years (I still do). My online name for most things until just a few years ago was anna\_belly for the poem too. My friends still call me “Belly.” I love that for some strange reason… And it only cost $20! ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/26 "2004-02-28T04:47:39Z")
When I saw Space Mutiny, Big McLargeHuge made me laugh my head clean off and then kick it around a little. 🙂 **presidebt** , funny you should say that now, as I just read Annabel Lee for the first time, not 10 minutes ago. I thought that was too big of a coincidence not to post. 🙂 Too many smilies in this post. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/27 "2004-02-28T05:10:33Z")
Anything that has some dignity to it. My middle name is Kay, and my first name is cutesey with the “ee” sound on the end, making it sound just too-too hick - right up there with “Ellie May.” I was named after a Beach Boys song, God help me. At about 12-13, during my “Gone with the Wind” phase, I of course wanted to be named something “cool” like Scarlett. I’ve been amused in recent years to find out that Margaret Mitchell’s first attempts christened her “Pansy O’Hara.” And around that time I was also in a “Preppy Handbook” phase, so I made people call me Muffy. My parents got LL Bean catalogs for years addressed to “Muffy Mylastname.” My favorite name is my grandmother’s, Katherina, so I adopted a spelling of it that I saw in a book that took place in Scotland (I’m part Scottish on both sides of the family) as my screen name. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/28 "2004-02-28T05:20:33Z")
> [@JuanitaTech](#): > > Bob. I’d change my name to Bob. > > I could just hear it now: “…but you don’t _look_ like a Bob…” And you don’t–I should know. Bob’s my uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/29 "2004-02-28T05:51:46Z")
I have thought about this many times. Not about changing my last name, but my first. See my first I have disliked since I was little, my middle has grown on me but I still want to change it at times. Lately Melantha has grown on me… at one time I wanted to change my name to Chrysalis or Amara… I decided though that if I ever have a daughter I am naming her Amara Siobhan… I still want to change to Melantha though. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/30 "2004-02-28T05:56:18Z")
> [@Spinsabit](#): > > [COLOR=Red]For some reason, anytime I introduce myself, people get my name wrong. My first name is Gina (easy enough) but they usually hear “Jen,” “Jenny,” “Jeanie,” or “Ginger.” Just yesterday I went into a Starbucks, the girl asked my name, I said, “Gina” (naturally). She looked up and said, “I’m sorry, what was your name?” Again, I said in my clearest voice, “It’s Gina.” She smiled and said, “Ok, thanks, Jenny.” I didn’t try to correct her. Later that same day, I bought a sandwich and asked for it on white bread. I got rye bread, which I absolutely despise (I see no good reason why there should ever be seeds in bread). For the rest of the day my co-workers called me Jenny Ryebread. The funny thing is that I have a rather clear manner of speaking (and tend to speak at a reasonable volume). . . I’ve asked around about this too. So, if I had to choose another name, I suppose Jenny Ryebread would sum it up nicely for me. Funny! Since my first name is Kim (and yes, I know you know this, Ms. Ryebread), whenever I order things people always think Im saying “Tim”. I usually nod and accept it… that’s right, my name is Tim. Everytime someone does this- which is often for some reason, I always think of the horned wizard in the movie 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail" when he says, “There are some who call me… Tim.” 😃 Hilarious if you’ve seen the film. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/31 "2004-02-28T06:07:02Z")
Also, if I was a man, I would change my name to either Marius (as in vampire character from AnnRice novels) or Nicodemus (head rat from the movie, “The Secret of Nihm”)… No last names for either. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Empress\_Jolrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@Empress\_Jolrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Empress_Jolrael)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/32 "2004-02-28T08:38:23Z")
Alex. Not Alexandra, not Alexis, not Alexia, just Alex. Short and simple. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/33 "2004-02-28T08:46:42Z")
> [@Obsidian Flutterby](#): > > I have thought about this many times. Not about changing my last name, but my first. > > See my first I have disliked since I was little, my middle has grown on me but I still want to change it at times. > > Lately Melantha has grown on me… at one time I wanted to change my name to Chrysalis or Amara… I decided though that if I ever have a daughter I am naming her Amara Siobhan… I still want to change to Melantha though. I’ve always hated my first name. I’m not too fond of my husband’s last name. So I usually go by Lynn Bodoni. In fact, while my legal name is on my bank account, I have set it up so that I can endorse something as “Lynn Bodoni” and it will be accepted. I might change my name legally one of these days. I don’t mind the fee, but I DO mind changing over my Social Security information, my driver’s license, credit cards, etc. Particularly the credit cards. Plus, right now the Bodoni phone is listed under my first and last legal name…I know if someone asks for me by my first name OR as Mrs. Last Name, then that’s probably a solicitor. Basically, I have a private name that my friends and aquaintances know me by, and a public name that everyone else calls me. I think it works out well. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/34 "2004-02-28T21:59:20Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **Racer72** > I hate to “dash” your expectaions, but Dash Riprock was a character from the “ **Beverly Hillbillies** ” portaryed by the “gifted” actor Larry Pennell. > [http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-43267](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-43267) > > It seems as if it should have been a Flintstones character but I don’t think it ever was. 42 years of memories of my 5th year of life dashed with a single keystroke. Excuse me while I go wimper in the corner. ☹ It was actually Rock Quarry that played the leading Hollyrock star. Gary Granite also co-starred in a couple episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/35 "2004-02-28T22:28:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Just yesterday I went into a Starbucks, the girl asked my name, I said, “Gina” (naturally). She looked up and said, “I’m sorry, what was your name?” Again, I said in my clearest voice, “It’s Gina.” She smiled and said, “Ok, thanks, Jenny.” Yeah, I’ve run into that many times. It’s like people can’t understand a name if they don’t expect to hear it. It’s not Marlon, and it’s not Marvin. How does “ley” = “vin?” Gah. The last name is probably gonna go, though. It’s Big McLargeHuge? Damn, I thought it was Man McLargeHuge. I loved that bit… MST3K as poetry. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/36 "2004-02-28T22:45:14Z")
The thing is, it’s tough to change that. If people know you and know your name it’s hard to get them to change the name you want to be called by unless you beat it into them. I go by my middle name more than my first name… and it pisses me off that all my official correspondence is in my first name. I’m not that person! That’s my Grandma! (quite literally, we share the same first and last names) ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/37 "2004-02-28T22:48:09Z")
I don’t think I would change my first (given) name. It’s **Corbett** , which is unusual and extremely uncommon, and it has a cool definition (Old French for “raven”). If I did change it to anything, I’d change it to English for “raven” (which is “raven”). When I was younger I thought the name Morgan was absolutely the coolest name. I’m kinda ambivalent on it now. If I were a woman I’d want to be Danaë. Of course, ask me again in ten years what I think the coolest female name is and I’ll have changed my mind. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/38 "2004-02-29T00:17:43Z")
I hated my name when I was growing up. I was supposed to be Patrick but turned out to be a girl. Then all thru grammar school (Catholic of course) there were not one, not two, but three Patricia Anns in my class and one Patrick. And who were the nuns talking to when they called on Patty, not me or the other girls she was calling on ‘him’. To this day I refuse to answer to the name Patricia. And don’t even get me off on Patsy Ann thank you very much ☹ ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/39 "2004-02-29T00:19:47Z")
Oh, and btw, I would be Guinevere or Sara if I had my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522/40 "2004-02-29T00:24:41Z")
**Lord Hennrington Wolbsley Chestershire the Third** 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-change-your-name/231522.md?page=3)