I share a name with a song that was popular when I was a little kid. I remember my frustration at being teased by adults who thought it was funny to sing the song to me and to see me squirm.
My first name is Paula, and I was born the year before a certain song, sung by a duo called “Paula and Paula” became a hit. I used to hate when people sang the first line at me, but eventually I embraced it, as you might guess from my user name.
I worked closely with a Rhiannon, and spent years resisting the urge to sing her name.
Then they hired another woman for our team, whose office was above ours (artsy open plan creative studio), so I often had to yell her name when we needed her. Can you imagine the self-control it took to merely call out “Hey, Roxanne? Can you come down here a minute?”
The second I got in the car to drive home, I’d let out with a windows-rattling “RAAAAAAAAAHK-zanne!”