# So, what's your first name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391 "2003-12-16T20:53:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/222 "2003-12-25T22:55:09Z")
My first name is Laura, and I got called that for a little while when I was a baby. Then my mom decided that I needed a nickname, so she culled one from my middle name, which is Christine. And for the last 36 years, I’ve been called Cristi. Why she dropped the “h,” I’ll never know. I used to hate being called “Laura.” But as I grew up, I started realizing that “Cristi” is a bit childish, and Laura is actually a rather nice name. But, I’m so accustomed to it now that I won’t bother to change it. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/223 "2003-12-25T23:10:34Z")
Paula. Latin - meaning is “small” or “humble.” I always wanted to be known by my middle name (Jeanette), but just couldn’t make it stick. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/224 "2003-12-25T23:17:49Z")
Wow, I’m the first Ken here! I guess nobody calls their kids by that name anymore. Just one thing, _don’t ever_ call me _Kenny_. Ever. I was sick of that name by the time I was 7, and asked people to stop calling me that. I am very happy that my first and last names are impossible to misspell or mispronounce. My sympathies to all of you who must go through life re-spelling and pronouncing your names for everyone! Pleased to be in such good company. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/225 "2003-12-25T23:50:39Z")
Hey, y’all…I’m Stacey. I have to agree with **TeaElle** there…don’t leave out the “e”. It’s been the bane of my existence getting people to leave the “e” in there! No “i”, or plain ol’ “y”. Gimme an “E”! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/226 "2003-12-26T02:44:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fishbicycle \* > **Just one thing, _don’t ever_ call me _Kenny_. Ever. I was sick of that name by the time I was 7, and asked people to stop calling me that.** Oh, bastard!! You’ve killed Kenny!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snuggles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Snuggles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snuggles)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/227 "2003-12-26T03:10:16Z")
Ah, only one other girl with my name that’s posted in this thread so far… although my spelling is different. The name’s Allyson. Never have I met another person with that spelling either. 😉 I go by Allyson or Ally or Al (for the very lazy). ---
**Author:** ![tolyri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@tolyri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tolyri)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/228 "2003-12-26T03:36:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Torie (suprise!!!) > > Short for Victoria Zoe Howdy, Sista! I’m Torrie, short for Victoria Lyn. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/229 "2003-12-26T08:39:22Z")
Wolfgang von Ritterkruez auf der Grossen Schloss mit saurkraut _I lied, it’s Paul_ ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/230 "2003-12-26T08:58:53Z")
**Wilhelm**. It got “Americanized” to _William_ when my Dad brought us to the States. Q ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/231 "2003-12-26T11:34:07Z")
My first name is Clifford, but I only use it on paperwork. I answer to my middle name, Dale. ---
**Author:** ![green\_dragon\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/13edae/32.png) [@green\_dragon\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_dragon_1)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/232 "2003-12-26T11:41:05Z")
My real name is David, although I respond to a variety of nicknames including: Sparky Dizzy Legs Target ---
**Author:** ![severin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@severin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/severin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/233 "2003-12-26T11:47:38Z")
I’m severin, but actually I’m not severe. 😉 (Yes, it’s a boys name, too!) Just call me sev ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Doll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Broken\_Doll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Doll)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/234 "2003-12-26T17:04:06Z")
Greets, I’m Elizabeth, but I go by Lizzie. Please don’t EVER call me Liz. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/235 "2003-12-26T18:27:22Z")
Everyone calls me Brenda or Bren, but my first name is actually Brenda-Lee. My dad had a thing for hyphenated names. There’s also a Jo-Ann and a John-Edward in my family. I’m thinking of changing my name to Grace though. It’s easier and I think it’s prettier too. ---
**Author:** ![Carpane\_Mado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4da419/32.png) [@Carpane\_Mado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carpane_Mado)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/236 "2003-12-26T19:44:25Z")
John…but there’s some what calls me Rusty onnacounta my grampa had a dog…a brittany spaniel that had sorta rust coloured hair not unlike my own what were named Rusty…but them that calls me Rusty does so at their own peril…unless their my fam’ly, but they really just call me Rus… so…ummmm…John likewise ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/237 "2003-12-26T21:03:10Z")
Margie here. Seems almost everyone has a grandmother or great-aunt with my name, but I’m only 32. Now I embrace the old-ladiness of it. 🙂 And I’d just faint if another Margie showed up in this thread… ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/238 "2003-12-26T21:24:19Z")
I saw a patient last night in my ER named _Normalene_. For some reason the **-illes** and the **-enes** seem to come from the 30’s. Agree? Disagree? I mean, what was the appeal during those days? Biblical, or what? In Germany, the names seemed to be pretty much,well, _Germanic_ until after WWII, when you got your **Dennises** and your _Harrys_, and Meiks and such. Interesting how naming one’s offspring is cyclical like that. Q ---
**Author:** ![LadyMack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@LadyMack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyMack)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/239 "2003-12-26T21:35:40Z")
Avis. Never to be heard again, after put on birth certificate. Odd parents. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/240 "2003-12-26T21:38:31Z")
I’m Cheri. Well, Cheryl actually, but only my closest friends are privy to that. It’s a deep dark secret…mostly because the only time I got called Cheryl as a child was when I was in deep, DEEP trouble. So I hate it. Plus, it reminds me of a Russian lady shot-putter for some reason. Not that there is anything WRONG with Russian lady shot-putters, but…I’m not one so I don’t want to be reminded that my name sounds like one. So now we have that straight, right? I’m Cheri.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391/241 "2003-12-26T21:40:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LadyDragon \* > \*\*Avis. > > Never to be heard again, after put on birth certificate. > > Odd parents. \*\* Y’are not. Unless someone has been masquerading as you in my life? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-your-first-name/219391.md?page=13)