# What does my username make you think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817 "2001-11-16T21:10:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/1 "2001-11-16T21:10:40Z")
I didn’t know if this should go here in IMHO or in MPSIMS or if it should just be locked straightaway as a completely meaningless example of vanity posting, but, aw, to hell with it. You can share your thoughts on this oh-so-fascinating subject or ignore it or go clean the mildew from your shower, whatever may please you most. Well, we’re here, or at least I am, so let’s discuss my username. It’s a combination of the first names of two actresses I like - Myrna Loy and Marlene Dietrich, and so should be pronounced **MER-na-LAY-na**. The result is supposed to be evocative of old-school glamour and beauty. You’re supposed to read my name and think, “Ah, that must be a lovely and sophisticated young woman. She is sure to be a delicate creature, dressed in gowns by Adrian, posting with one hand as the slender fingers of her other hand grasp an ornate ten-inch cigarette holder.” (Or whatever those things are called. It’s all a façade, see? I’m really quite ordinary, but I don’t want YOU to know that.) Then the other day it occurred to me that it actually could be read as **MER-na-LEEN**. Now for me that is evocative of some late middle-aged woman with giant hair and cat’s eye glasses who spends her afternoon split between hanging out at the beauty parlor and stocking up on the newest tabloids at the grocery store. Someone who holds a place of honor at the local bingo parlor and chews gum nearly all the time. She is likely the owner of a small and highly irritating dog that she spoils horribly and calls Trixie or Fluffy or Buffy or Snookems. That is not the effect I was going for. I don’t want someone to read one of my pearls of wisdom and then ignore it once they look at my name and realize it reminds them of their great-aunt from Kenosha whom they hate. So then, which version of **Myrnalene** do you see? One or the other or maybe something completely different? Let me know your perception if you would like. (Keep in mind, I won’t change it no matter what happens. After 200+ posts here I think there’s like, two people who know who I am, and dammit, I’m not gonna throw that all away.) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/2 "2001-11-16T21:24:29Z")
Well, I’ll shoot for the classic beauty of Myrna Loy and Marlene Dietrich. But only because your profile says you’re in Indiana. My home state, and I just live across the border now. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/3 "2001-11-16T21:30:58Z")
Well, upon reading the title of your post, I thought, “An unfortunate name for somebody’s girlfriend on the Dick Van Dyke show,” who then proceeded to go to seed and become the second of the two you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9de053/32.png) [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/4 "2001-11-16T21:41:19Z")
I’m afraid the second pronunciation is the one that first popped into my head, though the image was a younger one… all too attractive for her age, in fact… wearing “Daisy Dukes” and no shoes, chewing gum, and probably living in a trailer. Non-native English-speakers might default to the desired “Marlene” pronunciation more often. Perhaps an accent over the first “e” would help. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/5 "2001-11-16T21:44:03Z")
I read it as “EEN”, which evoked polymer names like polypropylene. The whole thing struck me as a good brand name for a synthetic petroleum-based marmalade. Oops, did I say that out loud? ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/6 "2001-11-16T22:15:05Z")
The first time I noticed your post I checked your profile to see if you were from Coeur 'd Alene, Idaho. Pronounced Cor da lane. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/7 "2001-11-17T04:36:20Z")
ive always envisioned it as some world war two crisco type shortening. ‘my war worker biscuits rise twice as high with myrnalene!’ ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/8 "2001-11-17T04:43:23Z")
[channelling Flo] Honey, you just be yourself and don’t worry yoreself non about whut anybody thanks. An’ if anybody does come up an’ give you some lip, you can tell them I said to kiss my grits! Aint that right Mel? [/chanelling Flo] ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/9 "2001-11-17T04:44:47Z")
Precisely the second one. In every detail exactly as you described. That’s what immediately popped into my cranium upon reading the aforementioned username and thread title. Big hair and everything. Did you mention the hair was blue? Cause it is. ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/10 "2001-11-17T04:50:47Z")
Mylanta…or maybe a martyr whichever ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/11 "2001-11-17T04:51:07Z")
I always read it MER-na-LEEN, and I thought it was really cute. It conjured images of a hip early 1960s hostess, wearing pedal pushers, sling-backs with daisies on the toes, and a flip hair-do, effortlessly mixing Mai Tais and passing hors d’ouevres made with Ritz crackers around the patio. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/12 "2001-11-17T04:58:55Z")
Just from your question, I read it as “My-ma-leen,” a regional competitor of Maybelline that went out of business when blue eyeliner went out of style. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/13 "2001-11-17T06:14:54Z")
I didn’t read the OP just the question so as not to cloud my mind. I will go back and read it after I post. I’m sure I will look stupid. Well anyway, here we go. A type of pie that I hvae never heard of that someones grandma would make. That is all. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/14 "2001-11-17T06:17:38Z")
SHIT!! See I _do_ look stupid. I still say it sounds like a type of pie. mmmm get me another slice of myrnalene pie. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/15 "2001-11-17T11:30:06Z")
Marmalade. But **Umbriel’s** interpretation works, too. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/16 "2001-11-17T12:42:26Z")
Well, the first thing that went through my head when I saw the thread title was an old Chuck Berry tune, so my question to the OP is, Myrna **leen** , why can’t ya be true? ---
**Author:** ![Nortia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Nortia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nortia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/17 "2001-11-17T12:52:53Z")
I read it as MER-na-LEEN and the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title was cough medicine. After reading your OP I shall read it as MER-na-LAY-na from now on 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/18 "2001-11-17T13:05:59Z")
I read it as “mernaleen”, and immediately thought of the stereotypical “trailer trash” chick you see on Jerry Springer. Someone with long hair in the back but short ratted up bangs, too much makeup, wearing a shirt and jeans that are too tight for her chubby self. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/19 "2001-11-17T15:10:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SuperLorie \* > \*\*I read it as “mernaleen”, and immediately thought of the stereotypical “trailer trash” chick you see on Jerry Springer. Someone with long hair in the back but short ratted up bangs, too much makeup, wearing a shirt and jeans that are too tight for her chubby self. \*\* Yeah. That is exactly, precisely, 100% what I thought as well. Never in a million years would I have thought of Myrna Loy or Marlene Dietrich. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817/20 "2001-11-17T15:27:54Z")
Yeah, I read it as “MyrnaLEEN”. To me it speaks of a beautiful marmalade cat. In fact, whenever I read your name, I think, “that would be a great name for a really pretty marmalade girl cat!” She’d have big green eyes and be not too skinny and not too plump. On occasion, her little girl owner would try and get her into baby clothes and play dolls with her. Every once in awhile the cat would agree, because she loved the little girl so much. The cat would not, however, agree to wear doll clothes or ribbons around her neck on a regular basis, because she is after all, a cat, and has _some_ standards! I’m assuming you are not a cat, but that’s the image your username conjures. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-my-username-make-you-think-of/93817.md?page=2)