# What's your name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698 "2004-10-17T19:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/81 "2004-10-18T04:43:36Z")
Rebecca. Don’t like it all that much. Used to be called Becky and hated it. My family still calls me that sometimes, though. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/82 "2004-10-18T05:23:14Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > Rebecca. Don’t like it all that much. Used to be called Becky and hated it. My family still calls me that sometimes, though. Hey, Tucson, know my daughter, Heather Golinski? (oh, I know, it’s a big town…) ---
**Author:** ![Low\_Key\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Low\_Key\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Low_Key_1)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/83 "2004-10-18T05:29:34Z")
Another Peter checking in. Americans tend to say Pete more often than others. I introduce myself as Peter though - never really saw myself as a Pete. But, as long as I know people are referring to me I don’t really mind what name they use. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/84 "2004-10-18T05:45:08Z")
Edwin Yuck! Always hated it! Sounded so… wimpy. Edward was more… manly. I was named after my father, who was named after an uncle, ad infinitum… Then I discovered that Edwin means “One who acquires land,” while Edward means “One who guards land.” I proceeded to buy all the property I could afford and hired them Edwards to work for me! (They’re not too bad, but they grumble a lot.) I wanted to be named “Roy,” after my idol, Roy Rodgers. At one point I decided that names were relative, and started acquisition. Currently my whole set of acquisitions comprise: Edwin Frank John (Confirmation name) Kaonohi`ula`okahokumiomio`ehiku (Hawaiian name) Golinski (birth surname) Shé (2nd marriage surname) L’Esperance (3rd marriage surname), and that’s all legal & complete, never dropped or replaced any names, kept 'em all. Generally I go by “Ed.” My close friends call me “Snake.” Until I was in first grade, I went by my family-induced nickname, “Bubby,” (which I lerned to hate). “What is in a name…?” As my SDMB friend **Musicat** says, “Just don’t call me late to dinner.” More information than was expected, asked for or desired, but I got it all out of the way in one shot. Sssssss ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/85 "2004-10-18T13:09:31Z")
Gemma. Try not to be too shocked. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/86 "2004-10-18T13:15:35Z")
Valerie. Everyone calls me “Val” except my husband, Tim, who calls me “Valerie.” And I call him “Timothy.” We’re oddly formal that way. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/87 "2004-10-18T13:30:37Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > Thomas, but I go by Tom, Taamo, T-Bone or Boss, depending who I’m talking to. Well, I’ve never been called any of those first four names, but _all_ my friends call me Boss. In fact, whenever someone calls me Ben, it takes me a while to realise they’re talking about me. A friend (who I haven’t seen in years) would sometimes call me Mbossa, and would say it’s my ‘African tribal name’ or something. I haven’t been called Mbossa IRL for a long time, but I use it on the internet because it’s more interesting than Boss or Ben. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/88 "2004-10-18T13:44:01Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > I knew that from some other thread, and was wondering if you’d post here. Well Kelly means warrior. Warriors need to stick together 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/89 "2004-10-18T13:49:59Z")
[plants flag] I claim this thread first for all named Michael (or Mike). I can’t believe no others with that handle have chimed in. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/90 "2004-10-18T14:08:16Z")
Officially it’s Julia, but my parents have always called me Julie instead. They’ve never, ever called me Julia, even when I was in trouble. At work I tend to be called Julia just because that’s how I fill out my forms, and a lot of people seem to think it sounds more professional for some reason. Good place to ask this: my mother claims she picked my name from a TV show. She SAYS it was the Bionic Woman (or at least, she described the Bionic Woman, and confirmed the name when I said it) but the Bionic Woman’s name was Jamie. Was there a Julia in the Bionic Woman? I know there was a Julie in “Charlie’s Angels” but she says that isn’t the one. Anyone have a clue who I might be named after? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/91 "2004-10-18T14:10:51Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Swift Warbler Mangrove > > …pronounced, “Brad.” Interestingly enough my wife goes by Jan. Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/92 "2004-10-18T14:16:26Z")
Number one answer of 100 people surveyed, what is the dullest man’s name: _Survey Says!_ John. I shake my fist at you Mr. Richard Dawson. You scarred me for life with that single answer. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/93 "2004-10-18T14:18:33Z")
Zev 🙂 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/94 "2004-10-18T14:46:40Z")
Damn, I’m the second Mike. ---
**Author:** ![wenonahbone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wenonahbone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wenonahbone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/95 "2004-10-18T14:55:07Z")
Bill…My friends call me Billy ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/96 "2004-10-18T15:09:11Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Was there a Julia in the Bionic Woman? I know there was a Julie in “Charlie’s Angels” but she says that isn’t the one. Anyone have a clue who I might be named after? 😕 There was a Julie in **Mod Squad** – maybe that’s who you’re named after. (BTW, if you’re going to name your child after a character from a TV show, I think it behooves you to remember which show it was. JMHO.) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/97 "2004-10-18T15:14:20Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > There was a Julie in **Mod Squad** – maybe that’s who you’re named after. > > (BTW, if you’re going to name your child after a character from a TV show, I think it behooves you to remember which show it was. JMHO.) Well she _thinks_ she remembers, anyway 😉 But that’s my mom for you. Must be a Thai thing. My step-mother named my sister “Samantha” after the character from “Who’s the Boss?” I guess if she’d been a boy, I’d have a brother named Jonathan. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/98 "2004-10-18T15:15:20Z")
Paul. But most folk call me Pauly these days. ‘Hey, Pauly!’ etc. Suits me. I bet that was a real slap in the face surprise for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/99 "2004-10-18T15:33:15Z")
Kristi ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698/100 "2004-10-18T15:33:20Z")
My Chinese name is anglicised as “Meng-Yu Lin”, but fortunately one of my mother’s students had the foresight to realize that I would have to endure 12 years of mispronunciation, so I became “Mary Lin” instead. In college, I decided to have that legalized on all of my documents, so now it’s “Mary Meng-Yu Lin”. My online pen name comes from Animaniacs. (I’m the Cute One. :D) The “-chan” at the end is a Japanese postfix that is used as an endearing term. (Because, once again, I’m the Cute One. :D) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-name/269698.md?page=6)