# Would you prefer to have a different 1st name? If so, **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 6, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945 "2007-06-06T03:29:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Quinterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e56c9b/32.png) [@Quinterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quinterra)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/81 "2007-06-13T05:54:18Z")
I wanted to change my American name to my Lao name. American name: Ammy Lao name: Vanida but then I thought I wouldn’t answer to Vanida because I’m so use yelling out my american name. ---
**Author:** ![mhairi2222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@mhairi2222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhairi2222)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/82 "2007-06-13T11:01:07Z")
I really like my first name (see username) and my new last name (i changed it at the beginning of the year to my mothers maiden name). it’s _quite_ common over here, but when i go to the US or canada, everyone thinks it’s pronounced “ma hairi”, which is kind of embarassing. :smack: It’s just pronounced ‘ma ree’ and it’s the scottish gaelic form of mary, and means ‘wished for child’. and my last name now is also a very scottish name, (not a Mac or Mc name though, thank goodness!) Used to hate my old last name, so now i’m v. happy with my name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/83 "2007-06-13T16:25:51Z")
[QUOTE=Daffyd] My mother used to tell the story that before I was born, my parents decided if I was a girl my name would be Patricia, and if I was a boy, it would be Patrick… and I ended up with neither! :eek: [/QUOTE] I would have been named Aaron if I had been a boy, and my best friend would have been named Erin if he had been a girl. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/84 "2007-06-13T20:09:43Z")
I think maybe somebody at NPR reads the Dope! I just heard a promo for tomorrow’s Talk Of The Nation, and the topic is the subject of this thread! ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/85 "2007-06-13T21:10:44Z")
I like my name despite most people being unable to spell or pronounce it on the first try. It starts with a Ch but everyone wants to spell it with an Sh. I see most doctor’s office receptionists start to type an S and have to backspace. I didn’t legally change my last name when I got married because my husband’s last name also sounds like it should start with Sh, but it starts with a T! It would have been way to complicated/annoying to have two names that sound like they start with Sh, neither of which do, and neither of which start with the same letter. My first name is unusual enough that I’ve never gone to school with or worked with anyone of the same name, and that suits me just fine. (Although I do run into plenty of people who know someone with the same name… somehow I just never meet those people myself.) Unlike the Emilys, Jennys, and Sarahs in the office, no one needs to use FirstName LastInitial to differentiate me from all the others of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/86 "2007-06-13T22:24:26Z")
Stuart :dubious: Looks up name in dictionary [from sty ward - keeper of the pigs] :eek: Finds out “House of Stuart” is Scots Kings 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/87 "2007-06-14T00:03:39Z")
My real name is DJ Rock but everyone knows me as “Dan”. I have THE coolest name and nobody uses it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/88 "2007-06-14T01:34:48Z")
This is going to be the topic on NPR’s Talk of the Nation tomorrow (6-14), so you should all listen in. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/89 "2007-06-14T01:35:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mirror Image egamI rorriM] This is going to be the topic on NPR’s Talk of the Nation tomorrow (6-14), so you should all listen in. [/QUOTE] Psst…see post #84. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945/90 "2007-06-14T01:37:17Z")
[QUOTE=DJ Motorbike] My real name is DJ Rock but everyone knows me as “Dan”. I have THE coolest name and nobody uses it. ☹ [/QUOTE] You _do_ have the coolest name ever! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-to-have-a-different-1st-name-if-so/406945.md?page=4)