Another year in a country where your name is embarassing or weird, is it worth it to change me name legally?

Question

I was thinking I should change the spelling of my name, which was recorded as "asma" (in french) to "essma" (the right way to pronoune it) , so that professors and other people stop calling me aZma.. the thing is I'm only here for another year (I will graduate next year hopefully) then I will go back home. I might come back to America later on but that's an option, and I'm not sure.. My name is making me a bit too concious and embarassed, especially the first day of class when professors read the attendance sheet (the university refuses to change anything in the spelling) or when someone has to read from a legal paper I always have to put up with surprised faces and looks and sometimes with immature kids in college who just laugh at it very openly... but in the same time the hassle is just not encouraging me to do this.. I don't know what to do..

by the way it's my first name

Answer 1

Your name is you, it encompasses the whole being that makes up you into something others can refer to. Had the same problems and I didn't mind telling people the correct pronunciation and after 15 years here, I still do it. My name has a meaning which I'm sure yours does too and your parents had a feeling when they chose that name. Don't let mispronunciations or peoples' reactions make you change the spelling of your name, you are much more than that.

Answer 2

I like different and unique names. Is it a family name that's been passed down? Names sometimes can make you a stronger individual, depending on your own attitude about them. Have some self-confidence about it. If it still stresses you out and you can't take a little rude joking then change it. Believe me, as time passes, it won't matter what your name is.
Hang in there. Keep smiling or just act like it doesn't bother you. With your name being different or unusual, you will be noticed, so use that to your advantage!

Answer 3

Alors, I have the same problem - In French (my ancestry) my name is deBonneau. When my people immigrated here after the Bastille, it was changed to it's English pronunciation and spelling of "Bono." This of course sounds too much like a circus clown by the name of "Bozo" - who was famous for being goofy and awkward - hence the association with someone who is awkward and goofy being a "bozo."

I learned to live with it. I'm proud of my name being associated with a wonderful region in France - plus a pair of famous rock-n-roll singers - plus the legal term "pro bono" which means "for the good..."

Remember Edith Piaf - the chanteuse - when she came to the US - people called her eee-dith - rather than - eh-dit - which is how it should be pronounced.

What's more important is that you should be proud of your name and your heritage.

Answer 4

What's embaressing about that? It's your name, be proud of it. You're a man, not a boy, right? Why are you so concerned about immature college students? Who are they to you? F*ck them!! And what kind of college do u go to? It must be a loser college because I don't see anything funny.

Answer 5

I can't believe that people are still acting this way at a University level.

Answer 6

Stay with the spelling but please try and loosen up and see the funny side, you have only one more year so try and smile?

Answer 7

please do not change your name be proud of it because it is the name god has givin to u wear it proudly and thoes who say it wrong correct them politley and surely maybe slowly they will say it correctly

Answer 8

find a pet name/nick name and go by that!