Do you hate comments about your name?

Question

I have a strange and unusual name, and I hate it when I'm at a training course or out drinking or in some social situation where I have to introduce myself, because I inevitably get the comments and questions Ive heard SO OFTEN BEFORE. It may seem excessive but I really dread it, especially when I'm speaking in front of a group. Is there anyone else with this situation, or am I being too prima donnaish? (P.S. It's not Private Erin Coolidge.)

Answer 1

I am a very tall woman and I constantly get asked questions about my height. Original things like "Did you play basketball in high school?" and "I'll bet you were great at sports!" I am so sick of the stupid questions, I literally have to force myself to answer politely, as if its the first time i've ever heard it. I sympathize with you. If i'm in a bad mood, i'll say politely, "Oh my gosh, that's the first time anyone has ever asked me that. No. I didn't."

Answer 2

My last name is the same as a typr of rope and also the name of an Egyptian cat goddess. The most common reply I have recieved has been equated to a fish (if you misspell the name its the same as the fish). The most common derogatory version equates to the son of an unmarried woman.

The worst is the fish thing because its been said so many times. I'd rather hear the derogatory comments. It also doesn't help that the common nickname of my first name is Dick.

Oh well, life isn't always fair and you just have to deal with it or go insane.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I have a name that is very very rare. I was named after a family member from centuries past, who passed away. Everytime I introduce myself, I have to answer the following questions:
1 - where is that name from?
2 - what does it mean?
3 - how do you pronounce it?
4 - have you ever looked it up on the internet to see what it means?
5 - could you spell it/how do you spell it?

3 and 5 irritate me the most. 3 because i just pronounced it how many times do you want me to say it over and over? 5 because I get that even when I just wrote my name down. I think to myself will you just look down at the paper and see how it is spelled!! Or I will spell it and they will look at me and go - can I see your name tag/ID? And I think to myself who randomly goes around spelling their name wrong at a job interview/at work/ in school/ at the BANK!!!!

Ohhhh and the ones that really get to me are the cashiers who will take your credit card, check it against your ID and go can you pronounce your name for me? No fool! You didn't ask jane smith here to pronounce her name after you looked at her ID. Why do I have to pronounce my name? That's like you doing a triple check on my ID.

I have gotten to the point where I will introduce myself, and say I pronounce my name as cookies, and the person goes "radiator?" I'll be like yeah that's right. And when they ask what it means I say well the person who had it before me passed on before they could tell me what it meant. And when they go have you looked it up on the internet? I muster all the 'siincerity' I can and go, 'you know what... that is a great idea. I will do it tonight!'

Answer 4

My name is a common one, so I don't have that problem. I am sorry that you are having a hard time.

Truthfully, some names are very hard to pronounce or spell if they are too unusual. No one should make fun of a person's name but some names are really strange. Some are made up names, like Shaquille for a boy's name. I may have misspelled the name.

You can change your name to what you like legally, or just use initials J.C. Penney did. : ) Good luck

Answer 5

Adrienne- dislike Paige- dislike Paget-like Grace-dislike Katherine-hate Catherine-hate Helena-LOVE Natasha-like Natalie-dislike Anastasia-like Samantha-dislike Meredith-no remark Eden-dislike Annabel- like, yet Anabela is a little extra constructive Juliet-like Ethan-dislike Allen-like Julian-like Stephen-dislike Stephane-dislike

Answer 6

Are you the guy from Pulp Fiction who shoved the watch up his rear end? I thought that was Dane Coolidge in the Battle of Wake Island.

Answer 7

I know people who had parents that thought it would be cool to give unusual, original sounding, or discriptive names to their kids. Most of the kids hated their names and the problems that came with it. I encourage all parents to keep names simple. I remember one boss I had said not to hire one applicant while looking through applications because he said he will never be able to remember or pronounce the persons name. Don't do this to your kids. If you want to stand out fine. Change your name to something unusual.

Answer 8

The endless jokes, especially from my friends are tiresome. I get Christmas Carol, Carol Ann.... anything else you can name that has the name or word "Carol" in it. "Carol Ann! stay away from the light Carol Ann!"

Depending on my mood i can take a good natured ribbing about my name. When I'm not in a good mood all I usually have to do is look at them sideways with "scary eyes" and they back off.

How about if you give yourself a nickname.. or use your middle name? And by nickname, I don't mean "killer" or "sparky".

Answer 9

Before I got married I had an unusual last name and I got made fun of in school all the time for it. I hated that!

Answer 10

I don't ever get them about my name, rather my height and how different I sound on air (I'm a radio news anchor.) I'm 4' 10" and have a deep contralto speaking voice. People always expect a tall blonde gal, but they get a short Native gal instead--messes with their heads and I crack up every time.