Should I ditch my embarrassing first name?

[Keane900]

Hi, my birth name is Sascha and I am an Irish man living in Ireland. The past few years I've been getting uncomfortable with my name as I feel like my name is effecting parts of my life. I feel a bit hesitant to tell people my name because I get weird looks, and feel like it's hurting me professionally aswell. I also got quite bullied growing up because of my name and I was thinking of going by my middle name, which is boring, but at least it's a normal name. I recently sent out CV's for jobs in both names and got more positive responses with my middle name. I'm also tired of people continually asking if my name is my actual name, it wears me down mentally. Although I don't really like my middle name, should I just go by this as I'm getting very uncomfortable with my birth name? I also don't want to just make up a new first name either as that's too much for me and I'm 30 years of age. Thanks.

Tiananmen? Hillsborough?

What a shame you don't like it. Its gorgeous. Sounds very cool yet also hot!

What's wrong with sash? Or ash? For short

Think your name is lovely OP

Your name is lovely but if you don't like it then just go ahead and use your second name. Most people you know will spend about .0005 of a second thinking about your real name so don't go tying yourself into knots about it.

It is a male name too. I knew that, I have known an Iranian and an English male called Sasha

I knew a male Sascha. He looked like Keanu Reeves and we had a summer romance. I have very positive associations with that as a man's name.

But if you don't like it, change your name to a name you love.

I agree with this. Sascha was one of the names I always said I would call a son (weird, because I never actually wanted children!!), and I still love it.

My name is more usually associated with males and I love it because there are not many women with the name. I really don't see what is so "embarrassing" about Sascha as a name.

The thing is my middle name is Patrick and I'm currently going by this in my new job but everyone is calling me Pat, which I don't like too much

I keep coming across a female Sasha at work and I keep automatically thinking she’s male because Sasha is a male name to me! But it’s about whatever you’re comfortable with - lots of people go by a middle name or shortened version so that wouldn’t be an unusual thing to do by any means.

Why is it hard? I would far rather have a less common name than be one of many. Where I live the majority of people with my name are male, and I've never met another female with the name (they do exist) but the only time people ever actually comment on my name is if they are expecting me to be male because they've only communicated by email. I haven't had one bad reaction, and I'm sure no-one really thinks about it.

Walk tall and be proud of your name! It's gorgeous.

There are quite a few male Sachas here in France, and even my DS (Alexander) has started sometimes going by it. But if you're not comfortable with it, change it.

Thanks, unfortunately where I live I haven't had great reactions with my name and have been made fun of

Sasha is a common diminutive in Slavic countries for Aleksandr and Aleksandra but it isn’t a given name in itself.

I don’t think it’s an embarrassing name at all, but if you don’t like it then change it. It’s your name and you’re the one that lives with it.

I love it. We have a new guy called Sacha (different spelling maybe?). Noone thinks twice about it. I really wouldn't change it. If people are that narrow minded you're always going to get someone who'll take umbrage.

PS think about changing location!

Arabella Hillsborough??

Sascha/Sasha is the diminutive of Alexander/Alexandra. In Russian, people called Alexander/Alexandra aren't called 'Alex' for short. They are called 'Sasha'.

Nothing wrong with it. Isn't there a Sacha Baron-Cohen? Waste of time changing it now. Adults won't bat an eyelid you've done the hard part growing up where kids will literally pick on anything. Surprised you're considering this tbh.

It doesn't seem to have done Sacha Baron Cohen any harm, nor Sacha Distel (showing my age there). You can choose any name you like and ask that people call you that, though.

Could be worse

could be Dixie Moon Beam Stream

I agree with this. Also another poster suggested Sash which I think is super effing cool. Please don't change it. You're actually giving me ideas for baby names now 😂

What's a Sunday name? I've never heard of this.

@howdoesyourgardengrowinmay probably their confirmation name?

Crimey it just sounds like the people around you are just bloody rude. Correct them on pat every single time. Its patrick. Actually its patrick. My name isnt pat, it is patrick. Every. Single. Time.

or use sash.

Your confirmation wouldnt be your first name.

sunday name means birth certificate full formal first name. So vicky is victoria, nick is nicholas etc.