To dislike my name

[whyidontlikemyname]

My name has three syllables and honestly decades on I STILL hear my mothers voice screeching it with the emphasis on the second syllable and I really dislike my own name!

Wondering if anyone else hates their name?

Love mine, but used to hate it growing up as it's rare, (and I felt a bit odd at school around all the Traceys, Julies, Mandys, Janets, Janes, Rachels, Helens, Sarahs, Christines, Sharons, and Paulines!)

I think it's amazing now, and my DC think it's cool too!

Can you not just take/pick a shortened version of your name, and stick with it, and get everyone to say it?

.

I don't hate mine because i changed it to something i like! You could change yours too.

I love my name, my husband really likes it too. I hated my maiden surname though and it was a source of bullying.

I think changing it would be way too difficult tbh. I might have considered it if I could live my life over at 18 when I went to university or something but as it is suddenly insisting everyone calls me Sally or something seems a bit pretentious if I’m honest.

Can't bear it. It's only saving grace is that it has a different spelling to the usual way of spelling it, and that gets me through. I was actually embarrassed by the spelling of it when I was young, but am glad now. My version is also pronounced incorrectly, but it would sound pretentious if I used it in this part of the world.

Strangely, I did once actually meet someone with the same first and second name as me and she pronounced it the correct way and I was envious

I wish parents would be more thoughtful when naming their children.

Why on earth is it pretentious? You don't like it, you can do something about it, failing to see a problem.

What is it or is that too outing?

I despised the name I was given growing up, because it was often misspelt (13 misspellings of it in Christmas cards one year), had two pronunciations, and yet was often pronounced in the same way as the boys' version... which was very popular when I was at school, so I got into trouble occasionally for not answering to it! Even at a job interview, I got a disappointed, "Oh, you're a girl...". Damn right I am!

I hated it, so I changed it just before I graduated, to something that is easy to spell and indicates that I am definitely female. It's one of the best things I've ever done in my life, and I'm thankful that it was just a matter of some online forms and repeated reminders that I was no longer called X.

I'm a big believer in changing the things that you hate, and can't hide. I'm just glad that I no longer have the embarrassment of having to introduce myself by that awful name anymore.

I would have loved to change my name as I cringe saying it or hearing it but my parents put thought into choosing it and would be hurt I think if I changed it now. I used a nickname at work, and very few people knew my ‘real’ name but it still never really felt like me somehow. It’s a relief to be retired and only use my real name - I’m stuck with it now but has informed some aspects of my whole life!

I changed my name. I did it unofficially at 14 then by deed poll at 16.

It was really quite uncommon then. Even though my name was utterly ridiculous (by mother was as high as a kite when she chose it) and doubly ridiculous when my siblings had normal 70s style Laura/Gary/Emily/David type names.

It’s more common now. Someone I worked with changed their a couple of years ago and just told her colleagues that she’d always been known as X by family and just found it increasingly weird to be known as Y at work. It was bollocks but everyone just accepted it.

It doesn’t cause any issues. The only time I think about it is when doing my DBS check forms.

Would you honestly not find it a bit weird if someone you’d worked with for years or the mother of one of your child’s friends or a friend you’d had a friendship with for decades suddenly wanted to be called an entirely different name? I would. It would feel false and artificial and I’d keep calling them their original name and having to correct myself. Your name and identify are very much interlinked, it isn’t like dying your hair a different colour or something.

@JustAnotherWhinger if I could live my life over I might have done similar. As it is I’m approaching fifty. I’ve worked in the same job for nine years, have lived in the area for similar, have primary / preschool aged kids. Just seems a bit daft to suddenly announce it!

No i wouldn't find it weird at all. I know several people who've changed thier names, you soon get used to it.

You'll have to carry on with the name you have i guess.

Ugh I really hate my name too. It’s so 70s and unfashionable. I’ve changed my username so I can add it here-it’s Diane 😭 bloody awful. Mum what were you thinking?!
And I would totally think it was weird and pretentious to change a name. I don’t know anyone who has done this IRL but maybe I don’t mix in the right circles!

Yes, I hate my name. I wish I had changed it decades ago. I use a shortened version of it but I don't really like that either. I shudder when I hear my full name.

Maybe when I retire, I will change it. I can't see me turning around at work to say I am now called something else. It would look very strange.

well, we can agree to differ @pinkyredrose , I would and I think most people would struggle with it. Not to mention DH!

It isn't pretentious at all. You can just say I was never comfortable with it, and finally decided to fix it.

Pick something adjacent, or pick anything you fancy.

Life's too short to be unhappy with things you can fix.

Don't understand this take at all. But it's your name, you can keep it if you prefer.

Diane isn't that bad, at least it's a normal name! My mum was young when she had me and has funny ideas about things anyway and she picked something outlandish 😂

I remember starting school at five years old and on the way there begging my mum to tell them my name was something else 😢 of course she declined!

My DM chose a really old fashioned name for me from the 1930's when I was born in the 1970's. I have never met another one who has been my age, they are always much older.
I have never liked it, it's a very harsh,blunt name that has never been popular.
I wish I had changed it when I was younger but I'm in my fifties now and think it's too late.

I absolutely love my name!

Changed username for this thread for obvious reasons.

My name is Julie and I absolutely hate it, have hated it my whole life. Agree with op though it's way to late to change my name. Really wish I had Changed it when I was younger.

I absolutely despised my name as a child and would shorten it, the long version always sounded as though I was being scolded but now in my 50’s I really love it and use the full version all of the time as it feel very grown up.

Well, Ophelia Nightingale is a pretty awesome name 😄

I absolutely hate my name and the stupid spelling of it. It's caused no end of issues on things like doctors registration/nhs account, mortgage applications and something to do with tax.

I'd tolerate it more if it wasn't the shortened version of a more classical name. I get by with shortening it even more so new people I meet wouldn't automatically think its the shortened version. Not this name but similar to being called Cathie (Not normal spelling), preferring Catherine but call yourself Cat.

I only haven't changed it officially as my Mum would be upset. I'd just change it to the long version so I didn't have to explain it to anyone.