Do you think your name helps or hinders you in life?

[BrickPoet]

Hindered in primary due to too many with the same first name

I can’t help but laugh along with him when he starts giggling halfway through each story 😂😂😂

I think people can assume from my name that I'm likely to be middle class and pretty likely to be white. Let's be real that that still often gives people an advantage in our society. So, while I don't assert my whiteness or middle class-ness to gain advantage, perhaps my name does it for me?

For me it hinders. I have a name which is often used by drag acts, prostitutes being represented on tv/novels, likewise rough women. It isn't a popular name.

My children have very classical names.

People do make assumptions about me based on my name.

No one can ever ever pronounce it. Weirdly mumsnet loves it.

My given name is ridiculous and pretentious from my 70s hippy mother. I use a shortened version that sounds more normal. Had I become an actress or singer my name might have worked but from 14 I knew I just needed a normal name and never used my real name again. When naming my own I tried to think of the adult they'd become and not the cute 4 year old with the interesting name.

Mine is fine, name is easy to spell and say, not too popular but common enough that it has no particular connotations.
I just wish my parents called me the name they planned to actually use, rather than give me a 'proper' name and a loosely connected nickname from birth.
It's just a bit of a faff, I don't automatically answer to my long name or feel like its mine, but it still has to go on work forms and as my work email and all forms of ID so its just an unnecessary extra when the short nickname name would have been perfectly fine. It's not like I am Beatrice who is stuck being called Bunny, more like Miranda who has always been Mia. Just Mia would have been fine. I think of it as more of an annoyance than a hindrance though.

My name immediately identifies to most people where I’m from in the world.

I didn’t like it as a child as I felt it was too unusual and too ‘strong’ growing up in the UK, and it has a tricky spelling.

But I love it as an adult and I think it does make me stand out. People remember me because of my name, and I get a lot of compliments on it.

Interestingly, in my country of origin, it’s not unusual and marks me out as middle aged .

Helps. I love my first name, it’s very unusual without being weird or difficult to spell.

Never thought about I am sure we can pick every single thing and turn it into an issue if we tried hard enough

@Smartiepants79It only hinders you if you allow it to.
That's your opinion. People IRL can be rude, and they often get my name wrong.
I try to style it out when I introduce myself but I do wonder 'What were my parents thinking?'

If I put my name into Google, only one person comes up. There is no anonymity which is a blessing and a curse. This. I find it's not a blessing though.

My name hinders me. It’s lower class and prevents me doing well in my job. I’m in sales and selling fairly expensive stuff, but the sort of posh people who can afford that stuff don’t feel any rapport with a sales person who has a lower class name. If you’re spending £50-100k you want to spend it with Alexandra or Camilla or Jocasta, not with Sharon.

I've always loved my name. Ahead of the times when I was born because there are much younger girls with the name now. Mine was given due to historical connection whereas others just like the name.

There is obviously unconscious and conscious bias with names! At school, on CV's, in the workplace etc. Unusual spellings, difficult to pronounce, not a known name where the child grows up or perceived 'foreign' can all play a part whether it helps or hinders someone.

Never liked my name, typical 50s/ early 60s, unlikely to return type name. I did prefer my middle name but never got into using it as an alternative.

I hate my name and was given a shortened version at the age of 16 by my boss, which I was fine with and which most people know me by. The only people who use my "Sunday name" now are my Dad and my sister. I have an assumed name which I love which was given to me by friends many years ago and may change my name to this or something else by Deed at some point in the future.

FFS forgot to say, my name marks out my age instantly. I tried to avoid that with my DC, 2 out of the 3 have timeless names, The other became popular just after naming him.

Why would that hinder you?

I have a v average name, certainly no disadvantage.

@theduchessofspork , mine's very unusual, so it doesn't compare.

Neither, its so boring and average that its a nothing name which is fine

I wouldn't say my name has either hindered or helped me, and I really can't see how a name could do either? Mine is more usually a male's name so I have had letters and emails addressed to Dear Sir, but that doesn't bother me at all, and I love my name.

Mine is a classic, been in the top 50 since I was born in the 80s right up till now.

Only issue is there are always multiple wherever I am. There are 5 at my current workplace plus 4 with a very similar name, (Louise/Louisa tupe names) which gets confusing. For this reason at work I'm often addressed by my last name which is the kind of name that lends itself to being used in that way iyswim. I'm not keen on that as my last name is horrible!

There are 8 Claire/Clares, 5 Matts and 4 Daves too though so it's not just me!

Likewise. I wonder if we have the same name! It's generationally 'wrong ' for me and people make assumptions about my age/type of person just based on the name. Hate my name 😓

I like my name, it's classic, easy to remember, has lots of nickname opportunities and is very rarely misspelled or mispronounced. I knew one other girl with the same name in school but it didn't matter that much, certainly didn't hinder me in any way.

Sounds like it @SteggySawUs !

My son's dad is Northern European and my son is probably the only one in the uk with this name combo. He's forever spelling both names but it's a cool name. He's got a compelling personality but his name makes him stand out too. He in his 20's

I like my name. It's unique but not totally unheard of. I think it suits me. I don't think I could have been called a Laura or Sophie for example.

I can only think if you have a bad name then it must be a hindrance; I've come across a Destiny and Cherry, both working professionals but their name doesn't match their profession as such. It sounds judgey I know, but very hard to take legal advice from a Destiny.