What do you think of YOUR name?

[sophia]

As name fans, we probably all have a pretty strong opinion about our own name, and I thought it would be interesting to hear each other's stories. Do you love it or hate it? Do you know why it was chosen for you? Would you wish it were something else? Do you think it suits you?

I'll start. My name is Sophia Noemie. I was named after my mom's grandmother Sophie, and my middle name is a family name on my father's side (my ancestors were French). I grew up really loving my name. I'm in my mid-twenties so when I was little there wasn't nearly as many Sophia's as there are today. In fact, I did not know any. I loved it as a kid because I thought it was original and girly, and I still love it today because I think it's a good balance between sweet and feminine, but also adult-like and serious. I've been told my whole life that it suits me perfectly. As for my middle name, I like it because it's unique (although it's an established name in France) and it honors my family's cultural heritage. I also really enjoy the fact that both my names have a family meaning.

The only thing I don't like about my name is how popular it's become. Its level of popularity today is nowhere near what it was when my parents chose it. My mom says she's always been really happy with her choice, but she wishes it never made it to the top of the charts. Oh well, I guess I have the benefit of being far from the trendy generation.

What about everyone else?

[auberginehearts]

My name is Bethany Jane. I have always hated my name. I am a teenberry, and I've already had several nicknames, Bethie, Beffi, BethieBumbleBee, Bethers. Bethany was a name my mother always loved, although if I was born a few years earlier, I would have been named Saffron! Jane is for my great grandmother, who's real name was Jane but she always went by Jennie.

[ladybug99]

I am also a teen berry and I am just Katie. Well, with the middle Ann. It's not Katherine or Katelynn, just Katie. I hate it. To me, it sounds like part of a name, a nickname. I like the longer names with more nickname options than Kate and Katydid. For my middle, Ann, I wish it was something more romantic. Or at least spelled AnnE! I'm totally agreeing with Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables) here and the E just completes the name.

[flutegirl]

I am a teen berry too! I'm Victoria Lynn. I don't have very strong feelings about my name, but I definitely could see being named something else. I prefer my mom's other choices, Katherine and Anneliese, but the street we lived on was Kathryn and my dad vetoed Anneliese. I'm always called Victoria since my mom never called me anything else out of a dislike of Vicky, which I am glad about, but it is also a bit long, so in most conversations my name is not said a whole lot. I do like some of the associations with Victoria, but have had to deal with the 'Victoria's Secret' and 'Icky Vicky' comments in school occasionally, especially 'Victoria's Secret' now I'm high school. I hate that my middle is so common, but two things make it slightly better: a) Lynn is my mom's name (although this does not excuse my grandparents) and b) it's not very common around people my age, so although I know (as a name nerd) how widespread it's been, especially as a mn, my friends do not know. All in all, I wish my parents could have come up with a more original name, or at least named me something with connections to our German background or after a relative (we have a Phoebe, a Gudrun, a Jeanette, and a Helen in our family tree). It's also annoying since I have a very common last name.

[nannster]

I'm Naomi Anne - always hated my 'plain' middle name... until i grew up and came to love it as it is my mum's & granny's MN too. Gillian Anne and Roberta Anne. In fact i love it so much i plan on giving it to our firstborn baby girl as a MN too - provided i don't end up having all boys of course!

[edith]

Another teen berry here! I used to hate my first name. Growing up, I used to get comments like this from my peers: "Edith? What kind of name is that?" Now, I can appreciate the fact that I share the same name with Edith Wharton, E. Nesbit, Edith Piaf and Edith Pattou. I've even grown to like it a little, especially since discovering that there are other people out there (aka Nameberries) who like "old lady names" like mine!

I've loved my mn Victoria as long as I could remember though. Hate the nickname Vicky too, but love Torie, Tora or Ria! Victoria's regal (not just because of Queen Victoria- it really does have a graceful "royal" feel), feminine but not too frilly, timeless and lovely.

[shoshanah]

My name is Serenity Nicole. I have always had complements and people say it suits me but i always wanted a more "normal"name. In fourth grade I started writing Rachel on my papers. I still love it and think it would have suited me. I like that my middle name was more common. My dad wanted to name me Nikki. I wouldnt have minded Nicole as a first. That would have definitely fit me. I was very shy and Serenity was so long I felt self- conscious saying it. I like it on all the babies though and now that its in top 150 it isnt soo strange. My son has a common but very special to me name and my daughter has lots of nn options. My hubby calls me Ren which I love but don't like when someone else says it LOL

[schmergo]

My name's Megan Anne, and I always hated it, because it's so common. Plus, my last name is an obscure variation on a common surname, and has a ton of extra bizarre letters, so everyone just remembers that my name is weirdly spelled and assumes it was my first name. EVERYONE spells it as Meghan, Meagan, Meaghan, Meghann, Meganne, Meggin, and worse. I do like that Megan is a strong, solid-sounding name, but I hate being one of at least four Megans everywhere I go. I've been fascinated by names since I was little, and I've always made lists of possibilities for changing my name.

I do like the middle name, though, because it belonged to an aunt who I adored, and she recently passed away. It also reminds me of Anne of Green Gables, which my mom and I both love.

[jaci]

My name is Jaclyn Frances. I've always been iffy about my name. Frances is for my late grandmother and I've never really liked it. I understand why my parents chose it, but still. When I have kids I don't want to name them after anyone.

I'm pretty sure my dad chose Jaclyn. Growing up I wasn't a big fan of it because I had never met another Jaclyn. In middle school I met one girl with the same name. She spelled it Jacqueline and went by Jackie. I spell my nicknames Jaci/Jack. I've always felt like Jackie was a name for snobby/rude girls. I have no idea why. I go by Jaci with most people though close friends and family call me Jack. If they haven't known me all my life, it becomes Jackie. On Starbucks cups, it's Jackie. I just let it go. But when people see Jaci, they say Jay-see. It's annoying. That's just how my parents wanted to spell it, I guess.

My mom wanted to name me Toni or Michaela. I really think Toni would fit me much better. Jaclyn/Jaci is just too feminine. But my dad nixed Toni quickly. He thought people would think I was a boy. Overall, I've come to accept my name though I would never suggest it to anyone unless they use the nickname Jack. I've just started college and I think I'm gonna start introducing myself as Jack. It just fits so much better.

[pinkcandle]

Ugh, My name is Grace Maria. I desperatly wont to change it, but I don't really feel like going to all the trouble.