Thoughts on "Initial Names"?

[emjae]

I think that initial names are a great nickname option, especially if a child isn't fond of their given name. My name is Mary Jean, and I've never felt like a Mary, or a Jean, so I've pretty much have always gone by MJ, which I like a little bit better. But personally, I have found it kind of annoying through life, explaining my full name, asking people to call me MJ instead, etc. Also, I've always wanted to find a more original nickname, but you can't get much more nick-namey than MJ : /

[lime yay]

As other people have pointed out, going by your initials can add a distinguished flair to your name. I agree, but I'll admit for most of my life I never really got it. It's still not really my style, and I would only do it for some symbolic nod to something or another (naming after a family member, for example).

My brother was called J.P. throughout most of his childhood (for various reasons, but my mom also liked the dignified ring it got from the association with J.P. Morgan). He ended up hating that, though, because inevitably people would ask him what his initials stood for and he was ashamed of his middle name because he thought it was weird (Perry-- I love it, actually). So now he goes by his first name in public.

I also know a T.C. (male). In this instance, I don't like it, because I don't think TEE SEE sounds good. Maybe for a girl, I'd like it more. I mean, it's not HORRIBLE, but not my taste.

[garnet]

I really can't see any reason for them. Parents spend so much time and put so much consideration into finding a unique and special combo for their child and then obliterate all of their work by only using the initials? It's beyond my comprehension on the appeal of reducing a child to his/her initials.

Agreed. I've never come across one that I've liked - it always seems as if the parents picked the initials first and tried to match names together, or gave their child a name, but ruined its beauty by calling them by their initials.

Another one I've come across is M.T., and while I love the girl, her name sounds like "empty."

Also, how do people who go by their initials sign their names? A.J. or C.J just doesn't seem complete and/or formal enough to me.