Choosing your name

My mother considered the name Sarah for me which I would have much preferred to the one I got landed with!

I think Helen would suit you NanKate.

I have never considered a different name for myself - I'll give it some thought.

I am called by a different name from my given name. People are surprised when they see the name on official documents.
I like to think of myself as a woman of mystery,.

I don’t mind my name, but I’d like something a bit more unusual. My parents considered Catriona, which I’d have liked, and also Alison, which I would not have liked. It sounds too sensible, but perhaps that’s a reflection of the people I’ve known with that name.

My grandchildren have three forenames each. That gives them plenty of choice.

I was my parent's first child and the first grandchild. They spent so long choosing my name - it’s French and people spell it wrong - that I only have one Christian name. My children have three names each as does my granddaughter.

I'm just used to my name so haven't thought about changing it. My parents called by my second name when I was a child and I liked that name more.

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

When I was a child, I had a doll that I named Rosemary. I thought it was the prettiest name ever. Why hadn’t my parents given me a lovely name like that?

I still wouldn’t mind being called Rosemary, but I think I prefer Gabrielle now.

I bet I would have had a racier, more exciting life with such a name!

My chapel-going mother and father would never have entertained the idea though .

Fallingstar

I quite like my name but always liked the name Constance, not sure why.

My mother’s best friend was called Constance, and so is my granddaughter’s. I don’t remember any Constances in my generation or among my children’s friends.

I named my favourite doll Jill. I would have liked that name too.

I love so many girls’ names. My favourites are Rose, Madeleine and Eleanor. When I was young, after watching flamenco dancing, I wanted to be called Carmen. But I don’t mind my name. However it is of its time and not used for children nowadays.

I’ve never liked my name.

Dated, but not old fashioned enough to be trendy. It wasn’t ‘of its time’ even when I was growing up.

Having said that, it’s short, one syllable, and I think it would be a good ‘second’ name for nowadays.

I love my name. It runs down the female line Great grandmother, grandmother, mother, daughter all have it. DD has not had children but DS & DDiL gave it to their daughter as a second name.

It is a longer name, which, in my case has never been shortened. I have a second name that I have never particularly liked, but as I nearly ended with a worse one. I am thankful for small mercys

I love my name. My Gran wanted me to be called Dorothy after her! ( sorry to the Dorothys out there)

I love flower names, Rose, Lily, Daisy …

Grandma70, and Fallingstar, I know of several little girls named Constance, usually called Connie.

Like the OP I would have preferred my middle name of Elizabeth. This name with all its variations goes back a long way in my family.

I always wanted an exotic name, I loved Calypso and all the lovely names of my Irish cousins but I was given a name I hated and one my stupid Mother couldn’t even pronounce properly!

As an adult I’m happier with my name particularly since it was used by the beautiful and charismatic protagonist in a TV sereis!

My Dad was away in the army during WW2 when I was born and didn't see me until I was 6 months old. However he wrote and vetoed the names my Mum suggested - Nora Felicity and the alternative ones by my Aunt - Valerie Gay. Thankfully I was given two royal names and have always liked them both.

As the third daughter my mother allowed her sister to choose my name. My two sisters had been given, my opinion lovely names, one very Irish and one very catholic nun. I was given what is now the now most maligned name! I have a younger sister who then got a beautiful name.
I would choose probably any of my sisters over mine. But I suppose I wouldn’t quite be me.

Often, family call me Lou (middle name Louise) I find my given first name of Mary pretty dull and boring!

If I had been allowed to choose I’d have chosen a dramatic name like Othelia or Desdemona Hahaha

My father got his own way with our first names, my mother was allowed to choose our middle names. She wanted to call me Leonie, which don’t much like but I prefer to the name I was given.

I don't mind my name, it could be a lot worse! My only complaint as a child was that next door's dog had the same name.
Coincidently yesterday I was wondering what I would call a girl these days, but couldn't think of a name that I loved.

I love this thread . Thank you NanKate.
I wish I had studied my family history before having my daughter as there are some beautiful family names I could have used: Isabella, Sarah Jane, Kirsty and Lexy (short for the Scottish Alexandrina) I could have used.