How can your name define you?

Although much has changed, historically, you could find your identity through your name. “A person’s name signified their person, worth, character, reputation, authority, will, and ownership.”

Why are we given names?

INTRODUCTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR NAMES Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.

Can you give yourself a surname?

You can name yourself anything, with a few exceptions. If you don’t like your birth name, you can legally change it to whatever you want … with a few exceptions. You also can’t change your name to commit fraud, evade law enforcement, or avoid paying any debts you owe.

How do you value and respect your name?

Ask, Correct, Learn: 3 Steps For Respecting Names

1. Ask. ‍ Asking the correct pronunciation of someone’s name often validates and shows respect for someone’s name.
2. Correct. ‍ Correct colleagues or those around you if they mispronounce or use an incorrect name respectfully and privately.
3. Learn. ‍

What is so special about your name?

A name is only as special as one makes it throughout their life, and is a reflection of how well one lives their life. On the one end of the spectrum, you have those who have ended up making their names known for the wrong reason, aka the FBI Ten Most Wanted Criminals.

Does the meaning of Your Name influence your life?

This appears to be somewhat reminiscent of so-called “nominative determinism” – the idea that the meaning of our names influences our life decisions (apparently explaining the abundance of neurologists called Dr Brain and similar amusing occurrences).

Should you give your child a common name?

“If [you] give a child a very common name, the child is likely to have an easier time being accepted and liked by others in the short-term,” Zhu advises. “But parents need to find ways to help the child appreciate his or her uniqueness, perhaps by giving the child a special nickname or frequently affirming the child’s unique characteristics”.

Does your name affect how you feel about yourself?

Again, this is consistent with the notion that having a negative-sounding or unpopular name sets a person up for social rejection and an increased risk for developing a disagreeable personality. Our names can have these consequences, says Cai, because they can affect how we feel about ourselves and how others treat us.