Name Change

[Jeanette West]

On 9/25/2020 at 1:54 PM, HollyNoel said:

@Jeanette West If you feel it's time, then go for it. Only you can decide the point when you want to take the name change step. After bawling my eyes out the other night while filling out my paperwork, I'm not really sure I'm ready to change my name legally. I might need more time to come to terms with shedding my old name. I got to talk to my therapist before I make that move. Anyway, whenever you do it, make sure you are ready.

Thank you Holly, that makes perfect sense, which is prolly why it flew right over my head. I know the exact time....

[HollyElizabeth]

@Jeanette West Hugs for you girl. I have to wait until next Monday to see my therapist to talk about this and several other things. I wish you luck, I'm finding this step to be harder than I thought.. lol.

[Heather Nicole]

On 9/28/2020 at 7:01 PM, MomTGDaughter said:

I named her Sheela, still deciding on a middle name. 

 

Sheela is a beautiful name. It's always been one of my favorites.

[MomTGDaughter]

5 hours ago, Heathick said:

 

Sheela is a beautiful name. It's always been one of my favorites.

Thank you!

[Northstar]

I totally get what you’re saying about it feeling like a death. It wasn’t until I started putting together a shortlist of names that I realised how attached I was to my old one, and unfortunately there isn’t a neutral/masculine version that I can easily switch to. It’s traditionally a girl’s name, and I’m not a girl, so for me it was about choosing something that fit, and that I loved just as much, if not more, which is why the process took forever. “Jack” was a character I created when I was a kid, and has always been in the running- although when I started this search, I was really drawn to “Gabriel”. I also have the added challenge of needing to change my surname as well, because it’s my dad’s, and he’s no longer in my life. I haven’t legally changed anything yet, but when I do, I will likely shed some tears. Names are such a fundamental part of us, and it’s why choosing a new one is so difficult. Giving yourself more time to come to terms with this was absolutely the right call.

[Jocelyn]

I changed my name last November. I had picked Jocelyn out about 6 years ago. I have never hated my old name (Michael). I felt that I could not use Michelle as that is my sisters name. Because I am not completely out in the world I chose a compromise when I changed my name. I chose to keep Michael as my middle name for now, although I think I might change it to Marie in the future. I really like the sound of Jocelyn Marie. I also changed my last name as well because my old last name was from my step-father. I proudly took my maternal grandfathers name. after 55 years it has taken some time to get used to not hearing Michael but I am more comfortable in the world as Jocelyn.

cheers

 

[HollyElizabeth]

Moms been trying to get me to keep Michael and just change the middle name from Andrew to Andie. I would but as much as it would be a pain, I need to change to a full feminine name. I'm even thinking of changing my last name but probably wont. I kinda want to start all fresh, starting with my birth gender and ending with my name. lol

[MomTGDaughter]

9 hours ago, HollyNoel said:

Moms been trying to get me to keep Michael and just change the middle name from Andrew to Andie. I would but as much as it would be a pain, I need to change to a full feminine name. I'm even thinking of changing my last name but probably wont. I kinda want to start all fresh, starting with my birth gender and ending with my name. lol

I think it's so important to have a female name, how about "Michelle?" 

[Elizabeth Star]

10 hours ago, HollyNoel said:

I would but as much as it would be a pain, I need to change to a full feminine name.

I understand the need for this but if it becomes too much of an issue maybe a female version of Michael like Makayla. But Michelle is traditionally used for Michael. Although I still like Holly Elizabeth.

[Jeanette West]

I was lucky in this respect: I asked my mom what she was going to name me had I been a girl, she instantly replied, "Jeanette", and I liked it so....

What floored me was my mom having that on the tip of her tongue after all those years. Made me feel pretty well loved.

[AmberM]

@Jeanette West - I had a statement from my mom years ago that she would name her daughter Amber Marie, which is how I came to the name that I selected. We talked about it on Saturday and I told her that was the female name that I selected and her face just lit up and was happy I went with it.

 

@HollyNoel It may take time, but your mom may still come around. It is hard to change identities. I was dressed as Amber last night and my wife kept calling me by my male name that she is used to. She apologized, which was fine because we were in private, but I am going to talk to her about not being overly apologetic in public, as that can make things worse actually (by drawing attention to it).