How to Learn to Like Your Name when You Dislike It

Last Updated: August 10, 2022

Maybe you are Plain Jane, maybe your parents named you after Uncle Zebulon, or thought that Sandy Beach was "cute". Perhaps you like your name; it just so happens to be the first name of someone you don't like. Well, like it or not, it is your name, and while you may not be able to change it (at least for a while), there are ways to cope.

Steps

1
Learn the meaning of your name. You can consult a "baby name book" or just type into a simple search engine "what 'my name' means", then select a website. Once you know what your name means, you may find that you like your name after all.
- Ask whoever named you why they picked the name that they did. It may turn out you are named after a lost family member or a famous celebrity. If your name is a nickname of your full name (for example, your name is Jacqueline, but you go by Jackie), inquire as to how you got your nickname. Just finding out what inspired your name could make a huge impact on the way you feel about it.
2
Learn to cope with people teasing you for your name. Do other people make fun of your name? Like it or not, some names beg teasing, typically in the school years. (If you are named Nelly...that rhymes with Smelly. If you're Marge, that rhymes with Large, If you are Homer you will most likely be compared to the "Simpsons" character, etc.) In fact, when it comes to the minds of children, most any name can be made fun of. Ignore the bullies and know that they're lesser than you if they tease you - not the other way around.

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3
Manage the fact that your name is too long. If the reason you do not like your name is that it is too long, try and come up with a shorter nickname. For example, Elizabeth could become Liz, Eli, or Libby. Nathaniel could become Nathan, Nate, or Nat. Experiment with different nicknames, and soon the right one for you may come up.
- If you don't like your name because it is too short, you can try come up with a longer nickname for yourself. For example, Lily could become Lilliana.
4
Get through your name being old-fashioned. If you do not like your name because you feel it is boring or old-fashioned, try getting your friends to call you by a nickname. You can also go by a nickname.
- There are nicknames abound for "time tested" names. Marilyn can be Mazza, Edith can become Eddie, Manfred becomes Manny, and so on. Nearly every common name has a variation.
5
Subsist that your name is hard to say. If your name is hard to pronounce or foreign to your area, try to find a version that's easy to pronounce or more common in your area. For example, if your name is Xiomara, a typically Hispanic name, you could go by Zia (similar spelling) or Mara (similar sound.) Since Xiomara means "famous in battle," you could also choose Aloisia ("famous fighter") or Bathilda ("battle.")
6
Deal with someone you don't like having your name. If you have the same name as someone you hate, remember, just because you have the same name, it does not mean you are like that person! If you want to make yourself feel better, start spelling it a little differently.
- If your name is Maria, and you hate a classmate also named Maria, keep in mind that when you graduate, you will never have to see each other again. As well, you will both grow become individuals, with different values and interests and perhaps you will hardly ever see each other. Though it may feel like it, remember: you will not be in school forever!
7
Go by your middle name. Another option if you don't like your name is to go by your middle name. Maybe it was chosen for you after an ancestor, in which case, you'll be honoring your family.
8
Try going by your initials. If you don't have initials that spell something silly, then you're in luck. For example, if you're named Bobbi Jo, you can go by BJ. If you're named Jack Daniel, you can go by JD.
9
Remember that your name was picked for you. No matter what you think of your name at any stage of your life, remember that when you were born, special thought was put into naming you. Maybe you were named after Aunt Gertrude or Grandpa Felix. However you came to have your name, remember, the first thing that anyone asked when you were born was your name. Your parents put a lot of thought into your name. When you find out the story behind it, try to focus on what your name means, because that is why it is unique to you.

Warnings

Do not suddenly tell the person or persons that named you that you do not like your name; it will come as an even bigger shock if it is unexpected. Work your way up to it, if it is important to you. You will know when the moment is right.

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Remember, just because you try to get people to call you by a different name or nickname, it does not always mean it will work.

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