Comments on: What’s in a name?

By: Dee

Dee — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:47:05 +0000

I have the same issues Kristina had. I sometimes think about changing my name, but I also think it’s not my responsibility to make it easy for people. Taking the time to learn how to spell and say someone’s name correctly can say a lot about a person, in my experience.
Dee´s last blog ..What she brought…

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:11:57 +0000

Wow. I have to be honest, when I labored over what to name my (white) kids, I was more concerned about minimizing the chances of cruel schoolyard nicknames. Thank you. Your honesty in this article is eye-opening. I’m going to start paying attention to my inner-thoughts and see if I suffer from name-ism. What a shame. I’m so glad you’re a strong woman and use Niri now.

By: Mommy Niri

Mommy Niri — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:11:28 +0000

Sadly it is not only about strength but a reality about how tough it is with an ethnic name. You are truly judged before you are seen. I also though long and hard before naming my kids but more because I felt the name would get butchered if it was too long or difficult.

By: Kristina Brooke

Kristina Brooke — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:03:41 +0000

Sadly, I did worry about what I would name my daughter. My real first name is very ethnic and I had such issues with it growing up because people would misspell it or ask annoying questions about it when filling out applications. Eventually I got so tired of correcting people, I legally changed my name to my middle name which my mother and everyone else had been calling me since I was five.

I wish I was strong enough and brave enough to have kept my real name.
Kristina Brooke´s last blog ..Today

By: Barbara Henry

Barbara Henry — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:41:40 +0000

That’s a powerful story. There is definitely a lot of “nameism” in the world today. Its one of those things that work simultaneously with racism, sexism, ageism and any other isms you can think of.

I dislike the fact that people have to change their identity JUST to make others comfortable. As you pointed out, we are who we are and we can’t change that (and we shouldn’t have to).
Barbara Henry´s last blog ..On the 6