I can’t reveal my first name but it is old-fashioned English–think Meredith, Esther, Olga, Gretchen…

My last name makes me too identifiable. It is an Ellis Island misspelling that makes me the only person on this earth with my exact first and last name combo.

I thought I would change it with marriage but I don’t think marriage is going to happen for me, at least not anytime soon, and I’m not putting anything on hold for it anymore.

I think with my old-timey first name I could afford a zany last name. I like Winter and Snow. I don’t want it to be too “out there” or difficult to spell, so I’m not going to do something like Zephyr, and I would like suggestions that aren’t too tied to a specific concept. Interesting enough but not excessively unique.

My background is Taiwanese and white American without ties to any specific country strong enough to pick a name from some European country I only have a bit of a connection to from generations ago. The white side is Irish, Welsh, and French. I am not trying to stand out excessively. I do not feel a strong connection to my Taiwanese side, and that could be its own post. I don’t want something commonly mispronounced. I was thinking something like Shaw? It might make my ex think I’m obsessed with him but he already thinks that so whatever.

  • sydd@lemmy.world
    1·
    3 hours ago

    Namey McNameface, if you’re looking for a middle name change too.

    Edit: plenty of other suggestions for this already, just more proof it’s a great name!!

  • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
    1·
    3 hours ago

    Siobhan might be out since people will think iit is Si-Bohan instead of the correct pronunciation She-vaugn.

    There is some good unique but easily spelt and pronounced Celtic names and mixed with a single syllable last name could make you plain and neutral like you want.

    There is a YouTube channel with a guy saying Celtic names. Maybe hearing someone say the names would help sell you on one.

  • Tiral@lemmy.world
    4·
    6 hours ago

    Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho

    The only true good suggestion on here.

  • Psiczar@aussie.zone
    1·
    8 hours ago

    It would be useful if you gave us one or the other for inspiration.

    If the uniqueness of your name is the problem, go with a common surname then.

    Gretchen Brown Olga Smith Meredith Jones

    Or pick a common surname that sounds similar to your current surname, or starts with the same letter?

    Does your surname have a meaning? If so, use that as inspiration?

    Use the same surname of someone you admire?

    Ask your friends for inspiration, or test names with them and see what they think.

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
    1·
    8 hours ago

    It’s hard to say without knowing the first name, go with what sounds good together. Or use your first name as your last name. Olivia Olivia or Esther Esther.

      • mote@lemmy.ca
        19·
        18 hours ago

        My immediate thought: the paperwork system of the world would fail. Correcting an extremely unique misspelled name (let’s say it’s two letters transposed) falls into that weird bucket of “close enough typos” that the OP would never recover. I’d be worried most about the financial systems screwing me over.

        IMHO, best to change to something clearly different so that the paperwork world is given a clear indication of intentional change. Broadcast the intent loud and clear to force systems to change and not ignore it as “some stupid typo.” $0.02

        edit: sorry replied to the wrong comment my bad, meant the parent