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.
Thank you and I appreciate the sentiment. It’s just like if someone comes in for Dr. Chen they might feel some type of way when they see me because I don’t look Asian and need to call the translator. Maybe my last name should be Rootless or Rudderless
Then have some fun. Lol.
Dr. Doctor
Dr. Cool
Dr. PHD
Dr. Einstein
Dr. Word related to what you do
In all honesty you’re not going to pick your partner for their last name. If they are a Chen, for example, are you going to be worried about how it makes you look at work?
“Oh, its my dad/mom/parent last name. Sorry, I only speak English/Whatever”
Clearly, the correct answer is Dr. Acula.
I reject the concept of automatically taking a partner’s last name, as a woman. I also don’t want my father’s, for personal and professional reasons. It’s wack that we have all collectively agreed that a woman trades ownership and a large part of her identity when married. He should have to do it. I know a woman with the last name Palo who changed her name to something I find ugly when she got married and it ticks me off. It’s sexism for her to change it and not him, but we all ignore it?
I will change my name to a partner’s if they have an awesome last name, but I can’t wait on a hypothetical partner. I actually do know a couple women in my line of work who have ethnic last names that have confused patients. Einstein would be funny but I dare not.
Edit: that was a tangent sozz but I think Dr. Smart could be a good one