And I shall name him...
Five years ago today, I went to the solicitors and got my name legally changed to Nathaniel. It's amazing to think that it's been five whole years.
Of course, that's really only part of the story. As I recall, it wasn't as simple as just going to the solicitors and signing a piece of paper. There was so much angst over whether I'd chosen the right name or not, that took a long time to decide as certain people who were around at the time will attest. Even when I'd drawn up the paperwork, it took me some time to get the nerve to get it notarised. I rang the solicitors in the village to see when they'd be able to do it and the woman that answered the phone said if I could get down there in five minutes, they'd do it then and there. I didn't even think about it, I just grabbed my stuff and jumped in the car. Within the space of half an hour, it was done! I still had angst afterwards, wondering if I was going wish I'd picked a different name.
I always wanted to have a name that was a bit more unusual than most and I think I've managed that. The majority of the time when I introduce myself, my name has garnered some kind of response about how nice or unusual it is. It still makes me smile and gives me a little glow, although it embarrasses me at the same time. (Good job I didn't go for something like Dante, that would have got so much more embarrassing attention!)
I think the best experience I had after introducing myself was the other year during Pride Youth Games. One of the activities was a drama workshop which was being led by two professional workshop leaders and while the kids were sorting themselves out, one of the leaders sat down next to me. She realised then that I was a new youth worker whom she didn't know so she introduced herself to me. When I told her my name, she immediately said what a nice name it was so I replied, "Thank you, I picked it." She looked at me a bit baffled and then laughed like I was joking. One of the other youth workers was sat on my other side, so she leaned forward a bit and said, "No, he's telling the truth, he really did." It still blew the leader's mind and it was totally worth it. I wanted to be able to respond like that for a while; I wish I could say it more often!
I hoped that I would always like my name - certainly my biggest fear was that I'd change my mind and find a better name that was more suitable - but I don't think I expected to still love it as much as I do after this length of time. Sometimes I still wish I'd gone for something a little more unusual but at the end of the day, I think Nathaniel is the right name for me. It'd be even better if I could find a diminutive form that doesn't make me want to kill the person using it.
Of course, that's really only part of the story. As I recall, it wasn't as simple as just going to the solicitors and signing a piece of paper. There was so much angst over whether I'd chosen the right name or not, that took a long time to decide as certain people who were around at the time will attest. Even when I'd drawn up the paperwork, it took me some time to get the nerve to get it notarised. I rang the solicitors in the village to see when they'd be able to do it and the woman that answered the phone said if I could get down there in five minutes, they'd do it then and there. I didn't even think about it, I just grabbed my stuff and jumped in the car. Within the space of half an hour, it was done! I still had angst afterwards, wondering if I was going wish I'd picked a different name.
I always wanted to have a name that was a bit more unusual than most and I think I've managed that. The majority of the time when I introduce myself, my name has garnered some kind of response about how nice or unusual it is. It still makes me smile and gives me a little glow, although it embarrasses me at the same time. (Good job I didn't go for something like Dante, that would have got so much more embarrassing attention!)
I think the best experience I had after introducing myself was the other year during Pride Youth Games. One of the activities was a drama workshop which was being led by two professional workshop leaders and while the kids were sorting themselves out, one of the leaders sat down next to me. She realised then that I was a new youth worker whom she didn't know so she introduced herself to me. When I told her my name, she immediately said what a nice name it was so I replied, "Thank you, I picked it." She looked at me a bit baffled and then laughed like I was joking. One of the other youth workers was sat on my other side, so she leaned forward a bit and said, "No, he's telling the truth, he really did." It still blew the leader's mind and it was totally worth it. I wanted to be able to respond like that for a while; I wish I could say it more often!
I hoped that I would always like my name - certainly my biggest fear was that I'd change my mind and find a better name that was more suitable - but I don't think I expected to still love it as much as I do after this length of time. Sometimes I still wish I'd gone for something a little more unusual but at the end of the day, I think Nathaniel is the right name for me. It'd be even better if I could find a diminutive form that doesn't make me want to kill the person using it.