tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post5316256448580568868..comments2024-03-20T06:44:28.606-05:00Comments on TransGriot: What's In A Transperson's Name?Monica Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-35364503025533825982008-05-26T19:44:00.000-05:002008-05-26T19:44:00.000-05:00Erin,I was adamant about keeping my last name, whe...Erin,<BR/>I was adamant about keeping my last name, whether the family accepted me or not.Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-16385851741230003742008-05-26T13:43:00.000-05:002008-05-26T13:43:00.000-05:00I assumed the worst for a while, but interestingly...I assumed the worst for a while, but interestingly, my reaction to that notion was to change my family name, possibly to one that had been a great-great-something or other. The first name was never a question for me, since my parents chose to be surprised on the sex of both their children and thus had two names picked out for each. My name now is what my parents had picked if I'd been born female. I figured, even if they never spoke to me again, it would be a way to stay connected, but at the same time I thought if I could tell them why I chose that name, it might make them understand that I wasn't doing this to hurt or reject them, either. The middle name took some work, though, since it got passed to my sister (but not the first name, as it had become too popular in the intervening years). It turns out that my grandmothers had the same middle name, coincidentally, so my mom suggested I take that as a way of connecting to my ancestors and there you have it. Now that I know my family are sticking with me, I've ended up keeping my family name after all.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08489654875694952589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-62864826616203103872008-05-25T04:26:00.000-05:002008-05-25T04:26:00.000-05:00Ellen,I'm glad you and your mother have been able ...Ellen,<BR/>I'm glad you and your mother have been able to form a mother daughter relatiionship. <BR/><BR/>Mine has has been a struggle, but fortunately I had baby sis in my corner during the early days and now. <BR/><BR/>But your story ad others like it mamke me wonder just how different transition would have been if I'd done just that one simple thing.Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-23949477388323275732008-05-24T21:36:00.000-05:002008-05-24T21:36:00.000-05:00Hi,Another Australian here. While growing up and ...Hi,<BR/><BR/>Another Australian here. While growing up and then into adulthood, I was convinced my parents would spurn me. I began on the road towards transition early on, but stopped because of that fear. It's one of the ironies of coming from a close and loving family - which unfortunately became involved in a nutty fundamentalist church for a while.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, when I finally told my mum (dad died a while ago) not too long ago, I hadn't completely chosen my name. After the initial shock of her acceptance of me, we had a number of deep conversations.<BR/><BR/>Eventually, we came to the topic of names. The options that would have kept my initials did not impress me, so we had scope. Mum suggested my first name, then we struggled for a middle name. After I had returned home, she thought of my middle name while watching tennis: no, it was not one of the players.<BR/><BR/>My hope that she would pick a new name for me was fulfilled. Over time, she accompanied me for surgery and hers was the face I saw beside me when they wheeled me back to my room.<BR/><BR/>My only regrets about the whole thing are not doing this sooner and not doing this while dad was alive.<BR/><BR/>Ellen.Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07421631766366799600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-10861617608315530722008-05-24T16:08:00.000-05:002008-05-24T16:08:00.000-05:00Ladies,It's one of those subjects and posts that c...Ladies,<BR/>It's one of those subjects and posts that could go on indelfinitely, jow and why you chose yor name.<BR/><BR/>Jackie, one of these days I'm finally going to get to spend some quality time with you and Monica ;)<BR/><BR/>And speaking of names, Jacqueline had that air of class and sophistication bac in my era thnks to the then First Lady. I can't tell you how many Jacquelines I knew at every level of my school career.Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-50512726298582945822008-05-24T05:37:00.000-05:002008-05-24T05:37:00.000-05:00Interesting post, Monica. Wonderful point about a...Interesting post, Monica. Wonderful point about a parent's feelings about having a part in naming their child, regardless of age. I could imagine that could actually ease some of the tension of transition. <BR/>Of course, I could be prejudiced, but Monica does perfectly fit, beautiful, classy, phenominal women. You chose well.Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14802989264619041023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-56837047059322477402008-05-24T04:14:00.000-05:002008-05-24T04:14:00.000-05:00Sounds awesome, Zoe. I'm working on my PhD, as we...Sounds awesome, Zoe. I'm working on my PhD, as well, but I kinda gotta finish that bachelors and masters first, ha ha. 3 years into college, probably 2-3 more to go (transition's forcing me to slow it down just a touch).<BR/><BR/>No husbands for me, though. Looks like I get to become the stereotypical Women's Studies lesbian. :PUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09545289620047850599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-67190214963024265102008-05-24T02:36:00.000-05:002008-05-24T02:36:00.000-05:00I chose the name "Zoe" after the Dr Who companion....I chose the name "Zoe" after the Dr Who companion. The Pure Mathematics Genius, not the usual frothy bubbleheaded female whose only duty seemed to be to scream at appropriate times.<BR/><BR/>I was a Geek Girl even at 10.<BR/><BR/>I really thought I'd have a normal puberty then, you know?<BR/><BR/>I wanted to travel the world, to emigrate to Australia, to study Pure Maths and be a Rocket Scientist. To marry and have a large family. And to get my PhD, to be Dr Zoe Brain.<BR/><BR/>I'm still working on the PhD. And my endocrinal problems meant I could only have one child. A wife rather than a husband too, the whole TS thing got in the way there.<BR/><BR/>Not as much as you'd think though. After transition, my life remains mostly the same. Just... happier.Zoe Brainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13712045376060102538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-20554519567388322512008-05-23T16:08:00.000-05:002008-05-23T16:08:00.000-05:00Interesting, Cass. Your story almost mirrors my o...Interesting, Cass. Your story almost mirrors my own. :)Monica Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702533200851174728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389448.post-88057679321886108032008-05-23T14:08:00.000-05:002008-05-23T14:08:00.000-05:00I did the "assume the worst" thing when I chose my...I did the "assume the worst" thing when I chose my first name. I chose it all as a big package, and it turned into a bigger process later when I came out and my mother was more accepting (I came out before as a teenager, and she did not take it well at all).<BR/><BR/>I chose my first name on my own, Cassandra, as a kind of joke to the people around me. One of the noteworthy things people say about me is that I listen to them intently, and give them advice which they summarily dismiss and ignore. Later, they come back telling me how stupid it was that they didn't listen to me. I thought back on my studies of mythology, and I found the story of Cassandra of Troy. Enough said.<BR/><BR/>My mother chose my middle name, Chelsea, from a name she'd intended to give to the child she'd have had if she hadn't been forced to abort by my grandfather.<BR/><BR/>And I hyphenated my mother's maiden name and my father's last name at the ending.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09545289620047850599noreply@blogger.com