Oh I’ve been so many names. My dad (apparently) swore my name would never been shortened and within weeks I became Jenny. Plus other family nicknames. My mum sometimes calls me Jennifer. After university whilst working in the states I became Jen because I needed the extra second to reel off a speech (it’s a long story). Then I moved to London and reverted to Jenny because I was mostly with ny cousin and university friend and that’s how they knew me. Then I started dating someone called Jonny and couldn’t bear to be Jonny and Jenny so went back to Jen again. Which is mostly what people call me unless they knew me in my first 20 years. And lots of people call me Jennifer which for some of them feels weird but, like you, I use it for my “professional name” and when I answer the phone. Often because if I used either of the abbreviations I had to repeat myself too many times. I’m happy for people to choose but it does sometimes feel like multiple identities.
My only child’s name doesn’t have anything it can be obviously shortened to, but I chose a middle name so she could go by MJ one day if she wanted a change. Though because she’s not the only one with her name in her class, she’s had three years of her peers calling her by her first and last name, all the time. 🤣
My daughter is Jennifer, though she's preferred Jen since high school. When she was little, we shortened it to Jenni (with i -- what was I thinking?! it was the 90s). I call her Jen now, but her cousins still call her Jenni and she never corrects them which I love.
It also makes me startle a little when people I’ve known for a while call me Jennifer. I wonder if perhaps they don’t think of me as a friend after all. 😂
On the other hand I remember a teacher in high school calling me Jen when only my close friends occasionally did then and it felt way too familiar. 🤣
Names are so funny. Thanks for writing this piece.
Brenda would steal your boyfriend? I thought KELLY did! #sorrynotsorry.
There were almost as many K(C)athe(a)rines (this would also include the K(C)athleens) as there were Jennifers in my class (high school class of '98. Girls-only school)! All were different/had different personalities. I was the only Cindy (as I was known back then). As for Cynthia, I know that it has to do with the moon as it refers to Mount Kynthos, birthplace of Artermis! Am I goddess-like? Errr...not sure about that.
One of KATI's oldest and dearest friends once visited me among a group of KATE's newer friends. The friend of KATI and I later talked about his experience. He said the entire evening was a mindf*ck. When KATE's friends referred to or addressed me by name, he was able to witness KATI and KATE (who are two entirely different identities and who serve me in entirely different ways, for different reasons) simultaneously acting through me and all of KATE's friends were oblivious to KATI even being there.
He wasn't wrong, but that was a really challenging anecdote to describe. Luckily KATHERINE was here to handle it.
I so appreciate this. Thanks for sharing. I get the identity switching and dissassociation that comes with presenting yourself differently different parts of your world. It's only recently that I've come to trust my singular identity--the me that is both Cathy and Catherine. ☘️
"Chatty Cathy was a dead-eyed blonde." Boy, no kidding. Such a creepy doll! I had a friend long ago in my 20s named Cathy and she had a love/hate relationship with the Cathy comic strip. :)
I renamed myself at 28. The name my mother selected, Ruth, felt like a burden because anytime I didn't act loyal enough to her she would tell me I was not acting like a Ruth should. So I went with a nature related name that reminded me of my favorite color- purple- and named myself Heather. Ruth became my middle name. My mother was furious. My father wondered if I was trying to hide my Judaism (I was not). Heather stuck and I legally changed my name a few years later.
Love this - I go by so many names! Aim - Aimee - Amos - Amos Fortune...sometimes Aimee is pronounced AMY and sometimes it is pronounced Ah-May and the reasons for that are long and involved (and problematic). Sometimes I go by my surname - which has changed a few times.
I love this Cathy and I SO relate! I use Katharine for my official documents but it's also on some of my social media, so I have friends that call me Katharine--which feels kinda weird. As you know, I go by Katy but I have other friends that call me Kat, Kate or Kath. I kinda like Kat and have thought about using that. Then again, 'Katy' has been my name my entire life. I also had heard somewhere that 'Katharine' means FIRE in some languages? Which makes complete sense for me. LOL. Really love your posts!
Oh I’ve been so many names. My dad (apparently) swore my name would never been shortened and within weeks I became Jenny. Plus other family nicknames. My mum sometimes calls me Jennifer. After university whilst working in the states I became Jen because I needed the extra second to reel off a speech (it’s a long story). Then I moved to London and reverted to Jenny because I was mostly with ny cousin and university friend and that’s how they knew me. Then I started dating someone called Jonny and couldn’t bear to be Jonny and Jenny so went back to Jen again. Which is mostly what people call me unless they knew me in my first 20 years. And lots of people call me Jennifer which for some of them feels weird but, like you, I use it for my “professional name” and when I answer the phone. Often because if I used either of the abbreviations I had to repeat myself too many times. I’m happy for people to choose but it does sometimes feel like multiple identities.
My only child’s name doesn’t have anything it can be obviously shortened to, but I chose a middle name so she could go by MJ one day if she wanted a change. Though because she’s not the only one with her name in her class, she’s had three years of her peers calling her by her first and last name, all the time. 🤣
My daughter is Jennifer, though she's preferred Jen since high school. When she was little, we shortened it to Jenni (with i -- what was I thinking?! it was the 90s). I call her Jen now, but her cousins still call her Jenni and she never corrects them which I love.
That sounds very similar. ☺️ I don’t often see people who still call me Jenny and it does make me double take then smile when they do.
It also makes me startle a little when people I’ve known for a while call me Jennifer. I wonder if perhaps they don’t think of me as a friend after all. 😂
On the other hand I remember a teacher in high school calling me Jen when only my close friends occasionally did then and it felt way too familiar. 🤣
Names are so funny. Thanks for writing this piece.
Brenda would steal your boyfriend? I thought KELLY did! #sorrynotsorry.
There were almost as many K(C)athe(a)rines (this would also include the K(C)athleens) as there were Jennifers in my class (high school class of '98. Girls-only school)! All were different/had different personalities. I was the only Cindy (as I was known back then). As for Cynthia, I know that it has to do with the moon as it refers to Mount Kynthos, birthplace of Artermis! Am I goddess-like? Errr...not sure about that.
Ha! Kelly....
Having to do with the moon, as names go, feels like a good thing.
One of KATI's oldest and dearest friends once visited me among a group of KATE's newer friends. The friend of KATI and I later talked about his experience. He said the entire evening was a mindf*ck. When KATE's friends referred to or addressed me by name, he was able to witness KATI and KATE (who are two entirely different identities and who serve me in entirely different ways, for different reasons) simultaneously acting through me and all of KATE's friends were oblivious to KATI even being there.
He wasn't wrong, but that was a really challenging anecdote to describe. Luckily KATHERINE was here to handle it.
I so appreciate this. Thanks for sharing. I get the identity switching and dissassociation that comes with presenting yourself differently different parts of your world. It's only recently that I've come to trust my singular identity--the me that is both Cathy and Catherine. ☘️
"Chatty Cathy was a dead-eyed blonde." Boy, no kidding. Such a creepy doll! I had a friend long ago in my 20s named Cathy and she had a love/hate relationship with the Cathy comic strip. :)
I renamed myself at 28. The name my mother selected, Ruth, felt like a burden because anytime I didn't act loyal enough to her she would tell me I was not acting like a Ruth should. So I went with a nature related name that reminded me of my favorite color- purple- and named myself Heather. Ruth became my middle name. My mother was furious. My father wondered if I was trying to hide my Judaism (I was not). Heather stuck and I legally changed my name a few years later.
A brave thing you did, Heather, taking ownership of your identity--and with such a lovely choice of name!
You forgot Scooter Pie, Howie, etc.
Love this - I go by so many names! Aim - Aimee - Amos - Amos Fortune...sometimes Aimee is pronounced AMY and sometimes it is pronounced Ah-May and the reasons for that are long and involved (and problematic). Sometimes I go by my surname - which has changed a few times.
Many names -- one unique and special voice!
I love this Cathy and I SO relate! I use Katharine for my official documents but it's also on some of my social media, so I have friends that call me Katharine--which feels kinda weird. As you know, I go by Katy but I have other friends that call me Kat, Kate or Kath. I kinda like Kat and have thought about using that. Then again, 'Katy' has been my name my entire life. I also had heard somewhere that 'Katharine' means FIRE in some languages? Which makes complete sense for me. LOL. Really love your posts!
Of course, you get it! XO