I'm sorry, but your name is unfortunate...

But a great life matters more than a great name so it's okay

I’ll tell you right at the outset: this particular column serves no practical purpose. But I’d wager my favorite Mountain Hardware fleece that you’ll understand what I’m talking about, and this is just one of those things that makes life, life. ChatGPT can’t understand stuff like this the way we humans can.

So here goes: Sometimes when I meet people and they tell me their name, I almost want to say, “I'm sorry about that.” Since I’m not in the business of hurting feelings—yet, or ever—I won’t tell you what some of those select names are. Let’s just say there are some names that are so...unattractive…to me.

Lovely person, terrible name.

I honestly scratch my head, trying to picture parents picking the one single name their precious child will go through life with, and thinking “What a beautiful/clever/cool name.”

Rarely, I meet one of these unfortunately-named people who rebrand the name for me by being an outstanding “name ambassador.” More often though, I choose to really like people and admire the life they’re living regardless of their name.

You should probably know at this point that, as a kid, I wished my parents would’ve named me something “popular.” You know, a real solid 1980s name like Stacy or Brittany. Even better if they spelled it Staceee or Britaneee—the more e’s the merrier.

It took me years to come to really love my own name (Emily Jane) even though objectively I knew it was a very nice name. Maybe that’s what my “bad name” friends have done as well. Regardless, I suppose we all just make the best of the name we’ve got since it matters much less what we’re named than what we become.

Unless your name is something like Dude Butch III. That guy might just be up a creek on both fronts.

I’m so glad you’re here. See you in the next one…

P.S. Now I’m wondering: How do you feel about your name? I promise I won’t judge, would just genuinely like to know your thoughts on your name.