Names

[batskeets]

This seems to be coming up a lot lately, so I figure I'll throw it out there. I've come to be known by several names:

Sarah. My given first name. Unfortunately, it's a name that a lot of other people have, too, so it doesn't always stick. Friends will sometimes use it, family uses it of course, and guys I'm dating call me by it. People have sometimes changed things up by calling me "[insert adjective here] Sarah," but otherwise, it's pretty obvious and straightforward. And fine by me, of course.

First Name + Last Initial. This is something I endured constantly in school, because there was ALWAYS another Sarah. Hell, in ballet class there were FOUR other Sarahs. So, this is also a fine and dandy option, but I think bychoice is probably the only person so far who's used it to where it actually felt like a name, and not just another way of saying, "Sarah #1, Sarah #2, etc."

Skeets. One of the myriad mutations of the internet handle I chose back in 1995. With the prevalence of my given first name, this was an easy go-to nickname, especially for people who knew me via Internet before they met me in-person. With some of my friends, it's almost *weird* to hear them call me by my first name, because I'm so used to hearing Skeets. So, clearly, I have no problem with being called by this, and I actually kind of dig it, because it's distinct from the Sarah-whatever runaround. I think the only time I wouldn't like it is if I became romantically involved with a guy and he continued to use it. Because, well, who wants to be called by your internet handle while you're frenching?

My Last Name. It's my family name, it belongs to me. I'll probably keep the name even after I get married, whenever that happens. Calling people by their last name has always felt like a Thing That Dudes Do With Other Dudes, but it *IS* still part of my name. So, yeah, I don't care who uses it, as long as you pronounce it the right way. People screw it up a lot, but none of my friends have, so no problem here.

I bring this up because I've been asked quite a bit lately what it's okay to call me. Any of the above works fine, and I'd probably accept other nicknames that are used with respect and affection. So, in short: Call me by whatever name fits. If I have a problem with it, I'll tell you so.

Comments

[phasmaphobic.livejournal.com]

You'll always be "kung fu sarah" to us =)

[skeets.livejournal.com]

W00t! Quite possibly my favorite of the [insert adjective here] varieties. :D

[sarapada.livejournal.com]

I will admit, I always think of you as "Skeets," most likely because, in my head, I'M Sarah. :-)

[circeramone.livejournal.com]

And I will admit that depending on who I am frenching, I would not mind in the slightest being called by my internet handle. Although, it's quite a bit longer than my actual name. So the object of my affections-at-that-moment might have to shorten it anyway; which just leads us back to the "Probably better to call me by my birth-name."

Dammit, I forget what my point was.