Writer's Block: A rose by any other name

[wednes]

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Goodness, this *is* a can of worms, isn't it?

My birth name is Wednesday Lee Xsomething polishX. My mom had it legally changed when she got remarried just before I turned two, I think. I remembered my "old name" and had no understanding of why my name was changed, or why my mom got so mad when I mentioned it. For $50 more, my mom had my birth certificate changed also and my birth record sealed. Today, as a 39 year old woman, I still am not able to legally obtain my own goddamn birth certificate with my actual birth name on it. My mom has a copy, though. I've seen it, while snooping.

My next name, Wednesday Lee Xsomething germanX, is the name I kept for the longest--until 1992 when I informally changed my name to Lilith Ng (Lilith after the mythological Lilith, and Ng because nobody knew how to pronounce it). I used that name in jobs, as a phonesex gal (thought I had several other names for that as well) and for dating websites. It didn't really stick, and when I moved from Saline to Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, I decided to become Wednesday Lee Friday. I am named after Wednesday Friday Addams, so that made sense to me. I wanted to change it legally, but couldn't afford it. I figured I'd just change it to a hyphenated name when I got married--but they guy at Secretary of State said I had to get a court order to do that.

Legally, my married name became Wednesday Lee XH's last nameX and I'm Wednesday Lee Friday professionally, socially, on the Internets, and pretty much everywhere that isn't my day-job, or around my husband's family.

I have found that changing my name tends to be an empowering experience, even moreso than cutting my own hair. It's a way to take some control over my life and my own bad self. Even though it's difficult to google, Wednesday Lee Friday is an awesome name IMHO.
I think it suits me just fine.

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Gee, my name is so boring. I'm not really fond of "Peter" at all, but to change it to something better would seem completely fake and pretentious. And I can't help but suspect that everything I don't like about my name is really just what I don't like about myself. Changing the name would just mean I'd slowly connect all the negatives to the new name.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I suppose that someone with fond memories or happy ties to one's family or parents would feel a bit odd about changing their name. I imagine it's also weirder for guys. Girls grow up pretty much expecting to change their name eventually, so it's not as big a deal to many of us.

Sounds like a good explanation to me

[(Anonymous)]

I was also named after a fictional character. (I almost said television character, but I realized that Wednesday Addams existed in comic art before she existed in television or movies.)

Anyway, I was named after a banjo-playing somnambulist on the Dick Van Dyke Show: Stacy Petrie. (I've seen his name spelled Stacy and Stacey; mine is the former.) In high school, I started going by Stace in a futile attempt to reduce gender confusion.

Worse yet, I was born in a city named after a television show: Truth or Consequences, NM.

And people wonder why I don't watch much TV.

Stace Johnson

Re: Sounds like a good explanation to me

[wednes.livejournal.com]

LOL, nice.

I used to hang out with a dude named Stacy. I miss him sometimes.

[lostsatellite.livejournal.com]

it's interesting to learn about the Lilith part!

this is a dumb question that I should have asked a longlong time ago...how do you pronounce Wednes?...is it like how it is in the word Wednesday or is it more like saying it as it looks like it should be pronounced?...since I've only known you over the internet, it's not like I've heard you say it, so I've wondered :)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Wed-nes is how I say it. That pronounciation started as a joke because so many people can't spell Wednesday. A also dont' care for people shortening my name to Wed. which is what my mom used to write on Christmas presents (even the ones from "Santa"--apparently that guy didn't have a moment to spare).

[lostsatellite.livejournal.com]

ah good, that's exactly how I thought it was :)

[porcelain72.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. And that's totally non-sarcastic.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Did you get my Email? If you didn't get your CD from me, I'd like to get your mailing addy again so I can send out another.

[groovesinorbit]

It does suit you. : )

I didn't like my first name until I grew up, but I always liked my last name because it was so odd and nobody could spell it right. As you might guess, I never planned to change it when/if I married except when I was a kid. I think it suits me, too.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Right on!

[maxverbosity.livejournal.com]

Lorne Elliott Cook III is somewhat self-explanatory. LOL

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Your name is quite distinguished, not unlike my husband's. You son, however, has a name which kicks ass!

[uterdic.livejournal.com]

Asskicker XverbosityX was a good name for your son.


and it's pronounced "a-SKIKER"

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I am totally loling right now.