Feeling stressed, depressed and insecure .. because of my name.

Feeling super insecure about my name. Which I never really felt intensely until recently I started my first “professional” job and I’ve been there for almost 6 months now and people are still butchering my name. Like genuinely I can count on one hand the number of people who can say my name properly out of all the staff members there (at least 30). It’s embarrassing and making me feel so insecure! I mean to be completely transparent I’ve cried about this and also have anxiety about going into work everyday because of this. I have tried correcting people of course but it becomes EXHAUSTING. No one cares. I think it’s more painful because I feel like I am all alone in this. I just wish I had a different, normal name. I am 23 and am wondering if it’s abit awkward to just decide going by a different name especially when all my degree certificates and achievements are in my current name. Genuinely feel like ripping them up as I don’t want to see that name on any documentation again. Everyone else in my family has a normal name so I don’t know why I got stuck with a difficult to pronounce name.Tbh my name isn’t even difficult to say really, it’s only 6 letters and 3 syllables but people’s lack of consideration and effort in learning the pronunciation is really shocking me. It makes me feel sick and filled with so much anxiety. I never knew this could make me hate myself so much. And this isn’t the only experience aswell. I notice people will avoid talking to me or addressing me by my name aswell. My existence doesn’t matter simply because I have a “weird” ethnic name.

I don’t know if I’m looking for advice or just looking to rant. I don’t know if anyone else can relate. I just need to know that I am not alone.

Reply 1

NeoIan

Hi Eve, so firstly dont panic, you dont need to identify with your name believe it or not its just a name, an abstraction of what you truly are.
Secondly you have a few options and not all of them are that difficult.
Firstly just change it, yea you might have to ask your family or tell them the reasons for doing so, but its your problem so you get to decide.
Secondly abriviate it maybe, i have an interesting second name, its not awful but its not great, so you just offer options on what to call you other than it.

How about these for options, finally dont stress - its really not a biggy for others ok :smile: