Hey Ronnie, I was wondering how you chose your name? I've been struggling with choosing one for myself and was wondering if you had any pointers or anecdotes. Sorry if this is intrusive. Don't feel obligated to answer if it's uncomfortable, please.
picking names is hard! I had a few names i really liked, including the name another nb friend of mine used for a period, and i really really wanted for myself but was scared they think I was copying lol (BECAUSE I WAS.)
First of all, i’ll say you don’t have to pick a name! Not everyone needs a new name, and it should be a personal choice and preference, and not something you feel like you have to do in order to be real
I picked Ronnie because i liked the name, I also loved the name Robbie or Robbi. I came up w a lot of characters who were often gender non conforming in some way and called them Ronnie, but it never really stuck, and the story would fizzle out and not go anywhere. Also sometimes i told friends the name of the character or suggest it as a name and they laughed and dismissed it and it hurt me (w out meaning to ofc, they didn’t realise).
So when i wanted something that wasn’t my birth name, i fell on that. I always liked the sound, it was nice and easy, and i liked how it went w my last name lmfao, and so i just, quietly, did it. Got some friends to call me it, worked out, and then just kept with it.
as for practical solutions:
write down a list of names you like, names you like the sound of, test them along with your last name, say them in the mirror to yourself a few times. Try ordering food online under that name or ordering coffee, etc, and just idk see how it feels. Your first choice will not always be your final choice, and lots of ppl go through a series of names until they find one that really suits, so don’t get discouraged if its something you really want, you just have to keep going.
