not everyone gets a nickname, but even in "western" societies, people have multiple names - e.g. my partner has an english name selected by her mum, but a chinese generational name bestowed by a very senior member of her family..
Another thing I find interesting is what happens to your perception of your own name when you move to another country. For people of the new culture you get into, it signifies a different set of meanings, stereotypes attached to it; it even sounds differently when they say it. It’s almost like getting a new name that you have to get used to but you have no choice or any control over it.
It’s not something overdramatic or something you can’t cope with, just yet another insecurity from an expat 😅
I dated an Ethiopian man who was renamed at 2 years old because he was an irritable baby with a turbulent personality. He was renamed after the legendary creator of music in his culture and became a great singer and musician. In many ways, music soothed the savage beast within him. Was the change because creativity and music soothes the psyche/soul or because everyone around him treated him with a different expectation? Or was the superstition of renaming true?? Did he learn to sing and play instruments well because it was an innate gift or because his second name gave him an identity that he rose to and therefore practiced from an early age? Or did he truly gain the voice and musical talent of the legendary, Yared?
New insecurity just dropped :P
not everyone gets a nickname, but even in "western" societies, people have multiple names - e.g. my partner has an english name selected by her mum, but a chinese generational name bestowed by a very senior member of her family..
Fascinating! Lots to think about.
Another thing I find interesting is what happens to your perception of your own name when you move to another country. For people of the new culture you get into, it signifies a different set of meanings, stereotypes attached to it; it even sounds differently when they say it. It’s almost like getting a new name that you have to get used to but you have no choice or any control over it.
It’s not something overdramatic or something you can’t cope with, just yet another insecurity from an expat 😅
Cheers!
i wonder what we thought of birthdays back in the old days
I dated an Ethiopian man who was renamed at 2 years old because he was an irritable baby with a turbulent personality. He was renamed after the legendary creator of music in his culture and became a great singer and musician. In many ways, music soothed the savage beast within him. Was the change because creativity and music soothes the psyche/soul or because everyone around him treated him with a different expectation? Or was the superstition of renaming true?? Did he learn to sing and play instruments well because it was an innate gift or because his second name gave him an identity that he rose to and therefore practiced from an early age? Or did he truly gain the voice and musical talent of the legendary, Yared?
Interesting one I found: Neil Armstrong’s name backwards is Gnorts Mr Alien!