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birth name. After a couple of life-changing experiences, I decided that my original name simply was not me anymore. So I legally changed to the name I now have by deed poll, but still retain the original as a middle name, giving me a full legal name of 5 words. I felt it would be disrespectful to my parents to simply do away with my birth name. Additionally, with the age of the internet, it has become commonplace for people to be known by various online or screen names as well as their own. Although there is nothing to scientifically prove this, there is often felt to be a sense of integrity about someone who uses just one, or at the most two screen names, as opposed to continually switching and using several in different places. This is nothing unusual, as actors and writers have long been known by pen names or aliases for their work, to distinguish them from others in their profession. Some become famous for only having a single name, such as Cher or Prince (who also became known for a while as having just a monogram and not a name at all!). So I am also known by two or three variations of a particular name depending on the settings and subject matter of the web sites I frequent that require me to have a user name.

No matter what you are called, or are known as, people form opinions about you based on your name. Your name is possibly one of the most important things about you; it can be used to communicate directly with you, show your marital status and lineage, your religious connections, and your country or culture of origin. All that before you even open your mouth to speak, or even before someone meets you face to face. If you do not like someone's name, remember they could have chosen it or been given it for a reason. Just as you were.

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