Most people never really question their names - but others develop such a strong dislike toward them that they can't wait to change them. That's exactly what's happened to one woman who "hates" everything about her first name.
The woman, from New England, America, claims her name isn't very common in her area - but is often used to describe "joke" characters in movies and television shows. She explained: "My first name is Tammi, and it doesn't suit me at all. I hate the 'i' on the end. I feel like Tammy/Tammi usually pops up as a joke like Ron Swanson's exes and Melissa McCarthy's movie.
"I've disliked it for years but it never felt like the right time to change it. I've also gone through phases where I kept it out of stubbornness because I didn't want to seem ashamed of having a working class name (cutesy alternative spelling)."
But after spending so long disliking her name, she is considering starting afresh with a new name when she next changes her job.
"I've never really settled into it, and I'm ready to just cast it off the next time that I change jobs," she added on Reddit.
"I've been thinking of taking Christine, which is my middle name and my mother's name. But the drawback is this would give me exactly the same name as my mother."
While most users agreed she shouldn't feel ashamed of disliking her given name, others urged her to try out different ones until she comes across one that "suits her".
One user said: " if you don't love your name you should change it. Life is way too short to go through it with a name that you hate. I'll be honest, I don't love Tammy, especially not with an 'i'.
"Are there any names that you are drawn to that feel more like you? There are a lot of people around here who are looking to change their names for one reason or another."
Another user added: "Is your mother in the same social/professional circles as you? If not, it wouldn't matter much that you have the same name.
"The people I work with, and most of my friends who I met in college or later, don't know my parents' names."
A third user said: "I started going by my middle name when I was in my early 20s, which was easy because I was living away from home and making a fresh start.
"Getting people who knew me by my first name on board with it has been harder, but I have also made it harder for myself by not standing up for myself about what I want to be called.
"Unfortunately people do seem to find it strange when you change what you are called, and some will want to challenge or resist it, though I honestly can't understand why.
"My advice though is to choose what you want to be called, what feels right to you, and be open and firm about it being what you want!"
One more user added: "I'm changing my name at 25. It's been a lifelong dream and has taken me a couple of years to settle but I'm so excited.
"A name should be something you like, it's a big part of your identity! I looked through a lot of baby name books and census lists."
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
