Saturday, January 17, 2009

Meaning Behind The Name





Choosing an Internet nickname or screen name can be a serious task. It is not quite as important as choosing your baby's name but it ranks right up there when you consider how much time you spend blogging and how people associate your screen name with you. Often when I surf different blogs I wonder why people have picked a certain screen name. One that comes to mind is Scarfoot. When I see her post, I want to ask her if she has a scar on her foot.

What is the meaning behind your screen name? Do you have any regrets or are you satisfied with your selection? Do you find yourself identifying with that name more and more as you become entwined in the blogging world?

60 comments:

Samantha@IW said...

Well girls you aren't gonna believe this one but my name is Samantha and I live in....... North Carolina. Crazy, right? lol

I often wonder what screen names mean- scarfoot, merryway, que, etc.

Lizzy said...

Good topic!! Well my real name is *gasp* Elizabeth, so Lizabeth just seemed like a different variation. It started when I had my blog, Dear Lizabeth, where I was going to attempt to do some home tips and "this is a great way to save money" ideas. I had it up for awhile then started grad school and shut it down. Yet the name lives on... lol

merryway said...

I always hope for myself and others that their way/path may be merry. It's a happy little name.

Anonymous said...

I wanted a cute onscreen name, but on other blogs I usually just posted as anonymous or "mom of 1" (I think). I started wanting to becomed more involved in this blog and not associate with the hater blogs, so I began posting as Bridget, which is my real name.

I'm pretty involved in a parenting forum. I'm known there as "my daughter's name" mom.

I tend to get really confused when people change their screen names, blame on mommy memory loss, so I really thought I would get confused if I had a screen name that wasn't mine :D

I love Saint's name. It's so nuturing and her posts are always kind and thoughtful. It fits the on screen name well.

And Nina's is nice, too because of the mom and grandma story :)

Portia said...

Paula is my name. I guess I'm not very creative

Nina Bell said...

Paula,

Maybe not creative but very honest!

scarfoot79 said...

The million dollar answer is, YES, I have a scar on my foot! The scar is actually from surgery. It was a name my sister came up for me in a fit of rage. She was attempting to call me that in hopes that it would bother me as we were fighting one day. I found it pretty funny, actually, and it doesn't give away personal info. But now, you do know my secret - I have a scar on my foot!

Anonymous said...

I post by my name, too.

Quiltart said...

Quiltart is the name of my mailing list and website for contemporary quilters.

themrs said...

mine also came from my blog name, a day in the life of the mrs. when i started my blog, it was really just a place to write all the funny things that happen throughout the day with young children. my husband likes to refer to me as themrs so that's where the blog name came from!!

i always like the screen name "no more drama", so appropriate!

Daisy said...

I followed Nina's lead and used my grandmother's name.

I didn't know her very well as she died when I was 6 years old. She was 86 when she died. She was from a wealthy family in the south any they owned slaves. My grandfather was a yankee and she had to run away to marry him. She was disowned by her family.

She was in her 40's when my father was born and he was the youngest of 5.

My father's side of the family say I look like her and take after her mannerisms.

Unknown said...

Mine is from a special on TLC...the couple had triplets, and one of them was a girl they named Fiona. I just loved the name, so that's how I came to be Fiona.

Nina,

LOVE the picture of the White house!
So excited for the Inauguration!

Ann said...

Would you believe I've been cannonized by the Catholic Church? I didn't think so...

About 4 or 5 years ago, I used to play this online game for Google called "Google Image Match," or something like that. You logged in, were paired with someone else in the English speaking world, then a series of images from the Internet would flash up onscreen and you typed what you thought would be key search words for the image. You and your partner earned points for how many image search terms you could match with each other in a minute. It helped Google refine key words for their images.
I always signed in as anonymous, until one day, I was paired up with a "Sinner." Sinner/Anonymous did great, so I wanted a screen name then! I chose "Saint" and I hoped I'd get Sinner as a partner again, but I don't think I did.

When I read something here that I just had to comment on, I signed into the Google account, and found "Saint" already there, just waiting for me. I'd forgotten about it, but since no one else here used it, I kept it.

Unknown said...

Scarfoot,
I have a scar on my foot as well.
Stepped on a toothpick when I was 16 and it had to be surgically removed.

Darlene Williams said...

Well I already stated why I use Indianprincess in another topic but I chose Indian because I'm of Native American hertiage with some French Canadian in me and I chose princess because well that sounded so like me. As a little girl being adopted I thought it would be cool if I was a Indian Princess. So that's why I use this name.

Ann said...

I have used "Curious" at an atheist site, back in September and October, hoping to find out that I didn't actually fall for a scam at the Penn blog. I started by asking him questions as "anonymous," and he was very polite answering, but asked me to pick a screen name. I would have used "Saint" which I had only used a few times here and at Penn's, but it was an atheist blog, and I didn't want to appear to be antagonizing. As it turns out, I think he would have been fair to me anyway, since I later found out he is married to a Christian, but at the time, I thought "Curious" was a politer choice.

Jenn said...

Yeah I'm not creative either. My name is Jennifer and most people call me Jenn.

Ann said...

Do you know that my husband and I were just talking about this at dinner? He didn't really like that I chose names based on other people (a game partner and an atheist.) He said I should use "Mrs. insert his name here." I think (hope) he's kidding.

Ann said...

Hey, Bridget, that was a very nice comment! I confess I like your name, too. I named a doll Bridget when I was a little girl. :)

Anonymous said...

I post under my name.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you like my name, Saint :)

I was named after my grandmother. (see discussion in documentary post).

Anya@IW said...

Love hearing the back stories. Saint - I never would have guessed the genesis of your name! LOL.

I picked the name Anya because I like it. It was also the name I gave a kitten I adopted and lost after two months so it has a little extra special meaning.

I also used it on another message board where I ended up just lurking so when it came time to choose here, I just went with something I could remember!

I admire people who go by their real name. I tend to be a bit cautious by nature and if blogging on the Gosselins has taught me anything, it is the lengths certain individuals with a hateful agenda will go to track down personal information that is all too readily available on the internet.

That said, I think those ladies using their real names on here can relax. I think the haters will be spending the coming weeks combing through Utah property sale records!

Guinevere said...

My user name is a variation on my given name. I've used it on other boards, though sometimes I can't because it's taken already.

One of the names I'd previously used (on TWOP), SunitaBonita, came from a nickname we have for one of our cats. I prefer girly nicknames - it's weird when someone has a masculine-sounding one and you later realize it's a woman!

Nicole said...

Great topic!

I work in Law Enforcement, and I am also a Swat Team Member. The majority of people I deal with, hate us. But, I love them. If it wasn't for the "bad guys," I wouldn't have a job. Therefore, I love haters.

Unknown said...

I think the haters will be spending the coming weeks combing through Utah property sale records!
====
That made me laugh out loud!

Darlene Williams said...

I think the haters will be spending the coming weeks combing through Utah property sale records!
lucky I wasn't drinking anything..so funny!

ilovehaters: Thanks for what you do!!!

lulubae said...

Well, I'm Lulubae. And this is where it comes from:

I once heard on a tv show that a great way to come up with a great stripper name was to use the name of the first pet you had and your mother's maiden name. Thus Lulu Bae.

I know, sorta raunchy but I thought it was funny!

Anya@IW said...

Lulubae - the stories behind these names are awesome. I wouldn't have guessed how you got Lulubae! A variation I have heard of that is to take your pet's name and a street you lived on as a child.

If you see the name Trixie Bennington around, that's my doppelganger. (Just to clarify - no sockpuppeting for me, not how I roll!)

lulubae said...

I'll be on the lookout Anya! If I use your formula I'd be Lulu Quartz! That's just BAD! LOL!

This thread was an excellent idea!

Nicole said...

indianprincess,

You are very welcome!

Anonymous said...

Blogger Anya said...

Lulubae - the stories behind these names are awesome. I wouldn't have guessed how you got Lulubae! A variation I have heard of that is to take your pet's name and a street you lived on as a child.

If you see the name Trixie Bennington around, that's my doppelganger. (Just to clarify - no sockpuppeting for me, not how I roll!)

January 17, 2009 7:42 PM
************************
Oh, this is so funny! This is the version I've heard also. Does anyone have any idea where it originated? If I used this name, I'd be Cloudy Outlook - which unfortunately is absolutely a PERFECT name for me! I'd probably come up with a better name if I posted a lot, but since I don't I just use my real one.

Nina Bell said...

Well I have posted before that my screen name was my grandmother's name.

Let's see, using Anya's formula would be difficult for me since our streets had no names.

I guess I would be Taffy Street Has No Name.

Isn't that a variation of a U2 song?

merryway said...

I prefer girly nicknames - it's weird when someone has a masculine-sounding one and you later realize it's a woman!

That happened to me several times when I first started reading. I would be surprised because I already had a pic in my head. Now, I just pretty much assume that it's a woman's post I'm reading.

Anya, the reason for your name is so sweet.

Scarfoot, I always wondered if your name was literal or had some hidden meaning.

That grandma stories make me miss mine.

St, I'm so surprised. I would have guessed anything other than how you picked it and that it was just easy to use again. That's a funny one on me.

I've wondered now and then about everyone's, this was fun.

Anonymous said...

It's very interesting to hear how everyone came up with their nicknames. Mine is made up of the first letters of of the names of my husband, kids and me. JACE. I'm the A. I have also posted on other blogs as Angelica which is a form of my given name. There was already an Angelica here when I started posting so I picked jace.

My stripper name would be Midgy deVoll. Hee. Maybe I should use that. :)

Darlene Williams said...

I don't think I would want to use my stripper name. It would be Cleo Pigloop so I think I'll stick with Indianprincess. :)

Anonymous said...

LOL Cleo. :)

Nina Bell said...

Indian Princess is a beautiful name however I think you might have more of an impact on people if you went with Cleo Pigloop. :)

Darlene Williams said...

I may surprise you all one of these days and use the new handle. :) Cleo Pigloop may come out of hiding... wait and see ...lol

Samantha@IW said...

My first pet's name was Cleo :)

Anonymous said...

Stripper names, too funny.

Mine would be Snowball Paddison, not as great as the others I've heard.

Just thought I share since my name CincyMom is, well, much like SamanthaNC ;) Self explanatory. I had to use that because I can't remember things from day-to-day and thought I'd never remember a screen name.

I love the names you've made up like Guinevere, Nina and Fiona. I don't know a soul with those names so they'd be interesting baby names.

Anonymous said...

I swear that I am not making this up, but Pet Name + Street Name for me would make me Inky Dick.

I'll stick with my given name.

MoreCowbell said...

Let's see. I picked mine because I have a fever, and the only thing that will satisfy that fever is MORE COWBELL!

One of my favorite SNL skits. Remember SNL? When it used to be funny? Those were the days.

Anonymous said...

Too funny Regina!! :)

Mine would be Herschel Fielding. Sounds like a lawyer or some old man?

Anya@IW said...

Theresa said...Mine would be Herschel Fielding. Sounds like a lawyer or some old man?

Or a department store.

That formula works 90% of the time, but in your case, not so much!
*********
Regina, that is different! LOL. Might work for a Chippandales dancer...hmmmm?

rain88 said...

When I started on the internet I used my daughter’s softball team name “eagles 88” her league used the year of birth as part of the team names. When she changed teams I changed it to rain88 because I live where it rains all the time.

Mom said...

My name is super duper original. I am a mom of one! I posted as momofone here in the beginning before I had a blogger ID. Then momofone was taken, so I added a year on the end (07) - the year my little one was born. But, for some crazy reason, it just shows up as "mom." So, that's me! Little Mrs. Original! :-)

Jenn said...

Using Lulubae's formula my nickname would be Rusty Johnson. lol

Darlene Williams said...

Jenn: Rusty Johnson..that's classic!!!

Guinevere said...

Mine would be Herschel Fielding. Sounds like a lawyer or some old man?

Worst stripper name. Ever.

Mine would be Poochie Elsie. I'm not sure about that one.

Anonymous said...

I've collected Gumby stuff since I was a little girl, and always wanted my license plate to say Gumby1 (it was taken).

Funny to me, but probably weird to others. My real name is already used on this site, but I'm a female, and not green and wiggly!

Maybe I'll make my husband blog and name him Pokey!

themrs said...

more cowbell- love your name! that's still one of my favorite SNL skits ever... a few months ago my SIL had a baby and i got her a onesie that had a cowbell on it and said "need more?". cracks me up every time she wears it.

indian princess- interesting to me to know where you got your name. every time i read your comments, i think of my brother's ex. she was pakistani and her myspace profile went by indian princess. i always see her when i see your name LOL

Mom said...

Okay, this is totally cracking me up. Maybe I should change my blogger name to "Muffy Pernod!" And, no, I'm not kidding!

Anonymous said...

My screen name is a combonation of my name and my husbands (Desiree'/Benjamin). My husband came up with it when we got married 10 yrs ago. I've been using it ever since!

Darlene Williams said...

themrs: now I know who took the name "indianprincess" on myspace :)

Gina said...

Mine is also not very original. It looks like it should be pronounced "glow", but I was really going for a variation of my name--first initial "G" and first to letters of my last name "lo." If I would have thought about it more, I would have put a hyphen in or something.

In case you're wondering, I didn't get it from Jennifer Lopez--it was something I was called in junior high many moons before Jenny on the block. HA!

Anya@IW said...

Desben said...
My screen name is a combonation of my name and my husbands (Desiree'/Benjamin). My husband came up with it when we got married 10 yrs ago. I've been using it ever since!


You guys were ahead of your time. I don't think the whole combining couples names started until 5 or so years ago with Bennifer, Brangelina, etc.

You were a trailblazer without even realizing it! :-)

Desben has a nice ring to it.

Glo - I like your name the way you have it. It has a nice delicate sound to it and goes perfectly with the picture of the pup.

EveryoneLovesErin said...

Ok so my stipper name is Rusty Clearfield, LOL! Not exactly the most feminine name but if I was a male prostitute, sure!

I'm actually kinda tired of my s/n but I can't really change it since I'm known in this community under the name. In the interest of full disclosure, I have been experimenting with others for other blog worlds. Of course, I really haven't entered other blog worlds yet so yeah, this is pretty much my screen name on blogger.

I chose the name back when I had started my own blog. It was in the summer when I was just finding out about the Gosselin stuff. My site was about getting to the truth in the Gosselin saga. I was on the fence at the time. The premise of my screen name was "no more drama, just truth"

Well, little did I know that the Gosselin blogosphere is full of drama and apparantly I enjoy that. So as my haters have once said
"no more drama is full of drama."'

Yes I am! And apparently, so is pretty much everyone involved on either side :-)

Lizzy said...

My stripper name would be Duchess Dickinson (pet name/mothers maiden name) or Duchess Luray (pet name/street name)....

wow.... not sure what to think of that :)!!

Great topic guys-- its interesting to see why people choose to go by certain monikers. I've been lizziemae7 in the past (nickname and my favorite number) but don't use that anymore. Besides that most of my chatting is done in Google Chat, which is through my real email, so I don't have too many names to remember :).

Gina said...

Thanks, Anya! I've always loved your screen name--it sounds exotic and mysterious...

Anonymous said...

Thanks Anya, yours is very nice also!