Friday Five dot org

1. Is the name you have now the same name that’s on your birth certificate? If not, what’s changed?
Well, isn’t that a topic to catch my eye. From a legal point of view, my name is exactly as it appears on my birth cert. However, the name that I publicly use has been changing over the last 5 years.

2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?
Happily, for once I have answered a question in advance of a Friday Five posting. First, here is the a journal entry I made in early June that answers the question, “WHY is your name?” There is a continuation to that…
Interestingly enough, the guy at my old office who called me Andrei got laid off shortly after starting to use my ‘nickname.’ About a week after the post, the team went to Las Vegas and everyone started to call me Andrei. A few days later, I got laid off. No, I don’t really believe there was a correlation. But, I’ve pushed forward… I am now using G. ‘Andrei’ Tapolow professionally. I am now settled into my new job and everyone calls me Andrei. My office security ID even says, “Andrei”

Since then, I’ve also become engaged. I’ve always been against the idea of ‘only the woman changes her name.’ So, we’ve been talking about how we will both legally change our names. I will probably drop G— entirely.

3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)
G— was supposed to be Gilbert after my paternal grandfather. In Judaism, you never name a child after someone who is living. That is bad luck. Thus the obvious lack of Schlomo Abromovitz, the Gimmelth. Sadly/Luckily, Gilbert died 18 days before I was born. It was too soon. It was also a good thing I was a boy, because as a girl I was slated to be Gillian Drew (pronounced with a hard G not a J)

4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?
Actually, very little love or hate of names. People on the other hand…

5. Is the analysis of your name at kablarians.com accurate? How or how isn’t it?
Incredibly creepy!
The name of G— makes you dynamic, restless, independent, ready to accept challenges, and outspoken. You enjoy change, travel, and new experiences. Reacting against injustice, you go out of your way to assist in creating fairness. You are very creative and promotional, and work intensely to carry out your plans. Though you have limitless enthusiasm for new ventures, you lose interest quickly once things become routine, as you dislike being forced to attend to detail and do monotonous work. Your lack of patience and consistency in your affairs and your tendency to act impulsively can lead to actions you later regret taking, or to accidents, particularly to the head. You find that you often do the hard, pioneering work in an undertaking, only to see others reap the benefits. While this name makes you very honest and sincere in your personal relationships, your tendency to retaliate with caustic remarks over even slight offenses could spoil many friendships.

Your name of Andrei gives you a clever mind, good business judgment, a sense of responsibility, and an appreciation of the finer things of life. You are serious-minded and not inclined to make light of things even in little ways, and in your younger years you had more mature interests than others your age. Home and family mean a great deal to you and it is natural that you should desire the security of a peaceful, settled home environment where you can enjoy the companionship of family and friends. Whatever you set out to accomplish you do your very best to complete in accordance with what you consider to be right. In the home you assume your responsibilities capably, having the self-confidence to form your own opinions and make your own decisions. Others can rely on you; once you have given your word you will do your utmost to fulfil a responsibility. However, there is a tendency to be a little too independent in your thinking and it is difficult for you to accept the help of others when you should.

« »