What’s in a Name?

For some, a name is just a name.

For others, it’s a test.

Will they say it right?
Will they hesitate?
Will they ask, “Do you have a nickname?” before even trying?

But it’s not just one-sided.

Immigrants don’t just struggle with how others say their names—they also struggle with saying American names.
Because let’s be honest—not everyone is a John or a Mary, a Smith or a Johnson.

Try saying Schuyler, Beau, or Raleigh without hearing it first.
Try spelling Kaitlyn when it could be Katelyn, Caitlin, or some version you’ve never seen before.
Try keeping up when everyone else just knows how to pronounce something you’ve never seen written out.

Some immigrants keep their names, correcting mispronunciations for a lifetime.
Some shorten them, bending just enough to make it easier.
Some replace them altogether, choosing something that blends in—an English name for work, a real name for home.

It’s not just about convenience.

It’s about how much of yourself you’re willing to explain.
It’s about whether you’d rather stand out or avoid the exhausting routine of repeating, spelling, correcting.

And after years of living between names, you wonder—

Did I change my name to fit this place?

Or did I change myself?