Pick your own name

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by DanaC

*Smiles* I suppose when we mould our own nickname we are selecting an identity.

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

There were a good number of people who were honestly surprised to discover it wasn't my real name, which always sort of baffled me... But when I entered the workforce I went by my real name for professionalism's sake, and then I got married and the nickname didn't make sense anymore so it never made a comeback.

My Mum used to call me Cherry BonBon, and occasionally Cherry Bakewell (which is a tart, cruelly enough!) so it was a pet name of mine even with those that chose my given name.

When I left Aylesbury, I decided to go back to my full, formal name - and endure having to explain to people how to pronounce it. But I moved in with an old school friend who only ever called me Cherry, so all her friends did too. I lived by one name at work and one name at home.

Moving to Leicester I had trouble getting my reference through (I ended up not working for a month while it was sorted) so I've kept my formal name at work since then. And the old schoolfriend I now live with, never called me Cherry because that was more of a girlie thing. So after all this time I am slowly moving away from it, which I feel is sad, as I personally identify with it far more.

In fact when I'm talking to myself, especially if I am trying to motivate myself, I use the derivation my best friend always used - Berrily. My ex used to call me that too, when I was unhappy or needed comforting.

So maybe I'll take that as my middle name instead.