what's in a name

[threebetrayals]

Sender: Anonymous
To: Everyone
Subject: Names

[Sorry, he's not going to put his "name" to something like this. It's awkward, and given that his "name" right now is just "Nameless Wanderer", he's pretty sure attaching it to this post would get people asking questions that aren't any of their business.]

Do you like your name? What does it mean? Who gave it to you? Would you change it if you could, and if you would what would it be?

I'm doing some research on names and why humans get so attached to them or don't.

Comments

ANON TOO

[book2thehead]

[He knows exactly who this is, but... That's for him to know and not the rest of the journal readers.]

I don't mind my name. I suppose there are stranger things I could have been called by my parents.

[threebetrayals]

[He knows this handwriting. Sir.]

Such as?

sender: Flowey

[your_best_friend]

I'm not exactly a human, but call me Flowey. My dad suggested it and I chose to keep it even though he's absolutely terrible at names.

Monsters also have names. They're useful things for telling people apart. Tell me. What would you rather say? "Hey there, yellow-scaled lizard wearing the labcoat and glasses!" or "Hey, Alphys!"

[threebetrayals]

My world has only humans or humanoids. I didn't think there were worlds where monsters would have names.

[He's pretty sure hilichurls and slimes don't have names, at least.]

Why keep your name?

Sender: Naoya

[crouching_sin]

My parents gave me this name. It doesn't really matter to me. It's a useful label for knowing when people want my attention.

I've been called many things over the years. Some people are very attached to their names, and some are not. The 'why' tends to be sentimental in nature.

[threebetrayals]

So would you complain if someone called you something other than Naoya?

Sender: Tobias

[notachickenhawk]

[He wasn't going to answer, but... well.]

It's all I have left of my parents. So I like it.

Though there's now someone named after me which is weird as heck.

[threebetrayals]

[Wanderer cannot relate, honestly.]

What do you mean, named after you? Don't humans do that?

Sender: Nahida

[bloomingwisdom]

[ Oh! Look who's actually asking around! She's glad to see this message in her journal. So glad that she responds with a very simple drawing. ]

😊

private

[threebetrayals]

[The only response is a sulky cat face.]

Are they playing the Anonymous game!

[concierto]

I quite like my name, actually! I think it's very, very cute. I even gave it to myself!

[threebetrayals]

[Oh he didn't know that.

But also he recognizes your handwriting, Venti. You ain't slick.]

Did you? Why did you pick it?

sender: Black Raisin Cookie

[cawpatrol]

I am not a human, but where I hail from, many are named after what they are made of. Parents aren't always a given, so typically many Cookies name themselves.

[threebetrayals]

[Hold on.

Give him a sec.

Many WHATS?!]

When you say cookie what do you mean? Is that just the name of your species?

sender: zack fair

[theheroics]

a name is really all that it is... just a name! its what you do with that name that really matters

[threebetrayals]

[Didn't this guy eat glitter?]

That's not what I'm asking.

Sender: Yato

[intertwinedfates]

Are you just looking for input from humans? Names are important to more than just humans - to gods, too, they can hold very special meanings and be a vital part of their worship.

[threebetrayals]

[Ugh.]

I really don't care what purpose names serve for gods. I'm already familiar with how that can work.

sender: beat

[stillarhino]

nah hate the name my parents gave me
beat fits me more anyways

[threebetrayals]

What name did they give you? And how did you get Beat?

sender: kazuya

[belheir]

My first name means peace, harmony, or calmness.

My last name means summit, like that of a mountain.

As for if I like it or not, I do. It was the name my parents gave to me, and it's who I am. I wouldn't change it for the world.

[threebetrayals]

Do you think your name suits you? Or does that not matter to you, since your parents named you?

Sender: Zelda

[multidisciplinary]

[ Well, that's a rather esoteric question. This kind of topic is a little too philosophical for Zelda's tastes. But she's a scientist, so she's willing to help out someone with their research. ]

It has been a tradition in my family to name the firstborn daughter 'Zelda.' It was my mother's name before me, and her mother's before her. I suppose it is a nice name, but I confess, I've never thought too much about it.

[ A pause. Then, ] Although, I do enjoy when people use it instead of my title. So perhaps I am more fond of it than I realize.

[threebetrayals]

Are you royalty or something?

[What other sort of family would name every firstborn daughter the same thing?]

Would you want a different name?

sender: Link

[timesensitive]

I don't know if my name means anything, but I think my mom gave it to me. I wouldn't change it...I'm used to being called by it and it's not a bad name.

[threebetrayals]

Is your name actually Link or is that a nickname?

Sender: Maedhros

[holdshisown]

I'm not a human, but my people are fond of naming both ourselves and everything around us.

I do have quite a few names, actually, each one given to me by a different person and with different meanings to all of them. I... have complicated feelings toward most of them, which is why I did end up chosing a different one for myself after a while.

[threebetrayals]

[Sir share some names, please, some of us don't have one.]

Does it mean anything? The name you settled on, I mean.

Sender: Frisk

[stilljustyou]

I think names are important, but you can change it if you don't like it.

[threebetrayals]

Most people seem to think they're important. I suppose it is useful to have something for others to call you.

eternally anonymous;

[sagesurvivor]

[You ever read something and then have brainworms about it for hours afterwards? Yeah. Anonymous the Second here is intentionally late to the party, but it doesn't seem like there are many coming at it from the same angle he is.]

there are times when a name can become a target, and one must choose which they'd prefer to keep: their name or their life.

it may not be directly relevant to the research you are doing, but perhaps it would help with understanding why some are attached to their names to consider it. not every change is made under ideal circumstances.

[threebetrayals]

[Sheik is incredibly valid, and Wanderer appreciates this point of view.]

Being forced to change something about yourself would likely make one more attached to that thing, if you ever get it back. Is that what you're saying?

Sender: Kazuma 兆麻

[nailed_navigation]

I'm not exactly human anymore but my name was given to me by the God Bishamonten. My name is Kazuma but it could be read in different ways. The way that my God reads it means Omen.

[threebetrayals]

Why would he name you that?

Sender: General Nuadha (when you open a tab right before going on a trip and then FORGET TO TAG IT)

[burnttoashes]

Mine is a name I chose for myself. It comes from the god of the sea, one of the three founding deities of my world.

It suits me well enough.

[More than his original name does, because that man is long dead... quite literally.]

OH NO

[threebetrayals]

[This guy again.]

Just well enough?