What’s in a name?
Friday, June 16th, 2006Ever done a Google search for your name? If you’re someone like John Curtis, my husband, it’ll take a lot of posting and linking to sites to get your name near the top of the search results. But do a search for “Cuileann McKenzie” and you’ll find me right away.
Nowadays, seeking a following as a writer/speaker, I’m very happy with the name my parents chose for me: “Cuileann” is Scottish Gaelic for “Holly” — the symbol of the McKenzie clan (no pressure living up to that one).
I’ve always been kind of fond of my name, but sometimes, as a kid, the rash of mispronunciations could get hard to take. I’ve heard it all — “Coo-I-LEE-ann,” “Kill-EE-an,” “Quee-leen,” and for a nickname, “Koo-Wally-Olie-Bing-Bang!”
Now, as always, the most polite folks of the world consistently call me “Miss McKenzie” or “Mrs. McKenzie” and often flip between the two. Interestingly, I’ve noticed many seem to have trouble with “Ms.” — the prefix I actually prefer — but that could be fuel for another post.
The point is, in this golden Google age, an unusual name is either a blessing or a curse. So, for those souls granted names not common: post well, my friends, post well.
July 5th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
Years ago I registered my business name HBSMC.com short for my initials (HBS) and MC for Management Consultants. I didn’t think of registering my name as a domain until 2005. Then, I went to register my name .. HartleySinger.com (also sounds unique, eh?) // TAKEN! That’s why I go with 1800HART. For identity in any blog comments or posting I have been adding the site to my name for clarity .. e.g. HART (1-800-HART) … I hope that when people see it they say .. “Oh Ya .. seen him around the www..”
July 5th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Hi Hart,
Wow. I never would’ve guessed that HBSMC.com and HartleySinger.com would’ve been gobbled up before you got to them!
Oh well, 1800HART is so much catchier anyway. And so creative!
Thanks for the fresh perspective,
Cuileann
July 5th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Hi .. HBSMC.com is still me and my business .. I’ve had that name since 1991 and registered it early on when they were running out of 3-character domains. thank goodness!
Yes - It was weird seeing another Hartley Singer though .. his initial is E. though. If his birthday was the same as mine, it would have blown my mind!