I’m still thinking about names…
When I was in Junior high I was known as Shawna, because one teacher in elementary couldn’t get it that my name was SHAWN and that ended up on my records. By the end of high school, I had finally gotten Shawna off all my records.
At our high school reunion this summer, a class mate said, “Your name tag says ‘Shawn.'”
“Yes.” I agreed.
“This yearbook says Shawn,” he said glancing back to the copy Ralph had brought along.
“Yes.” I was on the yearbook committee. I made sure my name was spelled correctly. I also did the calligraphy on our diplomas, so it’s correct there, as well.
“But we always called you Shawna,” he said, looking down on me with confusion.
“Yes.”
“Did we have it WRONG all those years?” His eyes were wrinkled in dismay.
I laughed and said, “Yes.”
He gave me the most sincere look of mortification and said, “I’m so sorry!”
I laughed and told him it was quite all right. The kids I hung around with all knew my name. I wasn’t to concerned about the rest of them, to be honest.
Then I went to Finland, and there they call me either “Soon” (rhymes with ‘phone’) or gave me the Finnish name “Sanna.” When I introduce myself in Finnish, that’s who I am. In French I’m “Jeanne.” In Italian I’m “Gianna.” My doctor calls me “Shawnee.” I am all those people, and all those identities. Each one is essentially the same, but a little bit different. A different language for communication, a slightly different attitude.
So far, I don’t use a pseudonym with my writing, though I imagine eventually I will.
What is your experience? Have you been known by different names? Are you exactly the same, depending upon your name?
Shawn L. Bird 
My third grade teacher called me “Andrea” the entire year, and most of my Rotary Club still calls me “Ondra” rather than “Andra.” I’m still me, regardless. I pretty much answer to ‘Hey, You!’ at this point. 🙂
I always make my students tell me the pronunciation of their names, and make a point of learning them correctly. They drive me crazy when they say, “Whatever.” I think it matters!
At some point in my early elementary years, my name on record become Lena, and aside from my family and Finnish friends, my name was always pronounced Lina (like Tina). When I turned 15, I went to get my first SIN card and I discovered that on my birth certificate my name was actually spelled Leena (pronounced correctly as Len-na). I asked my mom why my name was spelled incorrectly at school and she claims that’s how I wanted to spell it when I was five. Odd. After discovering my birth certificate, I had my name corrected at school, but still went through high school be called Leena/Lina. It wasn’t until I went to college that I made an effort to have people call me by the correct pronunciation. Of course, I am constantly correcting and usually make a point of explaining the Finnish language’s adherence to pronouncing all letters and their sounds (no silent GH in Finnish, no way) – it usually helps, not because people learn anything, but because the story is so long and a little geeky that I am immediately remembered as the “Finnish person”.
lol When I started school in Finland, the teachers would call the roll. They’d say the first and last names of each student, rolling the syllables in wonderful rhythm, then they’d stop dead and stare at the page. That was my cue, and I’d raise my hand as the kids, who knew precisely who I was, would all look over and smirk at me.
My Grandfather was named Jim and I was named for him. Not James, mind you, but Jim. Everything went along merrily until first grade. The teacher decided, in her infinite wisdom, that I was Jimmy. Not because there was another Jim in the class; there wasn’t. My Mother fought with her almost the entire year about my name. Over the years I had friends who insisted on calling me James. I finally accepted that people are going to do what they want to do and gave up correcting them. After all, there are far worse things they might’ve called me than James or Jimmy…
Maybe it was just that she thought you needed a cute little diminutive version of Jim when you were 6? lol
Then there is the another part of the story about last names and what name you used when….
Right! Now let’s see, in your household there are six people, using 5 different last names, right?