BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality New Age My new name!

Some of you may have spotted that I've changed my name again! The background, for those who have joined us more recently, is that when I seperated from my husband I felt it was time to take a name that was all mine. Ravenstar was lovely to write under, but not so comfy in the supermarket! I've enjoyed this name for a year & a half & it is time to change to one I can wear all the time!

So...my new surname is D'Silva. It came about at New Year when I was tidying the guest bedroom & picked up a names book. I idly looked up the meaning of my middle name- Sylvia and saw that it was derived from the Latin 'Silva' meaning 'of the woods'. How appropriate that feels as I have a deep affinity with trees. So it seems I was sitting on my new name all my life It also seems from the net that D'Silva is a very common name in Portuguese...strange that I've booked a holiday in Portugal...

I like it, it feels fresh & lighthearted! What do you think & have any of you ever consciously changed your names?

Congratulations Lauren! That's so neat that you were able to find something that takes your given middle name and truly feels like you.

Enjoy your holiday in Portugal.

Julie

that's so cool and affirming Lauren! Congrats! It's funny when I was younger I was convinced I'd change at least the spelling of my name when I got of age to do so. Once I did though, I ended feeling weird about it...I always wanted it spelled like this Leia...hmmm maybe one day!

Hi Lauren! It's such a neat thing when a new name fits so well it's as if it has belonged to you all along.
Back when I was in my late 20s I started work with a company that seemed to hire a lot of Pats. I had been Patty growing up, then Pat through university and into my working personna. The other Pat was a guy so he offered to go by Patrick instead. We soon after hired another female Pat and my boss asked if I would go by Patricia and let her be the new Pat. I felt grown up all of a sudden and agreed BUT... for the next 5 years every time my boss called me into his office I had a terrible feeling of dread. It was never bad- just made me feel like I was guilty of something. I realized that Patricia was my "in-trouble" name (usually followed by my middle and last names!) when I was growing up. I decided I didn't want to feel dread over my name for the rest of my career, so I changed it to Trish. My maternal grandmother had called me that when I was growing up and it was a special thing between us that I loved. So to honour her and to rebirth myself (marriages ending etc.) I became Trish.
Now the funny part- a few years ago I remet a man I had loved many years prior when I was Pat (always Patty to my family) and we fell in love again. It was tough for him to adjust to my new name- but I insisted. His ex-wife was Patti.

Thanks girls- it does feel really comfy & natural. I think I'm going to do the full legal thing with this one. Perhaps I've had a Portuguese past life- last year I went to Crete & then a Shaman who didn't know told me I'd been a Minoan Temple priestess. Maybe I'm retracing my steps!!

Leia is a cool spelling- I think I'd go with it too- check the implications against your current name on a numerology site- there are several on the web that offer free readings.

Trish- your name is so friendly & soft. Pat has a hard edge to it- I can't imagine you as a Pat!

What a lovely story Lauren! You've changed my mind about the name now. I've known many, many D'Silvas over the years so (forgive me!) when I saw your new name it looked so average and ordinary compared to Ravenstar, which I have always thought was a wonderful name. But I think I'll cope!!! :tease:



I know exactly what you mean Trish. My full name, Elsa, is my "in trouble" name and I always cringed when a boss would call for me. For some reason I have never been able to get a boss to call me Elle, and then I realised I don't want them tainting that name. It's bad enough that I hate the sound of Elsa now, Elle is only for friends to use

I have consciously chosen to go by Jase. I don't even answer to Jason anymore LOL People will be talking to me or the progessor would be taking roll and going Jason Ruel.... Jason Ruel... Jason Ruel... and I was oblivious. Until of course I realized what happened and I would go I'm here but please call me Jase, I only answer to Jase ;0)

I have thought about changing it legally. I sign things Jase and have for YEARS... since like I was at least 18, I am now 30 (in dec). I have wanted to change my surname for as long as I knew I was not born with this surname and it wasn't my choice to have this surname (i was adopted by my birth progrnerators 2nd husband). I have thought about going back to my "maiden" name but have always worried about my siblings (2 sisters and a bro) who have my last name. I could always do the madonna thing and just go by Jase ;0)

Lauren, are you taking it as your legal surname or pen-name?

Hi Elle, I'm glad you'll cope Ravenstar was fun, but it was also 'made up' & I never felt I could integrate it fully in my life. D'Silva is an unusual name in the UK- there are none in the phone directory for this area & it feels right- a bit more light-hearted too! I'll have to cope with the commonality of the name when I'm world famous I guess

Answering Jase I am going to go legal with this-it's quite an undertaking- all those documents to sort out- but I found having two names on the go over the last 18 months confused people. One new student actually said "So who are you?"

Why not try a new surname for something like your writing here & see what your siblings think of it? My sis liked Ravenstar- she used to respond in emails with Eaglemoon...cheeky!

My siblings don't read what I have to write ;0) So trying it out here is hard thing to do. I should talk to my sis and see what she thinks LOL