Someone else asked 5 already. I answered it above.
4: My impression is that names generally come with gender baggage. Fashions may change over time, but people generally think of names as being associated with a specific gender, no matter how many genders one's culture may sanction. And for those names that more than one gender uses, each person's impression will likely wind up biased by their experience.
I opened my mind to a name that was consistent with my personal image, easy enough to pronounce and spell, and uncommon enough to not have too much experiential gender baggage. The first one I got was an invented name, but you wouldn't guess the spelling or pronunciation from the other, so I kept looking. A few months ago, another one popped up that hits all the targets. I've tried it out in public since, and it seems to work well.
That's the first name. I've also picked out two middle names that tie into my family of origin (and has an interesting connection with someone in spouse's family), and a last name that is a metaphorical translation into another language of my current last name. Those parts already suit me well.
For 28, I would say: "Be who you are. Do not subsume that into who people tell you you "must" or "should" be for the sake of other goals you value."
no subject
4: My impression is that names generally come with gender baggage. Fashions may change over time, but people generally think of names as being associated with a specific gender, no matter how many genders one's culture may sanction. And for those names that more than one gender uses, each person's impression will likely wind up biased by their experience.
I opened my mind to a name that was consistent with my personal image, easy enough to pronounce and spell, and uncommon enough to not have too much experiential gender baggage. The first one I got was an invented name, but you wouldn't guess the spelling or pronunciation from the other, so I kept looking. A few months ago, another one popped up that hits all the targets. I've tried it out in public since, and it seems to work well.
That's the first name. I've also picked out two middle names that tie into my family of origin (and has an interesting connection with someone in spouse's family), and a last name that is a metaphorical translation into another language of my current last name. Those parts already suit me well.
For 28, I would say: "Be who you are. Do not subsume that into who people tell you you "must" or "should" be for the sake of other goals you value."