Name and Place

What is it that you should look for in a name?
- meaningful?
- Stylish?
- Easy to use?
- Adaptable in any part of the world?
- Traditional; adhering to culture?
- Religious?

I think it depends on how you look at things and how you want to be looked at by others. My name being one of those traditional names from India is quite popular in my motherland. But then now being in England, English and of course most of the non-Indians find it difficult to pronounce in the first place. But then I always educate people to get my name right. If someone asks me the meaning I think I am proud to say I am named after the goddess of wealth and prosperity. And I have never tried to shorten it to Leks, Lax or ‘L’(though there had been friends who used it that way); somehow I feel it is a question to my identity. But can’t really say it is a bad practice to shorten the names especially to those who have incredibly long names with unusual syllables.

I don’t really think there is a problem is clarifying your name twice or thrice to someone who has not heard the name before; there is absolutely nothing to be shameful about that. It is their ignorance and you should still be proud of your names. I don’t understand why people take strenuous efforts to change their names once they are in a new place. I don’t think it is worth changing your roots (especially if it is your dad’s name or family name) just for the convenience of other people and that you are in a different part of the world. I have seen British getting confused with pronouncing British names; and same with Europeans. So its just there everywhere. There is definitely a way to get around it.

There are these wise people who name their kids accordingly which are justifiable to an extent. Just because you know the kid is not going to spend a significant time of their life in India they don’t really see a point in going for a proper Indian name. They just name it conveniently for the use of non-Indians (and Indians). But then I personally feel you are then disadvantaged with the choice of some of the beautiful names you can go for.