I get that too sj. It doesn't help in my case that all my names, including the two last names, are variant spellings.

Most people look at me like I'm speaking an alien language when I give them the name I was born with.

My daily whine: If my ears aren't better by the morning, I'm going back to the doctor, even though I can't imagine what she can do this side of a tiny dynamite charge.

I get that too sj. It doesn't help in my case that all my names, including the two last names, are variant spellings.

Both last names are very common, easy to spell, and short which was one of the reasons I decided to hyphenate them.

Our names are short, they are just odd spellings.

It's been years. I just spell my name out to people. Often.

I automatically spell my current last name. If I don't, people tend to replace one or more of the Ts with Ls. My maiden name was a whole different deal. 14 letters, 2 hyphens, and 2 capital letters (not 3) means mass confusion.

Sometimes people ask me if it's the Scottish spelling or the Swedish. I'm not sure if they're not thinking, or they're just not caring. However when the Swedish chick asked me, I had to give her a "Really?" Her answer was "Oh, I forgot..."

Which is just weird.

I wonder if my mother, with double-barrelled Scottish names, gets asked that. But I can't spell her maiden name anyway. Mac vs Mc gets me about every time. So I never use it as a password personal question.

I just spell my name out to people. Often.

Y'all who have been with me when someone on the phone or in person asks? Yeah, I don't even say the name, go right to the spelling. And then of course I get the perky, "And how do you pronounce that?" If I'm feeling charitable I'll syllable-ize it for them and hit them with the "sounds like crotch", which is, as intended, unforgettable. If I'm feeling detached, I'll say it, give 'em a beat, and move on.

Last names, tricky.

My first, middle, and last names are all simple, straightforward (except MAYBE the second "d") ... and yet people insist on trying to find interesting ways to spell them.

Daniel, all healing thoughts to you, and good employment-finding, too.

Ginger, clear ear-ma, and soon.

My first name was a trial in K-6, because nobody else in the world was ever named that. My last name was odd anyway, but an odd variant on the spelling that was accepted. I meant to marry John Smith Doe (I meant Doe!), I swear, so as to A. get into the first half of the alphabet, and B. have an easily recognized and spelled last name.

Failed on the second count. Did good on the first, though.

I meant to marry John Smith, I swear, so as to A. get into the first half of the alphabet, and B. have an easily recognized and spelled last name.

I basically did this. I mean, the marriage didn't work but the name change did. ... I still spell it out for people.