If your goal is to keep us coming back for more, you achieved it with your latest blog post! What will we learn next? That you are actually an African American Muslim who is testing out a complex theory of racial and religious stereotypes?

Reminds me of the Woody Allen movie Bananas where at the end, an obese black women is testifying in court and asked to state her name. She responds with J. Edgar Hoover and explains that she has to travel in disguises.

Keep pumping out the great content (whoever you are :) ). I love it!

This was really interesting to read. Especially the part about how the name an employer came up with is the one you now use both professionally and in real-life. I guess if you’d known back then what the eventual outcome would be, you might have tried harder to have some input into what they called you. (Not that Penelope Trunk isn’t a nice name!) :)

Interesting — I was wondering what your real name was, since “Penelope” is always a pen name. Cool!

So far I am aware of six different places in society where you are asked to change you name, your style of dress and where you live all at the same time. This is usaully done to “reset” your identity in order to assist you to conform to a new life.
Prison
Joining the military
Becoming a Monk
When a woman gets married
Becoming a lead singer in a heavy metal band
Everyone should be encouraged to recreate oneself whenever it feels needed. However, be very carefuyl when someone offers to change you name for you.

Great post. I loved the post about the beach office party.

* * * * * *

Steven, I like your summary of times to change a name. Metal band. Funny.

-Penelope

A few years ago when I was designing / writing for a very small magazine i changed my last name to Winters — I really only wrote about 5 articles total. Even to this day people that I became friends with through the magazine debate what my real last name is.

If you change your name again, can I choose it for you?

* * * * * * *

For the next name, there will be a contest on the blog, of course :)

–Penelope

Boy, what a tortured tale. The peak comes with “even my husband calls me Penelope”. That seemed weird at first but actually simplifies the issue. You don’t have two names. You just changed your name to Penelope Trunk. 

* * * * *

Right. Summarized so clearly. Thank you.

-Penelope

How funny! I knew three out of four of your names, but not “Roston.”

I took my husband’s name because I never liked my maiden name. Plus, my family just automatically started addressing mail to my new name. But, it does irk me that people from my past, when they Google my old name, won’t be automatically transferred to my new name and learn of all my fabulous accomplishments–or lack thereof.

I think there is a website business in there somewhere–people who change their names, but still want to be found by others from their past–could register given name/new name(s) so Google would find them.

* * * * * *

This comment says so much. It is from one of my best friends. And look, even she didn’t know the whole story on my names. Keeping track of the flow of information has been absurd - like I’m living in an Ionesco play.

Glad you have outted yourself. I “knew” years ago when I read your column (I think it was associated w bank of America or something about banking) that PT was reminiscent of another PT — Phineas Taylor… Barnum, known for his hoaxes and for founding the circus that eventually became Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Thanks for coming clean.

Fascinating! And your courage in coming out has allowed me to reveal my dark secret: My real name is David Hasslehoff, but potential confusion with the Baywatch Actor forced me to change my name and become Chinese.

* * * * * *
Ha ha. Funny. But also not far from how I have felt during some points in this naming fiasco.

–Penelope

Great article. The best stories are always honest and come from within ourselves. These are the ones that draw the reader in.

I think maybe you are naive in thinking that people hadn’t already worked this out!

About a year ago I got curious as to which companies you actually worked for. I did a whois lookup on penelopetrunk.com and found out it belonged to Adrienne Greenheart, and from there I googled that name and the connection was obvious.

Still, the whole name-change story was quite interesting!

* * * * * *

I think it’s actually an understatement to say that people had already worked this out in their heads. In the last six months, most of the new people I’ve met said to me flat out: ”Is that your real name?”

–Penelope

I figure one of these days I will have to change my name - I spend way too much time being honest, reading cliche sociology, and using semicolons incorrectly; I’ll never be the mayor of Wayne, PA if I stay Matt Maupin.

Best post of yours I’ve read in some time. Better than anything Scott Adams is churning out this week.

Hello AdPen TruHeart,

I really enjoyed this post. If you subscribe to the Carlos Castenada school of naming, it’s best to leave your true name unspoken. But maybe our true names are more like the whispering wind, and attachment would be an exercize in futility, anyways.

Enjoy Madison, and remember to keep your bugspray handy this summer.

Cheers,

Bob L., a regular rss reader

Of course, if you and your husband want to be a bit devious out there in Madison, have him refer to you as Adrienne now and then, but only not in your presence. People will think he’s got a girlfriend on the side ;-)

Great post! Last summer when I was getting ready to launch my blog, I asked you for advice on pseudonyms because I thought I should use one.

You advised against it, arguing that since my blog is somewhat related to my paying career, I should keep one consistent brand name.

That was good advice. Thank you. I haven’t run into any problems at work yet.

Of course, I do share a name with a Fisher Price Rescue Hero action figure. But most people seem to be able to separate my mythical alter-ego and the real me.

Actually, having the same name as an action figure has been a good ice breaker at networking events etc. even if only parents of pre-schoolers get the joke.

* * * * * * *

I can’t resist:

http://www.epinions.com/kifm-Toys-All-Rescue_Heroes_Voice_Tech_Wendy_Waters_Firefighter

What a great story! I’ve wondered about your name.

When I married, I took my husband’s name and went from the exotic Italian identity of Calabrese to the “all-American” Roberts. Not once have I had to spell it, or dispel relations to the Mafia. Simplicity has its benefits.

Like others, I “knew” Penelope wasn’t your “given” name. Maybe you mentioned it years ago in one of your posts. Anyways, keep up the good work. I had no idea you went through so many name changes though. Maybe you’re really just an undercover CIA operative. ;)

wow - my head is spinning. I think I’m amused and confused at the same time - but you’ll always (until the next change) be Penelope to me :p

Wow. I read your blog regularly, and I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that I had a feeling that the name “Penelope” did not really fit you. It’s just a subtle thought that would pop up while reading your writing.

Because I’ve had a few.. well.. marriages, and thus, name changes, it’s always fun to read my credit report. The only non criminal with so many aliases. Sounds like your name adventures are a helluva lot more interesting.

Woman you are crazy!!!
I love it:)
This is the reason that I can’t stop reading your stuff. I learn alot about myself in your writing, I learn alot about other life experiences and paradigms alien from my own, and yet I don’t feel threatened or feel that I must fight against these radical thoughts and viewpoints.
I enjoy your work most when you write from the heart and so more personally. Thank you for sharing.

P.S. I am also now quite concerned (and a bit afraid of you) because you are either the most sane, self-aware individual I’ve ever interacted with, or a seriously deranged psycho:)

* * * * * * *

It’s a very fine line, isn’t it?

-Penelope :)

I finally found someone with a “name history” as tangled as mine (who isn’t a convicted felon)! At last count, 2 different first names,1 middle name (then no middle name) and three different last names (no, not all thru remarriage).

I think everybody “changes names” in the sense that we allow ourselves to be known in different ways in different scenarios. We’re not the same person at a preschool fair that we may be in a sales presentation, contract discussion, or bid meeting, for example.

We “change identities” every time we present ourselves in a particular light at one job interview and in a different light at another for a similiar-but-related job.

Based on what I’ve done and my training, my resume has three distinct threads: researcher, IT geek, and grant manager. I emphasize one thread or another(or a combination)depending on the skill set desired.

A rose is a rose is a rose. You’ll always be aces in my book. Keep up the great work, Penelope!

I like writing on the blog in pen names, as well. Whoever really needs to know who I am can meet me in person. For the rest, it’s a pen name.

WOW! I had no idea (obviously!) What an interesting story. I, too, had wondered whether that was your ‘real” name. Someone actually referred to you as “Penny” when I was interviewing them for a story, as if you were both the best of friends!

So, wait: You initially changed your name to flout patriarchal naming conventions, but then altered it again — twice — because two patriarchal corporate entities got their shorts in a wad over the name(s) you chose?

Help me out here, Penadriennelope: Did you have a change of heart feminism-wise, or is “being your brand” more important than sticking it to the patriarchy (you know, those dudes who sign your paychecks)?

Anyway, “Adrienne GreenHeart” sounds a romance novelist’s name, so maybe Mr. Time and Mr. Warner did you a backhanded favor.

I have to say I never suspected! Adrienne used to be my favorite girl’s name, and because I was too young to have a baby, I named my cat Adrienne. She’s now 10 years old and very special to me. :)

Interesting story of your many changes of name. I know that when I started a blog I simply used my real first name and the name of my home town. This resulted in me getting a comment on my blog “I think I know who you are…. am I right?” He was. What are the odds on two bloggers who’ve met in real life stumbling over each other in cyberspace?

And what exactly did you write for a software award that was so risqué??

I agree! This was not only a +funny+(lol)post, but I’ve experienced a little of this myself, after starting to blog. You see, I use an alter ego/in-cognito identity (it’s because I’m new at blogging and kind of shy about writing on the web.)

Suzy is part of my real name (middle name), but it’s spelled differently and only my siblings and a few others call me that. I’m not sure as to how this will impact me later on, but it’s miniscule compared to all of your changes.

I kind of serendipitously stumbled upon your site while doing research. I like your insights and the comments are interesting, too.

That is a fab story…huzzah!

You crack me up! Good story!

“Penelope,”
You have no idea, how philosophically “deep” you’re story is. Having studied Philosophy of Language in undergrad (A.B. Philosophy), I’d be remiss in not directing you to the body of work by Saul Kripke, author of “Naming and Necessity.” There is a chapter in the book that addresses that phenomenon.

Very funny! I enjoyed the read. Thanks for the insight.

Sorry - I got lost in there somewhere.

When you said:

‘Then he called me into his office where and said, “Did you write this?” he pointed to the screen where my thesis was unfolding. He said he thought it was pornography.’

What was your boss’s problem with your master’s thesis?

This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article

This is a completely awesome post. I’m sometimes confused between my multiple web identities. And now that I’ve begun to blur the line between my pseudonym and the “real life” me maybe it will get better (or worse?). When I meet people in person they are also trying to figure it out. I’m trying to remember if they know me because of my blog, my foodblog or something else.

I’ll be writing to you with my real name soon after your admonishment in my last mail ;-)

What do you call yourself in your mind? which name?

Also you might wanna start a psych study about all this name changing and identity crisis. It might help people who face these ‘branding’ issues.

I personally thought of the bard when I read this. Just my 2 cents;)

* * * * * * *
I was thinking of myself as Penelope long before I dropped all my other names. I think that’s why it felt so natural to take Penelope officially.

–Penelope

Your numerous name changes and their reasonings reaffirms how self-absorbed you tend to be as well as how insecure you are with yourself at the same time. You are a freshman in college trapped in a 40 year old woman’s body.

wow, in my first comment to you, I said it seemed like you were living my alternate existence. This is more evidence of the same!

I have changed my name 4 times too, for different reasons. The first two times involved getting married. Then, I decided to take my mother’s maiden name as a way of reclaiming myself after my divorce.

I truly believed that was the last one for me, but then I chose to get married again later. It was my husband’s first marriage, and he was determined that I take his name or no deal.

After weighing it out, I agreed. What’s funny to me is that I went from Sizemore, a name linked to “tailoring”, to Schneider, another word for tailor.

A long way around to get back to where I started.

I like your writing…it is always interesting. The story of your name doesn’t disappoint. Its ironic that you shed your name due to its paternal nature only to be renamed in paternal-like fashion by a faceless corporation, Time Inc.

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Fascinating story Penelope. I have such a unique name and such a sense of internet paranoia that most times I use two different online names.

I’m not a famous writer like you but just do not like the idea of anyone being able to do a search query of blogs and forums along with my real name to peer into my thoughts and comments shared online.

This story about your names and identities is fascinating and gave me lot to think about as an anonymous blogger with a separate career.

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its funny how much we can get attached to our name sometimes :)

A confused sales person once sent me proposals with Ezra Breedlove on the mailing label. Soon after, another bequeathed Treedlove on me. It was interesting both sold my address such that I started getting junk from other companies and the unique name help know who. Personally, I think my own name is fantastic enough.

So which name will your unemployment checks come in?

I received a fruitcake for Christmas from a thoughtless, insensitive (read white, Christian, male, over the age of 40) relative who dared to assume that I celebrate Christmas….and like fruitcake. I decided that the best way to show my disdain for the whole experience was to rename the fruitcake, thereby disacknowledging (I just made that up) the association of the gift with the meaningless holiday. I called the fruitcake Vanillope Junk and took a bite. It still tasted like fruitcake, so I threw it out. The name change didn’t help.

And then, when Yahoo fired you for being “brazen” you became Dave, a person who posts ignorant comments on random message boards. Wonderful.

Your crazy :)

This is the funniest thing I’ve read for ages…love it! My favourite bit was your husband’s comment about moving to Madison as an insane person…worthy of Lily Brett.

When I was in a freshman in college I was bumped from winning “best in show”(or whatever the prize was called) in the Art Students’ League Exhibition because the judges didn’t believe that “Tony Tallent” was a real person’s name. They thought it was a made-up name an undergrad had created so that he or she could enter more than the maximum number of art pieces (rules!). I later found this out from a trusted art instructor and felt completely powerless over a name my parents surely didn’t think much about before they swaddled me and took me out into the big-wide-world. Later, in a post-graduate school side-gig as a film student, I decided to adopt a nickname I’d been called by a few people when I was younger: T. But I left off the “.” For my whole stint in film school I was T Tallent. Confusion was minimal on this one, though I would have to shift gears with friends who’d come visit, and I felt like a third-grader when they called me “Tony” in front of the film school crowd. Moving on to my next incarnation and back in grad school, I stepped back into “Tony Tallent” (with a round or two of intense renamings among various circles of friends) and then moved onto a life that was attached to a profession and my “real name.” For the past 10 years or so I have worked quite a bit with authors, illustrators, musicians, and artists of various hues. Inevitably, I’m asked in the process of booking or negotiating: So is that your real name or your assumed name (or some configuration of the question). “No, it’s real.” Ha. Is it short for Anthony? “No, it’s just Tony. Tony Tallent.” Oh. I take some kind of comic solace in the idea that the name is memorable or catchy or ridiculous enough to work for me. Because of the name-thing I have found myself thinking too much about names in my life–even as a kid. What I’ve finally decided is that after the initial curve of meeting a new client or co-worker, we become more remembered for our hairstyle or shoes or other defining mark. (I still often sign my name “T Tallent” for kicks, though).
Tony

A cool story! Changing names is always a funny story I’ve changed my name few years back but in google one finds both names so they can link my current name to the first one.

I’m writing a couple of erotic novels and had planned to publish under pen names to spare my mum embarrassment. Now I’m thinking it’s just too complicated. Hell, maybe mum will enjoy erotica.

This all makes me think of Brian D’Amato’s discussion of French philosophers’ take on ‘reality’ in ‘Beauty’. If it’s what people really call you, it’s your real name!

I have mentioned your blog to several people and more than once, the response has been, “Trunk? Like a tree?” I am positive that if I were to bring up your name again, they would remember you and the context.

I am getting married in two months and taking my fiance’s name. I have been Strumwasser all my life and hated the name growing up. Teachers, professors, friends, friends’ parents…I have gotten a Strooomvasser from all of them. (Plus, it was always too far down in the alphabet for me - it’s very traumatizing being called last in gym class).

When I was younger, I wanted to marry someone with a short, easy-to-spell name. My new last name will be Lowenbraun - neither short nor easy to spell - but I am now thankful because my name will continue to differentiate me. Inevitably, someone refers to the beer! It is a memorable one, which is important in the business world.

What an awesome story! lol

I remember a time when I started using a pseudonym on the internet. It became very very complicated. However I was fairly disenchanted to google my own name and find I was one of what seemed millions of people to share the same name.

Even with the dot com domain of my own name, I still come up on the 4th page of Google Search. I became so annoyed when I couldn’t use my own name as my username on myspace that I referred to myself as therealjohnlacey and included a tirade on the page itself saying that “some jerk” had stolen the name already. (The aforementioned “jerk” later contacted me, although all in all took it with great humour.) Another individual contacted me in this fashion, explaining that I couldn’t have been “the real” John Lacey, because his father (a War Veteran, apparently) was the “real” one.

Thanks for the article. It just inspired a post on my own blog. lol

Penelope, I loved your story about the name change.

I’m struggling with it in a way myself. My name is William Garret Peregoy II, named after my father, and my whole life up until high school I was known by my middle name as Garret. Then in high school, I got into music and when I turned 18, I even started my own record label - I spent years introducing myself as GP. Then, I took a name change when I quit being an artist and wanted to be an executive, I wanted to use my real name, but figured no one could pronounce Peregoy, so I called myself William G. Cash, hence my blog - williamgcash.blogspot.com. I spent some time blogging and being on the internet as William G. Cash, but now that I’m applying for jobs and about to graduate - my resume and transcript and everything important is William G. Peregoy, and putting my blog as williamgcash.blogspot.com on my resume started to seem silly, and I started to wonder what would employers think when they go to my blog is my name is William G. Cash all over the place, will they think it’s somebody else’s blog?

It really gets confusing when I go places with old friends who sill only refer to me as GP, and then I meet new people… who do I introduce myself as? GP? Garret? William?… Hell, I never know.

I really gets confusing when it comes to email like you said, I have two accounts, William G. Cash and William Peregoy, so I have to keep a close eye on which account I’m under. One time, I even got a package in the mail for William G. Cash, and it got delivered to the front office of my apartment - when I went to pick it up, they ask to see ID, and the lady tried to tell me that it wasn’t a package for me, that it must be for my roomate and she wasn’t going to give it to me. I had to get some help and get someone else that worked there who knew me to explain to her that I was also, indeed William G. Cash.

Lol. But I still don’t know which name to use, at least you finally just picked one and stuck with it.

@ William Peregoy: Are you serious about people not being able to pronounce your name ‘Peregoy’? What is so hard about it? I am puzzled.

I come from a culture where complicated names are common. Nevertheless, in the west (Europe and America) I have always found people curious and willing to learn the right pronunciation of my name. And if they don’t, well I make sure they do :-)

@ Lisa: From Electricity-Water to Lions-Brown - great leap indeed. Do you also use umlauts as in the name of the beer? Names which mean something are always greatly fascinating!

@Shefaly
I know it looks easy enough to me, it’s pronounced just like it’s spelled, but I’ve gotta all kinds of wrong pronounciations, everything from “Prego” to “Paraguay, like the country?”

I too have had many differnt names, I change my last name like it’s my hobby. I have number three and hoping soon to get number four.

Hey Penelope

I think this is an incredibly interesting blog. I have changed my name legal when I moved from Taiwan to America because people simply cannot pronounce my name. I have spoke with other minorities who feel strongly about not changing their names, because they shouldn’t conform to people who don’t understand their cultures. But for me, I don’t like people butchering my name over and over again, not to mention US customs didn’t even spell it correctly. Especially my Chinese name was given to me by my mother. So I chose to take an English name.

I have to say I get really attached to being Cindy Lin, now because I am so used to living as Cindy Lin. My parents even call me Cindy now, they hardly use my Chinese name, unless they are super angry with me then it’s the entire Chinese name gets yelled out.

I get offended by people when people write me emails and refer me as Cindi or Cyndi because I take that as a sign of them treating me as a younger women and don’t take me seriously. But perhaps that’s just my paranoia about being in my 20s working with people in my industry who are mostly 10-20+ years older than me. Or maybe because they see me as an artistic hippie? I don’t know, but I do get annoyed by my name spelled wrong.

I also detest when people misspelled my name with other Asian names like Lee, Lim, Liu, whatever, because it’s offensive that they cannot differentiate me with other Asians or Asian Americans.

Anyway, I really love this post because it’s very interesting to think about shedding or starting a new chapter of life with a brand new name. To most people, my Chinese name doesn’t mean anything to them. But for me in a way, it is a core part of me. It is now becoming a private name in my heart, just like my culture and upbringings make up my core, no matter how my external environment have changed.

Thanks for the thoughts,
Cindy :)

“First divorce battle is over my name. He won’t use Penelope.” Ahhh, battles… Can I assume he’s doing this out of intense anger to make it hard on you to pay for what he thinks he’s suffered for your career? Make it easier on him and help take away some of his anger in ways that you can tolerate(you’ll feel better for it). Why should you be nice and appear to give in? Even in divorce, you need some kind of relationship as parents. You know it’s over, so go forward being kind to each other. Someone has to lay down the sword, why not you?

Is this wasted typing…do you even read these?

Very amusing whilst at the same time poignant and insightful. And well written to boot.

My only question is, when you said “I didn’t want my last name to be a definition of the men I was associated with” I am wondering what the word Trunk conveys. That you associate with men with large proboscises (-i?) or other significant physical assets?

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Penelope, you have a gift for words. I really enjoyed the journey of your name. I never think about the branding of my own name, but now I will give it some thought.