On instagram I started with be your truth in french (ta propre vérité). I need to tell my truth while hiding those that are paradoxical. Then I changed my name to alycia kiyeko. I needed to be me. When I joined substack I chose mademoiselle mindset (a combination of French and English), I asked my subscribers who liked that name. I think we're evolving, the name is calling us. I like your content I will subscribe
Hi Alycia - welcome! And thanks for sharing these stories about your names here - it's so interesting to hear the thinking behind the decisions people make.
I started out on Instagram as ‘The Early Hour’ after the digital platform I was running. When I decided to share my own writing, rather than interviews/other people’s writing - and around the time my first book was published - I switched to my own name.
I’m so pleased I made that shift. It’s taken me some time to move all the other things under my own name, like my online courses, which were under a business name. But since joining Substack, and starting off with several different names that ended up not feeling right, and choosing to use my own name…. I now feel empowered to do everything under my own name and properly own it.
Rather awkwardly (as I agree with what you wrote about marriage and taking husband's name) the name is not my own. Neither my first name nor surname are my given names. I'm a made-up person. And my original name was extremely unoriginal, which is why I changed it (there was someone on my road with the same first name/surname growing up and a journalist with exactly the same name when I started training to be one). I don't actually think of myself as a personal brand. I think of 'me' being at the centre of all that I do - a more recent realisation - but more that I'm a writer and so my name is my author/journalist name and it then makes sense to share all writing/thoughts under that name.
Just last week I switched my IG handle to my own name because I so wanted to claim my name. At the same time I switched my Substack handle to my name too instead of my publication name 😇Yesterday I went back to my old IG handle because there I immediately lost followers and the algorithm went bonkers putting only ads in my feed for days and I disappeared on my followers feed! In any case, I’m all for using our own names.
Oh no!! I wonder what happened there?! If you ever fancy trying again, you could leave it a week or so and see if you can train your algorithm so you're seeing the things you want to see. Also, re. losing followers - it might be worth laying some groundwork and explaining that you're thinking of changing your name, explaining your reasons for doing so, and whether this means the content you will be sharing will change. You do this across Stories and grid placements and then have another go if you do want to change your name.
Thank you for this Nicola. I’m with you on the keeping your surname on getting married, really glad I made that decision! And (I’m over it now) I did feel rather left out at having no middle name when I was younger too.
On blog/Instagram names, maybe I’m too new to change mine yet having only been going a few months but I do continue to question whether the one I chose for Substack and a version of it on Instagram was a wise choice as it’s a made up word that some people struggle to pronounce (although many others get the joke!) Food for thought 🤔
Ha - I feel like we need a ‘no middle name’ club where we can console one another and share what middle names we think we should have 😆 Also, interesting question about your SS name - I suppose it’s a good idea to go back to the question of whether you feel your name represents or obscures what you’re about… and then go from there? Thanks so much for reading and commenting - I really appreciate it 😊
I love a discussion on names – thanks for sharing this! It resonates as a South African who has grown up with discussion around the importance of name changes and what names represent/keep us stuck in. And also I had no bloody middle name, but my brothers did!? It also reminds me again how I need to book a session/s with you (& possibly talk about how grounded families might have had it’s day).
OOh tell me more about the SA relationship with names - I’m making assumptions that this is to do with the end of apartheid and the reclamation of traditional names?? But I don’t know anything about it! Also, I can’t believe your parents gave your brothers middle names but not you! My parents were equally uninterested across all of my siblings 😆 and I’d love to talk to you some time. Fee free to drop me an email on nicola@toomuchsocial.com to discuss what kind of support/ session would be most appropriate for you 😊
Yes, exactly that – how powerful reclaiming names can be, and the almost physical force with which they can oppress. I'll drop you an email re work, I'd love to chat more.
On instagram I started with be your truth in french (ta propre vérité). I need to tell my truth while hiding those that are paradoxical. Then I changed my name to alycia kiyeko. I needed to be me. When I joined substack I chose mademoiselle mindset (a combination of French and English), I asked my subscribers who liked that name. I think we're evolving, the name is calling us. I like your content I will subscribe
Hi Alycia - welcome! And thanks for sharing these stories about your names here - it's so interesting to hear the thinking behind the decisions people make.
I started out on Instagram as ‘The Early Hour’ after the digital platform I was running. When I decided to share my own writing, rather than interviews/other people’s writing - and around the time my first book was published - I switched to my own name.
I’m so pleased I made that shift. It’s taken me some time to move all the other things under my own name, like my online courses, which were under a business name. But since joining Substack, and starting off with several different names that ended up not feeling right, and choosing to use my own name…. I now feel empowered to do everything under my own name and properly own it.
It feels like a relief. Much simpler. Ax
You have such a memorable name Annie that it makes total sense. How do you feel about being a 'personal brand'?
Rather awkwardly (as I agree with what you wrote about marriage and taking husband's name) the name is not my own. Neither my first name nor surname are my given names. I'm a made-up person. And my original name was extremely unoriginal, which is why I changed it (there was someone on my road with the same first name/surname growing up and a journalist with exactly the same name when I started training to be one). I don't actually think of myself as a personal brand. I think of 'me' being at the centre of all that I do - a more recent realisation - but more that I'm a writer and so my name is my author/journalist name and it then makes sense to share all writing/thoughts under that name.
Oh I think that's actually very brilliant - your name is MORE than your own as you CHOSE it, rather than being bestowed with it!!
Just last week I switched my IG handle to my own name because I so wanted to claim my name. At the same time I switched my Substack handle to my name too instead of my publication name 😇Yesterday I went back to my old IG handle because there I immediately lost followers and the algorithm went bonkers putting only ads in my feed for days and I disappeared on my followers feed! In any case, I’m all for using our own names.
Oh no!! I wonder what happened there?! If you ever fancy trying again, you could leave it a week or so and see if you can train your algorithm so you're seeing the things you want to see. Also, re. losing followers - it might be worth laying some groundwork and explaining that you're thinking of changing your name, explaining your reasons for doing so, and whether this means the content you will be sharing will change. You do this across Stories and grid placements and then have another go if you do want to change your name.
Thank you for this Nicola. I’m with you on the keeping your surname on getting married, really glad I made that decision! And (I’m over it now) I did feel rather left out at having no middle name when I was younger too.
On blog/Instagram names, maybe I’m too new to change mine yet having only been going a few months but I do continue to question whether the one I chose for Substack and a version of it on Instagram was a wise choice as it’s a made up word that some people struggle to pronounce (although many others get the joke!) Food for thought 🤔
Ha - I feel like we need a ‘no middle name’ club where we can console one another and share what middle names we think we should have 😆 Also, interesting question about your SS name - I suppose it’s a good idea to go back to the question of whether you feel your name represents or obscures what you’re about… and then go from there? Thanks so much for reading and commenting - I really appreciate it 😊
Thank you that’s a good way of looking at it.
Ha - the no middle name club, but what would we call it? 🤣
First Names Only
I love a discussion on names – thanks for sharing this! It resonates as a South African who has grown up with discussion around the importance of name changes and what names represent/keep us stuck in. And also I had no bloody middle name, but my brothers did!? It also reminds me again how I need to book a session/s with you (& possibly talk about how grounded families might have had it’s day).
OOh tell me more about the SA relationship with names - I’m making assumptions that this is to do with the end of apartheid and the reclamation of traditional names?? But I don’t know anything about it! Also, I can’t believe your parents gave your brothers middle names but not you! My parents were equally uninterested across all of my siblings 😆 and I’d love to talk to you some time. Fee free to drop me an email on nicola@toomuchsocial.com to discuss what kind of support/ session would be most appropriate for you 😊
Yes, exactly that – how powerful reclaiming names can be, and the almost physical force with which they can oppress. I'll drop you an email re work, I'd love to chat more.