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Good last names?

iGuardian

iGuardian

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 26, 2008
552
18
I'm a foreigner in Canada, I've lived here my entire life, but I have an obscure last name which sometimes causes problems...

So, my parents are encouraging me to change my last name. Any ideas on a good Canadian (or American or British)a last name?
 
Having a different name isn't all bad. Even if you have to make people spell it all the time and nobody knows how to pronounce it it can be a positive thing to be set apart from the masses of whitebread names. I live in the U.S., but I have a very French last name and my first name is the French spelling of a name that is spelled differently in English and French.....so I know where you're coming from! It bothered me for some time but I've learned to embrace it, misspellings and all. It's at least a good conversation starter. ;)
 
That's a silly thing to do. In the bad old days people would do that to conceal their heritage, there's no reason to do that these days, as far as I'm concerned.


Really, a Christian name would just make me associate you with mass genocide. ;)
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
That's a silly thing to do. In the bad old days people would do that to conceal their heritage, there's no reason to do that these days, as far as I'm concerned.


Really, a Christian name would just make me associate you with mass genocide. ;)
Click to expand...

where did u get Christian from?:confused:
 
I think proving it's not for marriage, changing your last name is pretty much turning your back on who you are.
 
Lipshitz - Leave your children a legacy
Smith - You'll never stand out again, make sure to buy the glasses with the nose and mustache
Hyman - Careful, don't break it ;)
Beaver - A fine name if your first name isn't Harry
Morehead - You may find trouble dating though...
Knipl - Again, if your name is Harry, not an option
Amigone - stay away from funeral homes though
Treworgy - kinda freaky, might work
Handwerker - Make sure to use the non-tanning Jergins
Woodcock - Nah, Billy Bob Thornton ruined it for us all

Hmmm, Maybe your last name isn't that bad after all...
 
OutThere said:
Having a different name isn't all bad. Even if you have to make people spell it all the time and nobody knows how to pronounce it it can be a positive thing to be set apart from the masses of whitebread names. I live in the U.S., but I have a very French last name and my first name is the French spelling of a name that is spelled differently in English and French.....so I know where you're coming from! It bothered me for some time but I've learned to embrace it, misspellings and all. It's at least a good conversation starter. ;)
Click to expand...

French is better than Middle Eastern at least though!

TuffLuffJimmy said:
That's a silly thing to do. In the bad old days people would do that to conceal their heritage, there's no reason to do that these days, as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...

Try having a Middle Eastern last name... it's a hard thing to have in this day and age. I don't look TOO Middle Eastern, it's the name that trips the alarm. Do you realize how hard it is to get through security etc? In this day and age, for some people, it's still a reason to conceal your heritage.

jessica. said:
I think proving it's not for marriage, changing your last name is pretty much turning your back on who you are.
Click to expand...

I haven't had my name for too long, I'm still young :p. And it's my last name too, not my first name, that'll stay the same.

pilotError said:
Lipshitz - Leave your children a legacy
Smith - You'll never stand out again, make sure to buy the glasses with the nose and mustache
Hyman - Careful, don't break it ;)
Beaver - A fine name if your first name isn't Harry
Morehead - You may find trouble dating though...
Knipl - Again, if your name is Harry, not an option
Amigone - stay away from funeral homes though
Treworgy - kinda freaky, might work
Handwerker - Make sure to use the non-tanning Jergins
Woodcock - Nah, Billy Bob Thornton ruined it for us all

Hmmm, Maybe your last name isn't that bad after all...
Click to expand...

I think I'll pass on those haha
 
Choose your favorite letter then look through the phone book for names starting with that letter that you like. I would suggest avoiding a name that starts with a vowel. I find that people can't handle it and often put a B or a P on the front of my last name.

Greg
 
iGuardian said:
Try having a Middle Eastern last name... it's a hard thing to have in this day and age. I don't look TOO Middle Eastern, it's the name that trips the alarm. Do you realize how hard it is to get through security etc? In this day and age, for some people, it's still a reason to conceal your heritage.
Click to expand...

I'm friends with a large number of Middle Eastern people, and none of them have a huge issue surviving, going through security, etc.

This just sounds like a lame excuse to change your name.
 
Sometimes if you go in looking for a specific reaction, you'll find it. I wonder if you thought about it differently if it would still be such a problem. We all give off subtle cues and people pick up on them in one way or another. That could be what trips alarms at airports (or what have you) more so than your name itself.
 
I almost have to spell out my last name everytime.

Once in a blue moon someone will spell it correctly. It doesn't bother me though
 
People always miss spell my last name. My last name is an uncommon spelling.
It drives me nuts. They ask who I am and I say *first, Last name* always spell my last name. After than I add in the fact no 'E'

Almost every single time they put a freaken 'E' in it no matter what I do. Hell I was agrue with over the phone once they saying I was not in the system. This follow by me question, how did you spell my last name. They of course put an E in it.....

Sad part is I have had to go the other way before and ask them to check it with an E and low and be hold the dumb ass who entered it put an e in it. That was corrected but still annoying that people miss spell it all the time even after I tell them how to spell it.
 
Keep it ...

In the early 1900 (!), my dad immigrated from Greece and was told (!) to change his name from Nicholopulos to a more western one. I, as an older guy, wish he hadn't done that. IMHO, as one gets older, individuality and heritage have more personal significance. Think again! Keep and spell out your name with pride to honor those who preceded you.
 
themoonisdown09 said:
You could always change your last name to Obama.
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Obama is a Kenyan name (of the Luo tribe), not a middle eastern name.

And since he lives in Canada, then I'd say 'Harper' is more relevant.


/People always misspell my last name as well, even if I spell it for them as they are writing it down. And it's only 4 letters long.
 
Canadian surnames?

Try these…
Martin, Jones, Smith, Pelletier, Belanger, LeBlanc, Brown, White, Campbell or Anderson — although if your "identity" doesn't quite fit you'll end up being under suspicion again. ;)

And once they start delving deeper and find out that OMG *gasp* you have tried to hide your "real" background, well… then all bets are off.

I'd stick with what you have. Unless of course it is a real humdinger of a name — ie. Hitler or Goebbels.
 
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