On the day of my birth, I was to be: Melissa. The hospital had another thing coming, as five other Melissas were in the birth sanctuary that May 9. FIVE. So, my parents grabbed one of those baby name books, scanned the M’s, and came up with Melinda.
Melinda. It is Greek for “Love Song.” I am neither Greek or a love song, but my favorite is “I’m All Out of Love” so guess that sums up a big life story for y’all.
For those that didn’t know “Mel” was short for Melinda… well, now you know, dufus.
Growing up, everyone called me Mindy. Taking charge of my favored Biggest Individual status during high school (which means annoying, not fat), I changed the spelling to Myndee. (*sing-songy* l’m Myndee with the double E… *clap* *round-off-back-handspring-back-tuck* From Jun-ior. Varsity.) Yep. I sure did individual cheer competitions during summer camps. Lame-o.
But oh did I swoon the day when Brett Borovic called me Melinda in ninth grade. The day, I’m pretty sure was the last day of junior high (you know, Mentor High School = 9th grade still not high school). Well, Brett (massive crush attack… I think he was in my Home Ec class?) finally acknowledged my being. Last day of school. I’m pretty sure I died my hair black and gave him a blow pop all to make him like me… before snapping an infamous pic of the event, and getting on the bus ride home for the summer. *sigh*
Where the hell was I…
As I matured from high school cheerleader to college cheerleader (yes, really), I forced my friends to make the switch to calling me Melinda. (HSS still utilized Mindy, but he was sacred). My Nana was really the only person to use my full name, outside of my mother being all pissed non-stop and all “Melinda Christine” when she needed something.
Then in my young 20s - all sexed-up, discovering what bisexuality had in store for experimenters and attempting to become… I don’t know, more manly? I was all about looking for tail on dating websites and Yahoo! groups, and I made the androgynous name switch to Mel.
Most people are solid on calling me Melinda these days (old Friends and coworkers) or Mel (boyfriend and everyone else in the land). My dad still calls me Minnie. And when I run into HSS & friends (who know us while we were dating), they still call me Mindy. ‘Tis weird to hear.
It’s like why strippers use stage names - when someone yells out your name somewhere, you know how you know them.
Like upon hearing Loretta. Or Juliette. Two of my favorite alter-bar-egos.
Have you ever changed your name? Nicknames? Have a fake name for strangers? Make up a cheer to include your name because you are that damn narcissistic?
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November 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I was to be named “Cassandra” but my mom didn’t want people to call me Cassie - which sounds like Lassie the dog. I was “Baby Hudak” until the last day when the Dr. “made” my mom name me, and she did Vanessa - which I love by the way and means “butterfly” in Greek, which I am not either, but my ex was so I guess I have a little Greek in me (chuckle chuckle). My grandma insisted it was a “black” name. And I had no idea what that meant until I lost my umbrella in kindergarten and some lady held onto it for months because she thought it was “some little black girl’s from the bus!” AGH!!! All my life, no stickers, no keychains - they went from Valerie to Wendy. In 9th grade my friend Jennifer changed her name to Jenni with a heart over the “i” so I because Vanna for a VERY short period of time, ugh! But I love my name now, not many people have it and I think it’s sexy and original, and now that I see stickers and keychains with it I get a little miffed because I miss when no one had my name. I have met other Vanessas, and when they’re plain Janes or even just blonde, I think to myself “you are so not worthy of my name.” LOL!!! I guess like you I have been reading into my name my whole life, then again I read into everything. And by the way - I love the name Melinda and you are the only one I have ever met
XXOO
November 13th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I meant became Vanna, oopppppsss!
November 18th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
i was always a full-blown rachael until college. i used to hate being called “rach” my my playmates’ parents as a kid, but for some reason it sounded different at the age of 18. it was like i had a band of friends who were only close enough with me to call me that.
my most recent ex-bf called me nothing but. i don’t think he ever called me rachael once, not even when he scolded me while arguing. now that i’m dating someone new, it almost hurts to have him call me rachael. i’m like, “you are my damn boyfriend! you are in the ‘rach’ circle!” it’s just strange. maybe it will come around…