Disclosure: This is a collaborative post
What’s in a name? Well, sorry to contradict Shakespeare, but your name has several implications on different areas of your life. A difficult-to-pronounce name can be highly inconvenient in the business landscape. Unfortunately, in the western world, people often struggle to pronounce any name that doesn’t sound Anglo-Saxon.
In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, people with easy-to-pronounce names are evaluated more positively than those with difficult-to-pronounce names. From securing job promotions to winning favour in political races, the right name can impact people’s judgement of you.
Are people constantly mispronouncing your name? Are you vendors often incorrectly spelling your name on cheques? Are you tired of correcting people all the time? In this post, we’re sharing certain steps you can take to save yourself from such hassles without losing your identity. Take a look.
Table of Contents
Adopt a Nickname
One of the easiest things you can do is adopt a nickname. But that being said, you don’t have to go with a completely westernised name just to make other people feel comfortable. Pick a nickname that is a simplified version of your legal name.
Consider Changing Your Name
If you are not too attached to your name and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to continue explaining it to people, you can consider changing it. You have the option to pick an entirely new name or change the spelling of your current name to make it easier to spell out.
Luckily, the process of changing your name by deed poll is not as complicated as you might think. All you have to do is fill out the appropriate application form and pay on a secure payment system. Next, your application will be processed, and you’ll receive your Deed Poll. Then you have to sign and witness your Deed Poll and duplicate copies. After that, you can notify various authorities about your name change and request updated documents (such as passport, bank cards, driving licence, etc.).
Create a Two-Fold Name
Do some people mess up your name while others pronounce it perfectly? If that’s the case, then you can start introducing yourself with a two-fold name. Just because you are residing or working in a western country doesn’t mean you have to abandon your roots. When you introduce yourself, give people the option to call you by your given name or your chosen nickname. You can rest assured that there will be people that will make an extra effort to learn and call you by your real name.
Mention Phonetic Pronunciation
Do people butcher your name even though it is short and easy to spell? In addition to clearly and slowly enunciating your name when introducing yourself, you should also add the phonetic spelling of your name in your email signature and business cards. This way, you won’t need to have an awkward conversation with your colleagues about pronouncing your name right. For example, if your name is Niamh, you can include ‘neev’ in parenthesis.
Specify Your Legal Name
It’s one thing when people mispronounce or misspell your name. But it becomes even more complicated when people are spelling your name incorrectly on cheques and other important documents. And this can be a major hindrance to your business operations. If you usually introduce yourself with a nickname, make sure you clearly state your legal name for cheque writing and other official documents.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, we urge you to take pride in your heritage. It may be exhausting to correct people all the time, but your name is a significant part of your identity and deserves to be pronounced correctly. And, of course, with a unique name, you can establish a distinct personal brand. Hopefully, the above-mentioned tips will help you navigate the business world.
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