I’m undecided – a name is your identity, and the single purest connection you have with the rest of the world. The power of a name goes far beyond identifying a human – what do you think of the name David? how about Rebbecca? or Mark? Chances are you will like or dislike the name and your opinion will most likely directly correlate with how you feel about the person who springs to mind. Think of the name of the person closest to you and the emotion and connotations it possess, now imagine suddenly having to know them by another name? Certainly doesn’t feel natural. Do you influence your name or is it the other way around? The issue goes a lot deeper when given thought.
I was born as James, it is the name on my birth certificate and any other important documents, yet I’m known by everyone I met up till university as Tony – at which point I decided to go by my official name. I’m a man of the night, like nothing better than jumping in the car after midnight and seeing where the road takes me – he who goes by two names does not function too well in the instance where the law is concerned….
