What's a Real Name, Anyway?
Frequently when I meet new people I say, "Hello, people call me Ichabod." I say this because, well, people do. I also suppose that on some level, I prefer Ichabod to Craig. Not that I dislike either one. They were both given to me by people I care about, and they both describe me truthfully.
However, that is not the point. When I introduce myself in the above fashion, I often get the same response: "Wow, is that your real name?" This question has always confused me.
It is not that I do not understand the semantic content of the inquiry. Obviously, the questioner wants to know if that is the name my parents gave me when I was born. But why call it a "real" name?
Is a name real if it is used by people to refer to you? Then both Craig and Ichabod are real names. My family still calls me Craig, and I could never imagine Mom saying "Happy birthday, Ichabod." Most of my friends and coworkers call me Ichabod, although some call me Craig.
Is a name real if it truly describes you? Then both Craig and Ichabod are real names. Craig means "man from the hills." I was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and land of beautiful rolling hills. Growing up in Charlottesville you cannot go anywhere there aren't hills. One of the first things I said when I went to college in Rochester, New York was "Where are the hills?" Ichabod, at least the Ichabod I think they meant, refers to Ichabod Crane, from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod was a tall skinny school teacher. I'm tall and skinny, and if higher education in America had any interest in producing teachers, that's what I would be doing right now. Ichabod is a Hebrew name, the translations of which I have seen are "Disrespect" and "No Glory." The latter is the one referenced in the biblical story of Ichabod, and I think it describes me well. Perhaps disrespect does too, but that is a judgement I leave to others.
Reality is an illusion, and so are my names. But sometimes, an illusion is fun.
Last Modified 9/12/99
Created 5/5/98