I'll never find a glitter ruler with my name on it

Published on August 28, 2005 By Texas Wahine In Misc

I think most of you know my name.

Brandie.

B-r-a-n-d-i-e

Brandie.

Not Brandi. Or Brandy. Or Brenda (yeah, I've gotten some of THAT too).

I don't know if my name suits me. It's a weird thing to think about, but I do think about it from time to time. To me, 'Brandie' is a slut name. It's popular, but not incredibly popular, and my spelling is just rare enough that no one in the universe can spell it right.

I was supposed to be 'Brandy', but my great-grandmother told my mom that no granddaughter of hers would be named after a liquor (of course that same great-grand always called my brother Jeremy "germany", sooo...) and so my mom tweaked the spelling just enough that I'll never find a keychain or magnet or glitter ruler with my name on it.

When I think about my name, it weirds me out. It just doesn't seem to fit me at all. I mean, I answer to it alright, but it just seems...weird.

The original Batman movie has a line by the Joker..."Looks like he's been usin' Brand X..." Well, I'm "Brand E", hahha...for some reason that just sticks with me. There's "Brand X" and "Brand E".

I've run across a total of 2 Brandies in my life...both were working in customer service. That doesn't bode well, now does it?

I believe that a child's name does influence his or her life. There are certain names that just sound successful. You expect great things from these people. And there are names that sound cute. Or weak. Or happy. Or old. Or gay. Names set the tone for the life.

An employer reading resumes gets an impression from a name.

What impression do they get from "Brandie"?

Slutty? Bubbly? Unconventional (judging by spelling)?

I'm not sure.

As my four (soon to be five) year old would say, "So, what's your point"?

Dunno.

I just have a weird name is all.

Comments (Page 1)

crimson

on Aug 28, 2005

heh, Kole is always upset when she looks at the personalized pens, rulers, etc., and can't find her name there. LW's song is the first one that comes to mind as well, when I hear your name; it's a good song to sing out loud = great car tune!

dharmagrl

on Aug 28, 2005

Hehehe..Shea has the same problem. She gets called "shee-ah" all the time, and has an incredibly hard time finding personalized objects with her name on them. She says "how hard is it to say my name right?!! People don't say 'lets to go Shee-ah Stadium to watch a game', that say it right and they say 'Shay'. I don't understand why they mess up my name!"

I told her that she was lucky because I almost named her 'Nirvana' and there'd have been no end of teasing over that.

"Yeah, but people would have at least pronounced it right' she said.

She's got a point.

Manopeace

on Aug 28, 2005

You are the only Brandie I ever 'met'.... so I associate it with a sweet, loving person.

Ionolast

on Aug 28, 2005

Samantha's sister, and I have to point out that her name was Serena, not Sabrina.

Serena was Samantha's cousin.

Zoologist03

on Aug 28, 2005

I've got the least popular spelling of my name...Shaun. Not Shawn or the strange Sean....guess what...I have no personalized things at all...and the number of times I have to correct people.....ugh...I feel your pain.

~Zoo

lifehappens

on Aug 28, 2005

Now aren't you glad your name isn't Jamaicqui? *I kid you not-my neighbor's kid....*

Anyway, my name is Dana. and until Dana Scully on the X-Files, everyone thought it was a boy's name. sigh. at least times have changed.......I

alison watkins

on Aug 28, 2005

I hear ya on the whole spelling name issue. The most popular way to spell Alison is with two "L's". Some also like to add a "Y" in place of the "I". I was spelled with one "L" because that's the way Clint Eastwood spelled his daughter's name (my mom is a huge fan--hence why I was named after his daughter--LAME). Anyways, embrace the oddity of your spelling, reguardless of any key chain, glitter ruler, or shot glass. It makes you unique!

TasT

on Aug 28, 2005

I also have a weird name with a weird spelling. Teryl, no there's not 2 L's or 2 R's or a l before the Y like the rest of the world. Yes I hated it for a long time but eventually you get used to people assuming that your a black man and spelling your name wrong and just have fun with them and enjoy it.

Oh, and by the way I've never seen anything mass produced with my name on it and I figure I never will!

Shovelheat

on Aug 28, 2005

How 'bout the wondefully imaginative and attention getting name of mine?

JOE

that's it... just Joe! How boring is that?

Dr Guy

on Aug 28, 2005

How 'bout the wondefully imaginative and attention getting name of mine?

JOE

that's it... just Joe! How boring is that?

George, George, George of the Jungle!

Toblerone

on Aug 28, 2005

My name is Kenrick. People keep putting a "d" into my name. I HATE that! Plus they can't seem to remember it so they call me Kenneth, Hendrick, Henry, Kendrick, Kevin or any variety of names that aren't Kenrick. So I tell people to call me Kenny, which I think suits me better anyway but then of course then I get people who say "Oh my god they killed Kenny" which is getting REALLY old. I hate being called Ken (unless I'm being called that by a hot girl, in which case I don't care!), Ken is an anatomically incorrect doll....I'm fully equipped.

Brandie is only a slut name when it is spelt Brandi, because as we all know that is porn star spelling otherwise I don't think of it like that. I do think of it as a hot girl's name though and you aren't doing anything to break that association.

Texas Wahine

on Aug 28, 2005

little whip:

Try growing up with "Sabrina." Even worse, if you add my middle name, it's "Sabrina Gaye."

Hahahhaa...at least your name isn't "Gaylord Focker", hehe.

Imagine how many times I've been asked..."Oh, are you a witch?" as if that's the most original thing in the world.

My standard answer to that is, "I've been called worse." (wink wink)

Hehe...in Junior High I knew a girl named Sabrina. Believe it or not, she had red hair, too. It was a glossy copper color and she wore in curly rings down to her shoulders. She was very confident and glamorous compared to the rest of us JR High freaks, and ever since I've associated the name Sabrina with being very put together.

I think it's a beautiful name. Something about the way the sounds in it go together. I wouldn't hesitate to name a daughter of mine Sabrina (although if I ever have one, my first choice is Isabella).

Then it dawns on them...doH!

Hahahhahahha...well, and there was the TV show with Melissa Joan Hart (I think that's her name). But she's never really seemed like a Sabrina to me. Sabrinas and blonde hair don't go together.

I don't think it's slutty or anything, lol

Hahaha...thanks. Well, and it's also a common dog name. I have neighbors with a dog named Brandy and I can think of two cartoons with dog Brandys as well. Ugh.

In case you've never heard it, (and you wouldnt unless you listen to oldies stations) here it is...

I've never heard it. Thanks. I like that a lot. I'll have to see if I can get a hold of it somewhere (limewire?).

Nicky:

heh, Kole is always upset when she looks at the personalized pens, rulers, etc., and can't find her name there.

Kole is an adorable name. To me, Kole is cuddly and spunky. Bummer about the personalized stuff, though. Those treats are reserved for the Joshs, Amandas, Jennifers, and Michaels of the world.

LW's song is the first one that comes to mind as well, when I hear your name; it's a good song to sing out loud = great car tune!

I can't believe I've never heard it!

She gets called "shee-ah" all the time, and has an incredibly hard time finding personalized objects with her name on them. She says "how hard is it to say my name right?!! People don't say 'lets to go Shee-ah Stadium to watch a game', that say it right and they say 'Shay'. I don't understand why they mess up my name!"

Yeah, I don't get it, either. It's not a completely unheard of name...I'm not sure how people could mess that up. But they will.

My poor little Orian will have a hard time with his name. 99% of the people who see his name on paper will get it wrong. Which may be my fault. I mean, I gave him a weird spelling, but his name fits him so well.

His Kindergarten teacher surprised the hell out of me by getting it right at orientation. "Orian rhymes with Dorian, right?" Yep, yep. Wow. Hahhaa....she got it right. His name is Or-E-an.

I told her that she was lucky because I almost named her 'Nirvana' and there'd have been no end of teasing over that.

You'd be surprised how many kids now have no clue who Nirvana or Kurt Cobain was. Very sad. Of course they don't know what nirvana means, either.

"Yeah, but people would have at least pronounced it right' she said.

She's got a point.

Bwahahahahhahaa...sharp kid.

Manopeace:

You are the only Brandie I ever 'met'.... so I associate it with a sweet, loving person.

Thank you for such a kind comment!

Zoo:

I've got the least popular spelling of my name...Shaun.

Most of the Shauns I've known have been spelled that way. Maybe you need to move to Texas, hehe.

I have no personalized things at all...and the number of times I have to correct people.....ugh...I feel your pain

Hahahha...well, at least we have easily pronounced names, even if no one ever spells them right.

life:

Now aren't you glad your name isn't Jamaicqui? *I kid you not-my neighbor's kid....*

Wow. That's quite a name. I worry about parents giving their children names that are so stereotypically ethnic because it may make it harder for them to get jobs and scholarships and such. Not fair, but it does happen.

Then again, if it's a name they love and it suits their kid, who am I to judge. I mean, I've got an Orian and an Xavier.

Anyway, my name is Dana. and until Dana Scully on the X-Files, everyone thought it was a boy's name. sigh. at least times have changed.......I

That's funny because I've known of a couple of male Danas and I always thought they had girls names.

And hey, being associated with Danny Scully is kick ass.

alison:

I was spelled with one "L" because that's the way Clint Eastwood spelled his daughter's name (my mom is a huge fan--hence why I was named after his daughter--LAME)

I think that's totally cute, haha. It could be worse. My mom wanted to name my brother Quincy from some show she watched.

Anyways, embrace the oddity of your spelling, reguardless of any key chain, glitter ruler, or shot glass. It makes you unique!

Good way to look at it. To be honest, even though I think Brandie is a weird name to have, I think my spelling suits me better than the other spellings would.

And I would have spelled your name just as it is. To me a-l-i-s-o-n is the correct spelling.

TasT:

I also have a weird name with a weird spelling. Teryl, no there's not 2 L's or 2 R's or a l before the Y like the rest of the world.

When I think Teryl, I think pterodactyl. Hahhaa. So sorry.

Yes I hated it for a long time but eventually you get used to people assuming that your a black man and spelling your name wrong and just have fun with them and enjoy it.

I guess you're right. That is one of the names that is perceived to be a modern ethnic name. But I like that your name is so unique. It's a name for you and only you, and that makes it special. If that makes any sense.

Shovelheat:

How 'bout the wondefully imaginative and attention getting name of mine?

JOE

that's it... just Joe! How boring is that?

Hahhahaa...average Joe, eh? Is it short for anything or is just Joe? Do you think it suits you? I'm not sure, because I always think of you as Shovelheat, hahaha.

I have a cousin named Jay R. He's not a Junior. Just Jay R. He as going to be JR, but some folks convinced my aunt that he would have problems with military service or some such if she named him JR. I always called him Bubba, hahaha.

Toblerone:

Mine name is Kenrick.

That's a very cool name.

People keep putting a "d" into my name. I HATE that! Plus they can't seem to remember it so they call me Kenneth, Hendrick, Henry, Kendrick, Kevin or any variety of names that aren't Kenrick.

I feel your pain. Brenda and Randy are my top two "not Brandies".

So I tell people to call me Kenny, which I think suits me better anyway but then of course then I get people who say "Oh my god they killed Kenny" which is getting REALLY old

How can that POSSIBLY get old? Hahahhaa...I love it! It's awesome.

I hate being called Ken (unless I'm being called that by a hot girl, in which case I don't care!), Ken is an anatomically incorrect doll....I'm fully equipped.

Bwahahahhaa...I never thought about it that way. To me, Ken is a tall, skinny old dude. I don't know why.

Brandie is only a slut name when it is spelt Brandi, because as we all know that is porn star spelling otherwise I don't think of it like that

Hehe, so there are porn star spellings and normal spellings? Hahhahaa.

I do think of it as a hot girl's name though and you aren't doing anything to break that association.

Aw, shucks.

little whip:

So if she didn't have the 'e' on the end you'd think her a slut?

I think he's just being silly.

I'm not sure why I think of Brandy as a slutty name, although it might have something to do with the fact that all the Brandys I knew were sluts and one of them went by the nickname "three finger Brandy". Blech.

Some of us don't watch porn, and wouldn't know a porn queen if she offered us head.

Yeah, but we WOULD know she was a slut if she offered us head, hehe.

Oh, and...bring on the glitter ruler!!

Locamama

on Aug 28, 2005

I think Brandie is a cute name. I do think names have a lot to do with people's perceptions of us. They just did a study that showed that people rated people's pictures as more or less attractive differently when they had a name with them than the photo by itself. Weird huh?

I am Amy. I always liked my name but it's definatley not original. I think its easier for girls to live with funky names than boys. My boys are Brendan, Bret and Brody. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking but it all made sense at the time.

One of my good friends named her son Dreaux - I'm like why don't you just name him Drew. He's going to have to go through his whole life with everyone trying to call him Drux and he'll have to correct them. So I made him some shirts when he was a baby - One said "My name is Dreaux - How do you do?" get it like the boy named sue and I made another one that said Dreaux - it rhymes with shoe. Ha ha. She thought they were hilarious.

new-age nomad

on Aug 28, 2005

Mine name is Kenrick. People keep putting a "d" into my name. I HATE that

That would make it "Kenrid" which is like "Kendrid" and I love that. YOu just gave me an idea for a name of the character in the book I will never write. THanks!

Brandie (with an IE as in "Trinitie"

), Your article reminded me of a passage in the introduction of a book I'm reading called "Stumbling Toward Faith" (which I strongly recommend you should read, not because I'm witnessing, but because the depth of Renee Altsons poetry touched me with it's brutal honesty toward modern day Christianity). Here's what she says (Renee is not her birth name, she left it in the past):

"my birth name always felt alien to me. it was difficult to pronounce, difficult to spell, and I was named after someone I never really wanted to be."

I think there's so much meaning a name, and changing it or disliking it is a crime, because no matter how little or how much thought a parent puts into it, there's always a story behind it, and there's always a reason that we are Tom, Dick, or Harry.

As for me, I adore my name. In "Anne of Green Gables" she introduces herself as "Anne with an E". Her adopted mom inquires as to why the "E" is important, and she replies that "Ann with not E is simply not as beautiful". I've always felt that my name set me apart. I've met a gazillion "Trinity's" but never a "Trinitie".

Anywho, you just struck a chord with me in this article....sorry I wrote so much

Trinitie Tiearra Garrison

Spc Nobody Special

on Aug 28, 2005

all the Brandys I knew were sluts and one of them went by the nickname "three finger Brandy".

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

I think it's fine, unless you sign it with a little heart above the letter i.

And if you do draw the little heart and put a smiley face in it, I'm going to Walmart to buy a Mossburg 12-guage and end it all out of sheer exasperation at the lack of human dignity. Goodbye cruel world. Say it ain't so, Joe.

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