I liked you story. While it us a delicate situation, I was confronted early on with some upsetting behaviours. Not wanting to be disrespectful to my family, I assumed something had happened each christmas to cause such a negative response to me doing chrismmisy things such as making decorations, christmas cards, cakes and decorations. Some years later I found out that my mothers mum died at christmas. I thought to myself " I am glad I thought of that scenario." I saved myself years of heart ache by looking philosophically at a confrontation, as a youngster, I refused to wear and accept what I was told. Instead, I enjoyed my family life, activities and parents immensely.
As I was reading your story Skye, I thought to myself, she should have said my name is Tamy with a y and one m.
Isn't it funny how we think about serious matters the way we do?
Thank you for reading and for your share, Anne. I find it interesting how the mind meanders about! My practice is to watch my mind, know my mind, and tame my mind.
In 2005 I legally changed my name. I was born Judith and I flinched every time I heard it. it was the name on the lips of my mother before she hit me or ridiculed me. It was the name on the lips of my father before he seduced me. I startled, even when the people who loved me said that name. I wanted to have a Native American name that meant something. But I’m a white woman and I couldn’t culturally appropriate something that didn’t belong to me. In the end I chose Rachel Simone Petra Victorianna. I chose it because each name meant something that I wanted to be. Rachel means little lamb and I wanted to be gentle like that. Simone means hears and obeys and I wanted to hear the voice of God and have the wherewithal to do what he said. Petra means founded on a rock and I wanted that kind of strength. Victorianna means victorious with grace, and that is how I wanted to end my life. I wanted to come out from all the pain and suffering of my childhood and raise my head in victory and in humility.
I am all for changing someone’s name, I am all for getting a name that one can grow into. Thank you for your lovely note. I hadn’t thought about my name change in a very long time. XOXOXO.
What a powerful share , Rachel. Thank you for reading and reflecting your experience back to me. It takes courage to reclaim ourselves and your precious name change is proof of your courageous path.
I must say, your post really resonates deep with me. I have been trying to pick a last name for a few weeks now. I’ve written so many down and crossed them out.. over and over. That itself has become overwhelming for me. And yet I know, this must be done. I’m trying to get out of a 20 year abusive marriage. I can’t be tied to that last name anymore. The problem is, I want to break free from all of my abusers. I can’t be tied to my childhood last name either. I need a last name that’s all my own and represents me, so I can be free. Struggling to even choose my own name after all these years of having choices made for me.. It is a little defeating.. well, it’s very defeating actually. I don’t know who I even am anymore. I want nothing more than to find a name that I can live with and feel truly connected to. I have to continue to move on. I can’t believe how abuse destroys you from the inside out, causing you to rebuild everything you once knew.
Although I feel broken and lost in this moment of my life, not just my marriage, but so many trials and tribulations compiling at once right now, my eating disorder is at its worse in 28 years. To be honest, I think my life is deteriorating slowly, but I am still here. Trying.
If anybody has a last name that they think might fit someone like me, please, please share, I am open to any and all quirky weird unique or otherwise. I think very little of myself, have forgotten so much of myself but there are some things I wouldn’t let them take from me. This is that list.
I love nature, with a strong connection to trees and roots.. impermanence. I have a strong connection to jellyfish and elephants..and a connection through the eyes, to the soul of all animals, as well as people.
I am: (thank you Claudia, my gift and Psychotherapist) her list is a little longer to be honest.. but I have a hard time believing/accepting
Resilient
Strong
Perseverant
Kind
Selfless
Unique
These are things deep down, I think I am. No, I know I am, or I probably wouldn’t be here to be honest.
I appreciate you so much Skye~ you’ve given me a reason to try again.
Dear Rhiannon, thank you for your open-hearted share and for connecting to the piece I wrote ✨🙏🦋.
It seems you are in a moment of awakening from the slumber, removing the veil from your eyes, and ready to step into the truth of your being. Waking up is not easy or comfortable, and yet, you are one of the lucky ones. You get to awaken in this lifetime. Awaken beyond your egoic self , to the infinite consciousness that you are.
If I may offer a little reflection : I meditated on your name change and felt your new name to be in Sanskrit. Not only will the name carry a powerful energy but it will also be written in the delicate, ancient letters in Sanskrit, offering you to imprint them in jewelry or tatoo form, as a reminder to live INTO that name. I feel a water element for you : FLOW LIKE WATER. How does that feel?
Here I’m sending you several names that I meditated on, and trust that whether you find your name here, or in a dream, it will come to you in divine timing. Hope this is not too overwhelming. My offering is for you to sit and meditate on each name for a few minutes and feel where they show up in your body, do they feel warm or cool, do they feel safe for you, and are they bathing your whole being in love. 💖 You’ll know when you know. Don’t rush it. Enjoy the process, Rhiannon, FLOW LIKE WATER.
In deep gratitude, in love, Tamy Skye✨🙏🪬
Names Meaning "Flow Like Water"
Jala (जल) – Water, symbolizing flow and adaptability.
Nira (नीर) – Pure water or liquid.
Taranga (तरंग) – Waves, symbolizing movement and flow.
Srotas (स्रोतस्) – Stream or current, representing flowing energy.
Sindhu (सिन्धु) – Ocean or river, embodying vastness and fluidity.
Names Meaning "I Am"
Asmi (अस्मि) – Directly translates to "I am."
Aham (अहम्) – Means "I" or "self," representing self-awareness or consciousness.
Names Meaning "Strength"
Veera (वीर) – Brave, strong, or heroic.
Bala (बल) – Strength or power.
Shakti (शक्ति) – Power, energy, or divine feminine strength.
Dhairya (धैर्य) – Courage, patience, or fortitude.
Tejas (तेजस्) – Radiant strength or brilliance.
Names Meaning "Kind" or "Compassionate"
Dayaa (दया) – Compassion, kindness.
Karuna (करुणा) – Compassion or mercy.
Anukampa (अनुकम्पा) – Empathy, kindness, or tender-heartedness.
Names Meaning "Selfless"
Nishkaam (निष्काम) – Selfless, free of desire or attachment.
Altruya (अल्त्रुया) – Rooted in altruism and selflessness. (Less common but inspired by selfless qualities.)
Tyaga (त्याग) – Renunciation, sacrifice, or selflessness.
Names Meaning "Unique"
Ananya (अनन्या) – Unique, unparalleled, without comparison.
Ekanta (एकान्त) – Singular, unique, or focused.
Aditi (अदिति) – Boundless, unique, or free from limitations.
Wow, Tamy Skye. The amount of time that you just took for me, is such a gift to me. You might not believe this, but right before I came in to read your reply, I was looking up synonyms for river. That must be a sign. I plan to do exactly what you suggested, and meditate on each and every one of these. Wow.. really, I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness. You are a beautiful, selfless person. I appreciate you.🙏🏼
Yes, this is true ... *I* can choose a name ... I was born just before sunrise, so the name Dawn always seemed to fit me. In the 1970's I studied with a guru at Kripalu (now in Lenox, MA), became his disciple and received the name "Devaprahba." Then several years ago, I completed Padmasambhava Initiation from the amazing James Low, a master Tibetan teacher, and received the name: Pema Rangdrol. So I have a few to choose from!
And I love your name Skye -- my current teacher tells us to look at the blue sky as "what is" and the clouds/stars/moon as what is passing thru the what is. And this may sound way less important, but my daughter is in her 40s now, and had pets her whole life and a deep connection with a GSD named Lariat, and then had no dog at all for 20 years, and recently, with a lot of excitement and a huge change to her life, added a white golden retriever, a little girl (a grand puppy for me!) to her life -- and you've already guessed her name. Skye of course.
Dawn, thank you for reading and offering your beautiful reflection. How fortunate you are to be given a name by your teacher. I would love that, and trust it will happen in due time. Love to hear of your daughter’s path and loving pet-beings in her life. 🙏💫🥰
Thank you so much for sharing that article with me, Skye! It was such a joy to read your story, seriously, I had all the feels.
Funnily enough… I also named myself Skye. Yep, it’s actually on my birth certificate, but it’s been chilling in third-name territory all this time, totally under the radar. My family’s always called me by my first name and let’s just say that name comes with baggage. School trauma, relationship drama, identity wobbliness… the works. It started to feel more like a label that weighed me down than something I could grow into.
So, in university, I took the leap. No big announcements, no dramatic reinvention, just one day I decided to go by Skye… and it clicked. Instantly. No awkward adjustment phase, no second-guessing. It felt like slipping into my real skin for the first time.
Since then, it’s stuck. My varsity crew, my colleagues, my soon-to-be husband (eek!), his family, and our friends, they all know me as Skye. The only holdouts are some family members, but even they’re starting to make the shift. Slowly but surely, my chosen name is becoming my known name.
Wild how something as simple as a name can feel like home, right?
It is making me see how important is for us to have permission slips. I was thinking to wear a crystal I love as a reminder of a realization I experienced.
This was a great read. I have been giving diferent names on my coffee order for as long as I can remember especially during residency days when all of us would go and get that caffeine hit in the morning. Mine was more for fun and I never thought of the why. But interesting exercise to intentionally ponder what my name means to me and what an alias would mean equally if I were to have one. Thanks Tamy - your writing makes me think :)
I love this so much, I feel soul grateful that this article found me!
My chosen, Spirit-given name, is Klairity.
Stepping into a new name, a new identity, has been a journey of becoming. One that is still unfolding and being discovered. I am inspired by you sharing your story, I want to formulate mine! I have held some embarrassment around publicly sharing that I have chosen my name & the why, and I am ready to release that.
It’s funny… my birth name was always spelled wrong as well, and it used to really bother me. My new name also gets spelled wrong (like the word clarity, and without the second i), but I don’t mind so much now ☺️
Thank you Skye for sharing your story, and for embodying your soul’s essence with such intention. 🤍
How wonderful that you got to step into your new name on your journey of becoming. I’m looking forward to reading your story. Thank you for reading mine and reflecting back. 🥰✨
I love everything about this post! Even though I'm at peace with my name now, it was a struggle to get to this point. My friends had usual names while mine was pronounced like the fruit cherry. Why couldn't it have been beautiful French sounding like the Mon Cheri chocolate? Or even Sheree or Shari? It wasn't until I moved to Japan, the land of the cherry blossoms, when I learned to appreciate my name. A name most definitely carries a vibration. And this is true of our animals. One of the most famous animal stories is of Diablo (you can listen to his story on YouTube). It's really amazing!
'Open, vast, and expansive sky'. Wow, we have very similar minds Skye, perhaps we have similar journeys. This is the reason I named myself Sky also. Sending Metta ❤️
Skye is a lovely name, and from what I've read from you, it fits you.
Ten years ago, I named myself Daniel (and later I chose Daan for my pseudonym), because the name my parents gave me didn't fit me at all. I've always hated it.
Thanks for reading and reflecting, Daan. So cool that you , too, chose a name that felt good for you. I was very attached to using Skye years ago when it came to me. Now I’m more lax, I don’t mind Tamy or Skye. Interesting to see how we go through phases in life when something seems so important at the time and then later on, shifts.🙂✨
Hi Rhianna,
It sounds as if your going through a torrid time.
If you need to talk to somebody, I am a coach/ counselor. I might be able to help you choose what name you might find more aporopriate.
I live in Sydney Australia.
My phone number is 61+ 0405282524
Email : annemiller0301@gmail.com
Your not on your own in your life or deciding what name you want to call yourself.
I liked you story. While it us a delicate situation, I was confronted early on with some upsetting behaviours. Not wanting to be disrespectful to my family, I assumed something had happened each christmas to cause such a negative response to me doing chrismmisy things such as making decorations, christmas cards, cakes and decorations. Some years later I found out that my mothers mum died at christmas. I thought to myself " I am glad I thought of that scenario." I saved myself years of heart ache by looking philosophically at a confrontation, as a youngster, I refused to wear and accept what I was told. Instead, I enjoyed my family life, activities and parents immensely.
As I was reading your story Skye, I thought to myself, she should have said my name is Tamy with a y and one m.
Isn't it funny how we think about serious matters the way we do?
Thank you for reading and for your share, Anne. I find it interesting how the mind meanders about! My practice is to watch my mind, know my mind, and tame my mind.
In 2005 I legally changed my name. I was born Judith and I flinched every time I heard it. it was the name on the lips of my mother before she hit me or ridiculed me. It was the name on the lips of my father before he seduced me. I startled, even when the people who loved me said that name. I wanted to have a Native American name that meant something. But I’m a white woman and I couldn’t culturally appropriate something that didn’t belong to me. In the end I chose Rachel Simone Petra Victorianna. I chose it because each name meant something that I wanted to be. Rachel means little lamb and I wanted to be gentle like that. Simone means hears and obeys and I wanted to hear the voice of God and have the wherewithal to do what he said. Petra means founded on a rock and I wanted that kind of strength. Victorianna means victorious with grace, and that is how I wanted to end my life. I wanted to come out from all the pain and suffering of my childhood and raise my head in victory and in humility.
I am all for changing someone’s name, I am all for getting a name that one can grow into. Thank you for your lovely note. I hadn’t thought about my name change in a very long time. XOXOXO.
What a powerful share , Rachel. Thank you for reading and reflecting your experience back to me. It takes courage to reclaim ourselves and your precious name change is proof of your courageous path.
Rachel, Simone Petra Victorianna ,
May you be happy
May you be safe
May you be healthy
May you live with ease
🙏💗🕉️
I appreciate you!
I loved your article Rachel. It is really powerful and a wonderful way to build your own scenario from a rough beginning. Congratulations.
Dearest Skye, thank you.
I must say, your post really resonates deep with me. I have been trying to pick a last name for a few weeks now. I’ve written so many down and crossed them out.. over and over. That itself has become overwhelming for me. And yet I know, this must be done. I’m trying to get out of a 20 year abusive marriage. I can’t be tied to that last name anymore. The problem is, I want to break free from all of my abusers. I can’t be tied to my childhood last name either. I need a last name that’s all my own and represents me, so I can be free. Struggling to even choose my own name after all these years of having choices made for me.. It is a little defeating.. well, it’s very defeating actually. I don’t know who I even am anymore. I want nothing more than to find a name that I can live with and feel truly connected to. I have to continue to move on. I can’t believe how abuse destroys you from the inside out, causing you to rebuild everything you once knew.
Although I feel broken and lost in this moment of my life, not just my marriage, but so many trials and tribulations compiling at once right now, my eating disorder is at its worse in 28 years. To be honest, I think my life is deteriorating slowly, but I am still here. Trying.
If anybody has a last name that they think might fit someone like me, please, please share, I am open to any and all quirky weird unique or otherwise. I think very little of myself, have forgotten so much of myself but there are some things I wouldn’t let them take from me. This is that list.
I love nature, with a strong connection to trees and roots.. impermanence. I have a strong connection to jellyfish and elephants..and a connection through the eyes, to the soul of all animals, as well as people.
I am: (thank you Claudia, my gift and Psychotherapist) her list is a little longer to be honest.. but I have a hard time believing/accepting
Resilient
Strong
Perseverant
Kind
Selfless
Unique
These are things deep down, I think I am. No, I know I am, or I probably wouldn’t be here to be honest.
I appreciate you so much Skye~ you’ve given me a reason to try again.
Dear Rhiannon, thank you for your open-hearted share and for connecting to the piece I wrote ✨🙏🦋.
It seems you are in a moment of awakening from the slumber, removing the veil from your eyes, and ready to step into the truth of your being. Waking up is not easy or comfortable, and yet, you are one of the lucky ones. You get to awaken in this lifetime. Awaken beyond your egoic self , to the infinite consciousness that you are.
If I may offer a little reflection : I meditated on your name change and felt your new name to be in Sanskrit. Not only will the name carry a powerful energy but it will also be written in the delicate, ancient letters in Sanskrit, offering you to imprint them in jewelry or tatoo form, as a reminder to live INTO that name. I feel a water element for you : FLOW LIKE WATER. How does that feel?
Here I’m sending you several names that I meditated on, and trust that whether you find your name here, or in a dream, it will come to you in divine timing. Hope this is not too overwhelming. My offering is for you to sit and meditate on each name for a few minutes and feel where they show up in your body, do they feel warm or cool, do they feel safe for you, and are they bathing your whole being in love. 💖 You’ll know when you know. Don’t rush it. Enjoy the process, Rhiannon, FLOW LIKE WATER.
In deep gratitude, in love, Tamy Skye✨🙏🪬
Names Meaning "Flow Like Water"
Jala (जल) – Water, symbolizing flow and adaptability.
Nira (नीर) – Pure water or liquid.
Taranga (तरंग) – Waves, symbolizing movement and flow.
Srotas (स्रोतस्) – Stream or current, representing flowing energy.
Sindhu (सिन्धु) – Ocean or river, embodying vastness and fluidity.
Names Meaning "I Am"
Asmi (अस्मि) – Directly translates to "I am."
Aham (अहम्) – Means "I" or "self," representing self-awareness or consciousness.
Names Meaning "Strength"
Veera (वीर) – Brave, strong, or heroic.
Bala (बल) – Strength or power.
Shakti (शक्ति) – Power, energy, or divine feminine strength.
Dhairya (धैर्य) – Courage, patience, or fortitude.
Tejas (तेजस्) – Radiant strength or brilliance.
Names Meaning "Kind" or "Compassionate"
Dayaa (दया) – Compassion, kindness.
Karuna (करुणा) – Compassion or mercy.
Anukampa (अनुकम्पा) – Empathy, kindness, or tender-heartedness.
Names Meaning "Selfless"
Nishkaam (निष्काम) – Selfless, free of desire or attachment.
Altruya (अल्त्रुया) – Rooted in altruism and selflessness. (Less common but inspired by selfless qualities.)
Tyaga (त्याग) – Renunciation, sacrifice, or selflessness.
Names Meaning "Unique"
Ananya (अनन्या) – Unique, unparalleled, without comparison.
Ekanta (एकान्त) – Singular, unique, or focused.
Aditi (अदिति) – Boundless, unique, or free from limitations.
Names Meaning "Eternal"
Sanatana (सनातन) – Eternal, everlasting, timeless.
Nitya (नित्य) – Eternal, constant, or perpetual.
Akshaya (अक्षय) – Undecaying, imperishable, or eternal.
Wow, Tamy Skye. The amount of time that you just took for me, is such a gift to me. You might not believe this, but right before I came in to read your reply, I was looking up synonyms for river. That must be a sign. I plan to do exactly what you suggested, and meditate on each and every one of these. Wow.. really, I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness. You are a beautiful, selfless person. I appreciate you.🙏🏼
🙏✨🪬I believe you, Rhiannon. I believe IN you. Enjoy the process. And thank you for your kind words.
Yes, this is true ... *I* can choose a name ... I was born just before sunrise, so the name Dawn always seemed to fit me. In the 1970's I studied with a guru at Kripalu (now in Lenox, MA), became his disciple and received the name "Devaprahba." Then several years ago, I completed Padmasambhava Initiation from the amazing James Low, a master Tibetan teacher, and received the name: Pema Rangdrol. So I have a few to choose from!
And I love your name Skye -- my current teacher tells us to look at the blue sky as "what is" and the clouds/stars/moon as what is passing thru the what is. And this may sound way less important, but my daughter is in her 40s now, and had pets her whole life and a deep connection with a GSD named Lariat, and then had no dog at all for 20 years, and recently, with a lot of excitement and a huge change to her life, added a white golden retriever, a little girl (a grand puppy for me!) to her life -- and you've already guessed her name. Skye of course.
Dawn, thank you for reading and offering your beautiful reflection. How fortunate you are to be given a name by your teacher. I would love that, and trust it will happen in due time. Love to hear of your daughter’s path and loving pet-beings in her life. 🙏💫🥰
Love all your sharing and your journey with Sky plus e for earth SKYE!
Thank you for reading and engaging, Alicia🌻🌹🌺
Thank you so much for sharing that article with me, Skye! It was such a joy to read your story, seriously, I had all the feels.
Funnily enough… I also named myself Skye. Yep, it’s actually on my birth certificate, but it’s been chilling in third-name territory all this time, totally under the radar. My family’s always called me by my first name and let’s just say that name comes with baggage. School trauma, relationship drama, identity wobbliness… the works. It started to feel more like a label that weighed me down than something I could grow into.
So, in university, I took the leap. No big announcements, no dramatic reinvention, just one day I decided to go by Skye… and it clicked. Instantly. No awkward adjustment phase, no second-guessing. It felt like slipping into my real skin for the first time.
Since then, it’s stuck. My varsity crew, my colleagues, my soon-to-be husband (eek!), his family, and our friends, they all know me as Skye. The only holdouts are some family members, but even they’re starting to make the shift. Slowly but surely, my chosen name is becoming my known name.
Wild how something as simple as a name can feel like home, right?
Thank you for sharing your story and reading mine. How beautiful for you to claim your name. Congrats on your engagement! 🎉🎶💗
Wonderful story.
It is making me see how important is for us to have permission slips. I was thinking to wear a crystal I love as a reminder of a realization I experienced.
🙏✨🥰
I love this piece so freaking much! I love the concept of names and how they change the look and feel of things.
All through my life I have named things. From myself (Levi, Lex,Ace, etc) to naming my stuffed animals, my laptop, phone, basically anything!
It gives a fresh caring perspective to things because naming is putting identity on a seemly mundane thing.
Thank you Skye, your name is so pretty!
Love that you love this, Zee 😃 And love that you have played with many names for yourself.
I’ve also named inanimate objects for years. It’s playful and invites them into our world in a fresh and intimate way. ✨🪷😃
This was a great read. I have been giving diferent names on my coffee order for as long as I can remember especially during residency days when all of us would go and get that caffeine hit in the morning. Mine was more for fun and I never thought of the why. But interesting exercise to intentionally ponder what my name means to me and what an alias would mean equally if I were to have one. Thanks Tamy - your writing makes me think :)
Love this, Venkatesh. Thank you for reading!
What expands my heart is to know that my writing made someone feel or think. Love that you shared this with me. Thank you 🙏✨🥰Appreciate you
I love this so much, I feel soul grateful that this article found me!
My chosen, Spirit-given name, is Klairity.
Stepping into a new name, a new identity, has been a journey of becoming. One that is still unfolding and being discovered. I am inspired by you sharing your story, I want to formulate mine! I have held some embarrassment around publicly sharing that I have chosen my name & the why, and I am ready to release that.
It’s funny… my birth name was always spelled wrong as well, and it used to really bother me. My new name also gets spelled wrong (like the word clarity, and without the second i), but I don’t mind so much now ☺️
Thank you Skye for sharing your story, and for embodying your soul’s essence with such intention. 🤍
Your note made me smile, Klairity 🙏💫💗
How wonderful that you got to step into your new name on your journey of becoming. I’m looking forward to reading your story. Thank you for reading mine and reflecting back. 🥰✨
This is a reply to Tamy Faierman M.D.
I forgot to add that my niece's name is Skye (with an e). It's such a beautiful name!
I love everything about this post! Even though I'm at peace with my name now, it was a struggle to get to this point. My friends had usual names while mine was pronounced like the fruit cherry. Why couldn't it have been beautiful French sounding like the Mon Cheri chocolate? Or even Sheree or Shari? It wasn't until I moved to Japan, the land of the cherry blossoms, when I learned to appreciate my name. A name most definitely carries a vibration. And this is true of our animals. One of the most famous animal stories is of Diablo (you can listen to his story on YouTube). It's really amazing!
Thanks for reading and reflecting, Cheri.😊I love your story of your relation to your name. Will watch Diablo, thanks for the rec. 🙏💫
'Open, vast, and expansive sky'. Wow, we have very similar minds Skye, perhaps we have similar journeys. This is the reason I named myself Sky also. Sending Metta ❤️
💗🙏
Skye is a lovely name, and from what I've read from you, it fits you.
Ten years ago, I named myself Daniel (and later I chose Daan for my pseudonym), because the name my parents gave me didn't fit me at all. I've always hated it.
Thanks for reading and reflecting, Daan. So cool that you , too, chose a name that felt good for you. I was very attached to using Skye years ago when it came to me. Now I’m more lax, I don’t mind Tamy or Skye. Interesting to see how we go through phases in life when something seems so important at the time and then later on, shifts.🙂✨