Why can't we choose our own names?

[Stataclysm]

Just a thought, but it doesn't make sense that your name is chosen before you have an active conscience. Your name is one of the first things that develops your collective identity in the world. Peoples names are a big influence on their first impressions, which over the course of your lifetime, can have a massive effect on your future.

So why can't we choose our own names? One that we think suits us, one we could feel confident using. Its OUR life, why can't we label ourselves?

Just another highdea of mine.

(p.s. I am not against parents naming their children, I am just asking why isn't it more acceptable to have your name changed at any given time? With the proper change of government ID of course.)

[Sam the Wiser]

I'm almost sure every person would regret there choice if they picked at 5 or so.

[aisatsana]

I bet if you chose a name at the age of 5 when you were "conscious" as you would say you would regret it a year later. You change so often you would regret you decision. It's a name there is not a huge importance to it.

[Stataclysm]

I'm almost sure every person would regret there choice if they picked at 5 or so.

Well of course you can change it more than once.

[ryotte]

You can. You can get your name legally changed when you are an adult. People are going to call you in the years before then, though.

[Deleted]

It's fully possible to change your name to whatever you like. Also, your parents need to call you something during your infancy years.

[Sam the Wiser]

Some people act as if they have the worse names in the world. Unless your name is like salt or derp be a little be grateful.

[ryotte]

The point of a name is for you and other people to know exactly who is being talked about/to, as well as to officially identify yourself to government, bank, school, work, etc. If you change it constantly it kinda defeats the point.

[Stataclysm]

I know you can legally change your name to whatever you like, I just don't know why it isn't less frowned upon.

I personally like my name, I was just wondering because i know there are others who don't.

[Yosef1015]

Remember the movie Big Daddy? He asked the kid to make up his own name. The kid chose Frankenstein

[Pendulous]

You can legally change it as an adult, and I don't think "Superman McAwesomehead" would be a fitting name for anyone if we could choose our own as kids.

[ryotte]

When I was about 5, I told my mom I was going to change my name to Love the Great Dove. I'm pretty glad I didn't.

[Deleted]

I understand the whole "Your name because YOU are YOU" thing but I also understand the fact that you are a product of your parents, and you kinda belong to THEM in the many years before you're a thinking being, so the choice of your name naturally falls to them.

I would never change my name. It was chosen by my parents and is a part of my identity. And it's not a loyality thing to my parents or anything, hell I've cut off all contact with my mother and my father lives halfway across the country so we rarely speak.

[Treeskee]

Remember the movie Big Daddy? He asked the kid to make up his own name. The kid chose Frankenstein

Which is a pretty awesome name. Personally, I think my name suits me and I doubt I could have picked a better one.

[Deleted]

My parents actually gave me two names. Robin,That I'm currently sporting and Pierre, in case I turned out to be homosexual.

[Rocko9]

My parents actually gave me two names. Robin,That I'm currently sporting and Pierre, in case I turned out to be homosexual.

Someone seriously needs to change their name to Batman.

OT: Like everyone else said, a 5 year old making up their own name isn't the best idea

[chazus]

Why isn't your pet allowed to choose it's name?

Someone seriously needs to change their name to Batman.

http://cdn2.holytaco.com/wp-content/...mb-450x356.jpg

[Dacien]

I have a middle and last name that is the same name as a movie star. So every time I get pulled over, go the DMV, whatever, I always have to deal with snarky comments, as if I named myself. Sometimes they laugh about it, and that's cool. But as other have said, you can just change your name.

[Waaldo]

Because what the hell would your parents call you during the 1-5 year period?
And the reason you can't just say "I'm going to be called Jim now" is because of social security and stuff.

[Deleted]

I have a middle and last name that is the same name as a movie star. So every time I get pulled over, go the DMV, whatever, I always have to deal with snarky comments, as if I named myself. Sometimes they laugh about it, and that's cool. But as other have said, you can just change your name.

Now you made me curious what names you have that can make an officer laugh. Mind sharing?

Because what the hell would your parents call you during the 1-5 year period?

Kiddo. That's what my dad called me as a child.