WHAT'S MY NAME?

What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Seriously! What is my name?

I never gave much thought to my name, until recently that is.

I know my birth name. I used to have the birth certificate (long since lost).

Throughout the years my name has changed. Marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce, you get the picture.

First marriage I did the "normal" thing. Took my husbands last name. That never felt right so as soon as we were divorced I took back my maiden name. I learned then that I'd never give up my name again. I'm not my husband. My birthname is who I am, a part of my family tree. I'm not someone else, I'm me and I want to STAY me!

Second marriage and without even remembering, I hyphenated my name for some legal paperwork we needed to sign. As I said, I didn't even remember this. It took my getting something in the mail, a legal something, which told me I'd hyphenated my name, this after I'd been divorced and was on my third marriage.

I went to the powers that be and had my name changed to what I've always used.

And so, until recently, I've been thinking I'm back to my rightful name. However, for some reason, several months ago something began bothering me.

To begin, I shall say that my first name, my birthname, I shortened back in the 6th grade. Not legally mind you. I just began using a shorter version of my name.

Anyhow, I've recently began wondering WHAT my name is. I thought about this when I recalled signing the papers to get the hyphenated name gone. I signed the name I wanted, never giving thought to anything but making sure my last name was returned to me.

It thus has been only in the past several months that it occurred to me that I have also only ever signed my "shortened" first name to all documents. Even my passport shows my shortened first name.

Ever since I realized this, for some unexplainable reason, it has bothered me greatly. Have I lost my birth name? Not that I was ever fond of it, but still, LOSING it is something else.

When speaking to HR at the company I work at, I mentioned this. The HR person told me "whatever is on your Social Security card is your name".

OH! Oh DEAR! I looked at my social security card and was dismayed to find my first name in the short version, as I have always had it, but only the initial of my MIDDLE name is listed!

Being that my SS card has always had my shortened first name, I've never given thought to the fact that it may now be my LEGAL name. I mean, my original name only showed on my very first SS card which of course was changed upon my 1st marriage.

SO...........................................WHO AM I???

Am I the person whose name is on my birth certificate? Or in signing the name I want on my divorce papers am I no longer the person I was when born? Add to that, do I still have a middle name or is my middle name a single letter?

How do I find out? If this is so, should I change my name completely? Go by one name? (i.e. "Cher", "Madonna"?). Maybe preface it to "Lady" and my name?

HELP!