Ok I really don't want you to know who I am (Advise please!)

[Sliceanddice]

Ok for my new job we give a full name when we answer a call IE "Hello, Thank you for calling blah blah this is Jane Smith, oberator xxx...". and for our comfort we are alloud to give them a fake name... as long as we use the same name every time. Now at first i thought 'Huh... yeah don't care' but now after ive had a day to think about it.... Im not sure if i want them knowing my real name......

So to pick a 'Operator' name i have to use one of my names (first or sur) and pick another name to go with it. My real name I hate anyways so it wont bother me. My real name is Heather Knudsen, i sound like a Viking conquest (My linage goes back to Leaf Erickson so that might explain a few things) and a lot of people call me Nudsen, Nutsen, Nudson, Nudson ALL OF WHICH ARE WRONG (My family is pre Elise Island so no name change to make it american, and i have no english blood at all on my family tree so i cant be a 'son' but i can be 'sen' since i have danish blood) and all the Heathers I know are nothign like me so... changing either one wont kill me.


I just don't know what i wanna call myself... and i have to deside by monday.......

So either Ideas, or Opinions would be appreciated...

[Ms. Pounce]

If I were in your situation, I'd probably change my last name over my first name.

1 -- My first name, like yours is pretty common.
2 -- My last name is pretty... distinctive. There are a bazillion and a half spellings and mispronunciations, but god-forbid one person guesses right and starts looking in the phone book. (I'm not actually listed, but they could in fact find my father and grandfather).

I'd go with a really really really really common name. Check here for the 1000 most common last names in the US in the 1990 census.

If you want to keep something similar to your last name, but unlikely someone could figure it out, I'd go with a phonetically similar name. Knudsen to Newson maybe... or even Newton. Relatively easy to remember, similar yet very different and I'd assume pretty common.

If you decide to change your first name and want a "logical" path, you can always go with meanings. Heather is a flower, so you could choose pretty much any flower name: Rose, Daisy, Agnus (from Agnus Castus), Angelica, Artemis (play on Artemisia), Bell(e) (Bluebell etc), Lilly (I actually knew someone who's nickname was Lily... short for Lilliana), Dahlia... ok, the list could go on forever.

Or you could always go with the first name of your favorite female character. ^_^ Mine would be Anita.

[Dark Psion]

You know, in the movie Highlander, Connor's first wife was named Heather.

So, you can go with Heather MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod and if anyone gives you any trouble, you can take their head.

[Greenday]

Eileen Dover
Auntie Upp
Tara Newhassel

I also know a bunch of really dirty names if you want...

[lordlundar]

So you have to pick one real reference to keep? If so, keep your first name and use a fake last name. Particularly in your case, a last name is too easy to find. First names don't matter too much without another point of reference.

[Sliceanddice]

Eileen Dover
Auntie Upp
Tara Newhassel

I also know a bunch of really dirty names if you want...

yeah can use those because i either have to use my first or last name so it would have to be Heather Blah or Blah Knudsen.

[Greenday]

Heather Graham perhaps?

I was about to name another somewhat famous Heather, but she's not really CS boards appropriate...

[jnd4rusty]

I may be a little overly cautious here and may be overstepping my boundaries, but I would suggest that you edit your post and delete your last name off of it. I am only saying this because even though as a group (CS members) we are pretty safe, but many others do read this site and it just seems a bit scary since you posted your last name. Sorry if I seem to be a old nag!! I work with young teens and young adults and my maternal instincts tend to come into play alot. I would keep your first name and just come up with a nice last name....maybe something that no one can spell.

[Sliceanddice]

hmmmmmm well they would have to know my city at the very lease... and seeing ass there are at least three boys in my brothers family with his name finding another heather shouldn't be hard. and more most things would also want my middle name... i think im ok...

[Hon'ya-chan]

Do the Japanese way. Last name first, first name last.

[Sliceanddice]

ohhhh Knudsen Heather... thats... kind of... not worky

[Seshat]

I would recommend keeping the more common name (Heather in your case) and faking the less common.

I like the idea of reversing the name, too. So:

(name of your choice) Heather.

Pick a very common first name. Mary or Susan or Lucy or something.


Mary Heather.
Susan Heather.
Lucy Heather.


Hrm. Doable. Not poetic, but quite doable.

[XCashier]

Check here for the 1000 most common last names in the US in the 1990 census.

That link does not work; it leads to a CS reply page.

I agree, though, change the last name. The only problem is that if you use "Heather Smith", the customer might look up "Heather Smith" in the phonebook, find a totally different person and harrass her til Kingdom Come.

Perhaps make up a real tongue-twister of a last name? "Heather Schmedlozinewgornowpluzinski, how may I help you?"

Frankly, I think it's rather stupid, forcing you to use a full name. It's bound to cause all sorts of problems. They should let you use a first name and extension or employee code number.

[Becks]

They should let you use a first name and extension or employee code number.

If it makes sense, it's not allowed™®©.

[JustADude]

You know, in the movie Highlander, Connor's first wife was named Heather.

So, you can go with Heather MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod and if anyone gives you any trouble, you can take their head.

Oooh! You beat me to it, Dark Psion! I so second Heather MacLeod!