My Name and I: A Hate/Love Story

I became a professional name developer because I love studying names and creating new ones. But I fell in love with names because of one name I hated: my own.

My baby bracelet.

I can’t remember a time when I didn’t think my name was a mistake. When I was about 3 or 4 I’d introduce myself to strangers by saying, “My name is Nancy, but call me Judy.” I have no idea where “Judy” came from; at that age I’d never met anyone by…