What's in a name?

Yeah, what’s in a name? Why are our names so important that we feel offended when someone misspells, mispronounces or does not get our name right? Why do we consider such violations as an act of murder, as in “gi-murder ang akong pangalan?”

I am one of the many people in this world whose name often gets “murdered.” Well, I have to admit that my name is a magnet for “murderers.” You see, if you look closely at my byline, you will notice that my name is spelled Q-U-E-N-N-I-E. It is not the usual spelling for such a name, but well, my parents were good researchers. I learned they got my name, and its unique spelling, from a hard-to-find baby book. In my 30 plus years of existence in this world, I have seen many different variations of how my name was “murdered” (read: Misspelled, mispronounced) – QUEENIE, QUINI, QUEENNIE, etc.

And what do I think of the “murders” committed? Sometimes I just laugh it off, sometimes I get mad, sometimes I want to have my name changed! Well, really, getting a letter, a commendation or an award that has your name misspelled is not really a good experience. You will feel that the thing or recognition given to you is not really for you but for someone else.

Last month, a Regional Trial Court judge in Mandaue handling a controversial case corrected a reporter for not getting the name of one of the lawyers right. The reporter got the family name right but used a different first name. The judge, during one of the hearings, introduced the reporter to the lawyer, and the reporter, apologized.

Here at The FREEMAN, we often laugh at our misspelled names in invitations, press releases and letters that we receive. I know of a former editor who puts such “murderous” materials straight into the trashcan, without even reading them. You see that former editor is a he, but aside from having his name misspelled, letter senders also, often, use the wrong title of Miss for this male editor. Our editor-in-chief, Jerry Tundag, recently received a letter with JAYRY TUNDAG in bold print at the recipient’s name. He was oh so tempted to throw the letter into his trashcan. Business editor Joefel Ortega Banzon often gets press releases and invitations addressed to an OEFEL BANZON, who is sometimes a Ms. or a Mr. Still, an editor became a lawyer in an instant, he received a letter with an ATTY. before his name.

What am I getting at? I just want to drive the point that names are important. Names are our identity and should therefore be treated with respect. In this day and age when parents are getting more and more creative with the names that they give to their children (and there really is no law that stops them from doing so), more “murders” are sure to happen if we are not careful. It is not that hard to get a person’s name correctly, you just have to ask! Ask for the correct spelling, the correct pronunciation, and include the titles that come with the name, whether the owner of such a name is a he or a she, a lawyer, a doctor, or an engineer.

So, how do you spell my name again?

* * *

Email: [email protected]