This is probably (a) a silly question and (b) in the wrong place, but I have a history of overthinking things so here goes.
I do not identify as female and therefore do not go by my legal name, which is a very feminine name. In person, I go by Rae. I introduce myself to new people this way; my coworkers and customers call me this; my family, bit by bit, is learning that this is my name now. However, my last name is a troche, and putting Rae next to it results in an awkward pause. It doesn't flow. So to help that, I've put my middle initial between.
Here's the thing: My middle initial is B. "Rae B." Sounds a lot like rabies. Sometimes this amuses me, but I'm to the point of submitting, and seriously considering whether I would want that to be my byline, for people to know me by that.
The alternative I've thought of (I'm not in any hurry to ditch my name completely) is to use my first two initials, "R. B." Harmless.
Is that a better option? Am I likely to regret using "Rae B." in a professional setting? Are people likely to make a meme out of it (I do not need my name to be a source of humor in another area of my life, I really don't)? The fact that I'm thinking this hard about it suggests to me that I should use "R. B.", if for no other reason than to set my mind at ease--but like I said, I overthink things.
I do not identify as female and therefore do not go by my legal name, which is a very feminine name. In person, I go by Rae. I introduce myself to new people this way; my coworkers and customers call me this; my family, bit by bit, is learning that this is my name now. However, my last name is a troche, and putting Rae next to it results in an awkward pause. It doesn't flow. So to help that, I've put my middle initial between.
Here's the thing: My middle initial is B. "Rae B." Sounds a lot like rabies. Sometimes this amuses me, but I'm to the point of submitting, and seriously considering whether I would want that to be my byline, for people to know me by that.
The alternative I've thought of (I'm not in any hurry to ditch my name completely) is to use my first two initials, "R. B." Harmless.
Is that a better option? Am I likely to regret using "Rae B." in a professional setting? Are people likely to make a meme out of it (I do not need my name to be a source of humor in another area of my life, I really don't)? The fact that I'm thinking this hard about it suggests to me that I should use "R. B.", if for no other reason than to set my mind at ease--but like I said, I overthink things.
