How do you spell your name?

My name is highly uncommon and it's always an interesting experience introducing myself to strangers at meetups that don't provide name tags: most people would show what I think are small signs of confusion (furrowing, slight pause, increased rate of blinking) after I've said my name.

Occasionally I'd meet someone fearless and would do everything they can to get it right, and that's always a great way to start a conversation! It's not silly to ask me how to say or spell my name properly, its origin, what it means, etc. By asking me those questions, you are showing that you care and want to have a conversation — you are saying "I see you".

As a fun aside, a lot of people I know with uncommon names have "coffee names" so that they don't subject themselves to awkward conversations about names at coffee shops (it's really a thing, there are even skits about the use of "coffee names").

Give it a go the next time you meet someone with an unusual name. ☀️