I was trying to figure out a good name for myself. My given name is Cyprian Alexzander which I really like, but... I think it would be hard for people to remember to spell correctly (or even begin to spell correctly) to find me on the internet.
I live in Iowa. Someone suggested Cyprian "Iowa" Alexander (notice the "z" disappeared). I kind of like it, maybe because it reminds me of Texas Alexander. No one has ever given me any good nicknames either.
Do any of the astute forum members have any observations or any methodology of personal nomenclature?
I was trying to figure out a good name for myself. My given name is Cyprian Alexzander which I really like, but...
Your folks already figured out a name for you long ago. It's a great name. Leave it alone. If you want people to remember you, then do something memorable. In other words, be somebody worth remembering. I'm sure that you are capable of it.
I know that this may sound somewhat harsh, but it's just honest, straightforward advice on my part.
Cyprian,,,, I agree, stick with what you have,,, you had me with your first name,,, It's not who you are,, It's what you do,,, the people who love it,, will remember who,, don't change a thing,, If you have trouble... just go with your first name,,,,, BE WHO YOU ARE GOOD LUCK,,,, Mike
I don't think Iowa Alexander works so well, as you have two vowels together, making it potentially a bit of a mouthful for some folks. Texas Alexander flows off the tongue better.
Plain old Cyprian Alexander sounds fine to me - dropping the "z" to assist large numbers of people in the English-speaking world - not to mention illiterates and idiots.
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"I ain't good looking, teeth don't shine like pearls, So glad good looks don't take you through this world." Barbecue Bob
Everybody, thanks for the replies. It sure has given me some things to think about. It isn't that I am uncomfortable with my name, I just get tired of the cognitive dissonance people experience.
That, and I always have to explain where the name came from which is like one of them on the spot history lessons.
Funny thing, my mom remembers one of my childhood nicknames to be R.G. Bigs because I liked animal crackers. Hmmm?
I've been Chipmonk (spelled wrong) for 40 yrs. Came from when I was in the USMC. Another Marine, Harry Hunkin (real name) big guy, picked me up by the collar and said as we both swayed from the large number of beers we had consumed, "I'm gonna smash your face in.", shakes his head and says, "I can't hit you you look like a chipmonk." At the time being a chipmonk seemed like a good idea. So over the years I've been Doug, Chipmonk, Chip, and now I play as Chipmonk Doug.
Don't drop the Z. Just use it as a name. "Z the blues guy" or something like that.
Hi Cyprian, How about "Cyppie", pronounced like "Sippie" Wallace? Or "Little Cyppie", I always like Blues monickers with "Little" attached on the front end (though you may be big). Or maybe "Mister Cyppie" Alexander. If there can be a "Mississippi", surely there can be a "Mister Cyppie". All best, Johnm
I think this is a reasonable consideration. I'm stuck witht he fact that there is already a well known musician, younger, cuter and blonder than me, who fronts his own Newgrass band called the John Cowan Band, so I pretty much can't use my own name as is. So far I'm leaning toward adding my logon which many at Port Townsend and various blues forums know me by: Waxwing John Cowan.
Here's another idea for you. There was a guy in my high school named Zander, which I always thought was a pretty cool name. I think rather than drop the very distinctive Z you should maybe lose the Alex and, following Johnm's idea with the Cyppie, go to Cyppie Zander, or maybe Cyp Zander.
All for now, John C.
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"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." George Bernard Shaw
“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.” Joseph Heller, Catch-22
Cyprian, do you have any distinguishing physical features?
+1... I came up with my blues name this way. I'm kinda slim (by my race's standards) and I my first love is Delta blues. Easy and done! In the blues circuit here, I'm known and addressed more by my blues name rather than my real name.
After reading through the many worthy and erudite comments, I can safely say I am empowered but even more confused. I think I for now I'll use my own name and see if anyone bestows a nickname on me.
Though, if I ever become a Viking, Big Ox Cyprian is in!!!
I've owned a pair of sandles for almost 10 yrs now that i originally only paid $6 for . . . one day mentioning this my sister pointed at my feet & quipped, 'ha ha, cheapfeet!' & it stuck. also works with my aversion to employment . . .
Nothing wrong with going with your own name, Cyprian. The alternatives could be a lot worse. I just finished listening to a fellow on one of the Lomax recordings called Crap Eye. Now there's a name.
Speaking of Little Willie Littlefield, last Sunday, I saw him tear it up for more than an hour at the Edmonton Folk Festival. For a guy who supposedly retired 6 or 7 years ago (to Amsterdam - I wonder why?), he had the audience in frenzy within the first couple of songs. While his time is getting a bit choppy, he is still a showman at age 76 - turning his right hand over and playing with the backs of his fingers, then playing with his elbow, and finally pulling off a shoe and paying fairly tricky bits using the toe. He was soaking wet by the end of the set, and surrounded by female fans (who had probably never heard of him) wanting an autograph and photo taken with him.
I guess his stage name is not really a problem - with performance, on the stage or elsewhere.