THE DILEMMA THAT COMES WITH BEING UNIQUE

It's such a big flex to have a unique and rare name until no one knows how to pronounce it and they choose to pronounce whatever they feel like pronouncing . My name is Immaculata but for some reason people have chosen to call me "Immaculate", "Emma", "Imma", "Emmanuella" and every other thing they can think of that is actually not my name.

I once told  someone that my name is "Immaculata" and they said "why not Immaculate??, That's fresher". I was so confused, so I should leave my actual name and pick the one you like because to you it is "fresh". I ask again "Wetin Musa no go see for gate??"

My traditional name has been murdered by people and their excuse is "I am not from your tribe", make it make sense. I like my traditional name so much but I am afraid to introduce myself that way because of what people are likely to pronounce. In primary school I went by my traditional name which I absolutely take pride in because I don't know of any namesakes but for those six years, I was called what I wasn't no matter the correction. Rather than "Bunma", I was called "Boma" and worse of all, I always answered.  I decided to bear my other name in secondary school thinking things would be easier for people but "Immaculata" is still a problem.

Now I introduce myself , smile and wait for people to ask me to repeat myself because I am very sure they won't get it the first time.  In my next life I'll still pick my names no matter what you choose to pronounce.

If you have similar experiences, I would love to see them in the comments.

Lots of love,
IMAX.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:06 AM

    I do 😭😭

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:07 AM

    People call me Otilo instead of otito

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousNovember 26, 2023 at 7:52 AM

      Yes, with my surname. My surname is Onwubuke, when I was much younger, I didn't like the way they murder the name,,I keep correcting even when they want to spell, is wrongly spelled. But I will boldly pronounce it and spell it without feeling bad.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:07 AM

    I’m a big fan 🤭🤭

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:12 AM

    Ate the that down

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:20 AM

    Let’s normalize intentionally learning the pronunciation of people’s names

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:45 AM

    Kemi's Sister 🥲

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 2:00 AM

    Oh I had the experience too, even with people from my village. My name is Isioma, but oma in short form. My village people chose to call me Nwaoma, Momma instead of Oma

    ReplyDelete
  8. William CreativeNovember 25, 2023 at 2:36 AM

    I totally understand.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousNovember 25, 2023 at 12:24 PM

    Mu name is well known (Stella). But pronunciation has been a problem.

    ReplyDelete

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