Growing up with a name starting with Z has probably been one of the most aggravating things in my life, I love you mom but a unique name has been like a plague. I am the person, that like any of you reading this with a Z, will never find her name on a keychain heck Microsoft doesn’t even recognize Zade as a name. I have to say, not being able to find even a Z on a necklace, keychain, monogrammed bag or pretty much anything can be difficult. This makes me feel discriminated against and annoyed under many circumstances. My name will never be found on a coca-cola bottle and that one is for definite. Who wants to pay extra to make your own bottle? Definitely not me, and creating my own necklace, come on lets be honest who has time for that. It’s like just for having a rare name people get punished and this isn’t only for Z’s, anyone with a name that isn’t one that applies to every generation struggles with these problems.

I won’t say that the aggravation just applies to necklaces and clothing items, my name is rarely ever pronounced correctly until I have to practically say it’s Jade with a Z people, it’s not that hard. I’ve been Zah-day, Zay-dee, Zah-dee, but rarely actually my own name. I believe I can speak for everyone that has ever had a name spelled differently but said the same as another name, sometimes I feel like I should abandon my name for something simpler. This one goes out to some friends who just by knowing the many spellings I understand the frustration, lets use them as an example, Michaela, Mykayla, and MiKayla are only a few of the ways I have seen this name spelled. How often can someone possibly find all of the spellings without requesting or creating their own.

The main point is that there are a whole list of issues regarding names whenever the basic spelling is not used. I love my own name, but due to all of the repercussions and missed opportunities and the occasional question of whether I am a guy when registering for a class or activity can be a definite disappointment. I’ll never forget driver’s ed when they wrote Zage on my identification card thinking it was a mistype in registration. I am sure that I cannot possibly be the only person who feels fed up with this issue and wants to be able to buy souvenirs without having to buy airbrush t-shirts and such whenever going on vacation, and even just be called by their own name for a change without the hesitation.