Many people with “difficult” names face the choice at some point in their life: Keep going by their name that many others fail to pronounce correctly, or take on a nickname that makes it easier on those who don’t care to try to get it right.

From teachers giving up on pronouncing their students’ names to Starbucks baristas bungling spellings, it can be frustrating for people to hear their name mispronounced over and over again — or in the worst case, dismissed as something like, “whatever your name is” or “you know who you are.”

Have you gone by a nickname to make it easier on others? Or did you choose to keep going by your birth name, despite pushback from loved ones? What does your name mean to your identity?  

The Express-News wants to hear from you. Filling out this questionnaire can take as little as five minutes, but feel free to take your time. Your responses are confidential and they won't be published without your permission or voluntarily shared with third parties, such as governments or marketing agencies. However, we may contact you for further information as we report on this issue.

If you have any questions or want to get in touch with a reporter now, contact Achiraya Kurth at ashleythemoai@gmail.com. Achiraya is a junior at North East School of the Arts and is working as a student journalist for the Express-News as part of its Teen Team program. To learn more, visit: https://www.wearesaen.com/teen-team