Phaedra

I saw a report on CNN about unusual names and decided to respond with my story. In case you were curious about the origin of my name and how having an unusual name has affected me I have copied and pasted my response here.

“My name is Phaedra. Pronounced Fay-druh. My closest friends often call me Phae.

My parents had decided that my dad would name the boys and my mom the girls. My mom had heard the name Phaedra and liked it, but planned on naming me Shawnee Lee. On the way to the hospital, while in labor with me, she heard the Nancy Sinatra song about a girl named Phaedra. She decided it was fate, and so it went.

Thanks to the internet I have come to meet several other Phaedra’s, but growing up in a small farming community I was the one and only. As a child I was tormented. Terribly.

I can remember a time when I was unhappy with other people for being cruel and teasing me about my unique name, but I always loved my name and felt like it fit me. In fact, for a while I resented my very common middle name, Marie, and refused to use it. I changed it to Mari (Mar-ee) for some time.

Mispronunciations of my name are very common. But I love when telemarketers call and ask for “Puh-hay-dra” or “Fondra” because I can answer, “You have the wrong number!”

I do alot of my business online, and must remember to send a pronunciation guide before I talk on the phone with a client so they do not feel uncomfortable. And sometimes I find myself leaving the name “Fay” with waitresses or anybody who doesn’t know me and must call my name out in public because it’s just easier. I loathe the name “Fay” (not in general, but as my moniker) but when I’m in a hurry and don’t feel like the fuss it works.

I feel that my unique name has given me an edge in that people remember it! Not everyone loves it, I’ve had several rude people say things like, “What drugs were your parents on?” or “Your parents must have hated you.” Hate it or love it, it’s memorable! And if someone calls out, “Phaedra” in a crowd I know they mean me.

My friends like my name. There are people in my immediate family who can’t spell my name yet, and I’m nearing 32. And I’ve heard stories that some family members hated my name. Oh well. I’m Phaedra and I can’t imagine any other name fitting me so well.

I have gone on to give my son the most usual boy’s name in America- Michael. This after my maiden name and his father. I named my middle child Lillie, after her grandmother whose name is spelled the same. And I named my youngest daughter Liana, which is a mash-up of my mom’s first and middle names. (Diana + Lynn = Liana). I suppose Lillie and Liana are probably considered uncommon in the US.

In my family there is one other with an unusual name, my aunt JoNell. She was named after two grandmothers, Jo and Nellie. This method of creating a name provided the inspiration for my youngest daughters name.

I love my unique name!”