What is in a name?

Dr. Elisabeth Waugaman is working on a book project which allows women to tell their stories in their own words. She is looking for women to write and tell her about their first names.

Her book is A Rose by Any Other Name: Women's First Names and How They Affect Our Lives. Here is her request:

If you could send me your thoughts about your name that would be wonderful. I will include as many of your short essays as possible - a paragraph up to a page. Here are a few questions to get some thoughts going: Do you know why your parents chose your first name? Do you use it or another? Do you have a nickname? Do you have a compound name? If so, do you use both parts? Do you have an ethnic name in addition to your American name? Does your name suit you? Do you use a different name for your professional life? Anecdotes? Name traditions? Anything you want to say. Let me know if you want your first and last name or just your first name used with your essay. Remember there will be multiple listings for each name - with rare exceptions for unique names. (Since I am trying to study name cycles and conduct an ethnic cross cultural study, it would be helpful if you could indicate your generation or age, your ethnic/religious background, and where you grew up - but this is not required.) Your response indicates your willingness to have your essay published with the understanding some editing may have to be done to fit the book's format. Thank you for your participation and please forward this to your friends and relatives. Elisabeth Waugaman, Ph.D. (womensnames@gmail.com)

Sounds like a cool project, and even cooler: Dr. Waugaman will donate 10% of her proceeds to NOW, and 10% to children's charities! What do you have to say about your name?